CRSM Students Stage Fundraiser for Immigrant Support Home

CRSM Students Stage Fundraiser for Immigrant Support Home

Students honored Holy Thursday with a special “casual dress day” fundraiser.  Sponsored by the OPT Club, (Oportunidades Para Todos/Opportunities for All), students were allowed to dress in casual clothes, instead of their usual dress code standards, in exchange for a small donation.

The $756.25 in donations from the students, (faculty and staff also made small contributions) will be given to Bethany House of Hospitality in Chicago, which offers housing and support services to young immigrant women as they journey to independence. The female asylum-seeking refugees come from 18 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South and Central America. In the fall, students raised $705.00 for the Viatorian House of Hospitality in Des Plaines, which is run by the Viatorians (CRSM sponsors) and is for young men. To participate, students paid $2 if they wore purple or white for Lent, or $3 for simply dressing down.

Everyone was enthusiastic, and many students just threw in $5.00 and said, ‘keep the change,” said Iris Sanchez, campus minister who along with Jim Dippold, Director of Campus Ministry, moderates the club. “They really are all about creating awareness of social injustices.” Iris added that the student organization will have a booth at an Issue Showcase on Feb. 21st at Waukegan High School.

Celebrating Angels Among Us

Celebrating Angels Among Us

During this holiday season, we want to shine the spotlight on the “Angels Among Us” doing extraordinary work to advance our mission day in and day out throughout the year. We’ve been thinking about what inspires them to donate their time and money and passions to Cristo Rey St. Martin at a time when our students and their families — along with the world — need our help more than ever. We feel it is very important to point out that we are featuring only SOME of the many, many standout volunteers in this issue. We are very grateful to so many people who give generously of their time and talents providing support for CRSM in everything, from helping to write resumes, training and accompanying our freshman to their first day at work, and others who share their expertise at our career exploration days. We will be launching a monthly spotlight to feature all our volunteers in depth.  Stay tuned in future months for more angels among us.

Meet Our Campus Ministry Volunteers who Help Feed and Nourish the Spirits of Our Neighbors in Need

Once a month, for the last two years, the CRSM community has manned the parking lot to help distribute food to area residents in need through the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Popup food bank. Taking a lead directing traffic are Mary and Kathleen Popit, and working alongside her son is CRSM mom Anaid Hernandez. Hunger relief is just part of what our volunteers do — because “food is the foundation of kindness and compassion for our neighbors,” says Mary Popit. “These volunteers embody and live a core part of our mission to be people for others,” said Jim Dippold, Director of Campus Ministry. “They are helping to feed more than 600 families a month. This would not be possible without their help and dedication.”

Meet Erin Foley, Joanne Eenigenburg, Cindy Rourke and Ann Kendall our event planning gurus

From creating the theme, the decor, inviting their friends and family and providing overall direction for our two major fundraisers — elevate and Founder’s Dinner — this team of volunteers works tirelessly to pull off these mega fundraising events which financially support tuition and programs for our students, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a college prep education.  “We couldn’t put these events on without this committee,” says Candice Tonon, Director of Development or Wendy Feldhaus, Assistant Development Director. “They are a very special community of supporters.”

Volunteers Gear Students Up for Corporate World

Meet the Corporate Work Study Program mentors, Ignatian Volunteer Corps team: Keith Schoeneberger, a retired attorney, Susan Carsello, a wealth management advisor, Kate Kniest, a retired college nursing professor and Mari-Lou Menezes, a financial services executive and business development strategist with JP Morgan Chase. Phil Balog, a retired accountant from Waukegan, has been volunteering for more than a decade. From scouring through student’s on-the-job work study reports, to coaching and mentoring students who are facing challenges at work these IVC Chicago volunteers “are hugely important in helping student develop workplace skills and giving them after work support,” says Brian Weinberg, Director of the Corporate Work-Study Program.

Teaching Writing and Academic Skills

With a culture that immerses students in becoming college and career ready, helping students achieve academic excellence is vital to our mission. That’s why CRSM is grateful to the volunteers who share their expertise with students in the academic arena. In the college counseling department, Gretchen Cooper Athas, a Career Management and Admissions Coach and Jeanie Sullivan, work with seniors on their personal statements, resumes and college applications. .”We couldn’t do it without them,” says Sharon Holdvogt, college counselor. “They are incredible with working with our students to encourage them to elaborate in their writing while also allowing the student to maintain their voice and style. John Simons, a retired Abbott scientist, with a PhD from MIT and MBA from Northwestern and an Ignatian volunteer, offers academic counseling twice a week through the CRSM Academic Assistance Program (AAP).  “I was lucky to retire early and wanted to do something that really makes a difference in these student’s lives,” says John. “Now I can finally put my ‘over educated’ self to use and make a true impact.”

Crossing Borders: Students Experience First-Hand the Plight of Asylum Seekers

Crossing Borders: Students Experience First-Hand the Plight of Asylum Seekers

Last month, five recent CRSM grads traveled to the southernmost border section between Mexico and the United States to witness first-hand the plight of asylum seekers and to better understand the humanitarian crisis at the border.

The goal of the annual trip is for recent CRSM grads to immerse themselves in the issues at the border by meeting with people intimately involved: human rights activists, Christian leaders, border patrol. There was a lot of dialogue with people who are living the reality of the border crisis every day. Underneath the educational surface, the trip “created powerful spiritual lessons for the students and guides,” said Jim Dippold, Director of Campus Ministry.

Students from CRSM traveled June 9th through 13th with their peers from St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights to Nogales, Arizona and across the border of the wall, a 25-foot fortress that separates the U.S. and Mexico.

There, they walked the migrant trails in the desert, visited several asylum sanctuaries, and trekked along the wall. They also listened to stories about the violence along the border from faith leaders, founders of the sanctuary movement and volunteers.

“We saw how unsafe it is for immigrants,” says Maritza. “It hit close to home and was very emotional for me because my mother crossed there and was caught once but tried again and made it. She was 18, my age.”

“The students observed the trail of human suffering,” says Lori Felix, college counselor who accompanied the students on the trio. She says she and her peers couldn’t help but “be heartbroken” by the bewildering U.S immigration system that often diverts desperate seekers of asylum into detention lockups to fend for themselves.

“The desert was littered with shoes with no soles, discarded backpacks, clothing and water bottles, all the signs of people who were so close to their hopes and dreams but most likely didn’t make it,” says Felix.

At one of the sanctuaries, the students prayed with asylum seekers. Each student was given a rosary that belonged to a failed asylum seeker so they could pray for the immigrants seeking new lives. “You realize that the rosary you are holding held all the hopes and dreams of someone,” says Charlize.

All the students on the trip said they plan to find ways in college to advocate for better treatment of asylum-seekers and a broader understanding of what seeking asylum is all about. They also would like to inspire people young and old to advocate for changes to our immigration system.

One of the key learnings, says Daisy, was that people seeking asylum are not here “illegally,” but are following U.S. laws established decades ago to protect people fleeing violence in their home countries.

“I know that I will look for opportunities in college to create more awareness of the immigrant crisis,” says Daisy.

Married to the Mission: Three Couples Balance Working Together at CRSM

Married to the Mission: Three Couples Balance Working Together at CRSM

Call it love in a time of textbooks, the CRSM love connection or “all in the family.” Three CRSM couples are partners in work and life. Twelve alumni have exchanged vows and another dozen alumni couples are “seriously dating” and could be fated to march down the wedding aisle. Many of the couples agree that meeting or working with their spouses at CRSM has had a lasting impact, building their relationship on a shared professional, faith-based and personal mission. Read more.

Sustained by an Unwavering Commitment to Their Marriage and Mission
Christina Dippold, School Counselor and Jim Dippold, Director of Campus Ministry

After more than 26 years of marriage and nine years working together at CRSM, Christina and Jim are proof that couples that work together can bring their shared callings to the office and enjoy a life that is deeply fulfilling, both professionally and personally. “We love being part of a Catholic, faith-based community where we have the opportunity to work with first-generation students who will go on to college,” says Jim. Christina adds: “This is an incredible community, and the people here are passionate about and committed to the young people here. Everyone who works here is committed to the community and it is the intrinsic understanding that we are here to show the students ‘we care about you. We understand your challenges, and we see your gifts. We are here for you.” Parents to Erma, 19, Ernie, 18 and Ray, 14, the Dippold’s dog Bodi joined the CRSM team three years ago as a loving companion cheering up and comforting students throughout the school day.

Two Plus Two Equals the Power of Love
Andrea Horcher, Algebra 2, Precalculus, Personal Finance, Geometry, Teacher and Robert Horcher

Andrea and Robert “Rob” Horcher are both well known to students for their extensive roles in mathematics classes at CRSM and their after-school roles tutoring, running prom, the yearbook and attending Taizé prayer. But students especially love when it’s parent-teacher time and they help babysit for the Horcher’s son Isaac, 5, and daughter, Peyton,1. Since Rob started working at CRSM in 2010 and Andrea joined him 11 years ago in 2011, the same week they got married, Andrea says the CRSM community “has wrapped their arms around us as family.” “When we had Isaac, we were so supported. They held a gender reveal and we could ask any of the other teachers who were also having babies for help from finding a doctor to just about anything. And they still do.” When it came time to pick godparents for their children, the Horchers reached out to their professional and faith mentors, Christina, and Jim Dippold. Christina Dippold also served as sponsor for Andrea when she went through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults to become a Catholic.

It’s All in the Family
Veronica Lattes, Spanish 1, AP Spanish and Literature and Angel Pradas, AP Spanish, and Literature

One of the things that Angel Pradas and Veronica Lattes’ say makes teaching at CRSM so special is the opportunity to hear about each other’s day, because as Lattes says, “we’re able to learn from each other and talk about different ideas we might have for teaching something differently.” That’s a good thing, considering their commute to Waukegan from their Westchester home can average an hour to an hour-and-a-half each way. During snowstorms it can be significantly higher, like the time it took six hours to get home. “The students feel like family to us, and I think they see us as extended family members too,” says Pradas. “When we walk through the halls they shout out, ‘hey Pradas,’ or ‘hi Lattes.’ We understand their heritage and I think they really appreciate that.”Every day, winter or summer, Angel always pulls up to the front door of the school to drop off Veronica, “as a sign of kindness and delicacy towards me,” she says.

Computer Woes and Cupid United this Alumni Couple
Esme Silva, Class of ’10 and Jose Nunez, Class of ’11

Esme Silva, Class of ’10 and Jose Nunez, Class of ’11 passed each other daily in the crowded calls of what was then called St. Martin de Porres. They never spoke to each other. That was until one day when Esme was having laptop issues. Even though the duo were a year apart, it was widely known that Jose was the go-to tech guru on campus. He agreed to look at her defective device. He couldn’t fix it, but a friendship was formed. Fast forward to today, Esme is now a board member for the Cristo Rey St. Martin Board of Directors and works in Wisconsin as a regional specialist for anti-human trafficking. Jose works for the State of Illinois as a systems analyst in technology. “Being almost three years deep into married life, we continue to learn from each other in every retrospect,” says Esme. “We enjoy traveling, surrounding ourselves with good company of our mutual friends and envisioning growing our family. Our foundation: the values and friendships we made at Cristo Rey and our passion to give back to the community.”

In Celebrating MLK Day, Students Consider What It Means to be “Persons for Others”

In Celebrating MLK Day, Students Consider What It Means to be “Persons for Others”

Forming peace and brotherhood was the theme of this year’s annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.CRSM’s own Dean Edmonds, an ordained minister and pastor of Eternal Flame A.M.E. Church in North Chicago, directed the hour-long service focusing on the ways CRSM students, faculty, staff, and the larger community can emulate Dr. King’s call to knock down the walls of oppression and injustice and work together to find the dignity in each other.

“At CRSM, we believe in the collective success of the community, and that we belong to each other as brothers and sisters of God. Helping build peace is a win-win for us all. Dr. King calls us here today to create unity, diversity and respect for all.”

Pastor Eugene Roberson from First Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church in North Chicago called on students to strive for excellence in everything they do. “You are the future, the future doctors, lawyers, coaches, teachers and parents. Remember, life isn’t about how many friends you have, the clothes you wear, what color hair you have or how much money you have. Life is about who you love and who you hurt. Martin Luther King was a visionary and knew that life’s calling is to touch each other’s hearts. I ask you today to make a commitment to being true leaders, to hold onto God and to never settle for less than you deserve as a human being. You are here to plant the seeds of love.”

Musicians included: Donna Dallas, Brother Khalid Jernigan and Rev. Tyrell Winfrey from First Corinthian Baptist Church in North Chicago. Senior Amaya presented a deeply moving poetic dance.