Thank You, Brother Frank

June 24, 2021
Posted at 09:46h in Alumni, News by

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends,

As I write my final letter for the Colt Connection, I want to express my thanks for the opportunity to serve the CBA community for the past 12 years. I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for offering me the position of President back in 2009. Their guidance during my years in office has been invaluable. The same is true for the Brothers’ Community at CBA. Their fraternal support has been greatly appreciated.

The hallmark of any Lasallian institution is dedicated people working together to provide an excellent Catholic education, and this has certainly been my experience at CBA. The best part of my job was getting to interact with so many of those wonderfully dedicated people.

I am grateful to the parents, who have sacrificed so that their sons could attend CBA. Through the years, the Mothers’ Club and Fathers’ Club members were nothing short of amazing, working tirelessly to promote camaraderie and raise funds to help support the school. It has been my privilege to work with three outstanding Principals and their administrative teams. I want to thank our faculty and many staff members for their dedication to our students. I have worked closely with my colleagues in Fleming Hall, and I am grateful for their encouragement and fellowship. It has been a pleasure to be involved with the Alumni Association, and I have enjoyed attending many events both here in Lincroft and in the various cities across the United States. The support of our nearly 12,000 alumni will always be key to keeping the CBA tradition alive and well.

Finally, I have been truly blessed by getting to know close to 3,000 students over my time here! They are outstanding young men, and it has been a privilege to work with them as students, and watch them graduate and become the young men God has called them to be!

May God continue to bless all the members of this incredible CBA community.

Live Jesus in Our Hearts… Forever!

Br. Frank Byrne, FSC ’75
President

A Pipe Out to Remember

In 2010, Brother Frank – a longtime bagpipe player – played the seniors out on their last day of classes, starting a tradition that has become a school favorite. Soon enough, he established the CBA Pipes & Drums Band and the band would take part in the annual tradition with Brother Frank. On the last day of school, the band surprised him with a march out of his own, with the students lining the hallways to clap him out. It was certainly a pipe out to remember and a perfect student send-off for Brother Frank. View a video clip here.

A Night of Celebration

On June 19th, the CBA community gathered to celebrate Brother Frank’s tenure as president with a Mass and reception on campus. Alumni, parents, students, faculty and friends of CBA were on hand to thank Brother Frank and wish him well in his next role as Associate Provincial for DENA. Longtime CBA chaplains Father John Folchetti and Father Gary Koch celebrated Mass, before Bill Moss ’75 introduced Brother Frank, a CBA classmate, for his farewell address.

In case you missed it…

A Look Back at 12 Years of Success
2009: Brother Frank Byrne, a 1975 alumnus, was named the second president in CBA history, succeeding the late Brother Andrew O’Gara. He came to CBA after serving as the Provincial of the New York District and had been a CBA Board of Trustees member since 2002.
2012: With Brother Frank’s leadership, the Project 50th campaign adds the Quinn Library & Media Center, new administrative and guidance office suites, multiple new classrooms and labs, and an expanded fitness center. Bishop John Smith attends the dedication ceremony to bless the new building.
2013: Brother Frank established the CBA Pipes & Drums Band in 2011 and the first seniors in the Band graduate with the Class of 2013. The Band now regularly has 40 students on the roster each year.
2015: Brother Frank was a driving force behind CBA expanding its scholarships and financial aid offerings during his tenure. The Academy now has over 80 named scholarships (and counting), while awarding a total of nearly $2 million in scholarships and financial aid each school year.
2017: With Brother Frank’s guidance and the efforts of Mr. Fales and Mr. Nunan, CBA earned the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence for High Performing Schools. It was the second time that CBA won the prestigious honor, with the first coming back in 1983.
2019: Brother Frank launches the Forever CBA: Securing Our Mission capital campaign, which has raised almost $12 million to date towards a $14 million goal. The campaign focuses on both facilities and endowment, with construction on multiple facilities beginning this summer.
About Christian Brothers Academy:
Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) is a private, Catholic, academic preparatory school for boys located in Lincroft, New Jersey. Founded in 1959 and taught in the Lasallian tradition, CBA is dedicated to helping students become intellectually mature and morally responsible leaders for society. Through generous contributions from family and friends of the Academy, CBA awards over $1.9 million in scholarships and financial aid to current students. Experience the Academy at CBALincroftNJ.org.

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