By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/6/04)

Catholic schools in the Arlington Diocese received another boost from local businesses May 2 at the ninth annual Catholic Schools/Business Partnerships Awards Banquet.

The Catholic Business Network of Northern Virginia (CBN-NV) presented a $19,000 check to Dr. Timothy McNiff, diocesan superintendent of schools. CBN-NV has donated $150,000 to Catholic education during the past eight years. The money is used for scholarships for diocesan teachers to attend summer institutes and student scholarship funds.

More than 700 people, including school principals, teachers, parents and friends joined McNiff and CBN-NV President Marie Pelletier (above right) for the event. Pelletier, a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lake Ridge, presented a special award to Irish tenor Mark Forrest (above left). The singer’s fundraising efforts over the years have generated more than $1 million for Catholic education across the country.

McNiff recognized three Catholic educators during his brief remarks. He thanked Marymount President Dr. James E. Bundschuh for providing advanced degree programs for Catholic school administrators.

Alward V. Burch, who is retiring at the end of the school year, was recognized for his 27 years as principal at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington. And William Farquar was recognized for his 63-year teaching career at Linton Hall School in Bristow. The Linton Hall Fife and Drum Corps provided opening entertainment.

Paul VI Catholic High School seniors Megan Neville and Ryan Donnelly gave testimonials about what Catholic education has meant to each of them. Student scholarships were presented to Michael Baxter (O’Connell), Julia Hughes (Ireton) and Megan Snyder (PVI).

Father Matthew Zuberbueler, parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More and CBN-NV chaplain, gave the invocation and benediction.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, who was still in Rome following his April 29 "ad limina" visit with Pope John Paul II, expressed his gratitude through a letter.

"I am deeply grateful to each one of you, the members of the Catholic Business Network of Northern Virginia and the many benefactors of our Catholic schools who are being honored this evening," the bishop wrote. "Through your faith-filled and generous contributions of time, talent and treasure, the educational mission of the Church, especially in our Catholic schools, is being advanced."

Every diocesan school had the opportunity to recognize an individual, business or organization who has contributed in some way to its educational mission during the past year.

Grand prize businesses this year included: Anderson Construction (St. Andrew School), the Italian Café (St. James School), Hi-Tech Handholders (Office of Catholic Schools) and Billy Shannon of Miller Brothers (St. Ann School).

Epiphany School in Culpeper honored the John J. Cempre Council of the Knights of Columbus, while Aquinas School in Woodbridge honored its School Parents in Prayer.

Individual grand prize winners included: Jim and Erin Cotton (St. Joseph), Mary Fink (St. Timothy), Ana Fournier-Herrera (Holy Spirit), Sister Joan Ann Hallerman, O.S.B., (Linton Hall), Ed and Anne Kearney (Bishop Ireton), Michael Kennedy (Our Lady of Good Counsel), Dave McCarthy (St. Thomas More), Joe and Peggy Marsilii (Corpus Christi) and Preston and Dorothy Moffett (Sacred Heart Academy).

CBN-NV meets the second Friday of each month at the Dominican Retreat House in McLean. Their next monthly prayer breakfast will be May 14, with featured speakers Elizabeth Wonder and Bill Dalgetti discussing the Options Program at Paul VI High School. For additional information about CBN-NV, call 703/528-3885 or visit the Web site at www.cbnnv.org.