Lynn school installs Regan

LYNN – Grace Cotter Regan was officially installed as St. Mary’s new Head of School Tuesday, and an old friend, Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, celebrated a Mass in her honor.”Well that was overwhelming,” Regan announced to a packed church following Mass, a blessing and a prayer in her honor.Regan was named headmistress last spring. She replaces Raymond A. Bastarache, who retired in June. Jack King, chairman of St. Mary’s Board of Trustees, said Regan continues a long tradition of women leading the school. St. Mary’s was founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Notre Dame and later was run by the Sisters of St. Joseph.View a photo galleryAnn McGreevy, who works at the school part time, called Regan’s installation a great new beginning for the school that hasn’t seen a female head of school in recent times.The Mass drew St. Mary’s staff, students and trustees, parishioners and Regan’s family and friends and a former St. Mary’s pastor, Monsignor Paul Garrity.O’Malley delivered a brief homily in which he urged students to pray for the gift of wisdom.”We live in an information age with iPads and iPhones and the cyber world,” he said. “And it’s good that there is so much information out there because it’s useful but it’s only good if you have wisdom ? knowledge without wisdom can result in a lot of atrocities.”Regan, a 1982 graduate of Boston College, said she was moved by the Mass and that O’Malley was on hand to celebrate. She said she got to know O’Malley when she served as executive director of Advancement for the New England Province of Jesuits, where she worked for about seven years.”He’s a good friend,” she said.She noted her father had amyotrophic laterial sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and that O’Malley “was so good to come and visit him regularly.”Regan officially began her role as headmistress nearly four months ago and she said, “I’m loving it.”She said she looks forward to getting to know the students better, continuing to build the school’s brand “and take it to the next level.”Before the Mass ended, St. Mary’s senior Vinnie Capano approached the altar and asked the parish pastor, Father Brian Flynn, if he had any advice for the students with regard to Regan. Flynn said Regan has a very strong Catholic faith and would expect everyone to work hard, strive for excellence and aim for lives of integrity.”And I’ll give you one other piece of advice,” he added. “In my all my experience, I’ve learned it’s always good to give the boss a gift.”With that, Capano presented Regan with a St. Mary’s sweatshirt.”Isn’t it right to give your boss a gift as well?” Father Flynn was asked.Then Capano presented O’Malley with a sweatshirt, too.Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].