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Featured Articles:
A Trip to Kairos:This past quarter, Father Judge students led their classmates on the Kairos spiritual retreat at the Malvern Retreat House in Malvern, PA. Leading this retreat were seniors Bobby Clark, Austin Czapor, Nicholas Przychodzien, and Xavier Mercado. Kairos is a life-changing experience to help students deepen their faith and spiritual connection with God through reflective time, prayer, and various group activities. For our students, the retreat offered them a rare opportunity to step back from the real world and engage in an intentional mentality with 24 classmates. The discussion, times of personal reflection, and meditation guided each retreatant to explore their relationship with God, friends, and self. As we returned to campus, the retreatants were left with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity concerning their personal spiritual journey. "Kairos was an amazing experience. It was an extremely fun and thoughtful time of reflection. I was lucky enough to be one of the few leaders, and that chance to be a leader was monumental to me as I was able to contribute to the immense personal growth and reflection of the people who decided to go on that retreat with me and my fellow leaders." says Nicholas Przychodzien. We encourage all future junior and senior students to take the opportunity to participate in the next Kairos retreat!
- Austin Czapor '25 |
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The Presidential Election Results: The results of the 2024 presidential election are in, and we now know who the 47th president will be! Our last article regarding the election spoke about the two candidates, and in that article, we concluded that it would be difficult to predict the outcome. As I’m sure many of you know, our 47th President is Donald Trump, who beat Kamala Harris.
President Trump has been the president before, making this his second term. He beat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, and served as president for 4 years, spanning from early 2017 until early 2021. He has been the Republican nominee for the last 3 elections and has won 2 of the 3. He of course lost to President Biden in 2020, which followed mass controversy. After the results of the 2020 election, President Trump felt that he had been cheated and that the election was “rigged.” This led to a riot, where numerous people stormed the capitol building, resulting in 2 tragic deaths. The two people who unfortunately lost their lives were an Air Force veteran named Ashli Babbitt who was shot, and Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick who was pepper-sprayed, and days after suffered multiple strokes. This invasion of the capitol was unnecessary and tragic and is definitely something that has stained President Trump’s reputation. Whether President Trump caused these riots to happen is up for debate, but this is just one of many controversies that he was a part of. Despite all these disputes, President Trump is still popular with many Americans. Donald Trump received 50% of all votes, which is 76,842,134, the most out of any running candidate. He in turn received the majority of electoral votes, which was 312. He won 30 of the 50 states, but the big win for President Trump was winning Pennsylvania, a major swing state. Pennsylvania has been known for voting primarily for democrats, so Donald Trump, a Republican, winning it was definitely a moment. Kamala Harris, who was the running Democrat won the other 20 states and received 48.4% of the vote, or 74,341,049 votes, which gave her 226 electoral votes. It honestly wasn’t as close as most people thought it would be. This is all kind of known and old news, so let’s get into something more interesting. After president-elect Donald Trump won the election, he gave a victory speech, thanking his supporters and other people. He gave a special thanks to everyone who was a part of and supported the MAGA movement, with votes and donations. He of course thanked his wife and children for their help, and even thanked Dana White the CEO of the UFC. White had a second to say some words, and he expressed how much he respects and supports Trump. Our new Vice President, JD Vance, was also able to say a few words, and spoke of his appreciation for Trump, and said he will never stop fighting for America. Another person Trump thanked was Elon Musk, who will be leading the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump praised Elon for his heroics because he was able to save many lives in North Carolina with Starlink. Trump’s inauguration took place on January 20th. He will be our president for the next 4 years, and it’s easy to say there will be changes, minor and significant. Trump is now one of few presidents to win the presidential election between different terms. Trump and Vance have made many promises, do you think they will stay true to them? - Tyler Newbern '27 |
Miscellaneous Articles:
Interview On the Turkey Bowl Tradition: The Father Judge Turkey Bowl was a beloved Thanksgiving tradition that was canceled this year. This was the end of a long-standing tradition for the community. It brought together the students, alumni, and families. The safety concerns and the decrease in attendance played a role in stopping this tradition. It left a dent in the seniors this year, concerned that they couldn’t get on the field one last time with their teammates for their favorite game. It was more than just a football game. It was a reunion for the alumni who hadn’t seen each other in years and families who didn’t see each other often. It was a great chance for everyone to celebrate the school spirit and the tradition that has spanned generations. Even though we are all disappointed that the tradition is over, we all have hope that there will be a new tradition that will emerge that could try and carry on the tradition that the Turkey Bowl represented. As an alumni/student/administrator/faculty/staff, what are your opinions on this being the first year without the traditional Thanksgiving football game against Lincoln High School? How do you feel it has impacted the Father Judge school culture, if any?
- "I think it was a little different waking up on Thanksgiving morning and not having a turkey bowl to go to. The game has been such a part of many friends and families of the Father Judge community that I know, including mine, so I understand the disappointment that people had when they decided to cancel it, but on the other hand, the game has lost some of its luster over the past couple years, and with safety concerns and lower attendance all things were pointing in the direction of the game coming to an end. Who knows, maybe a new tradition can be created with a new team down the road, but until then, I know people still went out that morning and got together to celebrate the holiday, game, or no game!!" -Mr. Sean Tait, Class of 1995 "While I’m sad to see it go, I do understand that the world is changing, and with that, traditions sometimes have to change their form. I strongly believe that the Judge should look to replace the Turkey Bowl with another tradition that offers the same impact of school spirit and community support as the Turkey Bowl has had for years. What that looks like should take form after committees of alumni and school personnel discuss and debate. But I do hope some new tradition takes its place. It’s my dream one day, that possibly Turkey Bowl can even return in some form or fashion. We shall see. But one thing that will never fade or change is the Salesian Spirit and Crusader Pride that is embedded in our Father Judge Community forever." -Mr. Paul Coates, Class of 2018 "I'd like to tackle, no pun intended, this from a few different angles as a former football player alum and as a spectator alum after. As a football alum, I do feel bad for the Senior players not being able to play that one last game. I also feel bad that the football team doesn't make the solemn silent walk up Rowland Ave to the game, honoring our fallen 27. That was one of my proudest moments as a Father Judge student. To be honest, I have only returned to the Turkey Bowl twice since playing in the game, once my freshman year of college and once as the assistant dean of students, so the game wasn't really a tradition for me. But for many it was a chance to catch up with friends they haven't seen for months or even years. I believe the school does a great job of trying to bring alums together throughout the year to give everyone an opportunity to catch up with their former classmates. I know that if my mom was still with us, she would be disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to sell 50/50 tickets at the door like she did the previous 25 years. The game didn’t define the school but it was a great tradition. For this year and maybe the next few years people will be upset but moving forward people will look back and tell great stories about the times we had the Turkey Bowl." -Mr. David Smith, Class of 1999 "The turkey bowl has been a long-standing tradition in not only football z but for Northeast Philadelphia also. This year as I’m sure you all know it was cancelled and it hurt knowing I won’t be playing in it this year. Being my senior year made it a lot more upsetting because it’s a game I don’t only look forward to but everyone else. Alumni, teachers, and students who have all grown up on the game were extremely upset knowing that one of the greatest traditions is gone. As for me and my fellow seniors, it hurt more knowing we didn’t have another game to get ready for and that we would never play them again." -Senior David Peirson, Class of 2025 "Where do I begin as I reflect on the Father Judge Turkey Bowl? It’s a game my father has taken me to since I was a little boy a game that I, along with so many other kids, always dreamed of playing in. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the chance to play in two of them and to have experienced many more just by being there. But it’s about more than just us, the kids it’s about tradition. It’s about how my dad played in this very game, and how countless alumni, too, were part of this legacy. The Turkey Bowl is more than just a game; it’s a reunion of Father Judge alumni every Thanksgiving. There’s no other game where you can walk down Rowland Avenue and play football on Thanksgiving, except the Father Judge against Lincoln Turkey Bowl. And, now they have canceled it." -Senior Patrick Murphy, Class of 2025 "The Judge-Lincoln rivalry has spanned decades, creating countless unforgettable memories. Looking back, one of my biggest regrets as a kid was not attending this game, thinking the tradition would always be there. Playing in it, however, is something I will always be grateful for. The impact it had on me as a player is something I’ll carry with me forever, and it’s truly what it means to be a “Judge guy.” Walking down Rowland Ave with the sound of bagpipes in the air and seeing people outside their homes recording us gave me chills, making me feel incredibly fortunate for the opportunity. Being part of the team during the 34-year streak of beating Lincoln, and playing in that game both my sophomore and junior, will always be my favorite Father Judge memory. I hope one day they find a way to bring back this amazing tradition for the entire Father Judge community." -Senior Christian Haigh, Class of 2025 - Jagger Welsch '25 Fun Things to Do in Philly During Winter: The arrival of winter in Philadelphia makes it a wonderland; one of adventure, fun-filled activities, wonderful lights, and great places to visit. Whether one is living in Philadelphia or just visiting, there is lots to enjoy this season.
Dilworth Park Wintergarden begins the winter excitement right next to City Hall, where you can take a spin around the large rink, hang out inside the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin, or stroll around the Wintergarden on Greenfield Lawn. Meanwhile, if this is not enough holiday spirit for you, check out the Christmas Village at LOVE Park, a traditional European market offering unique gifts and treats with cups of hot, mulled wine under the soft glow of Christmas lights. For something fun on the water, check out Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest at Penn's Landing, where you can skate the rink, chill in a heated cabin, and even ride the Ferris wheel to take in the winter views. A block away, the Franklin Square Holiday Festival shines bright with the Electrical Spectacle Light Show, plus mini-golf and toasty holiday treats. Head out of cuty for a cool experience at Longwood Gardens. In the garden, there is a display amounting to over 500,000 lights. Accompanying these are glowing fountains and amazing flowers inside. Down South Philadelphia, the Miracle on South 13th Street provides a block of houses full of bright holiday lights that will light up a glorious view. New Year's Day brings the annual tradition of the Mummers Parade! This is a colorful procession of costumes, music, and dance. At the end of a day of sightseeing, warm up with a hot drink at Reading Terminal Market or a meal at one of the restaurants in Rittenhouse Square. - Anthony Przychodzien '27 |
2024-25 NBA Season: Rising Stars and Shocking Upsets As of January 22, 2025, the 2024-2025 NBA season has been filled with high-level play, surprise teams, and intriguing individual performances, setting the stage for a highly competitive second half of the year.
Top Teams and Key Storylines: The Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets are among the front runners in their respective conferences. The Cavs, led by Donovan Mitchell, have flourished with the huge leap by Darius Garland, providing an explosive offense alongside their established defense, which has been taken to the next level with a defensive leap by Evan Mobley. The Nuggets, remain strong behind Nikola Jokić’s exceptional play-making and leadership, with Jamal Murray finding his rhythm after a few injury-plagued seasons. Russell Westbrook has also begun to return to his prime form, helping the Nuggets remain contenders in the strong team filled Western Conference. The Boston Celtics are also in contention in the Eastern Conference again, thanks to another strong season from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Phoenix Suns, powered by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, have shown flashes of brilliance, although consistency remains a challenge. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, have emerged as a surprising contender, while the Detroit Pistons, behind Cade Cunningham, have exceeded expectations in the East. Breakout Players: Luka Dončić continues his MVP-caliber play for the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game, even with an injury sidelining him until early February at the earliest. Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 Draft, has made a strong impact for the San Antonio Spurs, showing elite defensive skills and scoring ability in his sophomore campaign. Injuries and Challenges: Injuries have been a storyline for several teams. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have dealt with health issues for the Los Angeles Lakers, which luckily hasn’t affected their consistency. Joel Embiid's and Paul George’s injury struggles on the other hand, have impacted the Philadelphia 76ers, as they remain reliant on his health for a playoff push. Looking Ahead: With the season half complete, the race for playoff positioning is tightening, particularly with the trade deadline approaching. Teams like the Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, and Golden State Warriors will likely be active in trying to strengthen their rosters for a late-season surge. The 2024-2025 NBA season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years, with the potential for a thrilling playoff battle. - Nathan Juliano '27 & Connor Stevenson '27 
LA Wildfires Still Burning & Containment Efforts
Los Angeles, CA - A week after the outbreaks, several wildfires continue to burn. The raging wildfires have reduced hundreds of houses to ashes and displaced thousands of residents.
The largest among the fires, Palisades Fire, raged in the Santa Monica Mountains, engulfing over 10,000 acres. It is still 20 percent contained, firefighters struggling to extend the perimeter of control. The cause of the fire is yet to be established, but it is speculated that downed power lines may have sparked the fire. Hot and dry conditions are tough to contain the fire in Southern California. "We are still in the early stages of this incident," said Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas. "We are working to protect lives and property, and we will not stop until the fires are contained." The wildfires have destroyed much of the Los Angeles area. In addition to the homes reduced to cinders, several roads have been closed, and businesses have been forced to shut down. The fires have also led to unhealthy air quality conditions in the region. Residents are also advised to be well-informed about the incidents and follow their local authorities for instructions. Homeowners who had been evacuated for safety reasons have been advised to wait until being told it would be safe before returning home. The American Red Cross is continuing to help any persons affected. Anyone in need of assistance or wanting to confirm the status regarding a loved one should call the Red Cross 1-800-RED-CROSS. - Aedan Walter '28 |
Upcoming Events:
- 1/28/25- Father Judge Academic Bowl
- 1/29/25- Father Judge Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day
- 1/31/25- Father Judge Student Appreciation Day
- 2/09/25- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl
- 2/10/25- Faculty Retreat
- 2/11/25- Student Council Winter Blood Drive
- 2/17/25- President's Day/Teacher Development
- 2/26/25- Q3 Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 2/28/25- 52nd Annual Basketball Marathon
- 3/01/25- Mother Son Dance
- 3/05/25- Ash Wednesday
- 3/12/25- Junior Class Retreat
