My alma mater is one of Long Island's premier private schools.

Oh, you don't believe me? Well, ask the New York Times:

Indeed, more than 1,600 boys from as far as Manhattan and Westchester County applied last year for 425 freshman seats at Chaminade, which many consider one of Long Island’s premier private schools and a relative bargain at $6,660 a year. Chaminade, founded in 1930 and now the Island’s only all-boys Catholic school, has thrived by staying unabashedly Catholic and traditional.

In all seriousness, it was a thrill to see Chaminade receive some great press in a Sunday Times profile that provides a terrific snapshot of the current state of the institution.

This week, we had a Marianist brother, Ray Dominguez, come visit the Mission with one of the semi-regular contingents of Catholic groups we often receive. Even though Brother Ray wasn't one of the Long Island Marianists, it was still a thrill to talk with him and share how much the brothers mean to me.

I consider myself very fortunate to have attended Chaminade, although I'm glad I'm not competing for admission now--the school's getting better and tougher by the minute!

Graduation day, by the grace of the good Lord

One of the recent improvements that the school's most proud of is their new, state-of-the-art activity athletics center:

But perhaps no place is more popular than Chaminade, which has top-notch academic and athletic programs and last summer expanded its campus with a $20 million sports and activities complex. Donations from a high-powered alumni network that includes former Senator Alfonse M. D’Amato, County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and the television commentator Bill O’Reilly paid for the project.

(Editor's Note: That's how you know the Times is still the Times--it gives Suozzi top billing over Bill O'Reilly.)

If any of my dear readers are interested in helping donate to the facility--which really is one of the best, if not the best, on Long Island--send me an email at morgan_obrien3@yahoo.com.

To enjoy the complete article, here's the link:

At a Boys’ Catholic School, Tradition Fuels Demand
By WINNIE HU
Published: September 28, 2008
Unlike most Roman Catholic schools in the New York area, which embrace students regardless of their religion, Mineola’s Chaminade High School requires a baptismal certificate to register.