Buy your tickets today for the latest theater production at Chesterton Academy! The Sophomores of Chesterton Academy will present the World Premiere of Dale Ahlquist’s latest play, “More Bodies Please.” The play was written specifically for the students of this class. Don’t miss this hilarious murder mystery!
Seats are limited – click here to order your tickets online today! Individual tickets are $4.00.
More Bodies Please – Performance Schedule
** SOLD OUT ** Thursday, January 12th – 7:00 pm
** SOLD OUT ** Friday, January 13th – 7:00 pm
** SOLD OUT ** Saturday, January 14th – 7:00 pm
Chesterton Academy Theater – 9400 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, Minnesota. For more information, please contact the school at 952.378.1779.
Chesterton Academy juniors presented the exciting new play, Nuns and Aliens, to packed audiences December 15-17. Laura Ahlquist, Chesterton Academy drama teacher, directed the production. Nuns and Aliens is the latest play written by Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society and c0-founder of Chesterton Academy.
Nuns and Aliens is set in a monastery of Poor Clare nuns in Roswell, New Mexico. The locals are convinced that extra-terrestrial beings have landed near Roswell, but that the US Government has conspired to keep this a secret.
According to Mr. Ahlquist, all of the characters in the play are purely fictional, with one exception. The character of Mother Mary Francis is based on the person who really was the abbess of the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe for forty-one years. She wrote the spiritual classic, The Right to Be Merry, and she was also a playwright. One of her many plays was La Madre, about St. Teresa of Avila (adapted by Dale Ahlquist and performed by the juniors and seniors of Chesterton Academy in spring of 2011).
All students at Chesterton Academy perform in a full-length drama production during their sophomore, junior, and senior years. Nuns and Aliens is the culmination of the junior class drama requirement. The sophomores of Chesterton Academy will present another play by Dale Ahlquist, More Bodies Please, January 12-14. Stay tuned for ticket reservation information!
Save the date for our third annual gala!
* Click here for more information and to purchase tickets *
Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and merriment on February 10, 2012 to benefit Chesterton Academy. Highlights of the evening will include silent and live auctions, dinner featuring the Chesterton Academy Choir, and dancing to the world premiere of the Chestertones Big Band. The event will take place at the beautiful International Market Square in Minneapolis.
We are delighted to announce that Fr. Francis “Fr. Rocky” Hoffman will be our special guest speaker. Stay tuned for more details!
Dale Ahlquist, Vice-Chairman and Co-Founder of Chesterton Academy, was interviewed on EWTN’s Life on the Rock program on Thursday, September 1st. Mr. Ahlquist shared an update on Chesterton Academy as the school began its fourth year of operation.
View the Chesterton Academy video that aired on Life on Rock!
About Chesterton Academy
Chesterton Academy is a pro-family, independent high school offering an integrated, college preparatory curriculum centered on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The school opened its doors in the fall of 2008 with just 10 students. Sixty-five students have enrolled in grades 9 through 12 for the upcoming 2011-2012 academic year.
About Dale Ahlquist
Dale Ahlquist is the president of the American Chesterton Society and creator and host of the television series, G.K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense, on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Mr. Ahlquist is the publisher of Gilbert Magazine, and author of The Apostle of Common Sense and Common Sense 101 – Lessons from Chesterton. He has been called “one of the most respected Chesterton scholars in the world” and has delighted audiences around the country with his variety of talks on the great English writer. Like Chesterton, Ahlquist is a Catholic convert and a joyful defender of the Catholic Faith.
Five New Faculty Members Join
Mathematics, Science, and Music Programs
ACT and SAT Prep Strengthened
Headmaster Niemann: “A great off-season’”
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minnesota (August 2, 2011) Chesterton Academy, a private, classical high school, has hired several new faculty members as the school enters its fourth year of operation, announced Headmaster John Niemann. “We’ve had a great ‘off-season,’” Niemann said. “The quality of teachers we were able to attract, including some outstanding veterans from local schools, was very gratifying.”
Chesterton Academy is a pro-family, independent high school offering an integrated, college preparatory curriculum centered on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Chesterton launched in fall of 2008 with just 10 students. More than 60 students have enrolled in grades 9 through 12 for the upcoming 2011-2012 academic year. New faculty hires include:
Austen Rockcastle, a veteran of more than 20 years teaching experience, comes to Chesterton Academy after success at both Trinity School and Eagle Ridge Academy. Dr. Rockcastle holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a PhD in philosophy, both from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. Dr. Rockcastle will teach geometry, theology, and literature, and help lead the school’s SAT and ACT prep efforts.
Marilyn Zayac comes to Chesterton with many years of industry experience in research and manufacturing, as well as teaching high school. She holds a bachelor of science in metallurgy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in materials science from Michigan State University. Mrs. Zayac serves as an educational counselor for MIT, helping students gain admission to that prestigious university. Mrs. Zayac will teach chemistry and statistics.
Denise Hirl most recently taught math, science and social studies at St. John’s Catholic School in Hopkins, Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in Honors Mathematics and concentration in Secondary Education. She earned her Masters in Education from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mrs. Hirl will teach Calculus I and II.
Mary Helen O’Hare has taught biology and chemistry at Trinity School for the past eight years. She has also taught algebra and music. She holds a bachelor of science in chemistry from Bethel College and a nursing degree from Creighton University. Mrs. O’Hare will teach freshman science and biology.
Mary LeVoir will assist Dr. Robert Peterson in the music program. Dr. LeVoir holds a master’s degree in music and a Doctorate of Musical Arts, both from the University of Minnesota. She has been church organist at St. Agnes for many years and also serves as music director for Saint John Vianney Seminary.
Click here for the full list of Chesterton Academy faculty bios.
Learn more at www.chestertonacademy.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Emily de Rotstein, Executive Director
E-Mail: info@chestertonacademy.org
Phone: 952.378.1779
Chesterton Academy now offers an a la carte option for homeschool students
Attention home educators! This fall, Chesterton Academy will open its high school enrollment to homeschool students on a class-by-class basis for a very affordable pro-rated tuition. Take advantage of our integrated, rigorous curriculum, our classical approach and our excellent teachers at a pace and intensity that fits your home school schedule. Drop in for a single class or several. We encourage you to visit our Open House on Wednesday, August 17th for more information.
Learn more about Chesterton Academy A La Carte.
To learn more or for a copy of our class schedule, please contact us at info@chestertonacademy.org or call 952.378.1779.
Professor Teresa Collett delivered the Commencement address to our 2011 graduating class
Chesterton Academy held Commencement Exercises for its first graduating class on June 3, 2011.
The evening began with a Baccalaureate Mass at Church of the Holy Family, celebrated by Fr. Thomas Dufner and featuring the Chesterton Academy Choir under the direction of Dr. Robert Peterson.
We were honored to have Professor Teresa Collett as our Commencement speaker. A law professor at the University of St. Thomas, Professor Collett is a passionate advocate for the protection of human life and the family. She is a nationally sought-after scholar and speaker on the topics of marriage, religion and bioethics.
Congratulations, graduates!
Chesterton Academy has been accepted as a member of the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS). NAPCIS is an organization founded to support independent Catholic schools. The NAPCIS staff features many nationally known figures in education, and its Ecclesiastical Advisor is Cardinal Raymond Burke.
NAPCIS members enjoy the collective wisdom of 65 independent schools like Chesterton Academy in 29 different states. Some have been established for years, and some are just starting out. NAPCIS’ experience with marketing, managing growth, curriculum development and teacher training will be a benefit to the Board and staff at Chesterton Academy.
Chesterton Academy juniors and seniors presented La Madre, a play on the life of St. Teresa of Avila
Chesterton Academy presented La Madre, a play by Mother Mary Francis about the life of St. Teresa of Avila.
The production, presented by the juniors and seniors of Chesterton Academy in fulfillment of their spring drama coursework, played to sold-out audiences throughout its run.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More Details on the Cultura Vitae Lecture
Professor Kenneth Howell, 2011 Cultura Vitae Speaker
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minnesota (April 18, 2011) – Chesterton Academy, a private, independent college preparatory school, announced today that Professor Kenneth Howell of the University of Illinois will deliver its annual Cultura Vitae (“Culture of Life”) lecture on Saturday, May 7. Dr. Howell will speak about assaults on religious freedom in today’s universities and the need for people of faith to resist attempts to push religion to the margins of American society.
Dr. Howell is Director of the St. John Institute of Catholic Thought and Adjunct Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Illinois where he teaches classes on the history, theology and philosophy of Catholicism. He made national headlines last year when he was fired by the University of Illinois for teaching the Catholic Church’s position on homosexuality. In the uproar that followed, he was re-instated, but his experience provides important lessons for us in defending the Faith and promoting the Culture of Life.
The Cultura Vitae Lecture will take place at 6:30 PM at the Church of the Holy Childhood, 1435 Midway Parkway, St. Paul, MN. The evening will begin with a performance by the Chesterton Academy Choir followed by the Dr. Howell’s lecture, entitled Religious Freedom and the Culture of Life: The Wisdom of John Paul II. The event is free and open to the public.
Click here for more information.
About the Chesterton Academy Cultura Vitae Lecture Series
Chesterton Academy is a pro-family, independent high school offering an integrated, college preparatory curriculum centered on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The Cultura Vitae Lecture Series was established during Chesterton Academy’s inaugural academic year as an effort of the school to educate the greater community and to build what Pope John Paul II called “the culture of life.” To that end, the series is dedicated to bringing scholars and accomplished individuals to speak on a variety of issues that directly affect the protection of the human person, the family, and the building up of the common good.
We’re delighted to announce that we met and exceeded the $75,000 challenge grant received from Minnesota entrepreneur and philanthropist Andrew Redleaf! Over 250 donors from across the country provided gifts to help Chesterton Academy meet the Challenge, which ultimately raised $162,500 for our school.
Mr. Redleaf announced he would renew last year’s $75,000 challenge grant in a dramatic, surprise announcement at our Annual Gala in February. We are so thankful for Mr. Redleaf’s support and thank the many donors who responded so generously to the Challenge!
Download the press release
Read more…Andrew Redleaf and why he supports Chesterton Academy
Posted on April 11, 2011
Pope Benedict XVI waves to Chesterton Academy students after they sang to him during the Weekly General Audience
Chesterton Academy juniors and seniors traveled to Rome and Assisi for the school’s first Lenten pilgrimage in March, 2011. The students were accompanied by teacher and parent chaperones for the one-week trip.
Highlights of the trip included attending daily Mass at the station churches, singing to the Holy Father at his weekly General Audience, and attending the Angelus.
Funds Will Support New Independent High School
Offering Classical and Uniquely Integrated Curriculum
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minnesota (March 7, 2011) – In a dramatic, surprise announcement at this year’s Chesterton Academy Annual Gala, Minnesota entrepreneur and philanthropist Andy Redleaf declared that once again he will match, dollar for dollar, any donations that come into Chesterton Academy by April 1, 2011, up to $75,000. The first Redleaf Challenge, announced last May, ultimately raised $170,000, making it by far the largest and most successful fund-raising initiative in the history of the young school. Now Mr. Redleaf, CEO of Whitebox Advisors, is doing it again!
Chesterton Academy, a classical high school ‘in the Catholic tradition’ started in fall of 2008 with just 10 students. Today, the school enrolls 43 students in grades nine, through 12, and expects to reach 60 students when the 2011-2012 school year begins in the fall.
Redleaf’s gifts to Chesterton Academy have been crucial to a school that relies heavily on fund-raising and receives no public support. To keep the school affordable, Chesterton charges the lowest tuition of any non-public high school in the Twin Cities. Financial aid is offered to families in need. At $5,500 for the 2010-2011 school year, the tuition represents about two-thirds of the actual cost of educating a student, with the remainder made up by donors.
“We are once again deeply honored by Mr. Redleaf’s generosity,” said Headmaster John Niemann. “Andy knows us even better than a year ago and it says something that he remains so committed to the school. I don’t know where we’d be without him.”
Mr. Redleaf is a native of the Twin Cities and a graduate of St. Paul Academy and Yale University. A passionate supporter of classical education, Redleaf says that watching the young school’s progress persuades him that a Jewish entrepreneur emerging as the leading supporter of a school “in the Catholic tradition” is really a perfect fit.
Chesterton “offers a rigorous classical education priced for middle-class families of any faith. That’s huge for the Twin Cities.” Redleaf emphasizes: “It’s not just talk or a vague goal. Chesterton is really delivering on the promise of the classical curriculum. Recently I met with Headmaster Niemann to review the reading list and what’s expected of the students and I had one word to say afterward: ‘impressive.’”
Redleaf says he is even more impressed with “the demeanor, the maturity, the poise, and the kindness of the students. Chesterton students, “look adults in the eye, speak in complete sentences and have something to say,” he comments. “If every school could raise up adults like those young men and women this country could face the future unafraid.”
Redleaf’s company, Whitebox Advisors, is an investment adviser located in Minneapolis. The firm manages approximately $3 Billion and employs over 70 professionals. Celebrated by the New York Times and others for predicting the mortgage crisis long before it happened, Redleaf’s monthly client letter is avidly read and quoted not only on “the Street” but also in the financial press.
Learn more at www.chestertonacademy.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
John Nieman, Headmaster
E-Mail: info@chestertonacademy.org
Phone: 952.378.1779
Download the press release
Read more…Andrew Redleaf and why he supports Chesterton Academy
Contribute today….support the Redleaf Challenge
Posted March 13, 2011
Experience a day in the life of Chesterton Academy and enjoy the music of the Chesterton Academy Choir!
Thank you to the more than 400 guests who attended Chesterton Academy’s second annual Benefit Gala on Saturday, February 19, 2011!
Our event took place at the elegant Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel. We were honored to have Kalley Yanta, former KSTP-TV news anchor and dedicated pro-life advocate, as our Gala Emcee. The evening featured a wonderful performance by our own Chesterton Academy Choir and dancing to the music of the fabulous Wolverines Big Band. Special highlights were speeches by Joseph Barron and Alea Florin, Chesterton Academy’s first graduating seniors, and remarks by Dale Ahlqust, co-founder of Chesterton Academy.
The evening ended with exciting news: Chesterton Academy supporter Andrew Redleaf announced that he will match, dollar for dollar, any donations that come into Chesterton Academy between now and April 1, up to $75,000! Generous donations from our many Gala attendees helped get us off to a great start as we work to meet this amazing fundraising challenge.
Thank you to all who made our evening to benefit Chesterton Academy such a spectacular success! Click here to view photos from the evening!
Tom Bengtson
Dale Ahlquist
Kalley Yanta
The Chesterton Choir
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minnesota (December 2, 2010) – Chesterton Academy, a private, independent college preparatory school, announced today that John Niemann has been named Headmaster by the school’s board of directors. His appointment became effective December 1, 2010. As Headmaster, Mr. Niemann is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school; he leads the school’s faculty and staff, in addition to serving as the primary contact for parents. Mr. Niemann also holds a seat on the school’s seven-member board of directors.
Mr. Niemann was hired as a teacher at the school in June, and was elevated to Academic Dean on July 1, following the departure of the school’s founding Headmaster, John DeJak. Prior to joining Chesterton Academy, Mr. Niemann was an instructor in English and Humanities at Eagle Ridge Academy in Eden Prairie. Prior to that, he taught at Trinity School in Bloomington.
Mr. Niemann has a Juris Doctor degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn., a Master of Liberal Studies degree from Saint John’s College in Santa Fe, N.M., and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative History from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash.
Mr. Niemann has several awards and honors to his credit, including a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute Fellowship. John and his wife, Sibyl, live in St. Paul and have six children.
Chesterton Academy has introduced Chesterton University, lively and enriching evening courses for adults drawn from the Chesterton Academy curriculum and presented by Chesterton Academy faculty. Our first course is Dante’s Inferno, taught by John Niemann, Chesterton Academy Academic Dean.
Click here for the full course description.
When: Thursday evenings 7:00-8:30 pm, November 11 through December 16 (6 weeks)
Where: Chesterton Academy, Cedar Manor School Building, 9400 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park
Tuition: $95 for the 6 week class
Materials: Bring a copy of Dante’s Inferno to the first class—any translation
Please join us!
Posted November 1, 2010
Andrew Redleaf together with Chesterton Academy students at the Redleaf Challenge Celebration Party, July 1, 2010
We’re delighted to announce that we raised a total of $94,861 and earned the full $75,000 matching grant awarded by Minnesota entrepreneur, Andrew Redleaf. We received nearly 300 gifts from donors in 37 states and from as far away as Canada and France. At a special event honoring Andrew Redleaf, Chesterton Academy Board Chair, Tom Bengtson, presented Mr. Redleaf with a plaque thanking him for his generous support and commemorating the success of the Challenge.
Thank you, donors, for your support — and thank you, Mr. Redleaf, for your wonderful generosity! Learn more about the Redleaf Challenge here.
Posted July 1, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Read more about the Redleaf Challenge
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minnesota (May 17, 2010) – Chesterton Academy, a private, independent college preparatory school, announced today that it has received an exciting fundraising opportunity from Andrew Redleaf, founder and CEO of Whitebox Advisors. Mr. Redleaf has agreed to match, dollar for dollar, any donations that come into Chesterton Academy between now and June 15, up to $75,000. To be eligible for the match, gifts must be new and cannot be the fulfillment of commitments previously made.
News of the challenge grant comes near the end of the second year of operation for Chesterton Academy, a classical high school ‘in the Catholic tradition’ started in fall of 2008 with just 10 students. Today, the school enrolls 20 students in grades nine, ten, and eleven, and expects to add 15 to 20 students when the 2010-2011 school year begins this fall. The result of a grass-roots movement of parents, the school is named for the great English writer, G.K. Chesterton, who, among many other achievements, was one of the first English-speaking writers to predict and condemn Adolf Hitler’s holocaust against the Jews.
“We’re deeply honored by Mr. Redleaf’s generosity and interest in helping us build a strong foundation for Chesterton Academy,” said Headmaster John DeJak.
Mr. Redleaf is a native of the Twin Cities and a graduate of St. Paul Academy and Yale University. A passionate supporter of classical education, Redleaf cites three particular achievements that led him to support Chesterton Academy.
Citing his concern with “the national decline in educational achievement among young men” Redleaf notes that at co-ed Chesterton “it’s cool to be smart, even for the boys. We need more of that.”
Redleaf, who is Jewish, adds that by “offering a rigorous classical education at a price middle class families can afford, Chesterton provides a huge service to our entire community. I hope many more non-Catholics in the Twin Cities will join me in supporting that effort.”
“Besides,” he points out, “what the folks at Chesterton call ‘the Catholic tradition’ are really foundational values of our civilization. And with all due respect to my Catholic friends, the Catholics weren’t the first to discover those values.”
Redleaf’s company, Whitebox Advisors, is an investment adviser located in Minneapolis. The firm manages approximately $3 billion and employs over 70 professionals. Celebrated by the New York Times and others for predicting the mortgage crisis long before it happened, Redleaf’s monthly client letter is avidly read and quoted not only on “the Street” but also in the financial press.
Redleaf’s gift is among the largest received by Chesterton Academy since its founding. The school relies heavily on fundraising, as it receives no public support. In order to keep the school affordable, the school charges only $5,500 in tuition, roughly half of the actual cost of educating a student.
About Chesterton Academy
The result of a grass-roots movement of parents, Chesterton Academy is a pro-family, independent high school offering an integrated, college preparatory curriculum centered on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Focusing on the classics, the school develops complete thinkers who learn to draw on faith and reason for the purpose of building a culture of life.
Download the press release
Read more…Andrew Redleaf and why he supports Chesterton Academy
Contribute today….support the Redleaf Challenge
Posted May 17, 2010
Update! Chesterton students raised $3,000 for the Redleaf Challenge through the Chesterton Variety Show, putting us over $75,000 Challenge goal. Thank you students and donors!
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Chesterton Academy students are doing their part to help meet the Redleaf Challenge!
Please join us for a student-organized Chesterton Variety Show on Friday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. in Moorman Hall at Holy Family Church in St. Louis Park. The evening promises to be fun for the entire family and will feature musical performances and skits by current and incoming students. Proceeds from concessions and a free-will offering will go towards the Redleaf Challenge.
Posted June 1, 2010
Fr. Mitchell Pacwa, host of EWTN Live, interviewed Chesterton Academy co-founder, Dale Ahlquist on Wednesday, May 5th. During the interview, Dale shared an update on Chesterton Academy. Watch the entire video below.
Posted May 5, 2010
More than 300 guests attended Chesterto
n Academy’s first annual Benefit Gala on Friday, April 23, 2010. The delightful event was held at the elegant University Club – Downtown Clubhouse in St. Paul. The Most Rev. Fabian Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, our honored guest speaker, delivered the Cultura Vitae lecture entitled “Chesterton from Contemporary Eyes.” Highlights from the evening included a wonderful performance by the Chesterton Academy Choir, under the direction of Dr. Robert Peterson, and a speech delivered by Hannah Korman, Chesterton Academy Class of 2012. The night also included a silent auction and lively live auction, the proceeds of which go to support Chesterton Academy. Thank you to all who made our evening such a spectacular success!
View gala photos on our online gallery!
Bishop Bruskewitz and Laura Ahlquist at the Silent Auction
Bishop Bruskewitz receives an award from Dale Ahlquist, Chesterton Academy co-founder and president of the American Chesterton Society
Chesterton Academy Headmaster John DeJak with Chesterton Advisory Council member, Charles E. Rice, Professor Emeritus of Law, Notre Dame Law School
Chesterton students at the Gala
Club Chesterton
Chesterton students at the MCCA competition
Congratulations to Alea Florin ’11 and Joseph Barron ’11 for their terrific showing in the 2010 State Finals of the MCCL (Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life) Oratory Contest at the University of St. Thomas. Both Alea and Joe did a remarkable job and represented Chesterton Academy with honor, dignity and grace.
Congratulations to Chesterton Academy’s brilliant Latin scholars! Our students joined over 150,000 other Latin students in taking The National Latin Exam, crafted each year by Latin teachers and classical scholars. Of Chesterton Academy’s Latin students, 11 students received honors including 3 gold medals and 4 silver medals! The Exam consists of 40 questions and primarily tests the Latin language, but also includes elements of the literature and culture of the Greco-Roman (Classical) Civilization.
The Most Reverend Fabian Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska
An excerpt from a March 2010 article by Tom Bengston in The Wanderer … The Most Rev. Fabian Bruskewitz, bishop of Lincoln, Neb., is scheduled to deliver the Cultura Vitae lecture at the Chesterton Academy spring benefit gala on April 23, at the University Club in downtown St. Paul. The high- profile event comes near the end of the second year of operation for Chesterton Academy, a high school started in fall of 2008 with just 10 students. Today, the school enrolls 20 students in grades nine, ten, and eleven, and expects to add 15 to 20 students when the 2010- 2011 school year begins this fall.
Chesterton Academy was formed to give families access to a quality, religious high school at a modest tuition. The result of a grass- roots movement of parents, Chesterton Academy is a pro- family, independent high school offering an integrated, college preparatory curriculum centered on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The school is named for the great English writer, G.K. Chesterton, who wrote on a variety of subjects in the early 20th century. Every school day at Chesterton Academy starts with Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church in St. Louis Park; instruction takes place at a nearby community center.
The classical curriculum is presented by a dedicated faculty — each member takes an oath of fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church at the beginning of the school year. A robust parent group meets regularly to plan and conduct extracurricular activities. In the fall, nearly all the students participated in the school’s bowling team; later in the year, many students participated in the school’s Mock Trial program, which performed remarkably well for a first-year team.
The students of Chesterton Academy provided 60 bags of groceries to the Franciscan Brothers of Peace holiday grocery drive in November 2009. This service project helped the Brothers enable 575 families to enjoy both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Students and their families brought the bags directly to the Brother’s residence in St Paul, MN, were given a tour and visited with the Brothers. They also prayed the rosary, with Brother Paul, in the home’s lovely chapel.
The Franciscan Brothers of Peace are a Pro-Life Religious Brotherhood dedicated to giving their lives for love of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church. Committed to live and proclaim The Gospel of Life, devoting ourselves to serve and defend the most vulnerable of our society: the pre-born child, the severely disabled, survivors of torture, the poor and the homeless.
Fr. Paul Murray
Chesterton Academy hosted Fr. Paul Murray, OP on September 21, 2009. He swept into the building with his long stride and in his bright white habit. Once in the room, he was greeted by Dale Ahlquist, John DeJak, and other staff members. After a bit of an introduction, he began taking questions from the students. They asked about his vocation, which he received in Lourdes, France. They asked about his favorite Saint, which is St. Catherine of Siena. Many students later remarked about how he spoke of St. Catherine as if he knew her and that they were great friends. Father even read one of his poems to us, “The Second Youngest,” a poem about growing up with seven siblings and, with the beautiful wonder of a child, believing that his father was a god.
Then Father began to speak about the gifts he has experienced by sharing in the Priesthood of Christ. He told the story of a prisoner, Christopher, on death row in South Africa. After two days in oppressive heat, and a series of providential events, Father was finally able to visit Christopher on a number of occasions. The first time they spoke there were many guards surrounding them, writing down everything they said. By the last visit, there was just one guard who sat behind Christopher. He wrote nothing of their conversation. Instead the guard wept while they spoke. Christopher was later put to death, but had written a letter to Father before he died.
Another story had to do with Michael, a drug addict, Celia, a woman who confessed to him at a bus stop, and another woman who was an artist who was dying. Father spoke about the golden chain that he is able to experience through the priesthood. Celia had written to Michael, and Michael had written to the woman who was dying. Each, in their wounded-ness, had been a great help to the other.
At the end of his time, Father spoke of Mother Teresa. Father told us that Mother begged for his prayers more than anyone else. She was utterly humble. He also told a story about Mother attempting to open houses in China. A man asked her, in a “big business” sort of way, “Who are you going to target in China?” Mother, without missing a beat said, “I want to meet anyone who no one else wants to meet.” Mother’s words, through Fr. Murray, struck us all in the heart. There was an audible intake of breath in the room. Mother Teresa, through Fr. Murray who shares in the Priesthood of Christ, had spoken to us. In that moment, we met the Communion of Saints anew.
Fr. Murray then had to leave as quickly as he had come. He swept out of the room with his long stride, in his bright white habit and none of us will ever forget our time with him.
There was a certain calm joy in the room and the students mentioned how it felt as if Father were speaking to each of them individually.
Later, Fr. Murray commented on how he was nervous to speak to the students. He nearly never has the opportunity to speak to teenagers. He was so impressed with the attentiveness of the students. He was impressed with the questions from the students. And he was so grateful that the stories he had shared made an impression on the students, only extending the golden chain that he has the great joy of experiencing through the priesthood.
–Alyssa Bormes, Chesterton Academy Faculty
About Father Murray
Paul Murray O.P. is an Irish Dominican, a poet, and a professor in Rome at the University of St. Thomas, the Angelicum. He is the author of several books which have been published in Ireland, England, and the United States including I Loved Jesus in the Night: Teresa of Calcutta — A Secret Revealed; The New Wine of Dominican Spirituality: A Drink Called Happiness; A Journey with Jonah; These Black Stars; The Spirituality of Bewilderment; T.S. Eliot and Mysticism: The Secret History of “Four Quartets”; and four collections of poetry.
