One of Cristo Rey’s missions is to prepare students for work. Our Certified students “have demonstrated the ability to command the full features and functionality of Microsoft Word and Excel, preparing them for future academic or workforce opportunities.” For those Certified in Word 2019/365, these are some of the skills they have mastered: Advanced Find Options Formatting text & … Read More
May President’s Pen: “At the end of the graduation ceremony we ‘mission’ our students with a final blessing.”
We held an in-person graduation this past Saturday – the first in our new gym! Thank goodness we now have a gym because, with new CDC guidelines and appropriate distancing, the space was large enough to accommodate four guests for each senior. We also live-streamed the event so other family members not in attendance could view the ceremony from home. … Read More
April President’s Pen: “You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.”
On May 1 we will hold our annual Founders’ Dinner. The event will be virtual and last just over 20 minutes – but those minutes are jampacked – we have alumni, students, and others sharing uplifting stories. Fr. John P. Foley, SJ will also be joining us since 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the Cristo Rey movement; the silver … Read More
Campus Ministry Continues to Fight the Effects of the Pandemic
Campus Ministry has fostered a massive response of volunteers to work hand in hand with Northern Illinois Food Bank, helping to alleviate the effects of the pandemic. Since the end of January, CRSM has been hosting mobile food pantries; each event is providing much needed groceries for 1,000 families. Because of anticipated ongoing need, CRSM and NIFB are planning … Read More
March President’s Pen: A Time for Hope
This week we modified our school schedule to allow students two full days per week of in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year. Freshmen and Sophomores responded very favorably to the expansion with about 60% and 62% respectively opting to come in; the response from Juniors (34%) and Seniors (16%) was a bit more disappointing. Someone asked, “Can’t … Read More
CRSM & the Northern IL Food Bank Organize 3rd Mobile Food Pantry
On February 18th, Cristo Rey St. Martin and the Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) partnered to host yet another drive-thru food distribution event – the third major event in a continuing effort to help families get through the financial challenges of the pandemic. The Thursday NIFB Mobile Food Pantry ran from 3:00 pm until 7pm and served over 900 families. … Read More
February President’s Pen: Once in a While, Blessed with Grace
Every once in a while I have been blessed with an experience of Grace – a momentary sense of God being present in the here and now. Something like that happened at CRSM a couple weeks ago when we cohosted with Jewel-Osco our second COVID vaccine drive on our campus. After helping nearly 1,200 at our initial event, this day … Read More
January President’s Pen: Cristo Rey’s Baptismal Vows
In January 1996, my first day of work at a new job was the press conference that announced the Jesuits would be opening a new and unique college prep high school in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Fr. John Foley, SJ; Sr. Judy Murphy, OSB; and I sat at the table while the Jesuit Provincial announced the planned opening of … Read More
Food Drive: CRSM Students Continue Their Commitment as People for Others
On January 30th, Cristo Rey St. Martin and the The Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) partnered to host a drive-thru food distribution event. The second major event in their continuing efforts to help families get through the financial challenges of the pandemic. One-hundred students, staff, families and friends of the school volunteered to work alongside NIFB staffers, directing traffic and … Read More