A Spirit of Service

“EVERYONE YOU MEET enriches your life,” says Sister Marie Antonelli, MPF, principal of Holy Spirit School in Pequannock for the past 41 years. “Pequannock is a great place to live and bring up children,” she says with pride.

The Catholic school is open to all Christian denominations and has educated countless students from Pre-K 3 through eighth grade, preparing them for bright futures. Antonelli is grateful to be part of their journey. Well known throughout the community, Antonelli and her ability to inspire leave a lasting impression.

Born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, Antonelli is proud of her Italian heritage and the strong Catholic faith her family instilled.

“I remember walking to church with my grandmother at just 3 or 4 years old and participating in Mass and parish activities,” she says. “Acts of service were so important; church felt like home.”

By the time she was 14, Antonelli knew her calling and entered the convent. “My parents weren’t ready for me to take that step, but I knew it’s what I wanted to do,” she says.

LEADING IN LEARNING

She studied at the Religious Teachers Filippini in Morristown. At age 16, she received her habit and, at 19, her final oblation. She attended Seton Hall University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and achieved a Master of Arts in administration and supervision from Fordham University. While getting her degrees, Antonelli was actively teaching, already making her mark on students.

“I taught fourth grade at Sacred Heart in Clifton,” says Antonelli. “I had many different experiences.” Over her career, Antonelli taught fifth through eighth grades at Holy Spirit School in Pequannock, seventh and eighth grades at Queen of Peace in Maywood, and was principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newark for 14 years. “That was a very exciting time to be a principal; I’ve loved all my experiences,” she says.

It was just after the flood of 1984 in Pequannock that Antonelli came to Holy Spirit as principal. “It was amazing to be principal of Holy Spirit School,” she says. “Everyone in the town came together after the floods, and I had just become principal afterwards. You could see how strong the town was after overcoming so much loss; it was inspiring.”

Ever since then, Antonelli has remained the proud principal of Holy Spirit School and stands by the School mission statement: “Holy Spirit School accepts the challenge of fulfilling our mission. Our mission is to educate the child’s mind, strengthen his God-given intellectual powers, satisfy his/her soul with knowledge of his/her faith, strengthen his/her body with organized physical activity and provide the setting where children are taught to interact with love and consideration for each other. We hear the words of Jesus enjoining us to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Luke 10:27.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

“Our school welcomes children from all different towns and Christian faiths,” says Antonelli. Although there are students from Pequannock Township, there are also students from Wayne, Lincoln Park, Kinnelon, Oakland, West Milford, Pompton Lakes and Towaco, to name just a handful.

The school has over 300 students between Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4 and kindergarten through eighth grade, with a strong academic focus as well as opportunities for team sports and performing arts.

Holy Spirit School relies on fundraising to help keep things going. “Our parents are wonderful, and fundraising enables our school to continue,” says Antonelli. “We work together toward a common goal; the children come first.”

Antonelli is proud of Holy Spirit School graduates who go on to do great things. Many have been admitted to wonderful schools, several with full scholarships. “We’re so proud of them; we have a fantastic program,” says Antonelli.

The school starts off with a golf tournament fundraiser at Black Bear in Franklin. Save the date for October 16, 2025! “It’s a wonderful day of golf, lunch, supper—we always honor someone each year, and attendance is over 100 people,” says Antonelli.

A gala fundraiser for scholarships takes place in November—a beautiful night with cocktail hour and dinner. There’s a tricky tray each year and beautiful musical productions from the well-known performing arts department at Holy Spirit. For 20 years the school has offered a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their talents. The entrance to The Parish Center is adorned with a mural of all past shows. “Everything goes to the school,” says Antonelli.

The most popular fundraiser—with beckoning, colorful lights and aromas of sausage-and-peppers sandwiches and zeppole—is the Holy Spirit Carnival in June. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for the school, “as long as the weather cooperates” says Antonelli. Parents at Holy Spirit run games or food, and it’s a family affair. “We rely on our parents to help with all of our fundraisers, and many memories are made,” says Antonelli.

JOYS AND ADVERSITIES

Holy Spirit School also partakes in activities in town, The school helps with the local Pequannock Food Pantry, participates in the Pequannock Memorial Day parade and welcomes Pequannock district music departments to visit and perform. “We welcome everyone to come see us,” says Antonelli.

The staff at Holy Spirit School feel the love. When Antonelli celebrated a milestone birthday, a surprise party was organized “they really got me,” says Antonelli with a laugh.

“Sister touches the minds and hearts of all who she is with,” says staff member Zaida O’Rourke. “She is so inspiring.”

Although Antonelli’s time at Holy Spirit has been joyous, it has not been without adversity. When the COVID-19 pandemic caused everything to stop, they did what they needed to do.

“I remember getting the call and closing school at 2 o’ clock; everyone went home with a Chromebook,” says Antonelli. “The teachers rallied, we followed the guidelines and everyone worked so hard. We were able to have an outdoor graduation for our eighth graders that June.”

Sadly, there was no carnival that year, resulting in fewer funds for the school, but Antonelli is grateful for government grants the school received in order to stay open. “We survived,” she says.

Antonelli is also very grateful for the pastor of Holy Spirit School, the Rev. Stephen Prisk, a big supporter of her efforts. “Father [Prisk] loved his own education in Catholic school and wants our children to have the same experience that he had,” says Antonelli.

He shares her feelings that school is a place of welcome. Prisk is also a very good sport, especially at the carnival. You may have even spotted him in the dunk tank!

Students walk over to Holy Spirit Church for Mass as a school once a month, and two classes are taken to Mass each week. “By the end of the month, children are getting many opportunities to visit Mass, it’s very special,” says Antonelli.

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Antonelli has been honored with the NCEA Principal of the Year Award, the Papal Award of the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice, the Vivere Christus Diocesan Award and the Caritas Award for Advocacy Catholic education from the Catholic Charities.

In addition to these distinguished honors, Antonelli held the position of provincial counselor and director of ministries as part of the administration for the Religious Teachers Filippini from 2001 to 2007. She was happy to be recently asked to serve as counselor again and was appointed director of ministries from 2019 until 2025, while continuing to lead Holy Spirit School as principal.

Antonelli is excited for the summer. Again, early June will kick off with the annual Holy Spirit Carnival, and at the end of June, Antonelli will travel with the General Chapter to Rome for a month. This is her fifth time taking the trip as part of the group (with members elected from the community.)

She looks forward to her time in Italy, where the chapter will ensure traditions and values are upheld, make decisions and seek guidance for the future, and are expected to have an audience with Pope Francis.

Antonelli looks forward to this special time as well as enjoying the Italian food of her heritage! Upon her return, she’ll be back to prepping for the 2025-2026 school year at Holy Spirit School.

“At the center of everything I do is serving God through my ministry in Catholic education,” she says. “We want the child’s experience to be one of joy— to learn to the best of their ability, to not only be functioning members of the world, but to know God and to share that love and have hope. We need hope now more than ever.”

Visit www.holyspiritschoolpequanock.org or call 973-835-5680 to learn more about Holy Spirit School and its mission. Follow the Holy Spirit School page on Facebook for updates on Holy Spirit Carnival, coming June 3 to 7.

BY ANTONIETTA HENRY