Celebrating Catholic Schools Week

Sunday began Catholic school’s week. With students and staff from Marian Catholic high school achieving a number of accolades the past year, Vince Krydynski, President of Marian Catholic high school speaks about the goals and successes of the school.

Krydynski, who is an Orland Park resident was involved in Catholic education in grade school, attending St. Ann in Lansing then going to Marian Catholic in high school graduating in 1981.

“Having a Catholic education set me on a trajectory in life” said Krydynski. “There are certain values that I was raised in my home. Catholic education really supported those values. It also set me on a path when it came to faith development.”

Not all students at Marian Catholic are of the Catholic faith. According to Krydynski, 40% of the students are of other faiths, where they are still embraced by staff. The high school features several service organizations the students can take part in but events geared towards faith.

“We have a program here called Kairos” explains Krydynski. “My daughter who graduated here in 2010 participated in Kairos. At the end of the retreat the students get a wooden cross. Recently we were helping her move. One of the first things out of her box and up on her wall was that Kairos cross.”

Marian Catholic high school is one of the most diverse Catholic high schools in the Chicago area.

“Part of our diversity that we celebrate here is students of all faiths” said Krydynski. “ You don’t have to be Catholic to be at Marian Catholic, you are allowed to discuss your faith with other kids in the building. We try and bring that student closer to God in a Catholic community,”

According to Steve Tortorello, Principal at Marian Catholic, some events have been planned at the high school. “Each year for Catholic School Week, we take a day to individually highlight and celebrate our Dominican Sisters, our students, our teachers, and our staff” said Tortorello.” We have special treats for each group, and we also have our big Student Council assembly featuring student-teacher games. The assembly kicked off our celebration this past Friday and featured a dodgeball tournament and a pie-in-the-face game.”

Service to others is a huge teaching at Marian Catholic. The Dominican Order have built their lives on the foundation of the Four Pillars of Prayer, Study, Community and Preaching. This belief is the foundation at of the faith life at Marian Catholic.

“The theme of Catholic Schools week 2020 is: Catholic schools learn, serve, lead and succeed” said Krydynski. “We talk to our students and our adults in the building that we are called by the Gospel to serve and to be servant leaders. When you come to a mindset of servant leadership, it turns things around. It’s no longer about me, it’s about the community.”

Krydynski has been at Marian Catholic for six years, three years as the President. He practiced law previous to coming to Marian Catholic. Krydynski has many goals for the high school.

“As we begin the week of Catholic Schools week, we are hearing of Catholic grade schools and high schools closing’ said Krydynski. “One of the things were are challenged with is taking a look at each school and show the relevance. Also, we look at how do we make sure that Catholic education is getting it’s story out? How do we support our families to be able to take advantage in what is in front of them?”

There are many ways to support a Catholic education. Members of the business world can support a student in Catholic education by donating to the Illinois tax scholarship program. “We’re also trying to expand our volunteer programs because the more volunteers we have helping us in our facilities, we won’t have to hire someone” added Krydynski. There is also a wish list for the school. You can access the list by going to Marian Catholic’s website: www.marianchs.com and find the list at Support Marian. You can find various ways to help from donating $634 dollars for a book to $20,000 for new cheerleading outfits.

“I don’t think Marian Catholic could be the place that it is, if it wasn’t for the adults that give so freely of themselves” Krydynski added. “I truly know that the Holy Spirit is alive and moving at Marian Catholic.”

In a press release issued by Chicago Archdiocese, Cardinal Blasé J. Cupich talks about the importance of a Catholic education.

“Catholic Schools Week is a wonderful time for Catholic schools across the country to celebrate their successes and the positive impact they’ve had on their communities,” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “We are blessed to be entrusted with the spiritual and academic formation of young men and women in the Archdiocese of Chicago as we prepare them for adulthood.”

Research has shown that a Catholic education pays dividends throughout a student’s life. Ninety-eight percent of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic high school students graduate with 96 percent attending college after graduation. When compared with public school graduates, Catholic school graduates are: four times more likely to vote; to be found in leadership positions in business, government and non-profit organizations; to have higher earning potential; and to be more civically engaged and committed to service as adults.

The 205 Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Chicago will mark the week with special activities including, Masses, service projects, community appreciation efforts, open houses, talent shows, pep rallies, and guest speakers.

The Archdiocese of Chicago schools are proud to welcome students of diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition, more than 17 percent of our students are not of the Catholic faith.

“During Catholic Schools Week, we celebrate the exceptional contributions of our schoolteachers, leaders, and staff who work relentlessly on behalf of their students,” said Dr. Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic Schools. “Catholic schools not only form children in knowledge but inspire their development of faith and values. This enables them to be civically engaged and work to improve the world around them.”

For Marian Catholic high school principal, Steve Tortorello, Catholic education has always been important to him. “Catholic education is the hidden gem in American society” said Tortorello.” It cares for and teaches the individual wholistically. It helps to form not only students, but people. The focus on community, faith, education, and service is the bedrock of forming great citizens.”

In the past year, Marian Catholic students have achieved great things, below is a list from the past year.

• The Marian Catholic Band was named Class 3A Championship at the Illinois State Marching Band Championships for the 40th consecutive year.

• Eleven (11) Marian Catholic band and choir students participated in the Illinois Music Education Association's District 1 Senior Festival.

• Eight (8) athletes signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

• Marian Catholic's football team finished as conference champions for the first time since 1994. Additionally, they qualified for play offs for the first time in nine years.

• Erick Middleton '98 was named the Dave Mattio Coach of the Year for the CCL-ESCC Red Division.

• Diego Herrera was named the ESCC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year.

• Women's Tennis team members Lilli Hansen '21 and Karina Bonilla '21 qualified for the IHSA state tournament.

• 95 students form 2019-2020 were recognized as AP Scholars.

• Two members of the class of 2020 earned perfect 36 ACT scores.

• At this fall's Academic Awards Breakfast, 98 students received their academic letter for maintaining a 4.0 or above for two consecutive semesters.

• During the first semester of 2019-20, 133 students made 47 service trips to eight (8) locations and provided 324 hours of service through the new Christian Service Program.

• Last summer, students traveled to Alaska, Appalachia, Costa Rica, and China to expand their view of the world.

For information on Marian Catholic, visit their website www.marianchs.com

To learn more about the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic schools, visit schools.archchicago.org.