All are welcome!
Nearly 200 Alumni Come Home for Thanksgiving Liturgy
On November 26th, Molloy welcomed students, faculty, staff, and nearly 200 alumni to celebrate our annual Thanksgiving Liturgy! Gathered together in the Jack Curran Gym, our community came as one family to give thanks and reflect on the many blessings we share in a place we all call home. Our Liturgy opened with representatives from Molloy’s cultural clubs adding their own puzzle piece to a larger heart-shaped puzzle, beautifully decorated with the word “Unity” in multiple languages.
Celebrant Fr. Nicholas Colalella reminded us in both Masses that we should always give thanks to God, the source of all that is good. He encouraged us to follow Jesus’ example by offering ourselves in service and love. Students concluded the Liturgies by speaking to their classmates about the symbolic heart on display, affirming that we are united as one family and that our differences are meant to be celebrated.
Our tradition of welcoming alumni back for the holiday continued with our returning alums gathering in the student cafeteria to enjoy cookies, hot cocoa, and meaningful conversations with friends and former teachers! During Mass, alumni even joined Mr. Sheehan ’75 and the Junior/Senior Chorus to sing many familiar songs! The Thanksgiving Liturgy Alumni Reception remains a heartfelt reminder that we are Stanners not just for school, but for life. Click here or the button below to see a full photo gallery from our alumni reception!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Liturgy a warm, spirited, and memorable celebration. We hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving!
The Stanner Players Present: Twelve Angry Jurors
Congratulations to Director Ms. Shannon Winters ‘06 and Molloy’s Stanner Players on their powerful run of “Twelve Angry Jurors!” From November 20th to 23rd, Stanners presented sharp performances, gripping tension, and heartfelt commitment that brought this classic courtroom drama to life!
Ms. Winters shares, “The fall play went very well! I was so impressed with the quality of work the Stanner Players were able to pull off, even after only about eight weeks of rehearsal.” She continued, “It was a difficult show compared to others in the past, since the 12 actors never left the stage and had to maintain energy and focus the whole time. However, the Players pulled together a professional production and I am so proud of their hard work and dedication!”
Thank you to everyone who made the show possible. We are so proud of the cast and crew, and can’t wait for the spring musical: “Mean Girls” (April 23-26, 2026)
News & Notes from Campus Ministry
On November 20th, chaperones Mr. Rich Costa, Ms. Elizabeth Kussman, and Dr. Alice Prince accompanied ten students to the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis, Indiana. The theme of the conference was “I Am/Yo Soy.” Our Stanners attended breakout session talks, participated in activities, and more while exploring their faith and connecting with other young Catholics. They were even blessed with a video message from Pope Leo XIV, as he directly addressed the thousands of young people at the conference! In fact, over 17,000 people attended the conference, which Mr. Costa described as having a palpable and infectious energy. You can watch Pope Leo’s video message HERE.
The weekend of November 21st, 47 seniors attended their Senior Encounter at the Marist Brothers’ Center at Esopus! Accompanied by three senior leaders and 11 alumni volunteers, the Class of 2026 explored where they encounter God in their lives. It was a great weekend of community, laughter, reflection, and fun!
Also in November, Stanners and friends supported Campus Ministry’s Clothing Donation Drive! An assortment of clothing, toiletries, and other items were collected by our community and donated to The Harding Ford Vision Pantry and the St. Marguerite’s Food Pantry, benefiting Queens families in need. Thank you to everyone who supported the donation drive!
Campus Ministry kicked off December by inviting students to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Students were welcomed to receive the Sacrament during their religion classes on December 1st and December 2nd.
Also on December 2nd, Campus Ministry volunteers and members of our Afro-Caribbean Club gathered with students from Mount St. Michael Academy (Bronx, NY) in a Meal of Solidarity! The meal was prepared by a long-time Marist friend from Jamaica. Everyone had a great time connecting and sharing a great meal together!
Afro-Caribbean Club Visits NYC’s Tenement Museum
Twenty members of Molloy’s Afro-Caribbean Club recently enjoyed a field trip to New York City’s Tenement Museum! The Tenement Museum is a National Historic Site located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side that preserves two tenement buildings that were once home to many 19th Century and 20th Century immigrants. Visitors are invited to tour restored apartments and go on neighborhood walking tours, which offer a unique look into the immigrant experience through these lived-in and well-traveled spaces.
Our students were led on a guided tour through the restored apartments, which housed traces of some of the old businesses that were run out of them, such as a dress shop and a butcher shop. “The tour helped make a connection between our own families’ experiences and those of the immigrants who once lived in the apartments, showing many similarities,” said Ms. Destiny Barbery, moderator of the Afro-Caribbean Club. Ms. Barbery also noted that the trip was “very impactful” and that our students “learned about the struggles of immigrant families, what they endured to survive, and how far we have all come.”
Senior Kendall Solis ’26 attended the field trip and shares, “Seeing the small apartments and hearing the stories of immigrant families made history feel much more tangible and meaningful. It allowed me to take a step back and imagine what life was actually like for some of these families and then compare it to what my life is like today.”
President Richard Karsten ’81 served as a chaperone and described the trip as “a great New York City experience and unique opportunity to learn about our city’s immigrant families and the difficulties and challenges of families living at the turn of the last century.” He also expressed his thanks to Ms. Barbery and Dr. Alice Prince for coordinating the visit.
Coach DeSarno, Coach Staiano, TJ O’Leary ’02 Honored
Molloy baseball recently celebrated a great night at Russo’s on the Bay as our coaches and one alumnus were honored at the Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Association (GNYSAA) Awards! Congratulations to Coach Chris DeSarno, recipient of the Frank Tempone High School Coach of the Year Award, and Coach Stephanie Staiano, honored with the GNYSAA Trailblazer in Baseball Award! Together with Coach Mike Kondel (pictured second photo on the right), Coach DeSarno and Coach Staiano have led our program to back-to-back Brooklyn/Queens Championships, the 2024 Catholic State Championship, and the 2025 City Championship. We also extend congratulations to Coach Ramon Canela of Newtown High School, who was also awarded the Frank Tempone HS Coach of the Year. Ramon is a proud parent of Stanners Keylon ’24 and Alexander ’28!
Congratulations to alumnus and former Molloy baseball player TJ O’Leary ’02 (pictured in first photo on the right), who received the GNYSAA Heroism Award. Back in April, TJ made headlines when he saved two people struggling to swim in a harbor in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sports Updates
| Bowling: Our Varsity and JV bowling teams both secured undefeated regular seasons! Congratulations to junior bowler MJ Sim ’27, who rolled a 300 game on December 2nd! This was MJ’s eighth career 300 game and second in school competition. MJ’s huge game helped Molloy defeat St. Francis Prep 5-0 in their final regular season game. As MJ continues to establish himself as one of Molloy’s top athletes, our varsity bowling team prepares for another playoff run next week. |
| Stanner Athletes of the Week (11/17/25—11/23/25): Sophomore swimmer Brinan O’Sullivan ’28 delivered an outstanding performance, winning three of her races and contributing 20 crucial points toward Molloy’s team victory. | Junior Hailey Hutchinson ’27, Molloy’s sole current diver, delivered an impressive performance in only her second meet, helping to secure Molloy’s victory. |
| Swimming: Boys Varsity and Girls Varsity are both currently undefeated this season! |
| Basketball: Boys Basketball season kicks off with a double header against St. Mary’s on December 5th. See the flyer above and scan the QR code or click here to buy tickets. |
Buzz Words – Molloy’s Alumni Book Club!
Tuesday, December 2nd was the last Buzz Words meeting of the calendar year! Buzz Words, Molloy’s Alumni Book Club, reads one book per month and then meets to discuss it as a group. Some meetings are held in-person with a virtual option, while other meetings are held fully virtually. Each member gets the chance to choose one of the monthly books and then facilitate the meeting for that month. Many alumni, faculty (past and present), staff, and parents enjoy being part of Buzz Words, as it a great way to connect with the Molloy community while nurturing their love of reading!
Interested in joining Buzz Words? It’s never too late to join! Click the button below or email Engagement Coordinator Rebecca Wagner ’14 at rwagner@molloyhs.org to learn more. Next meeting: January 6, 2026!
Congratulations to Kenneth David ’92, who recently made headlines after it was announced that he will serve as the new General Counsel for the New York Mets. Previously a partner with Kasowitz LLP, Kenneth officially joined the Mets executive leadership team on December 1st. In a press release issued by Major League Baseball, Kenneth expressed his excitement in joining the Mets, particularly having grown up as a fan of the team who lived just blocks from Shea Stadium. Congratulations, Kenneth! | Read Press Release
Nothing says Thanksgiving like lacing up for a Turkey Trot! Check out these Stanners who took on the Garden City Turkey Trot over Thanksgiving weekend! | 1st Photo: Sean McHugh ’93, Mark Gorman ’93, James McLoughlin ’93, Cesar Trelles ’93, and Craig Katinas ’93; 2nd Photo: Jason McGann ’96 and Craig Katinas ’93; 3rd Photo: Rolando Infante ’93 and Cesar Trelles ’93.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Christmas-themed Alumni Zumba Night on December 3rd! It was another spirited workout led by Ms. Murdocca and Mr. Autera ’16 that put everyone in a healthy mindset and a festive mood!
These monthly Zumba events are free and open to anyone in our community! Check future Beehives or visit www.molloyhs.org/zumba for upcoming date announcements.
Congratulations to Diego Arellano ’15 on his recent wedding! Diego shares this Stanner group photo from the reception. Pictured L-R: Eric Rivera ’11, Valerie Rico ’15, Chris Autera ’16, Martha Arellano ’11, Diego, Catherine Marrero ’15, Abbey Hipkin (faculty), and Matthew Rivera ’20.
Several friends from the Class of 1977 recently got together for a round of golf at Clearview Golf Course! Mike Fox ’77, John Doyle ’77, Fidel Valea ’77, and Dan Burke ’77 spent the better part of a beautiful day “brushing up on their long and short games while reminiscing about the ’77 Stanner days.” They hope the round will keep them sharp for the 40th annual Jim Kinnier Stanner Golf Classic, set for May 11, 2026! Following a tiring 18 holes, the group had dinner at Vivo while they “counted PARS and EAGLES — and reveled in their long friendship.”
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Peter L. Wojcicki ’77, who passed away on November 18, 2025 after battling a prolonged illness. Peter was a beloved member of our baseball alumni community. He cherished his memories from Molloy, especially playing for Coach Jack Curran. | Click Here for Memorial Page
We are saddened to share the passing of Richard Valdivieso ’60 (pictured right), brother of Maurice Valdivieso ’62 (pictured left), on November 18, 2025. Maurice shares, “Richard was an incredible person on so many levels. He was hilarious, intelligent, fastidious, and simply a wonderful person to be around. He was also an extraordinary brother. After serving in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper, he returned to El Salvador in 1965 and became a dedicated businessman, managing our family’s coffee farms and other properties. He was also deeply involved in public service, serving as the Under Secretary of State for El Salvador during some of the country’s most tumultuous years. My brother fought valiantly until the end, and he will be profoundly missed by his family and friends.” Richard is survived by his wife, Patricia; his two loving daughters, Patricia Elena and Monica; and his three grandchildren, Andrea, Isabela, and Ricardo.
We were recently informed of the passing of Kenneth “Mike” Weinum ’63 (May 7, 2025), brother of Thomas Weinum ’68. Mike was a US Naval Air Corps veteran and retired Nassau County police officer (7th precinct). Please keep Mike and the Weinum family in your prayers. | Click Here for Memorial Page
