by Miranda Eby | Feb 23, 2026 | Campus Ministry, School News
On February 17, our students led a powerful Prayer Vigil and Public Witness rooted in faith, compassion, and justice.
Inspired by student walkouts across the nation and in the Chicagoland area, our students chose to respond in a way that reflects who we are as a faith community through prayer, reflection, and peaceful solidarity.
During lunch and flex, we gathered to honor the lives impacted by immigration enforcement, lifted our voices in unity, and created space for awareness grounded in dignity and hope. This was student-led leadership at its best, thoughtful, courageous, and centered in faith.
As Claudia G. (CRSM ‘26) shared with her fellow classmates:
“Thank you to everyone who took the time today to join our prayer vigil. Your presence and participation helped create a meaningful space for reflection, faith, and solidarity within our community. Advocacy is not always loud. Sometimes it begins with prayer, awareness, and the courage to stand together. By showing up, you demonstrated that compassion and engagement matter”.
We are proud of our students for leading with integrity and heart. May we continue to be a community that responds with prayer, stands with compassion, and lives out our call to justice.
by Miranda Eby | Jan 20, 2026 | President’s Pen
Friday morning’s weather tried its best to discourage us. Single‑digit temperatures, blowing snow, and a slowed commute made it clear that winter had arrived in earnest. Yet by the time we gathered in our cafeteria for our Martin Luther King, Jr. prayer service, something warmer was already taking hold — a reminder of why this day, and this community, matters.
In what has become a meaningful tradition at Cristo Rey St. Martin, we honor Dr. King through a Baptist or A.M.E. prayer service. This year, our own Dean of Students, Pastor Pierre Edmonds — an A.M.E. minister from North Chicago — led us in worship. While we are proudly a Catholic school, not everyone in our community is Catholic. What unites us is something deeper: a shared belief in the God‑given dignity of every person. Praying together across faith traditions strengthens who we are.
The theme of the service, “Everyone Can Make a Difference,” was grounded in the day’s Gospel reading from James: “Faith apart from works is barren.” Two students offered reflections that brought those words to life.
Kylie, a sophomore, spoke honestly about the tension within that phrase. She shared how inspiring it can be to believe that small actions matter — that you don’t need fame or power to contribute to something bigger than yourself. At the same time, she acknowledged how challenging that call can feel. “Just believing something isn’t enough,” she reminded us. Faith, she said, must be expressed through compassion, integrity, and concrete action.
Allison, a junior, reflected on Dr. King’s courage — his willingness to act even when doing so put his life at risk. What inspired her most was his trust in God and his belief that one person, rooted in faith, could change the world. She connected that legacy to her own experiences of service, noting that volunteering and showing up for others are ways we live our faith not at a distance, but up close. Small acts, she said, add up — whether packing meals, serving the forgotten, or simply checking in on someone who feels unseen.
Listening to our students, I was reminded of Claudette Colvin, who passed away recently. At just fifteen years old — the same age as many of our students — she refused to surrender her dignity on a Montgomery bus. Her quiet courage helped ignite a movement that would transform this nation. She embodied Dr. King’s conviction that “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.”
Our guest minister reinforced that message with a powerful challenge. “Believing something is wrong is not real faith until you do something about it,” he preached. If bullying is wrong, if injustice is wrong, what good is our belief unless it leads to action? “Dreams without action are failures,” he said. “If not you, then who?”
As he spoke, I looked out the wall of windows behind us. The sun had emerged, but the snow was still blowing and drifting. It struck me how fitting that image was. Our nation and our world feel cold and chaotic right now. We see fear, violence, and suffering in our communities, including recent harm connected to immigration enforcement here and across the country. We are also witnessing a troubling resurgence of racism in our public life.
Yet inside that warm space at CRSM, praying together, we claimed a deeper truth. We are children of God, brothers and sisters to one another, and partners in building the Kingdom of God here on earth — a Kingdom marked by justice, mercy, and peace. At Cristo Rey St. Martin, we strive to live into the world as it should be, not as it is. Our students give me hope that the unfinished work of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement continues in capable, faithful hands.
May our prayers echo Dr. King’s own: “Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.”
¡Viva, Cristo Rey!
by Miranda Eby | Jan 16, 2026 | Campus Ministry, School News
For the past ten years, the soulful sound of a saxophone has helped shape CRSM’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. worship services, guiding the community into reflection, prayer, and celebration. That sound belongs to Khalid Jernigan, a gifted saxophonist whose music has become a meaningful and beloved part of this annual tradition.
Khalid was first introduced to the CRSM community in 2016 by Dean of Students Pierre Edmonds, who recognized both his musical talent and the spirit he brings to prayer services. Since then, Pierre has continued to invite Khalid back each year, helping establish a tradition that many in the community now look forward to. With the exception of 2021, when services were disrupted by COVID, Khalid has faithfully returned to play for the MLK prayer service year after year.
In a brief interview, Khalid shared that his motivation goes beyond performance. “I just hope to empower the youth by doing what I love and sharing music and the Lord with them,” he said. His music reflects this mission, serving as both an artistic offering and a form of prayer that resonates deeply with students, staff, and guests.
Khalid has also witnessed CRSM’s growth over the years. “This school has come a long way. I remember when we were at the old campus. It was a lot smaller. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come,” he reflected. His long-standing presence connects the school’s different chapters, linking past and present through faith and music.
For Khalid, returning to CRSM each year is a source of joy and meaning. “I love being at this place and celebrating the Lord with this group of individuals,” he shared. That feeling is mutual. Campus Minister Jim Dippold reflected on Khalid’s impact, noting that his music has become inseparable from the MLK prayer service experience. “I know Stevie Wonder wrote and popularized ‘Happy Birthday’ for Dr. King,” Jim wrote, “but when I think of it, I hear Khalid on his sax, and my soul smiles.”
As CRSM celebrates 10 years of music and prayer, the community gives thanks for Khalid Jernigan’s humility, generosity, and commitment. Through the vision of leaders like Pierre Edmonds and the faithful presence of artists like Khalid, the MLK prayer service remains a powerful space where music, faith, and community come together.
by Miranda Eby | Jan 16, 2026 | CWSP, School News
Cristo Rey St. Martin students are off to a strong start through a new Corporate Work Study partnership with PurposeBuilt Brands (PBB), gaining valuable professional experience at the company’s Gurnee, Illinois and Somers, Wisconsin locations.
The partnership was established through a connection with Chris Bauder, Executive Chairman of the Board at PurposeBuilt Brands, with support from Peggy Talbot, a Cristo Rey St. Martin Board Member. PurposeBuilt Brands has warmly welcomed Cristo Rey St. Martin students into its operations, demonstrating a shared commitment to student growth and career development.
Eight students are currently participating in the partnership. Four students are placed at the Gurnee location, which combines manufacturing and office space and focuses on liquid products filled into spray bottles for distribution. Another four students work at the Somers, Wisconsin site, where cleaning tablets—such as those used in coffee machines—are manufactured. At both locations, students primarily support office-based operations while gaining insight into large-scale manufacturing environments.
During their first week onsite, students met individually with PurposeBuilt Brands team members to discuss their interests and future career goals. These conversations have already led to job shadowing, mentorship opportunities, and connections with employees in related fields.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cristo Rey St. Martin and welcome their students into our Gurnee and Somers sites,” said Elem Machado Tluczek of PurposeBuilt Brands. “Their enthusiasm, professionalism, and eagerness to learn have made an immediate positive impact.”
Both Cristo Rey St. Martin and PurposeBuilt Brands look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting students as they build skills, explore career paths, and prepare for future success.
