BRISTOL — Every time she passes a statue of the Blessed Mother in the hallway of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (OLMC), Sister Carmela Santarsiero, M.P.F., pauses for a brief prayer.
“She always touches the Blessed Mother’s feet and says, ‘it’s in your hands,’” said first grade teacher, Claire Forand.
The faithful nun’s devotion to Mary is what Forand will miss most about Sister Carmela, who is leaving the elementary school after serving as principal for seven years. Her departure marks the end of a long history of Filippini principals.
For more than 60 years, Religious Teachers Filippini have ruled the school, striving not only to inspire students and teachers to be more faithful and charitable, but also promote the dignity of womanhood and help influence healthy family life.
During her career as an educator, Sister Carmela has exercised those beliefs, as well as many characteristics of Mary. The school children describe her as loving, caring and kind.
“She’s really, really nice,” said kindergartener Noah Worth, 6, with his classmate, Benjamin Komiega, 6, adding that she reminds the children how important it is to treat each other with respect.
Other kindergarteners, including Jack Mullen, 6, Ethan Almonte, 6, Lucas Pacheco, 6, and Madison Rocha, 5, praised Sister Carmela for helping them with schoolwork, while fourth graders said she encourages them to put their faith at the center of their lives.
“She helps us make time for God,” said Jaggs Harmon, 10. “She tells us to go to church and do Adoration.”
Noah Rocha, 10, Grace Swift, 10, Nora Prendergast, 9, and Mia Padula, 10, agree.
“She tells us to love God and worship him,” said Prendergast, with Padula adding, “She’s a great role model because she always says prayers and is nice to everyone. She’s part of our family.”
Continuing the legacy of a close-knit community at the school has been Sister Carmela’s goal since becoming principal in 2007. Father Henry P. Zinno, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, said it will be hard bidding farewell to Sister Carmela’s gentle, faith-filled presence.
“The Filippini spirit pervades everything she does, as well as her ability to teach and lead people through Christ,” said Father Zinno, noting that the Filippini Sisters have been in the parish for 72 years.
While they are no longer able to provide a principal because they are an aging population, a handful of sisters still live at the convent. Two work at the school, including Sister Concetta Millemaggi, M.P.F., who teaches Latin, and Sister Guytina Campisi, M.P.F., who serves as librarian three times per week.
In her earliest days at OLMC, Sister Carmela was also a librarian. Additionally, she taught first and second grade a few years before being appointed principal. She described her departure as “bittersweet.” Leaving the school, she said, will be difficult.
“The people at Mount Carmel are simply beautiful and the children are wonderful,” said Sister Carmela. “They’ve become part of my family. The teachers are a beautiful group of women who are dedicated to the Christian education of youth, which is part of our school philosophy.”
The “sweet” part, said Sister Carmella, is the fact that she’s still going to be working with children, as she’s headed to teach at Our Lady of Apostles Montessori School in Bristol, Conn.
“I will be with children, which I love very much,” she said, noting that she taught at a Montessori school before her days at OLMC, as well as served as principal of schools located in Connecticut and New Jersey. “I love teaching the little ones. They are very special. By the end of the year, they blossom like a flower. They have taught me to be patient and understanding.”
Sister Carmela will be moving out of the convent this summer to head to Connecticut. In July, her successor, Janet Maloney, will begin duties as principal.
“She’s a very good Catholic who practices her faith, which is very important,” Sister Carmela said of Maloney, who has more than a decade of teaching experience and is transferring to OLMC from the Highlander Charter School in Providence. “She’s more than qualified,” said Sister Carmela.
Father Zinno agrees, noting that Maloney hails from Barrington and is a parishioner at St. Luke Parish. She’s a member of the school board at St. Luke School and has participated on the school’s curriculum advisory committee.
“She’s a great educator and has a great faith life,” Father Zinno said.
The school’s faculty and staff members, along with Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Dan Ferris, are gearing up to welcome Maloney. Of course, they will miss Sister Carmela.
“Every day, in her dedication to the children and the school, I know Sister Carmela models the kind of fervent faith and charity that animated her congregation’s co-founder St. Lucy Filippini,” Ferris said. “I have great respect for her principal leadership. We will miss her, and we will miss the presence of the Filippini Sisters’ direction at the school. It is grace-filled legacy. We have much to be thankful for.”
