By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer

From the first day her eldest son set foot in Christ the King School, Manville, more than 12 years ago, Sarina Urban has been involved in the Home School Association.

Now in the first year of a two-year term as the diocesan Home School Association’s president, some might ask why Urban, who has a full-time career, would accept the busy volunteer role, especially since her eldest son is now in college and her second son is a high school senior.

The answers are simple for Urban, who helped welcome guests and participants at the 21st annual Diocesan Home School Association Fall Workshop on Sept. 13.

In an interview with The Catholic Spirit, Urban explained, "I love the Home School Association! I love the parent-volunteer environment; helping any way that I can."

Urban, a resident of Hillsborough, was installed as president in May. In her new role, she sees as primary among her responsibilities welcoming parents and getting them together and volunteering for the good of their schools.

She cited promoting school enrollment as another objective, along with increasing the association’s involvement in the community through outreach projects. Urban is looking ahead to association members assisting drives to benefit food banks and soup kitchens or volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. She started the process at the Fall Workshop when she requested "dues" for the first time.

Participants were asked to bring nonperishable foods for the St. Vincent De Paul Society. The result was 10 cardboard boxes of food and $50 collected for the society.

Urban and her husband, Jim, have been married for 24 years. Their 19-year-old son, David, graduated from Immaculata High School, Somerville, in 2002 and is a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island, where he is a horticulture/floriculture major. The Urbans’ other son, Ryan, 17, is a senior at Immaculata.

At Christ the King School, Urban has served as HSA president, chairwoman of spirituality and publicity and recording secretary. She has served on the diocesan HSA executive advisory board as diocesan publicity chairwoman and regent for Region IV.

Urban is also recording secretary of the Spartan Club at Immaculata and helps with the school’s fashion and craft shows.

Urban is an active parishioner at Christ the King Parish, Manville, and is a first grade catechist.

"I’m hoping that when my sons become dads, they will become Home School Association (members) and active in their schools," Urban said. "They can say, ‘She (mom) was always involved in school or baking a cake or calling bingo or running a fashion show.’

She offers this piece of advice for parents who have yet to get involved. "A lot of parents say they’re too busy. They’re working or taking their children to soccer practice or piano practice. But just go do something! Bake a cake. Type a flier."