Catholic Academy of Waterbury

Summer greetings from Dr. Chodkowski:

My Catholic Academy of Waterbury and Immaculate Conception Parish Family,

As the sun sets on another beautiful year at Catholic Academy of Waterbury, my heart rests in a space of deep gratitude. Together, we have walked a road woven with both shadows and brilliant light, living out what it truly means to be a community nourished by faith, hope, and love.

Our year was anchored in the sacred. In autumn, our hallways were transformed as the children traded standard Halloween costumes to dress as the saints, bringing the beauty of the Church Triumphant to life. Later in the year, the Holy Spirit moved visibly among us as two of our 8th grade students, Evangelina and Kayden, stepped into the waters of Baptism and received their First Holy Communion. Having the profound honor of standing by Kayden's side as his chosen godmother is a grace that will forever echo in my soul. He is a regular altar boy here at the Basilica.

These moments of joy carried us through our heaviest season: the sudden, heartbreaking loss of our beloved Kindergarten teacher, Miss Deborah Pisciotti. While we deeply mourn her absence, the seeds of kindness and faith she planted in the hearts of our littlest learners will bloom for generations to come.

We also shared moments of profound gratitude for our shepherds. We celebrated the 10th anniversary of Father Kane’s ordination, a decade of faithful service that has touched our students deeply. To honor him, the children presented a beautiful apostolic blessing on parchment from Pope Leo XIV. As Father Kane prepares to transition to his own parish in Windsor Locks, he leaves with our prayers wrapped tightly around him.

God’s blessings also manifested in celebration, as the Republican-American Reader’s Choice awards named our academy the Best PreK (for the second year in a row) and Best Parochial School: a testament to the vibrant spirit, dedication, and convictions of our educators and families.

The energy reached new heights when our beloved parishioner and former Mayor Neil O’Leary stepped into my shoes as "Principal for the Day." With characteristic enthusiasm, he helped launch Mini Mountain, Major Mission: the Kids' Alps on Asphalt. This vibrant school-wide event, complete with bike rides, Waterbury PD and firetruck escorts, Frankie's hot dogs, and an ice cream truck, served as a prelude to an extraordinary journey of love: this August, Fr. Sullivan will face the towering peaks of the Swiss, Italian, and French Alps. He is training tirelessly to ride these grueling mountains for a singular, beautiful purpose: to raise tuition support for families facing financial hardship, ensuring no child is denied a Catholic education. Our love, awe, and prayers ride with him, and I ask that yours do too!

Thank you, my friends, for being the foundation upon which our precious school stands. Your prayers are our strength, and your generosity is our horizon. That is evident in the outstanding 14 young men and women who graduated on June 2, moving into the dreams of their future with our Lord and Blessed Mother firmly planted in their hearts. May God grant you a blessed, restful summer.

With My Heartfelt Summer Prayers and Gratitude,

Christa

It's the first week of summer vacation! A message to current and prospective families about our summer office hours. Mrs. Macklin or Mrs. G will be available Monday though Thursday between 8:00am-1:00pm. You are always most welcome to call, leave a voicemail, or email anytime and we will get back to you as soon as we can! 🔆

Sending lots of love to all fathers, grandfathers, Godfathers, and father figures!

Even though our second graders' sunflowers didn't work out as planned, Mrs. Anchini came to the rescue with beautiful flowers to plant! 🌼

Congratulations to our amazing students and thank you to our extraordinary teachers and staff on another fantastic school year! Enjoy some good books, practice those math facts, rest, have fun, and PRAY every day. See you in the fall!

Third and sixth grades tie dye together!

St. Anthony of Padua, !

“Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.”

Church of St Anthony, Prospect CT

Oremus pro invicem, let us pray for each other!

Congratulations to 2026 scholarship recipient Damien Tyler! Damien has graduated from Catholic Academy of Waterbury, where he was an honors student, a member of the National Junior Honor Society and a varsity basketball player. He has mentored younger students at school and at the North End Recreation Center. He will attend Holy Cross High School in the fall.

Congratulations to the CAW Class of 2026! Our most heartfelt prayers and congratulations to all. 💙💚💙💚