In an increasingly superficial, indifferent, and secular world, an all-boys Catholic school has never been more important. However, it requires courage to be counter-cultural and demand more of our young men to push against the very world we are forming them to lead and change for the better.
It has never been harder to be a young man than it is today. Our boys must go into their hearts to discern what is real in a way that was not necessary 20 years ago. The ‘noise’ and pressure surrounding them is loud and unrelenting. When coupled with the open and pervasive conversation about masculinity and what it means to be a good man, we have a set of circumstances that make it incredibly hard for our boys to find their place. How do they become gentle-men and understand that? How can they be humble and serve when the world outside their school says something different?
This is exactly what has drawn me to Catholic Memorial, a school committed to the formation of men of integrity, compassion, conviction, faith, and a deep commitment to lead through service, based on the model of Christ. Accompanying boys to this end continues to inspire me daily. It is a privilege I never take for granted, and one that I have been blessed to carry out for the last 25 years.
I want to pay tribute to Dr. Peter Folan, who has provided extraordinary leadership for the CM community for over a decade. He is a wonderful man and educational leader. The results are clear, in the form of outstanding academic outcomes, state championships in athletics and speech and debate, a robust co-curricular program and most importantly, a vibrant faith formation and service program.
However, the success of schools like ours cannot and should not be measured on these results alone. The real proof is in the unquantifiable, the immeasurable - the culture and feel of a school, the way the people treat each other, and their heart commitment to their community.
The most striking feature, from what I have observed and felt in the time I’ve already spent here, is the strength and depth of relationships between the boys with their teachers and mentors. It is palpable as soon as you set foot on campus. Every person seems to have sincere love and affection for their school, underpinned by genuine care for each other and a commitment to ‘roll their sleeves up’ to make the school authentic to its Catholic mission. The adults model this beautifully. It is a special place. This is the real measure of success, and I feel privileged to be able to build on the legacy of Dr. Folan.
I feel blessed and humbled to now call CM home. I look forward to walking with the community in the next chapter of the CM story and learning the story from the inside out.
