A festive evening of softball, scholarship, and community spirit unfolded at Maimonides Park in Brooklyn on June 24, as clergy from the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens took on Catholic school principals and administrators in the annual “Scholars vs. Collars” game — a centerpiece of Catholic Schools Night hosted by DeSales Media Group in partnership with the diocese.

The priests and seminarians came away with a decisive 13-5 victory, powered by a late three-run home run off the bat of Father Christopher Bethge, the diocese’s Vocations Director. The blast all but sealed the win and drew a jubilant reaction from the crowd. Father Christopher Heanue, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Jackson Heights, summed up the moment with characteristic good humor: “That’s why you’re the bobblehead!”

Both Father Bethge and Father Heanue were honored as bobblehead figures at the event — a lighthearted tribute befitting the evening’s spirit of celebration. Bishop Robert Brennan attended and was present for the full program.

A Night Rooted in Community

While the priests claimed bragging rights on the diamond, the atmosphere was as much about fellowship as competition. Deacon Kevin McCormack captured the mood plainly: “We’re here at Maimonides Park, we’re just having fun. It’s hot dogs, it’s outside, it’s Brooklyn and Queens.”

St. Ephrem Catholic Academy Principal Michael Phillips was playing in his third Scholars vs. Collars game — experience that apparently did not translate into a victory for the principals’ side. Phillips and his fellow administrators gave the clergy a spirited contest before the late-inning power surge decided it.

Students Take Center Stage

Despite the softball drama, Catholic Schools Night was ultimately an occasion to honor the students whose achievements animate the diocese’s school system. More than 100 eighth-grade valedictorians and salutatorians from Brooklyn and Queens Catholic schools were recognized during the event — a striking display of the depth of academic talent emerging from diocesan classrooms each year.

Among those honored was Amir Alkhoury, valedictorian of St. Ephrem Catholic Academy, who will go on to attend Xaverian High School in the fall. Also recognized was Mara Baglio, valedictorian of Good Shepherd Catholic Academy, who likewise plans to attend Xaverian and has her sights set on a career in medicine as a surgeon. Students who contributed to The Tablet Jr., the diocese’s student publication, were also celebrated for their work.

Father Heanue’s Scholarship Drive

Beyond his role as a fan favorite and bobblehead honoree, Father Heanue brought a remarkable achievement to the evening. Since arriving at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Jackson Heights last fall, he has raised more than $200,000 in scholarship funds for St. Joan of Arc Catholic School — a significant commitment to ensuring that Catholic education remains accessible to families in his parish.

That kind of investment in educational access reflects a long tradition in the Church’s approach to schooling. Catholic social teaching, from the family’s role as the primary educator of children to the Church’s commitment to solidarity with the poor, holds that quality education must not be rationed by economic circumstance. The Diocese of Brooklyn’s network of schools — serving communities as diverse as Jackson Heights, Bay Ridge, and Flatbush — embodies that principle in concrete form.

The diocese’s Catholic school system has long served as a vehicle of opportunity for immigrant and working-class families across New York City, a tradition stretching back to figures like Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, who built institutions for Italian immigrants in the same region more than a century ago. Today’s honorees — students bound for high school, aspiring surgeons, young journalists — are the living continuation of that mission.

The Diocese of Brooklyn has also found itself at the center of broader religious liberty questions in New York State, making the visibility of events like Catholic Schools Night all the more significant as a public witness to the vitality of Catholic institutional life in the region.

DeSales Media Group, which produced the event, serves as the media arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn, operating Catholic media and communications across Brooklyn and Queens.