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Comunicas’ neighborhood media outlet, Dorchester Post, partnered with the Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy Neponset Campus (SJPII) to permanently promote the AJ Monteiro Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Alberto “AJ” Monteiro was violently killed on September 5th, 2017, when he was getting a haircut just one mile away from his home, in the neighborhood of Dorchester, in Boston, Massachusetts. AJ graduated from the St. John Paul II Catholic Academy in June 2010 and then attended the Catholic Memorial High School in the neighborhood of Roxbury. He was also a football athlete since the age of 6 as a running back and tight end for the Dorchester Eagles Pop Warner Team, and then, with the Catholic Memorial Knights.
In a ceremony held at SJPII Academy on November 21st, 2018, the partnership was officially announced with statements from AJ’s mother and the Scholarship founder Arminda Baptista, SJPII Principal Nick Cuomo, and Comunicas Foundation’s founder Juan Perfetti.
The gathering was attended by Saint John Paul II Academy regional director Kate Brandley, academy staff, neighbors, community leaders and the AJ Monteiro scholarship first recipient, Jarrell Saget.
“We are excited that our family continue to grow”
Nick Cuomo, principal of the Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy Neponset Campus, during his statement | Photo by Comunicas FoundationEscorted by the USA, Vatican flags, and with hundreds of items donated by the community to the Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry as background, Principal Nick Cuomo presented the opening statements of the ceremony, starting with a family prayer.
“AJ is a proud graduate of the Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy,” said Cuomo, “among many things he was known for being a humble and loyal friend.”
“He will always welcome you with his infectious smile and humbleness,” expressed Cuomo.
AJ’s scholarship first recipient Jarrell Saget (center) attended the ceremony and received a gift from AJ’s family | Photo by Comunicas FoundationCuomo explained that the AJ scholarship goes to help an 8th-grade student that show the characteristics that AJ showed: a spirit of love, peace, and friendship.
Talking about the AJ scholarship first recipient, Jarrell Saget, Principal Cuomo said he is doing “quite well” in academics, and especially as a “community citizen” now attending Saint Joseph preparatory.
Giving AJ’s soul to the World
AJ’s mother and the scholarship founder, Arminda Baptista, during her statement | Photo by Comunicas FoundationIn a heartfelt address, Arminda Baptista described her son and the reasons that led her to create the scholarship. At the time of his death, being 21 years old- AJ was a student at Regis College, majoring in Business Management. He is the big brother to two siblings.
“I created this scholarship to honor my son AJ Monteiro, his life, and to keep his memory alive, but also to help a child continue education at a Catholic school,” said Arminda.
“He showed strong morals, love, respect for God and a spirit of friendship. He was hardworking and determined. He was humble and loyal,” explained the mother.
Arminda’s goal with the scholarship is to give a child the same opportunity that her son had to earn an education that is found in “love, morals, and faith.”
In the words of Pope Francis, said Arminda, “Catholic education gives soul to the world. Now we are giving AJ’s soul to the World as well.”
“You chose to share your love for AJ with the community”
Juan Perfetti, Comunicas founder and editor of the Dorchester Post, during his statement | Photo by Comunicas FoundationComunicas founder and editor of the Dorchester Post, Juan Perfetti, closed the ceremony with a statement thanking Arminda Baptista and the Saint John Paul II Academy for the opportunity to promote “peace and unity in the neighborhood.”
Perfetti started his address with a quote from the Gospel according to Matthew: “Don’t judge other people, and you will not be judged. You will be judged in the same way that you judge others. And the forgiveness you give to others will be given to you.”
“Arminda, I want to thank you for being an example of courage, and for showing us that there is nothing stronger than love,” expressed Perfetti.
“Your love for your son, AJ, is so great, that despite all the hatred that caused his physical loss, despite all the pain that this act of violence caused in so many people, you chose to share your love for AJ with the community and created the AJ Monteiro Scholarship Fund to promote peace and unity in the neighborhood,” said Juan Perfetti to AJ’s mother.
Perfetti explained the partnership, consisting of a “permanent advertisement” in the DorchesterPost.com to raise awareness about AJ’s story, with the hope that “many children in the community will get a good education thanks to the AJ Monteiro Scholarship fund, and also, hoping that acts of violence like the one that ended AJ’s life in this planet do not happen again.”
Arminda Baptista showing the Advertisement Donation certificate from the Comunicas Foundation | Photo by Comunicas FoundationAfter the ceremony, young students from the SJPII academy offered a beautiful song, and the attendees enjoyed coffee and light refreshments.
Principal Nick Cuomo, Regional Director Kate Brandley, AJ’s mother Arminda Baptista with her daughter and son, and Juan Perfetti | Photo by Comunicas Foundation
With the young students that offered a beautiful song to the attendees | Photo by Comunicas FoundationClick here to learn more about AJ’s story and support the AJ Monteiro Memorial Scholarship Fund.
