FEATURE
During Jesuit's World Youth Day
pilgrimage to Europe in 2016, Scicchitano
was inspired by the desk of
St. Ignatius at the Gesu in Rome
In addition to Scicchitano’s roots with
Pacheco and her impact on him, he
Neuburger.
Neuburger’s tenure began at Jesuit,
Scicchitano was focused mainly on
coaching and teaching. However, they
had a conversation in which Neuburger
asked him to think about his future and
consider becoming an administrator.
Scicchitano took an active role in
he was named Director of Student
became Social Studies Department
“Barry pushed me, and he saw leadership
potential in me when I didn’t see it
myself,” he said. “He planted that seed.”
During this time, Scicchitano also took
a more active role in Campus Ministry
at Jesuit. He chaperoned numerous
Kairos retreats and pilgrimages, such as
and Austria), the Marian Pilgrimage in
Normandy, and Rome).
-
ticular impact. The pilgrimage took the
it visited the Gesu, the Jesuit mother
church that also houses the Rooms of
St. Ignatius of Loyola. Scicchitano vividly
remembers seeing the desk of the fabled
founder of the Society of Jesus, and
taking a photo with it.
He realized St. Ignatius as the ultimate
example of someone having a profound
“It was really a clarifying moment for
me,” he said. “As much as I want to be
blowing the whistle at practice, as much
as I want to be playing review football
20 JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • SPRING 2021
I
shifted to a full-time administrative
role, as he became the Assistant Disciplinarian
while still teaching two social
studies sections. However, he stopped
teaching and coaching when he was
named Assistant Principal for Discipline
In the fall, Neuburger announced
his retirement, effective at the end of
conducted a nationwide search, and
the national search had yielded a
homegrown outcome, as Scicchitano
school year.
After meeting with school president Fr.
Richard C. Hermes, S.J. and learning of
his hiring, Scicchitano shared the news
with his biggest supporters. First, he
called his wife, Jenny, a speech-language
Then, he called his parents, the same
people who got him to take a look at
with him the whole way through.
“I’m just thankful for the support of
my wife, my kids, and my parents,”
Scicchitano said. “I wouldn’t be here if
they made to send me to this school, and
Barry Neuburger (center) was recognized for 10 years of
distinguished service as Jesuit's Principal on April 26 at
Convocation by Debra Pacheco and Father Hermes