Commencement
speaker even inspires his teachers
BY
NADIA POZO
CS&T Staff Writer
He may not be your typical commencement speaker, but Benjamin Rosehart,
the La Salle senior who will be addressing his fellow graduates on May
14, will not be any less inspirational, or any less able to impart words
of wisdom that will resonate with his classmates.
La Salle University is one of seven colleges in Pennsylvania, and the
only one in the Philadelphia region, where a graduating student delivers
the commencement address — a tradition there for more than
35 years.
His speech, Rosehart said, is “about people, passion and progress
— and how people can bring out the best in you. My goal is that
there will be something in my speech that each student can relate to,
and take away. …
“I attended the last two graduations … and I thought I should
attempt to go for it,” he added. “I was confident that I
could do a good job with it.”
And so did the school.
Rosehart was chosen from among several students in a competition that
required him to submit his speech for review and then deliver it before
a seven-judge panel that included both students and faculty.
“The speech isn’t about me — it’s about us,
and how La Salle has affected us,” said Rosehart, a communications
major who feels his involvement in many activities made him a good representative
of the class, and prepared him for the challenge of writing the speech.
A 20-year-old member of Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in Plymouth Meeting,
Rosehart was home-schooled until fourth grade. He then attended Epiphany
of Our Lord grade school. He graduated from Plymouth-Whitemarsh Senior
High School before going on to become an honors student at La Salle.
He has kept himself busy over the past four years as a La Salle Ambassador,
representing the school at various alumni and school functions, including
homecoming, graduation, fundraisers and freshmen orientation.
He is the general manager of WEXP, the school’s student radio
station, and co-host of two sports shows on Channel 56, La Salle’s
TV station. He hopes to go on to become a sports news-caster, where
he can share his love for sports and journalism.
Rosehart has interned with the Philadelphia Eagles, including a trip
to Jacksonville, Fla. for the 2005 Superbowl. He was also an intern
for WTFX Channel 29 in Philadelphia, and this past February he spent three
weeks in Torino, Italy, as an intern for NBC-TV during the 2006 Winter
Olympics — an experience, he said, for which his La Salle education
had prepared him well.
Along with his athleticsm, Rosehart is also musically talented, and
he shares that gift with the school’s campus ministry: He plays
the violin at Mass on Sunday and also serves as a lector.
“My faith is an important part of my life, and it gives me purpose,
and a reason for living,” he said. He wrote part of his speech
in the quiet of his home parish, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament,
which, he says, helped him step back and appreciate many blessing in
his life.
“Ben is one of those rare students who reminds you why you chose
to teach,” said Brooks Aylor, a La Salle Communication professor.
“He inspires his instructors at least as much as we inspire him.”
CS&T staff writer Nadia Pozo can be reached at npozo@adphila.org
or (215) 965-4614.
Unity Day 2006 at St. Martin de Porres Parish
By STANLEY FAISON
Special to the CS&T
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a series of talks given by
Father James T. McGuinn, who is the pastor of Saint Mary of the Assumption
parish in Manayunk. Father McGuinn has developed a program designed
to evaluate personal and parish holiness. It caused me to look deeper
at the efforts of my own, Saint Martin de Porres parish community, to
see how we measure up to the “seven signs of Catholic holiness.”
At the top of the list is leadership — and the pastor, Father
Edward J. Hallinan, has clearly established an excellent model of leadership
for North Philadelphia’s largest Catholic parish.
The territory is the consolidation of three former parishes, and part
of nine, in total, and Father Hallinan is the sole pastor of that area.
He manages to find the right people from within the parish, who use
their own talents to support the mission of the Church. His tireless
effort in support of the men, women and families of the Saint Martin
de Porres community have inspired countless parishioners to step up
their own participation in Church life.
Strong stewardship of the Saint Martin de Porres community is also exemplified
by the devotion of the parishioners to their parish, and their awareness
of their Christ-given mission.
Central to the parish’s mission statement are the concepts of
inspiration and the evangelization of Christ’s message, which
parishioners communicate both by example and action daily.
A group of eight parishioners is taking part in the “Catholic
Hero’s Journey,” which is run by the Catholic Leadership
Institute. Those men and women are united in their intention to strengthen
their parish community with skills refined by the Catholic Hero’s
program.
Worship is very important to this community, and recently, Tonya Dorsey
has join the Church as the director of its choir. Dorsey, whose musical
styles range from traditional to gospel, has infused the choir at Saint
Martin de Porres with a strong spiritual component that complements
the liturgy — and very often lifts the parishioners off their
feet.
With more than 400 students, the Saint Martin de Porres School is successful
at educating students spiritually, emotionally, morally and academically.
The principal, Sister Nancy Fitzgerald, S.S.J., along with the faculty
and staff, has challenged the students to achieve academic excellence,
to embrace the Gospel message, and to make a difference in the world.
The parish’s director of religious education, Paul Haggerty, has
also had a successful year, with 10 baptisms on Easter Sunday, as well
as all the sacramental preparation and RCIA work he does throughout
the year. The evangelization efforts welcome members of the surrounding
community as well as parishioners.
Mary Cook, who has been working with the poor and needy of the area
for more than 30 years, also serves our North Philadelphia community
from the basement of Saint Martin de Porres Church.
Currently, Cook operates a food cupboard and thrift shop, which provide
the staples of life for many who rely upon Saint Martin de Porres when
they go through difficult periods.
Each Tuesday at 6:45 a.m., Deacon Edward Andrews drives into Montgomery
County to pick up food for Cook’s food cupboard.
Without drawing attention to himself or his service, Deacon Andrews,
81, exemplifies the quiet service that is performed in the parish. It
is a thriving Church community in North Philadelphia, filled with excellent
examples of Catholic holiness.
Very often attention is given to the worst this community experiences,
but on Sunday, May 21, the members of Saint Martin de Porres parish
will celebrate Unity Day.
The purpose of Unity Day 2006 is to commemorate the efforts of the parishioners
and fund-raising organizations of Saint Martin de Porres, who have,
during the last year, raised $50,000 in support of the parish. It is
also an opportunity to invite the friends, family members and all other
members of our community to join us for the celebration.
This year’s theme, “We Are One In The Spirit,” was
chosen because it encapsulates the united effort that is demonstrated
by the parish family throughout the year. Father Stephen D. Thorne,
director of the Office for Black Catholics for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia,
will be the guest homilist at the Unity Day Mass, which begins at 10
a.m.
In addition, “The Word, a Gospel Opera” will be showcased
for all who attend our Unity Day celebration. Already, the response
to Unity Day at Saint Martin de Porres has been remarkable — which
is certainly a harbinger of a successful event.
Mass will be followed by a meal (free-will offerings will be accepted).
The show begins at 2 p.m. Hope to see you there.
Stanley R. Faison is a parishioner of Saint Martin de Porres Parish
in North Philadelphia.