New York college students bring spring break twist to Holy Angels Catholic School

A friendship that began decades ago at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore is paying dividends for the students of Holy Angels Catholic School.

Thirteen students from the University of Rochester spent their spring break at the first-year school in Baltimore, helping with reading, math and other subjects.

They represent the college’s Catholic Newman Community, whose pastor is Father Brian Cool. He and Monsignor Richard J. Bozzelli, the pastor of Holy Trinity and several other parishes in Glen Burnie, attended St. Mary’s Seminary together.

Rochester students began performing spring break service in Baltimore around 2000 and began to volunteer at Corpus Christi Parish when Monsignor Bozzelli was its pastor.

Betsy Lafferty, the parish’s pastoral associate, in turn coordinated the Rochester students’ tutoring at Father Charles Hall School. When that school closed in 2010, principal Kathleen Filippelli and teacher Meghan Cosgrove moved to Holy Angels, and brought with them the Rochester partnership.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that this trip is a truly a life-changing experience for these young students,” said Nathan Drahms, a campus minister who led the Rochester students on their visit to Baltimore, which saw them at Holy Angels March 7-11.

“The sacrifice the college students make during spring break is impressive,” Filippelli said. “Our students blossom because of their personal attention and tutoring. It is encouraging to see such talented young adults giving of themselves to young children.”