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Queen of Angels Church in Newark, New Jersey is an SMA parish.

Fr. James McConnell, SMA, is the pastor. The parish and its school are located in a neighborhood struggling to recover from decades of urban decay. Both school and parish are regarded by many as a stabilizing force in the area's recovery.

"I don't see this as my job," said Sharon Massey, Vice-Principal of Queen of Angels (QA) School. "It is my ministry. I can live my faith here." This affirmation is typical of the staff at QA where students flourish. "We want to help our children become all they can be," said Evelyn Hay, the school principal.

On a recent winter afternoon, Hay and Massey discussed the realities that challenge their efforts. A recent theft devastated their computer lab. The boiler needs replacing. The school has few extra-curricular activities because of limited funds. "We're praying for a miracle," said Hay with a smile. Yet, the undaunted administrators and their dedicated faculty and staff have made incredible strides for QA students.

The school currently enrolls 260 students from pre-k to Grade 8, a healthy figure in the Archdiocese of Newark where several parochial schools recently closed for economic reasons. Many of the faculty and staff live in the area and are QA parishioners.

"We're a family here," said Massey. In fact, some of them really are related. Massey's sister is on the faculty, and her granddaughter is a pre-K student, to give only one example. Also, several QA alumni have returned to work at the school, and many now enroll their own children. "It's our reputation," said Massey. "People have told me they feel their children are in good hands here. One child's father was impressed to learn that Ms. Hay and I know each child by name."

Both former teachers at the school, Hay and Massey now spend countless hours seeking creative ways to continually improve QA's curriculum and performance despite a tight budget. "We take advantage of every opportunity," said Massey of the federal and state grants, private foundations, and other options they pursue. Most recent school projects were financed by a combination of outside funding and school budget allotments.

"We have a state-of-the art technology lab," Massey said proudly. "There are 30 computers in the lab and every classroom has a computer. The building is completely wired," she added. The $100,000 project was largely funded by the federal E-Rate Program, established to assist needier schools in technology advancement.

Great effort is made to keep textbooks current. "We rotate replacements over a five-year period, so each segment is up to date," said Massey. Federal funds assist with this, but religion texts must be purchased from the school budget.

The QA facility is attractive and cheerful, though the vice-principal dreams of a fresh paint job for the interior. An adjacent building houses the Child Care Center for the pre-K and kindergarten classes and a three-room school library. A walk through the school with the vice-principal is an uplifting experience. Classrooms are busy. Students straighten up when the vice-principal and a visitor enter. Little ones run to hug Massey.

"Where's your smile," she teases one frowning first-grader who brightened up right away. "Tuck in your shirt," she advises an older boy whose school uniform was in disarray. It is clear the students and Massey share mutual respect and affection. When she stopped to watch a lively dance class in progress, some of the youngsters urged her to try some new moves.

"We also work hard to encourage the academically talented," said Massey.

In recent years, selected QA students have participated in academic enrichment programs.

Some have won scholarships to impressive secondary schools, including out-of-state boarding schools that offer an alternative to urban living. On this January day, a representative from the Wight Foundation, an enrichment program in Newark was making a presentation to seventh graders.

"This program is not for everyone," said Ed Johnson to his rapt audience. "But if you want to work hard and make the best of yourself, the sky's the limit." Jason Goodwin, an eighth-grader who attended the Wight program won a 4-year scholarship for high school. He has not yet decided which school he will attend. (see sidebar story).

The QA bulletin board is papered with letters and report cards from grateful graduates now enjoying schools they would not have been able to attend financially had it not been for the special programs and the QA encouragement. "But we also know not every child is suited to college, so we look for vocational opportunities to recommend," said Massey. The administrator also said QA has accepted students who had difficulties in other schools, yet thrived here. "One of them turned out to be a valedictorian," she smiled.

Yet financial difficulties and urban challenges take their toll. Last Labor Day, 16 laptop computers, a television and other equipment were stolen. "We hadn't had a break-in for a long time until then," lamented the principal, who said the insurance company did not cover the total loss. "We need a new security system, but that will cost $600," she said. The teachers rejoice that so far, temperatures have been unseasonably mild, because the school also needs a new oil tank and boiler. The entire replacement procedure is estimated at $25,000. "My biggest dream for the future is an endowment fund," said Massey. That would provide something to dip into when emergencies like this boiler crop up. We try to squirrel away funds for these challenges, but it's never enough," she said. In addition, QA struggles to offer healthy options to their student, who- like many young people - encounter so many negative influences from the world today. "We need more after-school programs, but lack the budget," said Massey. The only extra-curricular activities currently available at QA are cheerleading and a co-ed basketball team at a neighboring school. QA would like to have their current music teacher offer an after-school arts and music program. "But salary and supplies would cost about $10,000," said Massey.

Massey also fears economics may affect tuition. Current tuition is $2,450 per student. Families that enroll more than one child receive a discount, and some needier students qualify for scholarships. "We may not be able to offer the family discount in the future," said Massey regretfully. Though the Archdiocese has advised the school to employ more cost-effective cutting, the QA administrators are reluctant to pass on too many financial burdens to the already-struggling parents of their students. "We have faith, and we're praying for a miracle," she said. "We're careful, but it's not all about the bottom line," she insisted. "We're here to evangelize…to be Jesus to one another and that's what we will continue to do.”

READ MORE ABOUT JASON AND A-LA HERE