Congratulations to ESCA Graduates of 2020!

ESCA's graduation ceremony took place at Saint Mary Church in Branford Thursday night, June 11, at 5 p.m. Twenty one students received their diplomas after a beautiful prayer service, with the support of their ESCA family and their immediate families (socially distant) in attendance. The ESCA family members included Mrs. Cheryl Panzo, Principal, and Sr. Annette D’Antonio, Asst. Principal, Pastors and Priests from Saint John Bosco Parish, Branford, St. George Church, Guilford, and St. Margaret Church, Madison. faculty, and staff, and immediate family members consisting of parents and siblings were there to participate and witness this milestone event. Fr. Daniel Keefe, Pastor of Saint John Bosco Parish, began with an opening invocation prayer, Sr. Annette followed with a reading, Fr. Glen Dmytryszyn’s (Parochial Vicar of Saint John Bosco Parish) Gospel Reading from Matthew followed with a thoughtful reflection on how “we are the salt for the earth, we are the light of the world”. Fr. Stephen Sledesky, Pastor of St. George Church, presented the Prayers of Petition, Mrs. Panzo presented her Principal’s Address. It was a heartfelt speech inspiring students to know they can do anything through persistence, as they have learned over the past two years, and to “remember our ESCA school motto ‘act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God’ Micah:6:8.”

Diplomas were handed out by Fr. Keefe, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Phil (as they are referred to by the students), and Mrs. Panzo handed them beautifully wrapped Bibles. Students walked over to receive a bag filled with gifts handed to them by Mrs. Mazon, Gr. 8 teacher. After the graduates turned their tassels, Student Council President Nathaniel Kerr presented his inspiring message to his fellow classmates, and challenged them to “continue the lessons that ESCA has taught us — to help be the change in our world.” In closing Sister sang “The Eyes and Hands of Christ”, Fr. Philip Schulze, Pastor of St. Margaret’s Church, gave the benediction and Jorge Prego, Music Director — St. Mary Church, played Pomp and Circumstance!

East Shoreline Catholic Academy (ESCA) is a dynamic Pre-K3-Grade 8 STREAM model school, preparing individual students to be our future leaders rooted in faith, service, and academic excellence. ESCA is NEASC accredited and is the successor school of Our Lady of Mercy School in Madison and Saint Mary School in Branford and is supported by Saint Margaret Parish, Madison, Saint George Parish, Guilford, and Saint John Bosco Parish of Branford.