Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Headmaster's Update: April 2008
April 29, 2008
Dear Parents and Friends of Chesterton Academy:
I recently came upon a lecture delivered by the great 20th century Thomist, Etienne Gilson, entitled "The Eminence of Teaching." The lecture describes what it means to teach and what teachers actually do when they teach and teach well. Permit me to quote a portion:
Maius est contemplata aliis tradere quam solum contemplari: it is a greater thing to distribute to others what one has contemplated than only to contemplate. What life, then, could be more noble than that of a teacher, if it achieves in its perfection the unity of action and of contemplation?...[O]nly the teaching of the Gospel remains what it is, and when all is said and done, Mary has still chosen the better part. Who would deny this? Certainly not Thomas Aquinas, for he was not trying to be clever; as usual, he was simply trying to say the truth. And the truth is that if there has been a teaching of the Gospel, there must also have been a teacher. Not this time St. John Baptist de la Salle, nor St. Albert the Great, nor St. Thomas Aquinas, but He better than whom no man can ever pretend to do: the teacher and the divine model of all teachers; namely, Christ.
After a brilliant philosophical explicatio (as was his custom), Gilson ends his lecture with this paragraph. It very much struck me as it mirrors what we look for in our children's teachers: men and women who model themselves on Christ. This is a solemn obligation and a continual work in progress. As parents and teachers we must constantly struggle in our daily lives to better conform ourselves to the Divine Teacher Himself.
In light of these beautiful words by Gilson, I am honored to formally announce the inaugural faculty for Chesterton Academy! These talented men and women are faithful Catholics, tremendous intellects, and, teachers! James Mills will teach Math, Science and Music Theory. Laura Ahlquist and Jean Matheny will be teaching Art History and Studio Art. Alyssa Bormes will teach Theology and Public Speaking, Richard Vigilante will teach Philosophy, and Ann DeJak will teach Music and Choir. In addition to administrative and disciplinary duties, I will be teaching Latin, History and Ancient Literature. Finally, I mustn't forget Dale Ahlquist who will teach the "Chesterton Capstone" at the end of the year. Read about our stellar faculty here.
We have a Facility! I am also delighted to announce that Chesterton Academy has its first home--The Eliot Community Center 6800 Cedar Lake Road in St. Louis Park. In addition to classroom space, the building has a theater and a gymnasium. In the upcoming months, contractors will rehab our classroom space and we hope to have an open house in our newly refurbished classroom space as soon as possible.
Save the Date! We invite our parents, admitted students, friends and all others interested in Chesterton Academy to an informational evening at the Eliot Community Center tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 7:00pm. We will meet in the auditorium, introduce our faculty, view our new home and answer any and all questions. This meeting will also be an opportunity for those who have not yet heard of Chesterton Academy to visit with us and learn more about the school. We will send a follow-up announcement after all the logistics have been arranged.
The 27th Annual G.K. Chesterton Conference: Orthodoxy Centennial. This wonderful event is especially significant this year because it commemorates the 100th anniversary of G.K. Chesterton's book Orthodoxy which was instrumental in the conversions of countless people to the Catholic faith. It is all the more significant for the fact that this is the inaugural year of Chesterton Academy! I encourage all to come to this great event for young and old alike. There will be talks by noted scholars, songs, games, a banquet dinner and (of especial interest to the dads) FREE BEER! Check out the conference webpage here for more details.
Applications are still being accepted for Chesterton Academy's inaugural year! Prospective students and their families can peruse our application on our website here. Also, please check our website's "News Section" for the latest information.
Please continue to remember Chesterton Academy in your prayers and Masses. Be assured of our continued prayers for you and your families. We have much to be thankful for.
In Domino,
John M. DeJak
Headmaster
Chesterton Academy
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Headmaster's Update: March 2008
March 27, 2008
Dear Parents and Friends,
Resurrexit sicut dixit! Alleluia! Happy Easter from Chesterton Academy! It is my sincere hope that this season of Our Lord’s Resurrection brings peace and joy to you and your families. It is opportune during this season to give thanks for all the blessings that Chesterton Academy has received over the past several months. This is the first monthly update that I will be sending to parents and friends of the school to give reports on our progress and development. Chesterton Academy has much to be thankful for and we are delighted to report such good news to our supporters. I believe that it is also important to keep everyone engaged. This is your school and the pioneering families and supporters will help form this institution and the traditions that will mark it in years to come.
Recruiting. I am pleased to say that our recruiting efforts have gone well and that there is a tremendous amount of interest in Chesterton Academy. I have given talks to many groups all over the Twin Cities and I have had the pleasure of meeting with families individually and in their homes. I am pleased to report that we have accepted a group of students for our inaugural year and I continue to meet with more families and prospective students. Applications are still being accepted. If you know anyone who may be interested please have them check our website for further information. http://www.chestertonacademy.org/apps.htm
Advisory Council. The Chesterton Academy Advisory Council was announced by the Board of Directors on February 29, 2008. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to provide spiritual and intellectual support to Chesterton Academy and its faculty, students, and families. We are humbled that these generous men and women have taken such an interest in our school and we include them in our prayers. The members of this august group include Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, O.P., Mrs. Mary Ann Kuharski, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., Prof. Charles E. Rice, and Mr. Joseph Scheidler. In addition to the original members, we are happy to announce our newest member of the Advisory Council: Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. Fr. Fessio joined the Advisory Council on March 25, 2008 and we are honored to have his support. I have enclosed the biographies of our Advisory Council members for your perusal.
Media Coverage. Chesterton Academy has been covered by the Catholic Press in several recent articles. The January/February 2008 edition of Gilbert Magazine –the magazine of the American Chesterton Society—was dedicated to G.K. Chesterton’s thought on education. Founder Dale Ahlquist penned an article entitled “Introducing Chesterton Academy” in the issue and introduced our school formally to a nationwide audience. In February, Dale also authored an article for the The Catholic Servant entitled “Chesterton Academy will teach students how to defend the Faith” and Paul Likoudis authored “Lay Catholics Launch the Chesterton Academy in the Twin Cities” for The Wanderer. Both articles may be viewed on our website’s News Section here: http://www.chestertonacademy.org/news.htm. Be sure to check the website often for the latest news.
Library. As a result of the coverage we have received in The Wanderer and The Catholic Servant (in addition to personal contacts), several generous people from across the country have decided to donate books to help the school start a library. I would like to publicly acknowledge the generosity of Mrs. Frances Farrell from Wisconsin, Miss Sue Gorski from Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Likoudis from New York, and Mrs. Carol Suhr from Arizona. All of these individuals have our heartfelt thanks and prayers for their wonderful commitment to our school and their generous donation to the education of our students. We will remember all of these generous people in our prayers and Masses.
I am finalizing the composition of our faculty and will formally announce them in next month’s update. Similarly, we are finalizing our location (still!) and I hope to formally announce that as well in the April Update. Please continue to check our website for news and updates http://www.chestertonacademy.org/news.htm. If there are any questions that you may have please feel free to contact me at john.m.dejak@gmail.com or you may call me at 612.619.0039. Please continue to remember Chesterton Academy in your prayers and Masses. Be assured of our continued prayers for you and your families.
In Domino,
John M. DeJak
Headmaster
Chesterton Academy
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. Joins Advisory Council
Chesterton Academy's Board of Directors is pleased to announce the addition of Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., Ph.D. to Chesterton Academy's Advisory Council.
Fr. Fessio is the Founder and Editor of Ignatius Press. He is also the publisher of the influential publications Catholic World Report and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. As a Jesuit professor he founded both the St. Ignatius Institute of the University of San Francisco and Campion College. During his academic career he has taught philosophy and theology courses at several schools. Fr. Fessio wrote his dissertation on the ecclesiology of Hans Urs von Balthasar under the direction of Pope Benedict XVI (then Professor Joseph Ratzinger). He holds the degrees of B.A. and M.A. from Gonzaga University; M.A. from the Fourviere Jesuit Faculty of Theology in Lyons, France; and Ph.D. from the University of Regensburg in Germany. In addition to his academic and publishing work, Fr. Fessio has worked as a consultant for the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and is the co-founder of Adoremus: Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Chesterton Academy Announces Advisory Council
The Board of Directors of Chesterton Academy is pleased to announce the school's Advisory Council. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to provide spiritual and intellectual support to Chesterton Academy and its faculty, students, and families. We are humbled that these generous men and women have taken such an interest in our school and we include them in our prayers.
Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, O.P., Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist
Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz was one of four Dominican Sisters who, in 1997, founded a thriving new community of women religious, the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist. She has served and continues to serve as Vicaress General, Secretary General, and Vocations Directress of the community. A well-known and popular speaker, Sister has given catechetical and vocations talks throughout the United States, Canada, and Austria. Notable among her many talks are: "Creating a Culture of Religious Vocations," given at the annual meeting of The Institute of Religious Life, Tampa, Florida, January 19, 2002; "The Genius of Women," given at Harvard University, November 6, 2002; "Wherever Eve Was, There Was Eden," given at Princeton University, February 2005; "Happiness," given at the University of St. Thomas, November 3, 2005. Sister has also given talks to the Society of Catholic Social Scientists, the Knights of Malta, and to countless seminarians and high school and college students. A tireless promoter of vocations, Sister has appeared on EWTN and her writings have been published in This Rock, Lay Witness, Dominican Torch, and The National Catholic Register.
Mary Ann Kuharski, Executive Director, ProLife Across America
Mary Ann Kuharski is President of ProLife Across America (The Billboard People) and a nationally known author and speaker. She has appeared on many local and national television and radio programs including the Phil Donohue Show. She was a founding member of and past president of Prolife Minnesota and an advisory board member for the National Committee for Adoption. Mrs. Kuharski's articles have appeared in Newsweek, Our Sunday Visitor, Christian Living, Catholic Digest, and many other periodicals. She is the author of Raising Catholic Children (Our Sunday Visitor 1991), Building a Legacy of Love (Queenship Publishing 1997), and Outnumbered! Raising 13 Kids with Humor and Prayer (Servant Books 2006). Mrs. Kuharski is a loving mother of 13 children (six of whom are adopted and several with special needs) and a grandmother of 12. She and her husband, John, live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Fr. Mitchell Pacwa, S.J., Host, EWTN; President, Ignatius Productions
Father received his B.A. in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Detroit, summa cum laude. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1976 with the Society of Jesus and then continued his studies. He received his Master of Divinity and S.T.B. from the Jesuit School of Theology of Loyola University, magna cum laude. At Vanderbilt University, he received his Master of Arts, Ph.D. in Old Testament. Father Pacwa has taught at the high school, university, and seminary levels. Being a well-known biblical scholar, he has lectured at hundreds of conferences and churches around the world, and has appeared and hosted international radio and television programs. He is best known for his appearances on EWTN. Father Pacwa is fluent in twelve languages and has a unique understanding of the peoples and cultures of the Middle East. Father's extensive travels throughout the Middle East, Europe, and the Holy Land has inspired him to write the "Holy Land Prayer Book," which has been published by his own apostolate, Ignatius Productions, and can be used as a prayer book guide for any pilgrim traveling to the Holy Land. Father Pacwa also has the privilege of being bi-ritual, which means he can also celebrate the Maronite Mass of the Eastern Catholic Church.
Charles E. Rice, Professor Emeritus of Law, Notre Dame Law School
Charles E. Rice is Professor Emeritus of Law at the University of Notre Dame Law School. Professor Rice was born in 1931, received the B.A. degree from the College of the Holy Cross, the J.D. from Boston College Law School and the LL.M. and J.S.D. from New York University. He served in the Marine Corps and is a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.). He practiced law in New York City and taught at New York University Law School and Fordham Law School before joining, in 1969, the faculty of law at Notre Dame. He served for eight years as State Vice-Chairman of the New York State Conservative Party. From 1981 to 1993, Professor Rice was a member of the Education Appeal Board of the U.S. Department of Education. He has served as a consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and to various Congressional committees on constitutional issues and is an editor of the American Journal of Jurisprudence. He is a member of the governing boards of Franciscan University of Steubenville and the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He is also chairman of the Center for Law and Justice International in New Hope, Kentucky, and a director of the Thomas More Center for Law and Justice in Ann Arbor. He is an assistant coach of the Notre Dame Boxing Club. Professor Rice is the author of many scholarly articles and numerous books including Where Did I Come From? Where Am I Going? How Do I Get There? (St. Augustine's Press 2006), co-authored with Theresa Farnan. The Winning Side: Questions on Living the Culture of Life (St. Brendan's Institute 1999). Fifty Questions on the Natural Law: What it Is and Why We Need It (Ignatius Press 1993). He and his wife, Mary, have 10 children and 37 grandchildren. They reside in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Joseph M. Scheidler, Director, Pro-Life Action League
Joseph M. Scheidler is National Director of the Pro-Life Action League, a national pro-life educational and activist organization headquartered in Chicago. The League is dedicated to saving lives through activism and to bringing the abortion issue to the public via the media. It has been said that Joseph Scheidler defined pro-life direct action. Syndicated columnist Patrick Buchanan called Mr. Scheidler "the Green Beret of the pro-life movement." His book on his methods of fighting abortion, CLOSED: 99 Ways to Stop Abortion, was updated in 1993, and he has produced the videos Meet the Abortion Providers and Abortion: The Inside Story, featuring former abortionists who are now telling the truth about what goes on in the abortion clinics. Mr. Scheidler also produced the definitive video on sidewalk counseling, No Greater Joy, and Face the Truth, an 11-minute video on a unique, highly visible pro-life demonstration using large graphic abortion posters to bring the truth about abortion to the American public. Mr. Scheidler is a stimulating and controversial guest on radio and TV interviews and talk shows and has appeared on more than a thousand programs including: ABC News Nightline, Donahue, Crossfire, Face the Nation, Good Morning America, MacNeil/Lehrer Report, The O'Reilly Factor and others. He has written many guest columns for newspapers such as USA Today and The Wanderer and has published articles in several national publications. Joe is a dynamic speaker on the moral dimensions of the abortion issue and the effectiveness of direct action. Nationwide, he has spoken in more than 1000 towns and cities since 1980 and has conducted on-site workshops and lectures in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and Italy. Mr. Scheidler is a recognized expert on the abortion culture, sidewalk counseling, the spiritual dimension or pro-life activism, fetal experimentation, working with the media, the responsibility of the church to fight abortion, battling the courts and the need for a return to morality. Mr. Scheidler lives in Chicago with his wife, Ann, the Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League. They have 7 children and 15 grandchildren.
