The Legacy Gala
Bishop Moore Catholic High School has a rich legacy of faith. Dating back to the mid-1800s and the inception of the Catholic Church in Florida, our first bishop, John Moore, advocated for quality in both education and doctrine. Since our founding in 1954, BMC has endeavored to build on the foundation of faith he left us by serving the families of our community with excellence and compassion.
The Legacy Gala is an annual event that celebrates the legacy of Bishop Moore Catholic High School's mission while honoring individuals who have established a legacy of service and philanthropy for our community and Bishop Moore Catholic over the years.
The leadership of these individuals has helped achieve Catholic education excellence and ensure its future in Central Florida. Legacy Gala proceeds are for the BMC Fund, which will focus on enriching the Bishop Moore Catholic students’ experience to more fully develop these students personally, spiritually, and intellectually.
2023 Legacy Gala Honorees
ANN POLASEK
Ann Polasek, now 102 years old, has supported Catholic education in Central Florida since she moved to the area in 1960 with her husband, John. She’s been a driving force behind Morning Star Catholic School for decades and a strong supporter of Bishop Moore Catholic, sending all four of her children here. She is a veteran philanthropist and has contributed her time, talent, and treasure to her parish, St. Charles Borromeo, and our diocesan schools.
Ann stays young and keeps her mind sharp through day trading, swimming, and spending time with family and friends. Ann is a wealth of knowledge and has many life lessons to share, including, “Start the morning with prayer… love each other and be happy, grateful. Each day is God-given. You don’t want to waste it.”
FR. LEO HODGES
Fr. Leo Hodges was ordained in 1986 as a priest for the Diocese of Orlando and is currently pastor of St. Andrew Catholic Church and School since 2012. He has been an associate pastor at Holy Name in Indialantic, a school chaplain and coach at Melbourne Central, Bishop Moore, and Father Lopez Catholic High Schools, an associate pastor at Prince of Peace in Ormond Beach, and pastor of Our Lady of Grace in Palm Bay.
Three years after ordination, Fr. Leo was assigned to Bishop Moore Catholic High School. He started the boys’ volleyball program, developed and implemented a peer ministry program, made pilgrimages to St. Meinrad Seminary with students during Holy Week, coached track, and taught theology to freshmen and seniors. He worked at Bishop Moore from 1989-94.
Fr Leo continues to support Catholic schools because he believes Catholic education has the great potential to create a Christ-centered counter-cultural environment. This environment can be transformative to all stakeholders in the hope that the common good is served, appreciated, and honored. Teaching critical thinking skills infused with gospel values, Catholic schools can help the adolescent ponder ways in which they can work for the common good and manifest an alternative life-vision to that of the world. Attentive to the teachings of the gospel, Catholic education can fashion its students and teachers in such a way that the universal summons from God might be heard and acted upon for the building of a more just and equitable society, emulating the Kingdom of God.
While at St Andrew, Fr. Leo continues to support Bishop Moore Catholic High School by his encouragement and support of St. Andrew's students attending the school as a way to cultivate greater diversity and learning. He also continues to be involved in the spiritual life of Bishop Moore students as he and his Men’s Group have facilitated the football team’s evening of reflection over the past ten years.