Freshman Convocation & President Installation

Padua Academy celebrated a truly historic evening on September 21st as the Class of 2030 gathered with their families at St. Anthony of Padua Church for Freshman Convocation - the first Mass the newest members of the Padua community celebrated together as a class. This cherished tradition marks the beginning of a student’s journey at Padua, bringing families and the school community together in faith as our newest Pandas officially begin their high school experience.

For the members of the Class of 2030, the evening carried special meaning. During the celebration, each freshman received a yellow rose, a treasured Padua tradition symbolizing the beginning of her journey as part of the Padua sisterhood. The rose serves as a reminder that she is now part of something larger than herself - a community built on faith, scholarship, service, and the lifelong bonds of sisterhood.

Following Mass, we celebrated Padua’s multigenerational sisterhood with a special photo of the mothers and grandmothers of the Class of 2030 who attended Padua Academy, standing alongside their freshmen daughters and granddaughters - a beautiful reminder that the Padua experience is often a family tradition passed from one generation to the next.

The evening was made even more significant by the installation of Dr. Patricia Gioffre Scott as Padua Academy’s first president.

Following Communion, Father Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, shared a few words before the formal installation. Dr. Scott was then presented with three meaningful symbols of the Padua community, each representing an essential part of the school’s history and mission. Fr. Kumar, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, presented Dr. Scott with a portrait of St. Francis de Sales. Dr. Mary McClory, principal of Padua Academy, presented her with a San Damiano Cross. Lisa Jubb ’01, Vice Chair of the Padua Academy Board of Directors, presented her with the Padua Academy seal.

Together, these symbols represent the strong connection between Padua Academy, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, our Salesian heritage, and the generations of students, families, faculty, staff, and supporters who make up the Padua community.

After receiving the symbols, Dr. Scott shared her vision for Padua and her commitment to the young women who walk through its doors:

We were especially blessed to have 11 Oblates of St. Francis de Sales join Father Jack on the altar as concelebrants for this historic Mass. Their presence reflected the deep Salesian foundation upon which Padua was built and the continued partnership of the Oblates in our school’s mission.

The celebration was made possible through the many members of our community who shared their gifts in the liturgy:

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the many Oblates of St. Francis de Sales who joined us for this momentous occasion, as well as to everyone who helped make this evening such a meaningful celebration of faith, tradition, and new beginnings.

At the conclusion of the evening, the Class of 2030 proudly joined together in singing the Padua Alma Mater - a fitting close to their first Mass as a class and a beautiful expression of the pride and sisterhood that will carry them through their years at Padua.

Following the Mass, guests gathered in the Padua Café for a reception. In a particularly special moment, Dr. Scott received her own first Padua yellow rose, presented by her daughter and Padua alumna, Haley Scott.

From the first yellow roses received by freshmen to the installation of Padua’s first president, this evening marked the beginning of an important new chapter in the life of Padua Academy. The Class of 2030 and Dr. Scott now share something special: they are both beginning their Padua journeys together, surrounded by a community rooted in faith and sisterhood, while together becoming part of the next chapter in Padua Academy’s enduring legacy.


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