Past Newsletters
- February 2025 - Diversity and Inclusivity
- December 2025 - Educating Hearts & Minds
- November 2024 - Option for the Poor
- October 2024 - Excellence
- September 2024 - Family
February 2025 - Diversity and Inclusivity
“Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness…
God created mankind in his image;
in the image of God he created them”
-Genesis 1:26-27
As a Catholic school, there is no better source as the foundation for what we do than the Word of God, and the above passage from Genesis must be a primary reason why Cathedral has identified Diversity and Inclusiveness as one of our core values. In this short, yet perfect passage among the larger creation story, it makes it clear that we all are made in the image and likeness of God. This passage has no mention of different races, national origins, backgrounds, socio-economic status, etc. – nothing that would allow any believer to come a different conclusion than that we are ALL created in God’s image, and we each have inherit human dignity.
In a world in which our differences often separate us from one another, our Holy Cross value of Diversity calls us to embrace one another precisely because we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Our varying backgrounds, histories, and experiences are not things to be put away in like-minded and familiar silos, but joined together in a rich tapestry of God’s creation. The priests and brothers of Holy Cross have lived this value since the congregation’s founding, traveling across the world to preach, teach, and serve all of God’s children. Similarly, Cathedral continues to serve an ever-diverse student body with various racial, ethnic, academic, and social backgrounds.
But to be truly diverse, we must also be inclusive. Our value of Inclusiveness is the intentional focus on welcoming all and ensuring each individual is seen, heard, celebrated, and loved. Inclusiveness is walking among each other in unity to ensure that all are valued. Father Theodore Hesburgh, Holy Cross priest and past president of the University of Notre Dame, was a model of inclusiveness. His biography and achievements are too long to list and are worth a read, but he is well known as a champion of human rights and for his work on civil rights legislation. When once asked to attend a civil rights rally with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Fr. Hesburgh’s reply was, “Where do you need me?” What an example of accompaniment! The famous photo of Dr. King and Fr Hesburgh is from that day in 1964 as they sang “We Shall Overcome.”
At Cathedral, we continue to strive to make our school an inclusive community that recognizes and uplifts all. Through our various student affinity groups that promote and celebrate cultures and histories, to our supports for students with different academic backgrounds and learning needs, to embracing students of all faiths in our Catholic spirit of universality, we work toward better living out our mission and values. And this month, as we celebrate Black History Month, we must remember that the positive work in diversity and inclusiveness is an ongoing, never-ending commitment of all of us, and we should each be asking, “Where do you need me?”
Congratulations to the Mary Kate Pastorino ’25 and Mark Matthews on being recognized for living out January’s value of Divine Providence! Mary Kate’s nominator wrote, “I believe Mary Kate is a model student for the kindness, diligence and excellence that she displays on a daily basis. More recently, as she shared her plans for college with me, she did so with such a beautiful confidence rooted in her faith that God had led her to realize where she should go to college. The joy and peace she had were contagious, and it truly made me reflect on how I make decisions in my day-to-day life, remembering to lead first with faith.” Mark’s nominator wrote, “Mr. Matthews deserves this recognition because of his daily, faithful witness to Christ. Mr. Matthews engages students and staff with obvious passion rooted in Jesus Christ. He trusts in Divine Providence and knows that the Lord is with him each day and through every step of his life.”
Blessings,
Matthew Gring
Chief Mission Integration Officer
December 2025 - Educating Hearts & Minds
In preparation for this newsletter focusing on the core value of Educating Hearts and Minds, I did what all scholars in 2024 do: I asked ChatGPT. Surprisingly, typing “write a reflection about Basil Moreau’s quote ‘educating hearts and mind’” produces quite an articulate response, though it lacks some meaningfulness knowing it was created by artificial intelligence. To be clear, I was not intending to, nor did I borrow any of ChapGPT’s reflection, but the idea came to me when reading one of Blessed Basil Moreau’s quotes:
“How we educate the mind will change with the times; how we cultivate the heart is and will remain timeless.”
What would Moreau, who wrote Christian Education in 1856 as his guide for Holy Cross education, think of today’s education? Imagine trying to explain iPads and eBooks to Moreau. See if he could grasp the ability to learn anything with just a few clicks and an Internet connection. Show him ChatGPT’s summary of his Circular Letters (another good response).
Blessed Basil Moreau was right: education certainly has changed with the times. Indeed, Cathedral’s vision to be the Catholic high school of the future calls us to adjust with the times and to be innovative to anticipate the future just as Moreau wrote. Cathedral alumni and friends who have not been to campus in some time would surely feel just like Moreau with all the differences and changes over the years, both in the physical campus, as well as the instructional resources that promote our academic excellence.
But what about the heart? There is no prompt to A.I. that can come close to teaching empathy, kindness, or respect. There is no app or learning management system that allows students to experience the joy and fulfillment of helping others, lifting the lowly, and loving our neighbors. That all comes from embracing our Catholic call to community and experiencing firsthand God’s love through our interactions with one another. It comes from recognizing God’s presence in all things, including the mysteries of the sciences, the details and accuracies of mathematics, and the creativity and expression of the arts. It comes from understanding that our knowledge and skills are most fully realized when used in service to God and others. If we could show Blessed Basil Moreau how Cathedral students are engaged and thoughtful on their retreats, how they think deeply on ways to serve in the community, how their small acts of donating toys will bring the tremendous joy of Christmas to the school communities of Immaculata and Asheville Catholic in North Carolina, who were devastated by hurricanes, all in efforts to reveal God’s greater love, he would surely know that cultivating the heart in the Holy Cross tradition is indeed timeless.
November 2024 - Option for the Poor
Whenever the calendar turns to the month of November, my mind often jumps to the usual end-of-year celebrations: Thanksgiving dinners, Advent wreaths and decorations, Christmas celebrations, and ringing in the New Year. For many, November marks the beginning of a busy season of travel, family commitments, and gift-finding. This month, Cathedral's Holy Cross Core Value is Option for the Poor, and it is a fitting reminder for us to give thanks for the gifts that we have received, while remembering those who have less. It is also a chance to remember that this value is not solely about financial and material poverty but for us to see and recognize those suffering from spiritual, cultural, and any other forms of poverty that make one feel less than whole.
Option for the Poor is a value that has long been a part of our Catholic and Holy Cross Tradition. Christ, the perfect model of this value, came to bring the good news to the poor and oppressed (Luke 4:16-21). We see throughout the Gospels how Jesus welcomed and embraced the marginalized in his society: those with disabilities and ailments, the strangers, and the outcasts, to name a few. Since its founding, the Congregation of Holy Cross has made serving the vulnerable a core aspect of its mission. From reintroducing the Catholic faith to a Post-Revolutionary France to evangelizing throughout the Americas, Africa, and Asia, Holy Cross religious and laypeople have long followed Christ's example. In Christian Education, Blessed Basil Moreau writes, "If you show them greater care and concern, it must be because their needs are greater and because it is only just to give more to those who have received less."
This value is lived out in many ways at Cathedral. Numerous students' St. André Projects focus on supporting those in need. The partnership between our Johnny Mac's Coffeehouse and the Village of Merici has been a wonderful opportunity to support and empower the community of adults living with disabilities. In a few weeks, students and educators will help bring the joy of Christmas on the Hill to young children in the community. While the Cathedral family is answering the call to lift up those around us, we know that this work is ongoing, and the need is always great.
We congratulate educator Gary Spurgin and student Regina Jones '25 on being the Holy Cross Educator and Student of the Month for October for living out the value of Excellence. Gary's nominator said, "Gary is a constant in this community. He avoids drawing attention to himself, but he is always behind the scenes, helping in many ways. He can be found being consistent and observant in his classroom, he offers his time as an announcer for sports games, he opens his heart during Senior Retreats, he chaperones dances, and I know there is more that goes unnoticed. I would love to have him recognized for his dedication." Regina's nominator said, "Regina is the epitome of excellence! She is a superb scholar with an outstanding GPA who consistently phenomenally represents herself and Cathedral. She is an excellent Peer Minister and serves as a fabulous example for our freshmen class. Regina is also the reigning Miss Circle City Classic. When I think of "excellence," I think of Regina Jones!" Congratulations to Regina Jones and Gary Spurgin.
Blessings,
Matthew Gring
Chief Mission Integration Officer
October 2024 - Excellence
October's Holy Cross Core Value – Excellence
Looking around campus, one quickly sees numerous examples of excellence at Cathedral. Along the Hill are listed the four years that Cathedral has been recognized four times as a National Blue Ribbon School for exemplary high performance. Displayed in the Welcome Center are the Hatchell Cup (recognizing the country's top high school football program for excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community) and the IDOE Excellence in Academic Gains award (recognizing progress in improving achievement for all students). A banner in the atrium reads, "Speech Team State Runner-Up 2024." The Welch Activity Center houses an endless number of sports trophies and banners. And of course, the newly-installed signage at the base of the Hill celebrates Cole Hocker's excellence at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. These examples and so many more make it clear that Cathedral lives out the Holy Cross Value of Excellence!
While we often associate excellence with being the absolute best or top-ranked among a particular group, what makes excellence such an important and visible value at Cathedral is that excellence can happen for each one of us. In our Holy Cross tradition of educating hearts and minds, excellence means growing and using the gifts that God has given us to be the best individuals and members of the community. Over the past couple of weeks, Cathedral students have been recognized through their work with the Eagle Scouts, Miss Circle City Classic, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Military Honor Guard, and the National Merit Scholarship Program, to name a few. On September 26, eleven members of the Cathedral family were inducted into the Circle of Excellence for their significant and lasting contributions to Cathedral and their communities. All these individuals have been recognized because they have taken the gifts they have been given and have shared them with others.
When I think about what true excellence means, I think of Saint André Bessette, the first saint of the Congregation of Holy Cross. St. André was orphaned at a young age, had very little formal education, and suffered from poor health all his life. When he joined the Holy Cross Novitiate, he was assigned as doorkeeper of Notre Dame College in Montreal, simply greeting visitors and tending to their needs. While this may not seem like excellence, St. Andre's strong faith and devotion to St. Joseph are what set him apart and how he used his gifts. While serving as doorkeeper, many people who prayed with St. André experienced healings, and news of his healing power spread quickly. St. André would become known as the "Miracle Man of Montreal," and thousands of healings would be attributed to his intercession. Throughout his life, St. André remained humble in his works, and always attributed the miracles to God and the intercession of St. Joseph. From a lowly beginning to sainthood, St. André used his gifts to his best ability and made a lasting impact on his community and the Church. Excellence indeed!
As the Cathedral celebrates the Holy Cross Value of Excellence in October, we will look for ways in which students use their gifts and talents to better themselves and our Cathedral family. Excellence is calling!
September's Holy Cross Value was Family, and we congratulate educator Krista Bohannon and student Wade Knapp '25 on being the Holy Cross Educator and Student of the Month. Krista's nominator said, "Krista, the environment and atmosphere she has built in the library are the true definitions of family. The number of students I see walking into the library with a smile on their faces to see her every day is incredible. She has built such a warm, comforting relationship with these kids to come to the library, and they know they will be treated like family." Wade's nominator said, "Wade Knapp has done so much for his peers and educators in the last month. His St. André Project is a podcast in which he interviews other students. Wade is using his talents not to put the spotlight on himself but those around him. He is so kind and treats everyone with respect. He defines family when you look at it from the mindset of a teenager."
Such great examples of how Family and all our Holy Cross values are lived out on the Hill!
Blessings,
Matthew Gring
Chief Mission Integration Officer
September 2024 - Family
September’s Holy Cross Core Value – Family
If you were to ask a parent why they send their child to a Catholic school, one of the most likely responses you would receive would probably be about the feeling of family. Many Catholic schools excel in creating a family atmosphere for a variety of reasons: the smaller student enrollment compared to larger public and charter schools, teachers and staff dedicated not to a job but to a ministry, the focus on prayer, and a strong religious foundation in all things, and so forth.
At Cathedral, the feeling of family within our community is not something that happens by chance but a result of intentional actions. Within the first few weeks of the 2024-2025 school year, you can see how we live out the Holy Cross Value of Family. Freshmen are welcomed into the Cathedral family during Lughnasa where they join together as brothers and sisters to begin their high school journey as the Class of 2028. At Lughnasa, and throughout the first semester, these freshmen are supported and led by their Peer Ministers, seniors who act as the older and wiser siblings helping the freshmen navigate their way around the physical campus and the many challenges they face in a new school environment. Family is seen through the smiles, handshakes, and hugs in the hallways as returning students welcome each other to a new year and new opportunities. The value of Family is experienced in holding doors for others, the “Good mornings!” during passing periods, and the “Good luck!” in advance of sporting events.
Family is a value that extends deep within our roots. Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, dedicated each branch of Holy Cross to members of the most perfect family – the Holy Family. Holy Cross Priests are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the Holy Cross Sisters are dedicated to Mary; the Brothers of Holy Cross, who founded Cathedral High School, are dedicated to St. Joseph. With the Holy Family as the inspiration for those who founded Cathedral, it is no wonder that Family is such animportant and intentional value that we strive to live out each day.
Throughout the month of September, the Cathedral family will intentionally seek out students and educators who actively live out the value of Family within our community – those everyday actions of kindness, love, and respect that create such a welcoming home for all of us. We look forward to recognizing and celebrating these individuals!
Our Holy Cross Value for August was Zeal, and we congratulate educator Cece Kasberg and student Issy Cadwell ‘26 on being our Holy Cross Educator and Student of the Month. When nominating Mrs. Kasberg, educators said, “Cece is always available for her students and is visited sooooo often by older students she taught when they were freshmen. Cece exhibits Zeal in all that she does.” Issy’s nominating educator said, “Issy is the epitome of Zeal. No matter what activity she is doing - show choir, dance team, math, or religion - she puts her full heart and enthusiasm into every activity. Her energy and excitement are contagious. I have dubbed her the dance team and show choir teams’ spirit stick because without her, there is a huge lack of Zeal. Issy IS ZEAL.”
As Cathedral’s Chief Mission Integration Officer, I look forward to supporting our community in embracing and fostering our Holy Cross Core Values (Divine Providence, Educating Hearts and Minds, Excellence, Family, Hope, Inclusiveness and Diversity, Integrity, Option for the Poor, and Zeal) in all that we do on the Hill.
Blessings,
Matthew Gring
Chief Mission Integration Officer