September 22, 2023
New beginnings can be associated with many emotions:
Hopefulness.
Anxiousness.
Excitement.
Not often does a new beginning also include echoes of something coming full circle, but that was true for the members of our community as we welcomed Dr. Weedens E. Blanchard, Ed.D. ’89 back home.
On Friday, September 22, 2023, we celebrated the installation mass of Dr. Blanchard as the 11th principal of Holy Cross High School. Our celebrant was Rev. Msgr. Thomas Machalski, the pastor of Sacred Heart of Bayside and a member of our Board of Directors.
Current students, faculty and staff were joined by many highly esteemed and former faculty and administrators from our illustrious history. In attendance were Brother James Brannigan C.S.C. (former Holy Cross principal and current Director of the Department of Schools for the Moreau Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross), Mr. Joseph Giannuzzi ’65 (former Holy Cross principal and dean of students), Ms. Loreen McCarthy (former Holy Cross Assistant Principal of Academics), Mr. Michael Genovese P ’87 (former faculty member and Director of Service Learning), Mr. Joseph Nemeth (former faculty member), Mr. Mark Gibney (former Social Studies
Department Chairperson), Mr. Joseph Pervidi ’62 (former faculty member) and Mr. Terence Tarpey ’59 (former dean of students).
Also in attendance were friends, former classmates, family, and colleagues of Dr. Blanchard, including his father Rev. Emmanuel Blanchard, Jr. and his son Noah.
During the celebration, Dr. Blanchard addressed those gathered and said:
“I am extremely honored to serve as Holy Cross High School’s eleventh principal and excited to be working with our dedicated faculty, staff, and students of Holy Cross to maintain the mission and educate the hearts and minds of all our students. It is great to be home again.”
After the mass was over, a reception and breakfast were held in the 4th-floor dining hall for all of our guests in attendance.
Dr. Blanchard’s stewardship could not come at a more exciting time for our school. As we continue to look toward the future, we prepare to begin the updated construction of a state-of-the-art Athletic and Technology Center adjacent to our main building on campus as well as the launch of several new academic initiatives.
Welcome home, Dr. Blanchard.
Go Knights!
Learn more about Dr. Weedens E. Blanchard here.
Watch a special message from Dr. Blanchard here.