Our students and Campus Ministry department put on a wonderful Ash Wednesday service here at CRSM. Based on the Taizé format, it was a prayerful hour of scripture, music and silence. I really marvel at our students’ deep sense of faith and reverence so apparent during events like these and at our masses. How gratifying to be among young people … Read More
“Success Can Be Defined in Many Ways”: An Interview with Daniela Martinez
I first met Daniela (CRSM ’10, St. Mary’s University ‘14) at an alumni party in downtown Chicago. She agreed to speak with me about her travels from North Chicago to Honduras to Minneapolis and back again. Her casual demeanor and winning personality belies an intensely independent and ambitious person who has her own definition of success. The following conversation has … Read More
January President’s Pen:
We are building more than a building together. That statement is now our theme for our upcoming Founders’ Dinner on April 18, 2020 but it is more than one event’s byline – it cuts to the heart of our mission at CRSM. We are on a journey with our students to create real and lasting change in our world. Several … Read More
New Heights in Academic Achievement
Academic Achievements Dr. Michael Odiotti – Principal Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep In terms of key data points that we track; the percentage of students at a 2.0, the percentage of students at 3.0 and failure rate, we have matched or exceeded our all-time bests at the first semester. The fact that our GPA numbers continue to improve along … Read More
New Alumni Opportunities
The New Alumni Services Program = College & Career Support CRSM students graduate with a rigorous college prep education and an unparalleled work experience entry on their resume. Yet our alumni face obstacles to their college degree and employment goals unknown to most of their contemporaries. Alumni can now reach out to Alumni Services for one-on-one help. College Support – … Read More
“I Was Mad at the World, That’s How I Got to CRSM”: An Interview with José Elizondo
José (CRSM ’16, Marquette ’20) spoke with me on the phone from his room on the campus of Marquette University. His story is one of contrasts – a small town in Texas to a busy suburb in Illinois, from a high school with 2000 students to 400 at Cristo Rey. As one of only a handful of CRSM graduates to … Read More
“CRSM has always been there for me”: An Interview with Dulce Zarinana
Dulce (CRSM ’16, Carthage ’19) and I met at CRSM the afternoon of the Alumni Christmas party. We spoke about her involvement with Campus Ministry’s volunteer trips, her bachelor’s thesis, early graduation from Carthage College and her aspirations in politics. The following conversation has been edited and condensed. Thanks for meeting with me. This worked out well, meeting … Read More
2019 Alumni Christmas Party
The 2019 Alumni Christmas Party kicked off at 5:30 on December 18th. It was a well attended affair – dinner and libations were served up as well as two exciting announcements. 1) The Phase II Construction Project is scheduled to begin in February 2) A new and exciting initiative has begun: Mary Ann Hocter has been appointed as the Director … Read More
December President’s Pen: Advent, the variant stem of advenīre “to arrive”
“If it is not scary and surprising and an adventure all at the same time, it is not the call of the Gospel of Jesus.” -Helen Prejean, CSJ Advent is the season of arrival, the season of experiencing things as they arise and looking for God in those moments. Advent is a holy adventure challenging us to find grace at … Read More
November President’s Pen: God invites us to see Him in those persons society ignores or persecutes
If ever a month belonged to Cristo Rey St. Martin, it would be November. We start out with the Feast of St. Martin de Porres on November 3 and end on the last Sunday with the Feast of Cristo Rey. What an appropriate time of year to reflect on who we are as a school community named for Christ the … Read More