Honoring Fr. Chris Beretta, OSFS

Fr. Chris Beretta, OSFS, at Salesianum School’s assembly.

A meaningful new tradition was started at Salesianum School last Friday during a special PREP assembly honoring Fr. Chris Beretta, OSFS, on National Principal’s Day. The event brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the Oblate community to celebrate Fr. Beretta’s sixteen years of leadership and the enduring mark he has left on the school.

Through reflections from Mrs. Katie Orga Godfrey, Brady Kropp ’26, and Fr. Brian Zumbrum, OSFS, the community revisited the many ways Fr. Beretta’s leadership has shaped the school.

A big surprise came when the Student Council unveiled the Beretta Bell. Rather than a gift Fr. Beretta could take with him, the bell is something that will remain on campus as a symbol of his influence that future generations of students will come to know.

The Beretta Bell will be installed outside the athletic center and formally introduced as part of a new tradition beginning this fall. It will be rung exclusively by seniors to commemorate significant achievements across academics, athletics, the arts, and service. Each ringing will serve as a reminder of what can be accomplished through perseverance and Brotherhood. This idea of a victory bell had long been Fr. Beretta’s dream, and its realization reflects the collective appreciation of the entire school community.

In a symbolic moment, Fr. Beretta himself rang the bell for the first time, marking both a celebration of the present and the beginning of a tradition that will carry his legacy forward.

Fr. Beretta admitted that, despite rarely being at a loss for words, he struggled to express his gratitude to the school community fully. He said, “In a total surprise, I was presented not with something to take with me, but with something that stays here at Salesianum, something to be remembered even by future students I won’t ever meet. Every part of Friday morning’s presentation hit home — the ritual, the story, and the bell itself — all capturing and symbolizing what I loved the most about my time at Salesinaum School: the countless memories, the tears of loss and tears of joy, and what WE built TOGETHER in my time as principal.” He emphasized that the school’s strength lies in its history, that each generation “stands on the shoulders of giants” while adding to a legacy that began in 1903.

As his tenure nears its conclusion at the end of the school year, Fr. Beretta thanked alumni, families, colleagues, Oblate confreres, and generations of Salesian brothers. He described his role as “the honor of a lifetime.”

Drawing on the words of St. Francis de Sales, Fr. Beretta reminded the school community that, “Those who go, stay; those who stay, go.” With the new tradition of ringing of the Beretta Bell, that sentiment will live on for generations, a lasting tribute to leadership, legacy, and the enduring spirit of all those who are part of the Salesianum community.