By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic
The Holy Spirit descends like a dove as John the Baptist baptizes Jesus. John holds a cross-shaped staff, hinting how Jesus will die.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me," Jesus reads at the synagogue in Nazareth, claiming Isaiah's prophecy for himself.
Jesus blesses bread and fish, multiplying them to feed 5,000.
"Give me a drink," Jesus asks a woman at a well - then offers her "living water."
Mary, John and Mary Magdalene keep a vigil with Jesus as he dies.
The resurrected Jesus ascends, inviting all to him.
The risen Jesus converses with men during a walk on the Emmaus road.
Mary and the disciples are touched with flame from the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Jesus commissions youths to help spread the Gospel in this window over the main exit.
St. Frances Cabrini immigrated from Italy in the 19th century to run schools and orphanages, first in New York, then in Europe and Central and South America.
St. John Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia in the mid-1800s, founded the first Catholic diocesan school system in the U.S.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born Catholic saint, upholds a cross as lilies of purity grow around her feet.
Our Lady of Fatima appeared in 1917 to three children in Portugal.
St. John Bosco lifted many boys out of poverty and ignorance in 19th century Turin, Italy.
St. Thomas Aquinas, who lived in the 13th century, was a pre-eminent theologian, philosopher and composer of Eucharistic hymns.
St. Augustine, fifth century author of the monumental City of God, was the Church's greatest theologian since St. Paul.
Image depicting the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Our Lady of Grace spreads her hands in welcome.
Our Lady of Charity (Caridad) is patroness of Cubans, both on their home island and elsewhere.
Madonna of the Streets is based on a painting of a real young woman in 19th century Italy, cradling her younger brother.
Our Lady of Guadalupe was an apparition of Mary to a Mexican-Indian peasant, Juan Diego, in the 16th century.
This stone baptismal font in the school yard was a gift from the late Father Brendan Dalton, a former supervising principal at Archbishop McCarthy High.
This stone pulpit in the school yard was a gift from the late Father Brendan Dalton, a former supervising principal at Archbishop McCarthy High.
Four benches at the center of campus remind students of the school's four pillars, including Atmosphere.
Other benches are stamped with the names of home parishes of the students.
This bench is dedicated to the late Father Brendan Dalton, a former supervising principal at Archbishop McCarthy High.
Photography: JIM DAVIS | FC
SOUTHWEST RANCHES | Catholic education is more than words; it’s also pictures, symbols and examples. So when leaders at Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School pondered how to reinforce spiritual lessons, they chose a time-tested tool: beautiful windows.
At the school’s chapel, in the center of the 45-acre campus, nearly two dozen stained-glass windows stand as daily reminders of faith and heritage. The windows were made possible with a fund drive by the late Father Brendan Dalton, a former supervising principal.
“At first, it just looked like a charter school,” said Chris Covone, director of campus since 2014. “We asked, ‘How do we tell them we’re Catholic?’ We decided to do it through the history of saints. The Church has a rich history of education.”
Photographer: Jim Davis | FC
Madonna of the Streets is based on a painting of a real young woman in 19th century Italy.
Many of the windows literally highlight great Church educators including saints Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Bosco and John Neumann. The windows also honor two major female educators, saints Frances Cabrini and Elizabeth Ann Seton.
The Church’s Marian heritage is emphasized as well, with several windows drawn from her apparitions in Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe and elsewhere. One window shows the so-called Madonna of the Streets, actually from a painting of a real young woman in 19th century Italy.
The largest number of windows focuses on the gospel: the baptism of Jesus, his speech in Nazareth, his talk with the woman at the well, his crucifixion and ascension, and his post-resurrection appearance on the road to Emmaus. Also remembered in a window is Pentecost, with tongues of fire alighting on Mary and the disciples.
One-quarter of the chapel walls is filled with a six-panel window, “I Am With You Always.” Students are shown in sports, singing, studying and other activities, with Jesus in their midst.
Finally, a window over the main entrance conveys the Great Commission – “Go Out and Teach All Nations” – delivered by Jesus to two students. The window was a gift from Richard Jean, the current principal, in memory of his mother.
Outside are two bits of antiquity: a sculpted stone pulpit and baptismal font. Those, too, were gifts from Msgr. Dalton, Covone said.
McCarthy High, named for the second archbishop of Miami, is the result of a feasibility study in 1993 by the University of Miami. Based on that study, Archbishop McCarthy began planning the school the next year. Groundbreaking followed in 1997.
Among its honors, McCarthy High has been named a School of Excellence by the Catholic High School Honor Roll. In 2013, the magazine Today’s Catholic Teacher chose McCarthy as one of 12 schools for its Innovations in Catholic Education Awards. In 2015, it was named an Apple Distinguished School for its use of technology in education.
But the school is more than teaching and technology: The faculty and staff guide the 1,700-plus students into a range of ministries. They include programs like music, liturgy, Respect Life and Best Buddies. Some students also serve the elderly and collect for shelters and soup kitchens.
“The role of a campus minister is to give opportunities for students to grow in faith, to learn what and why the Church teaches, and to put their faith in action,” Covone said.
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