The Marian High School board of directors honored longtime Chair Patrick Reilly (parent ’98, ’02, ’11), of Jim Thorpe, for 12 years of dedicated service.

At a board dinner, Bill Stulginsky ’69, treasurer, presented Reilly with a proclamation recognizing his leadership and commitment.

The board also named its first Board Emeritus members: Lee Schilling ’57, of Tamaqua; Joe Velitsky Esq. ’62, of Summit Hill; and Jerome Palko (grandparent ’08, ’08), of Weatherly, acknowledging their years of exemplary service.

Dave Bielen ’69, P ’21, GP ’24, was unanimously appointed as the new chair.

“It’s an honor to step into this role and continue the legacy of leadership exemplified by Pat Reilly,” said Bielen. “His dedication to Marian has been extraordinary, and I look forward to building on that foundation as we ensure a vibrant future for our school.”

Bielen’s appointment comes as Marian advances a new strategic vision for Catholic education across Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties.

Record budget

The Marian Catholic board of directors has approved a record $3.5 million operating budget for the 2025—2026 school year.

The plan includes $400,000 in financial aid and more than $150,000 for busing students from Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Palmerton, Frackville, and Shenandoah — part of the school’s effort to keep Catholic education accessible.

“For nearly 75 years, the Marian mission has called us to educate young men and women in faith with academic excellence and service to others at the heart of all we do,” said Bielen. “This amount in financial aid reflects our commitment to ensuring that Marian remains a place of opportunity for students and families seeking a values-based, high-quality education.”

The expanded aid program, supported by Marian’s donors, builds on the $350,000 already awarded each year to students.

Other highlights of the budget include:

• $150,000 for free student busing;

• $25,000 for marketing and advancement initiatives, and;

• More than $1 million in projected philanthropic support, including the Marian Fund and Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.

“This is a fiscally responsible and forward-looking budget that balances immediate impact with long-term sustainability,” said Bill Stulginsky, chair of the finance committee. “We are strategically investing in people, programs, and facilities while upholding our mission of educational excellence and stewardship.”

Marian will host an open house on Oct. 25, for families “to experience firsthand the spirit, community, and excellence that define Marian High School.”

“As we look ahead to Marian’s 75th anniversary in 2029, there’s a growing sense of excitement among alumni, families, and friends,” added Larry Furey ’79, chair of the advancement committee. “This record budget signals that Marian is honoring its past while building its future. We are laying the groundwork for a capital campaign to enhance facilities, expand academic opportunities, grow the endowment, and strengthen our Catholic mission for generations to come.

For more information about Marian High School or to learn how to support its mission, visit www.mariancatholichs.org.