Collegeville and Cristo Rey By Joseph Young ’73
Steve Woit
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A Partnership of Preparation and Graduation
n 2009, Saint John’s bestowed its highest honor, the Pax Christi Award, on Jesuit Father John Foley, president of the now 10-year-old Cristo Rey Network (CRN). This network of 24 Catholic preparatory high schools serves economically disadvantaged youth who live in urban communities with limited educational options. The same year, CRN launched the University Jeb Myers ’97, principal of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities (CRJHSTC), Partners Initiative (UPI), is on a mission to prepare students for college success. inviting colleges and universities to formalize relationships of mutual support John’s Abbey and University. with Cristo Rey (Spanish for “Christ the King”). The reverberations are evident in the several graduates Saint John’s University and the College of Saint of Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s who have gone on to serve Benedict accepted that invitation, embarking on a formal the network as employees and volunteers, including Jeb partnership with CRN. Myers ’97, principal of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin SJU’s informal relationship with CRN, however, dates Cities (CRJHSTC) in Minneapolis, founded in 2007. back to 2006, when it began recruiting and enrolling “We want to find the best environment that will allow students and graduates of Cristo Rey schools. Fifteen our students to thrive in college,” says Myers. “University Cristo Rey graduates currently attend SJU and a sixteenth Partner colleges and universities have great support graduated in 2011. SJU and CSB are among 40 colleges structures and a great track record of preparing and and universities participating in the UPI, which provides graduating students.” support to CRN graduates, all of whom attend college. University Partner schools provide Cristo Rey students During the 2009 Pax Christi Award ceremony, Abbot with scholarships and other financial aid. Saint John’s has John Klassen OSB ’71 pointed out that the Jesuit values also hosted campus tours, providing transportation for and ideals exemplified in the Cristo Rey philosophy, prospective Cristo Rey students, parents and counselors, structure and tradition echo the Benedictine values of Saint and has sponsored counselors’ attendance at national
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