Cathedral High School is excited to announce a new partnership with the Village of Merici, a non-profit that provides an innovative approach to services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Village of Merici clients are volunteering in Cathedral's Johnny Mac's Coffeehouse, allowing them to expand their work skills and give back to the community. Cathedral's Chris Beaty '00 Entrepreneurship Class operates the coffeehouse and has the added benefit of fostering new friendships while honoring the school's Holy Cross Core Value of Inclusivity and Diversity. "At Cathedral, we want to give our students authentic, hands-on experiences," says Principal Julie Barthel. "Working alongside our friends from the Village of Merici will provide our students real-world experience running a business while introducing some of them to the unique strengths and contributions of individuals with exceptionalities. This collaboration provides a beautiful opportunity to celebrate the gifts of all of God's children."
The Village of Merici provides direct support services and independent, apartment-style housing to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Overarching goals addressed through the mission include independence, housing, employment readiness, social skills, community integration, and self-advocacy.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to enrich the lives of those we support through this partnership,” says Village of Merici Executive Director Colleen Renie. Colleen Renie, who is a former Cathedral parent, wanted a place where her son Jason could live independently and still maintain a sense of community. In 2005, she and a small group of parents of intellectually and developmentally disabled adult children met to discuss the possibility of developing a residential program rooted in mutual support. They called the concept Village of Merici after St. Angela Merici, a 15th-century Italian woman who became known for her extraordinary service to the poor, the displaced, and other marginalized people. Colleen Renie's son Matt, who graduated from Cathedral High School in 2011, has formed business ventures with lifelong friend, professional football player, and 2011 Cathedral graduate Ted Karras to raise thousands of dollars for the organization. To learn more about Village of Merici and its mission, visit villageofmerici.org.
Johnny Mac's Coffeehouse opened at Cathedral High School in March of 2023. It is dedicated to the memory of John McCormick, also known as Johnny Mac, who was a 1990 graduate of Cathedral High School. McCormick was a business teacher whose passion was ensuring his students knew how to "get along in life," especially being able to understand finances. Cathedral has no doubt the collaboration between Johnny Mac's Coffeehouse and Village of Merici would make him very proud.