Valley Stream school writes to the Mets

Valley Stream letter carrier Carl Alongi stopped by Holy Name of Mary School last Friday morning to pick up a package on its way to the New York Mets. No, the students didn’t write to their favorite players. They wrote to the team’s marketing department to try and do something special for their favorite pastor.

Monsignor Thomas Harold, who has been pastor of Holy Name of Mary Church for more than a decade, is leaving at the end of June. He will be assigned to St. Anne’s Parish in Garden City. Harold is an avid Mets fan, as most parishioners know from his homilies.

The students in the school wrote letters to representatives of the Mets organization, asking them to do something special for Harold. Every child wrote something, said Principal Richard McMahon, from simple form letters signed by kindergartners to more detailed, type-written business letters by students in the older grades.

McMahon said that he and the students are hoping Harold can throw out the first pitch at a game, but he said he understands that is typically reserved for corporate sponsors. But, he said, he is hoping they can do something for the departing pastor such as inviting him out onto the field before a game and maybe even meeting a couple of players.

If the Mets do invite the pastor to a game, McMahon said he would put together a group outing for the school to visit Citi Field, see Harold honored and watch some baseball.