by admin | Feb 4, 2023 | President’s Pen
“Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its movements and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Recently we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at CRSM. Instead of a Catholic mass, we have a tradition of holding services that celebrate other faith traditions shared by some of our students and staff. CRSM is a Catholic school but that doesn’t mean all our students or staff are Catholic. It is a point of pride that we have so many of the world’s religions represented here. Our Muslim math teacher has since moved on, but we still stay in contact. Judaism, Hinduism, Protestantism (including Adventist, Baptist, Evangelical, Episcopal, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist) are practiced by people working and studying under CRSM’s roof – enriching our community and promoting greater connections, empathy, and understanding among us. During Open Houses, we tell prospective students and their parents that, at CRSM, we want to challenge you not only about what you believe but how you are living out those beliefs in the world. That is why community service is such an integral part of our campus ministry programming and our identity as a school.
Our Dean of Students, who is pastor of the Eternal Flame AME Church in North Chicago, organizes MLK Day for us along with our Black Student Union. The service usually alternates year-to-year between and AME service and a Baptist service. This year, it was the Baptists’ turn and we welcomed our Dean’s college classmate, Rev. Angelo Kyle whose church, St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church is housed in a small building adjacent to our old campus in east Waukegan. Pastor Kyle prepared a scholarly sermon about the life of MLK connecting his legacy from over 50 years ago back to the present day and to our students’ lives, challenging them to seek not only personal success but communal success. The service also included music supplied from old friends from the First Baptist Church and the First Corinthian Baptist Church both in North Chicago. Ms. Donna Dallas led us in traditional hymns, and it reminded me of a colleague of mine when we were first opening Christ the King Jesuit College Prep in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side who would always say to our students, “when you sing, you pray twice!”
I was privileged to be able to give some closing remarks at the service. It so happens that, over the weekend, I was reading King’s speech, “Beyond Vietnam — A Time to Break Silence.” He delivered this speech at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967. I stared at the date – it was exactly one year to the exact day before he was assassinated! A chilling thought. King’s words are as relevant today as they were decades ago. He calls to us from across those years to continue the movement, to keep dreaming the dream. While it is disappointing to think we have accomplished so little in breaking down racial and economic barriers since the 1950’s, there is still hope and we are charged with not letting that hope die – it’s a hope elemental to all our faiths: “…our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional.”
Here is an excerpt from his speech, Beyond Vietnam:
“This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one’s tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all [humankind].…
When I speak of love I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response. I’m not speaking of that force which is just emotional bosh. I am speaking of that force which all of the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life. Love is somehow the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality.
This Hindu-Muslim-Christian-Jewish-Buddhist belief about ultimate reality is beautifully summed up in the first epistle of Saint John:
Let us love one another, for love is of God. And everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love.… If we love one another, God dwelleth in us and [God’s] love is perfected in us. [1 John 4:7–8, 12].
Let us hope that this spirit will become the order of the day…
If we will make the right choice, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our world into a beautiful symphony of [sisterhood and] brotherhood. If we will but make the right choice, we will be able to speed up the day, all over America and all over the world, when ‘justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.’ [Amos 5:24]”
The CRSM community of students, faculty, staff, business partners, and donors give me hope. You give me hope. We are a mighty stream TOGETHER. ¡Viva Cristo Rey!
by admin | Jan 30, 2023 | Academic
From a full-ride Posse Scholarship to Middlebury College to Northwestern University, Colorado College, University of Chicago and other top-tier colleges across the country early acceptances and scholarship offers are on a roll for CRSM seniors this month.
“There is a lot of excitement on the college front, including the fact that students are now about to go to in-person visits and we’ve got some standout onsite college experiences planned next summer at colleges across the country,” said Sharon Holdvogt, college counselor. “This is wonderful because one of our goals is to let students know that college is an option and to make sure that option is available for them.”
Official signing day for colleges and universities is May 1, but early standout acceptances include University of Chicago, Augustana, Lake Forest, Beloit College, DePaul and DePauw Universities Loras, St. Louis University and Washington University. Stay tuned, more to come.
by admin | Jan 30, 2023 | Campus Ministry
In what has become an annual tradition to celebrate the life of our nation’s renowned civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, CRSM students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered Tuesday, Jan. 17, for a worship service. “Education is freedom was a key message for Dr. King in his efforts to transcend race, social status, gender and other inequities,” said Rev. Dean Edmonds, an AME pastor and CRSM Dean of Students.
“Honoring Dr. King’s important work is an inspiration for us in moving us toward a better world, a world where we are called to be change makers too,” said Jim Dippold, Director of Campus Ministry. “Today we lift our voices and our hearts in prayer – in thanksgiving for the prophetic life of Dr. King – and listen to the ways that God speaks in our own hearts, calling us to continue the dream of building the beloved community, the Kingdom of God, that Martin worked to build.
At Tuesday’s celebration, the CRSM community worshipped in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, (AME) tradition, led by Edmonds. He was joined by members of the Black Student Union and guest pastor, Rev. Angelo Kyle, pastor of St. Matthew Baptist Church in Waukegan and a commissioner for the Lake County Forest Preserve, Rev. Tyrell Winfrey of the First Baptist Church of North Chicago and Donna Dallas, soloist also with the First Baptist Church. The Black Student Union offered prayers and played a video highlighting the life of George Floyd and other Black persons who have lost their lives to violence.
“We are invited to manifest the Kingdom of God by following the inspiration of Martin Luther King by being persons for others, breaking the silence of injustice and continuing his work, which is not yet done,” said Preston Kendall, president of CRSM.
by admin | Jan 25, 2023 | Academic
Already plans are underway for opening night. Stage sets are being designed. Budding actors are auditioning for lead roles. The 40 students enrolled in the Introduction to Drama class are buzzing with anticipation for this year’s coming production in April.
What could possibly be more exciting than this?
How about having a noted Chicago playwright co-teaching the class?
Enter Michael Wagman, a playwright and actor who has written for and performed in Second City, and several Chicago theaters. He is volunteering his time four days a week after school to help students write “Scene-a-palooza,” which will debut April 21st. The production will be created by four teams, each who will write a 10-minute mini-play.
“It’s a unique and busy time for us,” said Elizabeth Partenach, CRSM English and Theater teacher. “We’re preparing for our Spring production and it’s a lot of fun for me having a real playwright helping coach students. It’s also very exciting for the students. Meeting a real live playwright helps them see playwriting as a viable career option. I’m anticipating this will be a transformative experience.”
For students in Elizabeth’s drama class, the opportunity to work hand-and-hand with Michael, a professional theater scribe “exposes them not just to the writing, but also how the props, acting, music and lighting work together to tell the story,” she said.
Currently Wagman is a stay-at-home dad living in Elgin and caring for his almost two-year-old-son. He said he was excited to receive the invitation from Elizabeth, a friend from their college days in DePaul University’s theater program. In addition to playwriting, he’s also appeared on stage in several Chicago-area productions including Strangeloop Theatre’s production of Mitera and Ghostlight’s 2016 production of “Krampus!” He was Co-Artistic Director at Ghostlight and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Playwriting from De Paul.
During a recent class, Wagman suggested to students that “everyone’s writing style is different, so do what is comfortable for you.” He urged students to explore the story that is inside of them that is waiting to be told. “Everybody has a story and there is so much energy around you discovering what is the story you need to tell. And remember you are valuable, all your ideas, opinions and feelings are valuable, and we need and want you to bring them all to theater and to have fun!”
by admin | Jan 20, 2023 | Alumni Spotlight
Ruby Hernandez has been inspired by the world of business ever since her high school internships at Wintrust and Gewalt Hamilton Associates through Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program.
Now, the CRSM Class of ’21 grad juggles full-time studies at Arrupe College of Loyola University with an apprenticeship at Grant Thorton LLP, rotating through the accounting, analytics, and tax departments. Next fall she will attend Loyola University as a junior and accounting and analytics major, on her path to becoming an accountant.
Last year Ruby received the 2022 President’s Medallion from Loyola University. She also serves her fellow students as a student orientation leader and as a peer instructor for ACUNI (Arrupe’s first-year seminar). Ruby also participates in Arrupe’s Emerging Leaders Program, Career Club, Entrepreneurship Program, Phi Theta Kappa, and the Grant Thornton Apprenticeship Program.
“Ruby embodies what we hope for all our students at Arrupe College; she understands the value of hard work and demonstrates that value daily. In addition, Ruby exhibits authentic qualities: she is person-centered, compassionate in her dealings with others, and is committed to excellence, especially when it comes to her personal growth,” said Fr. Tom Neitzke, S.J., EdD, Dean of Arrupe College.
The President’s Medallion honors students from each of Loyola’s 14 colleges, schools and institutes who exemplify the meaning of being a true “Loyolan.”
“Exceeding not only in the classroom, but also in the world around them, these students add immeasurable value to society by answering the call for leadership, scholarship and service,” state’s Loyola’s web site. “It is through helping other that they empower their community, upholding integrity and reputation along the way.”
Ruby said: “I like Loyola because it is a Jesuit institution. I feel like it’s my destiny to be here because my grandfather’s aunt, Madre Nati, was the first Mexican woman to be sainted. There are three churches named for her in Mexico. I feel like she’s watching over me. It helps me spiritually.”
She says her call to service was kick-started as a student at CRSM.
“My experiences in high school and at Arrupe helped to be motivated, energized, and goal oriented,” said Ruby. Through CRSM’s work-study program she said: “I had to talk to people in the community and the workplace and I used to be a very shy and reserved person. They instilled in me a sense of confidence and empowerment during my formative years that I never would have thought was possible.”
Ruby’s older brother Rodrigo Hernandez, 23, also is a CRSM graduate. Class of ’18. He is the team manager working for the men’s soccer team at Loyola University Chicago. Additionally, Rodrigo also works for the Chicago Fire FC and has done work for Chivas de Guadalajara as well as the Mexican national team.
Her advice to CRSM students: “Don’t wait until your junior year to start working on your GPA. I wish I had realized how many resources CRSM had for me. But once I took school seriously, I have never veered from that path.”
For now, she’d focused on driving her dreams.
“I really want to learn everything I can and about business and figure accounting is the smartest place to be,” says Ruby, 19. “My goal is to come back to Waukegan and run a family business that in some way helps the community. But that is further down the line.”
