Vincent Palange II and Alina Churchill-Burke stand beside the donate statues of Jesus and the Blessed Mother which were generously donated by the Palanges.
Once a Monk, always a Monk! This is a fact that rang true earlier this month, when the College received a generous gift from an alumnus, reminding us all that Saint Joseph’s remains a part of all past and present members of its community, including our alumni, students, faculty, and staff. In recognition of its core values, which include Faith, Respect, and Compassion, the College was recently gifted two beautiful statues, one of Jesus and the other of Mary, by class of ’87 alum Vincent Palange II. The two statues now grace the entrance to the Healy Chapel on campus for all SJC students to enjoy.
Fr. Gabriel and Vincent Palange II stand beside the donated Blessed Mother statue.
Vincent and his wife, Alina, met with Chaplain Father Gabriel in early November to present the College with the statues, which Vincent says are near and dear to his heart, as they once belonged to his mother. Vincent spoke warmly about his time here at Saint Joe’s and reflected on the times he spent here with his mother, saying, “when my mother would come to visit me at Saint Joseph’s College, we would attend service at the chapel. She loved what the College was about and could see my growth along with how happy I was to be there.” Vincent explained that his mother is a devout Catholic, and that her faith is an integral part of who she is. Vincent grew up in Lewiston, where he and his family were members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the first Roman Catholic church in Lewiston. He said that his mother’s commitment to her faith led her to construct a small prayer room in their home, where she spent time each day to pray and be closer to God. In this room stood the two beautiful statues, which have been in Vincent’s family for many years. Vincent recently sold his mother’s home, and while he said he struggled to find adequate homes for a great many items, he never had a doubt about where the two statues belonged. Vincent is happy to share his mother’s faith with all of us here at his alma mater. “My mother would be very pleased to know that their new forever home is a place that has meant so much to us.”
Please join Saint Joseph’s College in extending a huge thank you to Vincent Palange II ’87 by going to Healy Chapel and viewing these works of sacred art. Vincent, your gift will be appreciated by present and future generations of Saint Joseph’s students.
