DoS Catholic Schools

10/14/2026

WAYBACK WEDNESDAY AGAIN? ALREADY? Where does the time go? (As it is so often asked in the 'Bookverse.) And more and more as we continue to cajole these good people into turning over these priceless photos from their personal archives.

Before the collar, there was the hair. (Are you seeing a pattern here?) Before the vestments, there was, apparently, a whole lot of fashion experimentation.

Today, we bring you an upstanding Catholic-school product who has been entrusted with some rather serious responsibilities, most often involving rallying our DoS school communities around their important causes and, perhaps most important, providing entertainment, preferably with a microphone and a song. And usually an on-point men's jacket.

But greatness like that doesn’t happen overnight.

First came the wee gentleman in powder-blue cardigan and short pants, in his puppy era.
Next came the soft-gray suit paired with the charming striped bowtie/necktie hybrid.
Then came THE HAIR. Once again, today we all get to enjoy some glorious, gravity-defying, Catholic-high-school hair.
And finally came an ensemble starring a burgundy jacket, red shirt and patterned tie that causes us to wonder where adult supervision was in the 1970s.

Through it all, one thing was clear: This guy's heart and mind were destined for higher things.

Cooking was not one of them.

Apparently, neither Most Precious Blood Elementary School nor Bishop Hafey High School in Hazleton, nor the University of Scranton, nor Seton Hall University managed to teach him his way around a kitchen. Catholic education DID, however, prepare him for a lifetime of faith, service, leadership, and gracious acceptance of a microphone whenever the Catholic Schools Office needs somebody to get a room singing, laughing, giving, or all three.

Naturally, this dedicated servant leader will be with us for , and we expect his extensive Catholic-school training will again be put to its highest and best use.

WHO IS HE? WHERE IS HE NOW? A prize pool virtual ticket for you for each question answered correctly! And will YOU be joining him, Chris Brunelle, and us on Nov. 4? Say yes!

Say, "Here I Am, Lord!" Register here today:

https://www.boostmyschool.com/orgs/dioceseofscranton/events/reverseandbeplaid

10/07/2026

We know! We know! This challenge arrives dangerously close to Throwback Thursday. So consider this a slightly late special edition because this particular Catholic schools resume was simply too good to rush!

Today’s time-machine guest did not technically spend his entire childhood in NEPA. In fact his early Catholic-school days happened several hours west of here. Sometime in the mid-‘70s, his family headed east, and he landed at a certain DoS high school just in time to become part of the Class of 1977.

Apparently he liked Catholic school so much that he just … never really left.

In honor of his extensive and impressive resume, we'll give you equally extensive clues:

1. Our guy eventually returned to his alma mater, but this time he was on the OTHER side of the teacher’s desk.

2. A Pioneer City parish community later got him for a few years of religious formation work.

3. Then it was off to a well-known Jesuit university in the Heights of New England for some serious schooling in school leadership.

4. Armed with the new degree, he next ventured to the deep south of our Diocese, where he became a principal AND helped oversee Catholic education AND almost certainly enjoyed his share of cold pitz and scamutz.

5. Next stop: the Wyoming Valley, where another diocesan high school put him in the principal’s chair for several years. And teachers there still remember him for his generous candy and snack freebies. (Except during Lent, when the pickings became slimmer and healthier.)

6. He would eventually circle back to his own high school, this time as its administrator.

7. When two beloved elementary-school communities became one, guess who was asked to help guide the brand-new school?

8. Later came another trip north, where parish life somehow still didn’t keep him out of Catholic education.

9. In fact, while serving as a pastor, he also helped lead the diocese’s newly consolidated high school and even mentored a certain current Catholic-school leader who answers to a nickname associated with an enormous bell inside a very tall clock tower in London.

10. And then, because apparently there was still one Catholic-school job he hadn’t tried, he was asked to oversee the entire operation.

BONUS CLUE: His nearest and dearest are most likely to call him by a name that does not actually appear on his birth certificate, but if you know his middle name - think of a certain gentleman of Arabia - you might be able to work your way there.

From student to teacher to parish educator to principal to administrator to superintendent ... now he's back in parish life, shepherding souls at two vibrant churches on the west side of a big river in one of our largest diocesan counties.

Basically, if Catholic schools had a frequent-flyer program, this man would have PLATINUM STATUS.

So who is this highly accomplished, dearly beloved mystery man?

Bonus points - and more prizes, Joe Nealon, (wink wink) - if you can tell us:
1. His Scranton-area high school alma mater
2. The two diocesan high schools where he later served as principal
3. The merged elementary school he helped launch
4. Which is the winner of the obvious Plaid Championship Match evidenced in the center photo strip: the bright-red plaid bow tie so generously proportioned it might qualify for its own ZIP code OR the sassy sport coat with enough multi-directional blue-and-gold plaid to require traffic control? (Maybe that's what the boldly striped tie and deep-purple shirt were assigned to do.)

Show us YOUR finest plaid and join us for , where ALL plaid ensembles with equally excessive enthusiasm will be properly recognized. With prizes, of course.

Put your name on our registration list tonight by clicking here:

https://www.boostmyschool.com/orgs/dioceseofscranton/events/reverseandbeplaid

10/02/2026

We went MINING today!

Catholic schools lifers, loyalists, and legends Fr. Cyril Edwards and Joe Nealon suited up, switched on their Shine His Light headlamps and headed deep into our Catholic schools archives in search of buried treasure, the solid-gold kind found in old yearbook photos, forgotten event programs, and a mountain of random memorabilia.

And they struck plaid! Joe Nealon even came across a trophy big and heavy enough to rival a Heisman.

Now we have even more fantastic stuff to showcase at RE-VERSE & BE PLAID, and we have confirmed beyond shadow of doubt that Holy Cross superfan Fr. Ed has the memory of a machine! Watch the video for evidence.

Shouts out to our two Holy Cross High School student assistants, Claire Helring and James Sheerin, the first two members of our Team Shine volunteer crew, for digging in with us. (They left our "vault" with some cool stuff and a very special creative mission to enhance our upcoming event. Stay tuned.)

We suspect YOU also have plenty of Catholic Schools treasures still hiding in your - or more likely your parents' - halls, closets, basements, and garages. If you have a bit of free time this weekend, we invite you to go spelunking, so to speak. Come back Monday and show us what survived time. Starting next week we'll put out an official call for artifacts. And because Joe Nealon likes prizes so much and has already won two for answering our Wayback Wednesday questions so expertly, we'll also set aside swag for anyone who shares a picture of something old and fantastic from your Catholic school days. Call it the Joe Nealon Prize for Excellence in Historical Excavation. It will be waiting for you on event day.

Also in honor of Joe and his dear friend Fr. Ed, we offer this special deal: If you register to attend our event and use the "Send organizer a message" feature to say "Joe Nealon sent me" OR "Fr. Ed sent me," you'll get swag, too.

But first you must register:
https://www.boostmyschool.com/orgs/dioceseofscranton/events/reverseandbeplaid

10/01/2026

It started with a simple question: “What did you do this summer?”

Our St. Clare/St. Paul School students had plenty of answers for Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, and then Bishop shared his highlight:

He went for a walk.

Of course, his was no ordinary stroll.

When he celebrated Mass this morning with the St. Clare/St. Paul School community, Bishop told our students about his pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. It was a journey of many miles, many steps, much prayer, and deep reflection.

Thank you, Bishop, for reminding us of all that is involved in our shared faith journey. Whatever challenges we encounter along the way, we are called to keep walking, keep growing, and keep following Christ.

Thank you also to the St. Clare/St. Paul School team for the warm hospitality extended during the fellowship that followed.

Buen Camino, Crusaders!

09/29/2026

Can you identify this sharp-dressed young man?
First, let's discuss the striped jacket. It’s spectacular. The spiffy tie is a bold but game-elevating choice. The statement eyewear speaks of sartorial confidence that paid attention to details.
This child did not mindlessly wander into picture day. He ARRIVED.
Obviously, even his earliest years found him immaculately turned out. Note the little badge of distinction on the lapel. Even back then, he already belonged to something important.
If the fetching frames do not give him away, perhaps his loyalties will.
Today's mystery guest is A FIERCELY FAITHFUL MEMBER OF CRUSADER NATION.
As usual, DOUBLE CHALLENGE:
A. Name the subject.
B. Identify the two Diocese of Scranton Catholic schools that molded him.
HINTS:
1. The elementary school was built on one of the most historic Catholic sites in The Electric City, and the IHM Sisters were ingrained in its identity.
2. The high school once brought a state basketball championship home to Scranton.
Our guy will want and need loyal like minds at his after-dark lunch table on Nov. 4 in Pittston. He's more than ready to reconnect, reminisce, and talk Catholic-school shop - and sports.
All with Holy Cross High School lineage, consider yourselves called!
Register for RE-VERSE AND BE PLAID today: https://www.boostmyschool.com/orgs/dioceseofscranton/events/reverseandbeplaid
P.S. Use the COMMENTS to answer the questions - or even one of them - correctly, and you'll be added to our list of prize winners who can claim a piece of Catholic-school swag when you attend our event. Featured guest is Catholic YouTube chart-topper Chris Brunelle, all the way from Oregon.

09/26/2026

ALERT THE MARVELOUS COMRADES.

Chris Brunelle has officially entered the RE-VERSE & BE PLAID conversation, and we are here for it!

The plaid mode is activated. The hymn discourse is underway. And our main man is now hanging out in the comments.

There is only one reasonable course of action. Catholic-school people, this is your cue. Go say hello. Please advance-welcome Chris to NEPA!

Then stay for the comments. RE-VERSE & BE PLAID has rightfully become an interactive experience.

👇👇👇
https://www.facebook.com/share/1dc1x3jLzu/?mibextid=wwr

Preview, anyone?

https://youtu.be/yS_KmTayjy8?si=gJ7RiFGjIkdUO4kP

Check out this video. Gather The People, Chris Brunelle rendition:
https://share.google/CiqUMl5gYNAhAbZVw

09/25/2026

Here we go, MARVELOUS COMRADES and COMPANIONS ON THE JOURNEY.

It’s time to GATHER THE PEOPLE. For something gloriously, unmistakably, maybe even outrageously Catholic school.

This isn't your garden-variety reunion. We’re not bringing back one class or even one school. We’re bringing back A FEELING.

The people. The plaid. The pizza. And ALL. THOSE. SONGS ... that you somehow still know by heart.

Come with your old Catholic-school crew. Or come solo. We’ll have plenty of TRAVELERS ON THE ROAD to go around, and "alone" is never a word we use in our universe anyway.

For one notably nostalgic night, we’re getting the whole band - all schools, all decades - back together and letting someone with serious sing-along credentials lead us down memory lane: your new favorite Catholic music man, CHRIS BRUNELLE.

YouTube-trending. Irish-guitar-toting. Choo-choo-chasing. Dunder-Mifflin-devoted. You are going to love him!

Chris is making his first pilgrimage all the way from Portland, Oregon, to Scranton, Pennsylvania, so get ready to give him a very NEPA, volume-all-the-way-up welcome!

Because beyond his reverence for the railroads, his cool strings, and his entirely understandable devotion to all things "The Office," Chris has a voice that can quickly turn a room full of grown-up Catholic school kids into a Glee-worthy Glory & Praise tribute band.

We know it. Chris knows it: Long before playlists, streaming, and Spotify, WE HAD THE HYMNAL.

And those songs never leave you.

WEDNESDAY. NOV. 4. MEET US AT OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH HALL IN PITTSTON. REGISTER TODAY!

A Rafter-Rattling Catholic School Sing-It-Over. Join all the attendees going to Re-Verse and Be Plaid. PEMDAS - THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS - for WED., NOV. 4: 4:54 P.M. (APPROXIMATE SUNSET) UNTIL 6:54 P.M.: PRE-EVENT SPECIAL EVENT OUR "FACULTY LOUNGE" WILL BE OPEN, OPEN-HOUSE-STYLE, FOR A PRIVATE NETWO...

09/25/2026

Booyah! Burgers and Bites, a new ball pit …Just wow. On behalf of our entire school system, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all who are looking out for our little brothers and sisters now in Laflin - and their teacher and staff team - while they wait out this fire recovery.

09/25/2026

The true community that is Northeastern Pennsylvania continues to amaze us with its outpouring of support for our displaced Wyoming Area Catholic family. As they all continue to settle in to their temporary home at St Maria Goretti and the fire recovery continues, please know what an emotional boost all of these surprises are providing. Shout-out also to Holy Redeemer High School for buying the WACS kids a Gaga ball pit. Church recess is way more fun now! We are a fabulous Team 19 - one though many!

Many thanks to Booyah Burgers and Bites, Wyoming, for surprising our faculty and staff with cheeseburger sliders, chicken bites and salad for lunch! We thoroughly enjoyed it and are very grateful for your kindness and great food!

09/23/2026

returns us to the Catholic Schools Time Machine for Guess Who Times Two!
Let's start with the tiny businessman at left. Props to the classic Catholic school combo of collared shirt, tie, and haircut that says, "I have an important budget meeting after recess." All that might be missing is a matching mini briefcase with overstuffed Trapper Keeper.
This guy did not have classmates but direct reports, and - clearly - he was dressing for the job he wanted. (First hint.)
Now look to the right.
Teal Oshkosh overalls and coordinating abstract-print sleeves pair wonderfully with the perfectly sculpted bowl cut. This girl had style. She still does.
In fact, she could have grown up to own and operate a wildly successful children's boutique, but we see more of a strategic planner in the making. (Second hint.)
One might be akin to "Regional Manager" and the other "Assistant Regional Manager." Or is that "Assistant to the Regional Manager?"(Final hint.)
Give us your guesses in the comments. Bonus points if you know where they went to Catholic elementary school.
See both of these fine youngsters all grown up when you join us on Wednesday, Nov. 4, for .
FULL DETAILS AND REGISTRATION PAGE WILL OFFICIALLY DROP LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WE'RE MAKING TODAY A DOUBLE-WATTAGE WEDNESDAY.