This is a day for all of St. Philomena to celebrate.”

Brian Cordeiro, principal of St. Philomena School

PORTSMOUTH — Brian Cordeiro said he was impressed with Jeff Moniz’s ability to keep a secret.

Mr. Cordeiro, principal of St. Philomena School, entered the school auditorium Friday morning to find it full of cheering students, faculty members and banners. 

The occasion? The Catholic Diocese of Providence was honoring him with the Distinguished Principal Award for 2017-2018. The secret assembly was cooked up by Mr. Moniz, assistant principal. 

Mr. Cordeiro had no clue.

“This is the first time — and this is a little jarring — that Mr. Moniz has pulled something over on me,” Mr. Cordeiro said to a room full of supporters. “I usually know at least when something is going on in the school. I don’t know how you did this, but well done, Mr. Moniz.”

Daniel J. Ferris, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Providence, presented the award, which celebrates a principal that exemplifies the tenets of Catholic leadership. 

“The criteria for this is very lofty,” Mr. Ferris explained to faculty and students. Mr Cordeiro, he said, “cares profoundly for every single student in this school.”

Mr. Cordeiro has worked in Catholic education for more than 17 years and is in his third year at St. Philomena School.

He thanked everyone for the honor, before deflecting praise back on the school community.

“This is a day for all of St. Philomena to celebrate,” Ms. Cordeiro said. “If I am at all deserving of this, it’s because I’m trying to be like you. I’m trying to be like your teachers, who are the very best of us. I’m trying to be like you, when you’re kind to each other and when you listen to each other. It means so much to me.”

He also thanked Sister Imelda Toomey, local leader of the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) and a member of the Board of Trustees, as well as the other board members.

“When you come to serve in a Catholic school, it’s made better when you have an opportunity to serve community that has a special gift to give,” Mr. Cordeiro said. “The gift that the FCJ gives us is courage and confidence. It’s perhaps what a principal needs every day, I know it’s what teachers need and it’s what students need. Together, we get that from our founding order. We are all part of the distinguished leadership of this school.”