To Be a Casey

What is a Casey?

Monsignor Casey and Sister Eleanor, the principal of the school, made a formidable team.  Casey believed strongly in organized programs for the youth of the community and he was an avid sports fan. Monsignor and Sister organized a school band and orchestra.  He immediately hired a full scale coaching staff at Red Bank Catholic, almost unheard of in his day.  He energized the Athletic Association.  Monsignor Casey then used his own naval pension to buy uniforms and sports equipment for our teams.  A strong advocate of community involvement as well, Casey founded the Legal Aid Society of Monmouth County; he served on the planning board of the local Red Cross and he sat on the Board of Governors of Monmouth Medical Center.

When he was well into his eighties, having long since retired from Red Bank Catholic and his subsequent assignments, Monsignor Casey sat on the sidelines during RBC football games.  The local papers referred to him as our special good luck charm.  Above the doors of the original school, our school motto is etched, “Pro Deo et Patria.”  It means for God and country.  Monsignor Casey embodied that motto devoting his life to God, to his country and to his beloved Red Bank Catholic.

There are Eagles and Lions and Colts and Bulldogs in town.  We are Caseys.  We honor our namesake every time we gather whether it be in our chapel, in a classroom, on a court, track or field.  We honor Monsignor Casey’s legacy when we serve the community.  We pay tribute to his inspiration when we act rather than watch.  We celebrate his life when we live up to his example.  We are Caseys and that means we are teachers and scholars, advocates and ambassadors; we are messengers and innovators; we are humanitarians and agents of change; we are citizens of the world and we are the tradition.  We are Caseys and that is a responsibility, an honor and a standard.  We are Caseys so we are ready to be everything that that title asks us to be.