North Shore couple donates $1 million for Catholic school scholarship fund

By Stewart Bishop, Town Correspondent

A North Shore couple has donated $1 million for a scholarship fund to benefit students at St. Mary's school, a Catholic college-preparatory school in Lynn.

William and Jane Mosakowski, of Swampscott, announced the creation of the Rev. Monsignor Paul V. Garrity Scholarship Fund on Wednesday night during a reception at Kernwood Country Club in Salem, school officials said.

The $1 million fund will be paid by the Mosakowskis over the next 10 years. Scholarships will be awarded each year to students in need of tuition assistance, school officials said. The scholarship winners will receive assistance throughout four years of high school. 30 students have already received assistance from the fund this year, according to St. Mary's Head of School, Dr. Raymond A. Bastarache.

"This is a great boost for us," Bastarache said. "We serve families from urban centers in Lynn, and others like Peabody, Revere, East Boston and Salem. Many of these families are in need of financial assistance. This is really huge for us."

The Mosakowskis, parishioners at St. Mary's since 1982, said they wanted to provide and opportunity young people who might not be able to afford an education at St. Mary's.

"Private education, secular or religious, is getting to be expensive," said William Mosakowski, who also serves on the board of trustees at the school. "A lot of families just can't afford the costs."

Mosakowski said the gift was also a way to honor his friend and former pastor Paul Garrity, who was pastor of St. Mary's Parish from 1992 until 2010. Mosakowski credits Garrity with leading an impressive rebirth and transformative effort at St. Mary's School.

At the ceremony, Garrity, now pastor of St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood, thanked the Mosakowski's for their support of St. Mary's.

"Bill and Jane have been great friends of St. Mary's High School and truly understand that investing in young people today is the best investment that we can make in the future of our church and our nation," Garrity said.

School officials said during Garrity's tenure at St. Mary's, he helped to lead the school's first comprehensive capital campaign, which raised almost $10 million and oversaw significant growth in enrollment, newfound financial stability, expanded athletic programs, increased alumni participation, and campus expansion with the construction of the William F. Connell center in 2005.

"The work he did, breathing new life into the St. Mary's community is an inspiration to us all," Mosakowski said of Garrity. "My hope is that the recipients of this scholarship will be able to carry out his legacy."

Bastarache said Mosakowski's commitment to Catholic education is impressive and said his gift will change many student's lives.  

"Bill's unwavering support for Catholic education cannot be overstated," Bastarache said. "He and Jane use their time, talent and treasure to help St. Mary's mission of offering a clear path in developing the entire child; mind, body and soul."

Stewart Bishop can be reached at sbishop@globe.com