Mission Integration Message

The fact of the matter is that [the Congregation of Holy Cross] began and developed in a manner so mysterious that I can claim for myself neither credit for its foundation nor merit for its progress. Therein lies the indubitable proof that God alone is the Founder of this Congregation.

-Blessed Basil Moreau, Circular Letter 94

Every now and then as I walk down the administration hallway in Kelly Hall, I find myself stopping and reading about the story of Cathedral High School. If you have not been down the hallway recently, the walls from the Main Entrance to the Our Lady of Providence Chapel are filled with artifacts, pictures, and writings that tell the story of Cathedral. It seems like every time that I stop to pay close attention, I learn a new fact or detail about our history. Lately, the storyboards about Cathedral’s move from downtown to our current location on the Hill, and the subsequent inclusion of women into the student body, have caught my attention.

An incredibly quick recap: Cathedral was founded in 1918 as an all-boys Catholic school. The school was set to be closed by the Brothers of Holy Cross in 1973. Cathedral parents, alumni, and friends rallied to save the school from closing and began running it as a non-profit organization. In 1976, Cathedral moved from the downtown location to where it is now, which was the site of Ladywood-St.Agnes School. That same year, Cathedral welcomed women for the first time. A grossly simplified history lesson on over 100 years of education and 50 years of women at Cathedral. I share this because our story on the Hill is not just a story of chance and luck. Because one of our core values is Divine Providence, we believe that God is behind everything that we do.

Living out Divine Providence means that we place our trust in God’s active presence in our lives, that God is with us and guiding us. Living out this value means facing the uncertainties of closure in 1973 and finding a path forward to keep Cathedral open. It is facing the challenges of welcoming girls to an all-boys school in 1976 and embracing the opportunity for a diverse student body. It is each year welcoming a new class of freshmen from well over 75 different middle schools, each with their own individual stories and backgrounds, and joining the Cathedral family with a shared mission and values. There have been and continue to be so many people who make Cathedral such a special place full of hope and opportunity for our students, but just as Blessed Basil Moreau said that he could not take credit for the success of the Congregation of Holy Cross, we too know that Divine Providence has built all that has been, all that is, and all that will be on the Hill.

As our year ends, I could not help but to think about Divine Providence during our last all-school Mass and Senior Awards. It was a moment to think about how we are all at Cathedral as a part of God’s plan. Each of our 1100 students have a plan and future that is in God’s hands. Each of our 256 graduating seniors are about to embark on the next step of that journey that is destined for them. It is through Divine Providence that we are here, and it is our goal to not only believe that, but to trust in it and allow it to guide us as we seek to make God known, loved, and served.

This month, educators were asked to nominate a student and an educator who best exemplify the Holy Cross value of Hope.
 

Our Holy Cross student of the month is senior Andrea Aluaiza. Her nominator said:
Andrea is a joyful and faith-filled young lady who always seems to have a happiness that is inspiring and brings others to smile. I often see her in the Chapel in prayer, knowing that she is sincerely praying for others. No matter the day or what might be happening, her smile and happiness are a reminder of God's presence within each of us, and that a prayerful spirit is at the heart of what it means to have HOPE.

Our Holy Cross educator of the month is Father Jomy! His nominator said:
I would like to nominate Fr. Jomy for his embodiment of the Holy Cross value of Hope. Each morning, he greets students with a warm and welcoming spirit, setting a positive tone for the day. He consistently shares uplifting messages and encourages all of us to live with hope, reminding our community of the power of faith and optimism.

Congratulations to Andrea and Fr. Jomy!

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Blessings,

 

Matthew Gring

Chief Mission Integration Officer