Saturday, April 27th, 2024
Honoring
Monsignor Peter G. Finn
(Posthumous)
Principal - 1977 - 1983
Jim Quinn | Class of 1970
Saturday, April 27th, 2024
The Vanderbilt at South Beach
300 Father Capodanno Blvd, Staten Island, NY
Cocktails | 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Dinner | 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
RSVP | Wednesday, April 10th
Live Entertainment | Black Tie Preferred
Online sales are now closed. If you would like to attend the ball, please email Peter Kennedy.
About The Ball
The Vir Fidelis Ball was established in February of 2020 to honor and thank leaders who have helped build Monsignor Farrell High School into the revered institution it is today. Our third Vir Fidelis Ball will honor two men who have made monumental contributions to the Monsignor Farrell legacy.
The late Monsignor Peter Finn, a beloved former Monsignor Farrell Principal and Blessed Sacrament Parish Pastor, and Mr. Jim Quinn, Monsignor Farrell alumnus from the Class of 1970 and a long-serving member of the Monsignor Farrell High School Board of Trustees, will be honored for their decades of service to Monsignor Farrell High School and their lifetime of service to their community.
The evening will be filled with Monsignor Farrell Pride and great fun, food, and entertainment. The talents of Monsignor Farrell students will be on display with performances from the Farrell Players and the Monsignor Farrell Band, and student leaders will address the audience with impactful speeches about how meaningful it is to them to be a Vir Fidelis.
2024 Honorees
The late Monsignor Peter G. Finn served as Principal of Monsignor Farrell High School from 1977 - 1983. He was a member of the school's board of trustees at the time of his passing in 2022.
The epitome of a Vir Fidelis, Monsignor Finn was an ardent advocate for the marginalized and economically disadvantaged. He was a true example of how to actively give of ourselves to others.
He was ordained into the priesthood on May 29, 1965, and went on to earn advanced degrees from the former Richmond Community College and Columbia University.
Following his ordination, then-Father Finn was first assigned to St. Mary's, Rosebank (Staten Island) in 1965. In 1966 he was named Parochial Vicar of St. Catharine’s in Pelham, NY.
Fr. Finn joined the Monsignor Farrell High School faculty in 1968 and taught religion. He went on to become chairman of the department of religious education, as well as director of athletics, and a moderator for numerous extracurricular activities.
From 1974 - 1977, he also served as District Superintendent of Schools on Staten Island as well as Associate Superintendent of Schools in the Archdiocese of New York from 1976 - 1977.
Monsignor Finn celebrating Mass
In 1977 he was named Principal of Monsignor Farrell High School, taking over for Monsignor William J. Barnes. Fr. Finn continued in this role until 1983 when he was called to serve as the Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Communications.
In 1986 he was elevated to Monsignor and became Pastor of St. Joseph and St. Thomas, Staten Island in 1989, where he served until 2001.
Monsignor Finn was a supporter of many local charities on Staten Island and the Council of Churches. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Knights of Malta. He also served on numerous boards, including Project Hospitality, the Staten Island Catholic Youth Organization, Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, the Seton Foundation, Archdiocese of the Ladies of Charity, and the Staten Island Center for Independent Living.
From 2001 - 2007 Monsignor Finn served as Co-Vicar of Staten Island with the late Monsignor James Dorney and was the Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, N.Y.
In 2007 he was named Pastor of Blessed Sacrament on Staten Island, then served as administrator from 2013-2019. He celebrated his Golden Jubilee Mass at Blessed Sacrament in 2019, marking his 50th anniversary in the priesthood.
Monsignor also served the archdiocese on Staten Island as co-regional vicar from 1998-2014, co-dean from 2014-2015, and dean from 2015-2019. He also served a five-year term as an Archdiocesan Consulter, which began in 2005.
Jim was featured in Irish America Magazine in 2007
Past Honorees
2020
Bishop Edmund Whalen '76 | Former Principal
2021
Monsignor Thomas Bergin | Former Principal and Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Mr. Larry Musanti | Monsignor Farrell Principal