God loves the underdog. No month reminds us more of this than December. At CRSM, we celebrated the Feast of La Virgen de Guadalupe on December 12. If you don’t know the story, a poor campesino named Juan Diego is singled out by God through the appearance of Mary to become a conduit for the miracle at Tepeyac – roses … Read More
November President’s Pen: The Month that Calls Us to Action
If there were ever a month in the liturgical year that belonged to CRSM, it is November. The month starts with All Saints on the first, followed by All Souls on the second and both overlap with Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos celebrations that run through November 2. November 3 is the Feast of St. Martin de Porres … Read More
October President’s Pen: Creating opportunities for deserving young people
In Economics, there is a term called Opportunity Cost. Essentially, it means that we have choices about how to use our resources. If we use them one way, we forego using them in a myriad of other ways. By considering the alternatives, we can weigh the cost/benefit of our choices. Sitting in my office in Waukegan, I can’t help thinking… … Read More
President’s Pen: Ghost writer Junebug, therapy dog, recounts a day in her life
Preston Kendall is on hiatus this month, he will return to the President’s Pen in October. I really can’t control it. I mean the whining. It usually starts as we are exiting off Highway 41 onto Belvidere Road because by then I know for certain where we are going. I can’t help myself. I just get so excited. The backseat … Read More
President’s Pen: An invitation to witness hope living in Waukegan
Come visit us. Seriously, you must come visit us. You really owe it to yourself to see Cristo Rey St. Martin in action. I am not inviting you out of some hidden agenda for donations. I am not inviting you because I get such a kick out of showing people around – even though I do! You owe it to … Read More
July President’s Pen: Opening doors to opportunity
Although my business card says I am president of Cristo Rey St. Martin, I have come to the conclusion that I am really just the doorman. I don’t have a special brimmed cap or epaulettes or a line down the leg of my trousers, but all I really do is open doors. Essentially, my job is providing students access: access … Read More
President’s Pen May: “E Pluribus Unum” Out of many, one
On May 4, 2018, CRSM celebrated its move to a new, permanent, campus with a Flag Raising Ceremony. After thanking the crowd of community leaders and supporters gathered, President Preston Kendall delivered this inspiring speech on the impact and powerful significance of this milestone moment. E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. These words appear on the Great Seal of … Read More
April President’s Pen: Students work to make the world a better place
As we were preparing to open the first Cristo Rey school back in 1996, our founder Fr. John Foley, SJ came up with the crazy idea that the President of the United States should cut the ribbon opening the new school. That idea set us on a massive game of six degrees of separation. While Cristo Rey Jesuit High School … Read More
March President’s Pen: How you can be part of our daily miracles
A good friend of our school came to see us last week. The last time he visited was nearly seven years ago when I first came to CRSM. I remember his skepticism then when I told him we were going to turn the school around by doubling enrollment, tripling the number of paying jobs in the Corporate Work Study Program, … Read More
President’s Pen: Last Day/First Day: Saying Hello and Goodbye to our Old and New Buildings
On Thursday, February 8, 2018, students, staff and faculty gathered for the last time in the “cafechapaymatorium” before moving to the new school building Tuesday, the following week. Here, President Preston Kendall shares his thoughts on the transformation from closing one chapter in the school’s story in “Last Day.” Below, in “First Day,” he also chronicles the beginning of the … Read More