SUMMIT—Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington and former Archbishop of Newark, was the special guest celebrant and homilist at Oratory Prep School’s annual Family Mass on Sunday, March 27, 2011.
“The word ‘family’ comes up when we talk about Oratory,” Head of School Bob Costello said at the annual Mass. “This is my extended family,” Mr. Costello continued as he looked over the audience of 325 students, parents, faculty, administration and friends for the annual Mass.
The Cardinal echoed the importance of the family unit. “Home is where the Gospel lives and is passed on through your love to your children,” he told parents. “You teach religion to your children so they understand it and live it,” he explained. “The most important thing they should learn in the family is that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
The Cardinal visited Oratory Prep many times when he was the Archbishop of Newark years ago, but was invited by school Chaplain Fr. Sal DiStefano to celebrate Mass this year because His Eminence’s great nephew Thomas Hughes is a sophomore at the Roman Catholic school for young men in grades seven through twelve.
At the conclusion of his homily, Cardinal McCarrick left the audience with what he referred to as “three elements of a good Catholic high school,” which he said Oratory possesses. He said exemplary Catholic schools should: “Be as good as we can make them; be authentically Catholic and be open to the poor.” He commended Oratory for achieving these elements and for continuing to “strive for excellence.”
