About the Author
Born in New York City to Paul and Anne Heelan, I enjoyed a tranquil and exciting childhood in Elmhurst, Queens County with my sister, Mary, and my brother, Bob. Attending St. Bartholomew’s Elementary School, I sang in the choir, and made many lifelong friends in my hometown.
Going on to Xavier High School on West 16th Street in Manhattan, I sang in the Glee
Following graduation, I sailed on an Italian ship to cross the seas to Europe, and to the Bavarian capital of Munich, where I had been awarded a Rockefeller grant sponsored by the “Institute for the Study of the USSR” as a translator from Russian to English.
I then attended Maryknoll Seminary, and learned valuable insights for the rest of my life: cherishing the “Word of God,” soul catharsis, the reality of the Holy Spirit, and a consciousness of what George Washington consistently alluded to as “the invisible hand of Providence.”
Deciding to leave the Seminary, I then accepted a job teaching American History at Power Memorial High School in New York City, and sometimes interacted with student and basketball legend, Lew Alcindor.
At a dance in City Center, I met the love of my life, Ann, and after a brief courtship, we married each other in St. Angela Merici in the Bronx near Yankee Stadium, with Reverend Robert Imbelli officiating.
After nine years of being unsuccessful in conceiving a child, we adopted a Korean,
Not content with my education, I attended
With this background, I was appointed Superintendent of Schools in Tuxedo Park, NY. Eight years later, my family moved to Edison, New Jersey, and I was selected as Superintendent in Manville, NJ, where I worked until retirement in 2002.
Through these productive years in education, I never lost my avocation for singing and opera. I signed up for the Adult Saturday Workshop at the Juilliard School, and studied opera under Maestro Vincent LaSelva, who was a regular Conductor at City Opera at Lincoln Center. I had the opportunity to sing throughout the city area in the Chorus with his opera company in Aida, Rigoletto, La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, and Tosca.
As a retired educator, I was elected to the Edison Board of Education that oversaw the learning needs of 17,000 students in the Township. I served in this capacity as a Board Member for seven years, two of them as Board President.
Feeling a call to help
I am also a Scripture Lector and Eucharistic Minister on Sundays and at Mass during the week at Our Lady of Peace in Edison. My wife and I teach Religious Education to
My wife, Ann, and I enjoy relative good
About the Book
Jesus Christ died a humiliating and agonizing death on the cross in atonement for our sins, thereby opening the “gates of heaven,” and
The Apostle Paul of Tarsus viewed the Resurrection of Jesus as a critical tenet of faith in evangelizing people to Christianity. So it is fitting that the “Stations of the Risen Christ” celebrate the reality of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, his many appearances to his disciples, culminating in his Ascension into heaven, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples.
Christians relive these mysteries during the Easter Season, and long for the day beyond this world’s inevitable hardships, crosses, and death when we will reach the other side, and experience Jesus in heaven with our own resurrected bodies.
This is why I authored “Stations of the Risen Christ,” to inspire others to a deeper love of Jesus Christ and gratitude for God’s plan for our salvation.
4 comments
claire
I learned a lot from your book. I’m glad you finally had the chance to be featured as the author of the week.
Isaac
He really does deserve to be in this section.
Patricia Torpie
Hello Dr. Heelan. Just looked up your name and found you. Please give Ann my best.
Congratulations on your book. Sounds like you and your family are doing well.
I live in CT now, near Katie and her family. Roger and my Andy passed away. I have 12 grandchildren. I finished school weekends at Marymount and a Masters at Manhattanville. I taught lab science to grades 3 to 5 in Westlake Central School District in Westchester for about 25 years.
Hope you and your family are doing well.
Patricia Torpie
Looked up your name and found you. You have been busy. Good luck with your book. Please give my regards to Ann. I am now living in Ct near my daughter Katie. I fondly remember working at Tuxedo.
I went to night school and got a masters at Manhattanville. I taught in Westlake Central School District for 25 years. Was a science lab teacher for grades 3 to 5 most of my career. Loved it.
Our inspired me to move on and I thank you.