Essay: Permission To Dream

Press release from Dennis Sevano:

March 1, 2021

“Preserve your memories; they’re all that’s left you.” -“ Bookends” by Simon and Garfunkel

Catholic and public schools always had a friendly spirited competition, searching for young learners within our boxed town of Hoboken. Some families attended their local church and school based on walking distance and deep family tradition, but there were more than a few households who sent their sons and daughters to the local church on a weekly basis for potential sacramental blessings of communion and confirmation. For whatever reason, cost or siblings, the public sector became a reliable option for education for many, while still keeping their faith. The two larger Catholic Churches stood out, in terms of their surrounding space, attractive parks and other notable landmarks.

Our Lady of Grace Church with its iconic Gothic-Cathedral style, towered as a dominant force of religious order, with Church Square Park in the front, St. Mary’s Hospital, now Hoboken University Medical Center to the south, the old Stevens Hoboken Academy on the northeast corner, Demarest School two blocks east of Willow Avenue, and the peaceful position of our local library on 500 Park Avenue, with a few funeral homes to bookend the area.

Saints Peter and Paul Church was the only Catholic parish east of Willow Avenue, having the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology to the east and north, to the distant left, Stevens Park and the Little League field, standing in front, the historic Hoboken piers of “On The Waterfront,” movie fame, the Barbery Coast, with its ethnic bars on River Street, and the gorgeous brownstones sailing north on Hudson. No Catholic places of workshop were found going toward Hostess, Maxwell House, and Lipton Tea.

The rituals of Catholic Churches and eventually their companion parochial schools were commonplace for folks living in a one square mile box-like town of 55,000, all seeking hope and guidance through faith, hard work and prayer. The places of worship and schooling served the predominant German, Irish and Italian residents from the 20’s through the 70’s.

It was just by mere coincidence that the number of public schools through the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s, were equal to those of the Catholic sectors. By anecdotal observation, parents chose schools mostly based on one’s faith and upbringing, that would override the “secular” public education philosophy, although as years progressed a tad of dissatisfaction with the public sector, real or unreal, entered in the decision-making of parents.

So, Our Lady of Grace, Saints Peter & Paul and Sacred Heart Schools are voices and hymns from the past, with the Hoboken Catholic Academy (the former treasure of St. Ann’s School) the last parochial school standing - still capturing a sense of nostalgic belonging.

Those academic and athletic gems, Hoboken natives, who left to seek secondary education at St. Michael’s, St. Joe’s, Holy Family, St. Peter’s Prep, St. Dominic’s, Sacred Heart, and Hudson Catholic and those who chose to trek to NYC at the revered Xavier and Regis, meccas of Catholic Schools, always seemed to be a source of vibrant conversation, the “What if” factor, by the “Old Guard” who imagined a different history had those gems stayed public in the Mile-Square.
While Hoboken schools were able to hold on to a large number of future scholars and athletes, the old timers still to this day bemoan the loss of outstanding male ball players like Salinardi, Spano, Greely, Gorman, Greigo, Bazzi, and Brennan. If only these players had stayed, the Group 4 Championships would have flourished more.

Hoboken’s status was always elevated by being the home of Steven’s Institute of Technology, and the relationship between Stevens and the Hoboken Public Schools is an enduring source of pride. Imagine if Stevens Institute of Technology offered more scholarships to Hoboken High students? Perhaps those who transferred to Catholic High Schools, would have remained in Hoboken, lured by that possibility. Imagine if Steven’s Institute, an all-male university until 1971, offered scholarships to women? Hoboken’s gifted female scholars/athletes who went the parochial route, might have remained, leading Hoboken to be a Title IX exemplar!

The brain-drain from its home court and classroom, to outside secondary schools, for whatever reason - while a mere factor of nature much like any other community - seemed larger in Hoboken. The” What Ifs” gave permission to dream, - if only the athletes and scholars would have stayed.

Finally, we allow an Act of Contrition especially from the secondary parochial institutions who borrowed our academic/athletic born and raised Hoboken natives, as we recite a Rosary of Forgiveness. Only kidding!

Dennis Sevano

This press release was produced by Dennis Sevano. The views expressed here are the author's own.