On Sunday, June 5, 2011 a 12:00 noon Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in St. Roch's Church
for all Baptistine Sisters, lay Faculty and Staff, colleagues, students and families who have been associated with the educational mission of St. Roch's School since its foundation in 1959. As Sr. Mary Patricia, principal, noted: “Today is a chance for us
to celebrate all the memories. The school is closing, but we can still come together and enjoy each other’s company.” After the Mass a crowd of about 300 gathered in St. Roch’s Church parking lot for a farewell celebration that featured food, music and teary farewells.
The Sisters who are currently in residence in the parish convent will continue to live there for the coming year. Vincent Innocente, a 2004 graduate of St. Roch School, authored a beautiful tribute to St Roch School which was printed in the Staten Island Advance: "A Fond Tribute to a Family Institution.
St Roch School's Class of 2011
poses with Sr. Mary Patricia,
principal and Alum John Lago of
the U.S. Marines, at the finale
of the school's last Christmas Concert.