By Jay Sorgi • Posted December 17, 2025

Teaching in Catholic education is a God-given vocation for those who make it their life’s work. Sixteen people who have fulfilled that mission for a quarter-century, and one for a half-century, will receive the Archdiocese of Philadelphia High School and Special Education Service Award.

Eleven teachers and five administrators are celebrating 25 years within schools of the Catholic Church of Philadelphia, while one teacher — David Schafer from St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls — is marking 50 years of service.

Their dedication honors the legacy of St. John Neumann, who started the first diocesan school system in 1852 during his tenure as bishop of Philadelphia.

“It truly brings to life the mission of Catholic education,” said Steve Clement, the chief administrative officer in the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education.

“It brings to life what I’d like to believe Bishop Neumann was thinking about when he created the first Catholic school system, that people who believe truly in God would work through his mission and provide it back to the young people.”

Joseph McFadden was one of those young people. A 1997 graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School in Northeast Philadelphia, he recognized within his own teachers an example for his eventual calling that has led to 25 years at Ryan, including his current role as principal.

“I’ve now spent 29 of the last 33 years of my life in this building,” said McFadden, who estimates his presence has touched about 2,000 young people in his years at Archbishop Ryan.”

“Our families here at Ryan, it might be the third, fourth kid who is coming through. I’m now getting kids of people I went to school with, and now I’m getting kids of students that I taught in my earlier years who are now coming into Ryan.

“It certainly gives pause,” he added. “You have a good relationship with the families where they know where we’re coming from. They know what we’re about.”

That consistency of the Catholic faith and the mission of care for the entire person has led Terri Borusiewicz to a 35-year career in teaching, with the last 25 years at Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield. She is currently the English Department chair.

“Honestly, this is my dream job. I have never wanted to be anything but a teacher,” she said.

“To be able to talk about English all day long is wonderful. I love the fact that I’m able to talk about morality and faith, and not just have to be secular about things. We can talk about real things. And it makes me feel like I’m doing a little more than just teaching English.”

One example of her impact, and the kind of ethos Catholic schools provide, involves a moment outside the classroom that became an ultimate expression of her God-given mission.

“I did have an instance just this year where a girl was very distraught. I’ve never seen a child cry as hard,” Borusiewicz said.

“I took her down to counseling and she kept saying to me, ‘I’m sorry. I know you’re so busy.’ And I just said to her, ‘I have no place else more important to be than right here with you. You’re the most important thing right now.’”

Clement believes that kind of calling, in which relationships with young people become a canvas upon which to paint God’s love, doesn’t just impact young people and possibly change their lives. It also shows them what their own life can become.

“When you think of the generations today and folks that are changing jobs every year, two years or three years, to see folks in it for 25 years in mission-driven work, it truly gives opportunity for the youth to see that there’s a career in doing this work and there’s a true gift in being able to provide this back to the next generation,” said Clement.

“There is a rewarding piece to this, and we hope that (as leaders) we can provide that opportunity for growth, that you can start as that Catholic teacher and maybe work your way through that opportunity to become a Catholic administrator or a Catholic leader.”

It’s the kind of calling Borusiewicz and McFadden both recognize comes from God, one for which they have immense gratitude.

“I am beyond appreciative that this is where God saw me and saw my journey as a teacher. Not everybody gets to spend 10 years, 25 years, and if I’m lucky, another 25 years here. I’ve built the start of my career here and I think I’m at the point where I’d like to work at where I would end it here,” said McFadden.

“This has been my home.”

Borusiewicz, who graduated from Archbishop Kennedy High School in Conshohocken, now a legacy of Pope John Paul II High School, is forever thankful that she returned to teaching in Catholic schools after taking a year off to be a full-time mom to her first son.

“I really think God works in mysterious ways,” said Borusiewicz. “I’m where I was meant to be.”

The following are the recipients of AOP High School and Special Education Service Awards for the 2025-2026 academic year:

Archbishop Ryan High School
– Ellen Luby, teacher, 25 years
– Joseph McFadden, principal, 25 years

Archbishop Wood High School
– Martha Dugan, teacher, 25 years
– Don Mangin, assistant principal, 25 years

Bishop Shanahan High School
– Loretta DePedro, administrative assistant, 25 years

Cardinal O’Hara High School
– Terri Borusiewicz, teacher, 25 years

Father Judge High School
– Melissa Costello, teacher, 25 years
– Catherine Jelencovich, assistant, president’s office, 25 years

Lansdale Catholic High School
– Karl Stout, teacher, 25 years
– James Timer, teacher, 25 years

Msgr. Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School
– Mary Kelly, administration, 25 years

Our Lady of Confidence School
– Carole Bergiven, teacher, 25 years

Pope John Paul II High School
– Ralph Riendeau, teacher, 25 years
– Mary Fran Traywick, teacher, 25 years

St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls
– Maria Sawick, teacher, 25 years
– David Schafer, teacher, 50 years

St. Lucy School for Children with Visual Impairments
– Amy Murphy, teacher, 25 years