TwT 2-11-25

Greetings from Bishop Fenwick!

Growing up, we often heard we should be more sensitive, more empathetic. As I reflect on our world today, I think that’s only half-true. Here’s why.

The message in the video is the same message I shared with our students, faculty, and staff at yesterday’s all-school Fenwick Connect. It reveals, I hope, an awareness that we are called to be counter-cultural, regulating our sensitivity and expanding our empathy. I know I need to work on this!

Gratitude and Praise

We congratulate the two newest winners of Fenwick FIRST, with a brief quote from their inspiring nominations:

• Bridget Goldsworthy ’27: She has highly respected values and she does not allow society to change her. Her work in SAC is truly unmatched; she genuinely inspires others to be excited about every event. She always lifts others up.
• Alec Agudelo ’26: He firmly upholds the ideals that are at the center of Fenwick. He exemplifies faith by following Jesus’ teachings in his daily life. He demonstrates integrity with his strong moral principles. His attitude is always positive.

We are thrilled to announce our Student-Athletes of the Month for January. Kudos to the following Crusaders!

• Sophie Koles ’26: She is an amazing asset to the Gymnastics Team. She comes ready to work and improve each practice and is always ready to step up in meets when needed. She is respected as a great teammate, friend, and person, and she has a 4.2 GPA.
• Caitlin Boyle ’26: She is a Captain of the Girls’ Basketball team. She is averaging 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, and she has 611 total points for her career. She is a fantastic leader and an even better person, and she is carrying a 4.4 GPA.

Congratulations to the following members of our Girls’ Swim and Dive Team who took 8th place overall (out of 23 teams) at the North Sectionals this weekend:

• Sarah Shann ’27 – 8th out of 21 competitors in Diving
• Hannah Ryan ’25 – 8th in the 100 Free and 8th the 100 Breaststroke
• Amelia Gallant ’27 – 2nd in the 500 Free and 6th in the 100 Fly
• Caroline Blatchford ’26 – 3rd in the 200 Free and 3rd in the 100 Free
• Amelia, Hannah, Caroline, and Courtney McKenzie ’25 are advancing to States next weekend in the 200 Free Relay.

Our students are not the only Crusaders who are shining! As you may have heard, we congratulate the following members of our faculty and staff for their remarkable work:

• Mr. Dave Dugan: Named as the inaugural High School Football Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston!
• Mr. Bruce Rich: Soon to be inducted into the MA High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his many years of excellence at the helm of Chelmsford’s program! Mr. Rich teaches Health & Wellness, and serves as Fenwick’s Wrestling Coach.
• Mr. Dave Woods: Soon to be inducted into the MA High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his 20+ years as Fenwick’s Head Coach. What a fitting honor for the man who has guided our program for two decades and achieved the rare feat of 200+ wins!

Kudos to Girls Hockey, as they battled MC, the #1 ranked team in D1, to a hard-fought a 1-0 loss.

Congrats to Girls’ Basketball for their win against AC and to Boys’ Hockey on their awesome 5-1 victory over Feehan!

Congrats to the following Wrestlers who won all their matches at the quad meet at Waltham HS on Saturday: Jackson Cody ’27, Connor Tower ’28, Nick Curcio ’26, and Alex Fobert ’26.

Updates and Announcements

2025 Faith in Fenwick Auction and Distinguished Service Awards Dinner: We are looking for parent support to make this signature event a great success! The dinner will be held at Danversport on Friday, March 7, at 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in attending the event, please click this link. We are also looking for items on which the entire Fenwick community will be excited to bid. Please kindly consider donating an item to this year’s event by clicking the link to our Amazon Wishlist. Thank you for your support!

Spring Sports Registration: Registration for Spring Sports is now open through Monday, March 10. The Spring Athletic Season begins on Monday, March 17. Fenwick offers the following sports: Girls’ Lacrosse, Boys’ Lacrosse, Softball, Baseball, Girls’ Tennis, Boys’ Tennis, and Coed Track and Field. Please find the link to register here:

https://students.arbitersports.com/fenwick-athletics/2024-2025-spring-student-athlete-registration

Calendar Reminders:

• Tuesday, February 11 – Senior 100 Days Donuts in Café during Fenwick Connect
• Wednesday, February 12 – Signing Day – 3:00 PM in the LC
• Thursday, February 13 – Accepted Student Night for the Class of 2029
• Monday, February 17 – Presidents’ Day/Start of February Break
• Monday, February 24 – Return to School

Finally, today is the anniversary of the first vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France. On this day, February 11, 1858, Marie-Bernarde, a 14-year-old girl who would later become St. Bernadette, had an experience of a “Lady” near a grotto.

In subsequent appearances, the “Lady” identified herself as the Virgin Mary. She instructed the girl to drink of water that flowed from a hidden spring. Bernadette dug into the ground, and within a couple of days, water started flowing. That same water still flows today. It has attracted hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Lourdes for nearly two centuries.

The pilgrims who visit Lourdes seek healing and hope. May we be instruments of healing and hope in our world. And under the protection of Mary, may we be open to God’s grace miraculously – and subtly – unfolding in our lives.

Blessings to you and to your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Go Crusaders! Take care.

Sincerely,

Tom Nunan, Jr.

President