COVER STORY A family affair | Passing

Afamily affair

Passing on the Faith in and out of the classroom

By Ashlie Hand

photos by Ashlie Hand and Megan Marley

There is no doubt that Stephanie and Joe Hollo

share a uniquely strong bond as mother and son. Stephanie is interim principal at Nativity of Mary Catholic School in Independence, while Joe teaches Latin, theology and small engine repair at St. Michael the Archangel (SMA) High School in Lee’s Summit. If there is a common theme to their individual stories, it’s the unexpected path on which both found themselves on the way to becoming Catholic school educators.

Stephanie was first drawn to teaching during her high school child development class. She was nominated to participate in an internship in the Raytown elementary schools and a spark was lit. “I was in awe seeing how a child thinks. I got to work every day with kindergartners, and I loved watching how their little minds worked,” Stephanie recalls. School was difficult for Stephanie, who has a diagnosed auditory and central processing disorder. She was told early in her life that she would not go “I love seeing the to college, but with special accommodations expression on the kids’ faces while attending Mass with them, especially those serving for the first and a lot of self-driven hard work, Stephanie completed her associate degree in early childhood. Her experience as a student also inspired time. I love encouraging her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in child and them and seeing them family development, which she achieved in experience what my kids 2018, followed by a master’s degree in early have experienced growing childhood special education and a graduate up in the Catholic Church.” certificate in educational leadership. “Not only was I the first person in my extended family to go to college, but I had to work harder to get through college due to my disability. I can now share that with my students. I didn’t just read about or observe disabilities, I’ve actually lived it and can truly relate to my students,” Stephanie explains. She’s proud that Nativity of Mary School is a FIRE Foundation school and embraces the opportunity to welcome students with special needs into her Catholic school community.

Every morning, It was Stephanie’s husband, Steve, who Stephanie makes led her to the Catholic Faith, but it was sure she is at the door greeting her son, Joe, who led Stephanie to her every student first teaching job in a Catholic school. as they come Joe was enrolled in kindergarten at into the building. Our Lady of Lourdes in Raytown, where “As soon as I he stayed through eighth grade, and see their faces, I know exactly Stephanie began teaching preschool. As how their day is she earned her degrees, she moved on going to go.” to Nativity of Mary School as an Early Child and Special Education Coordinator. Last year, an opportunity opened up for Stephanie to step into the role of principal at Nativity of Mary School.

As principal of a Catholic school, witnessing her students experience the Faith, especially when it is for the first time, is especially rewarding.

“About half of our students at Nativity are not Catholic,” she explains. “I love seeing the expression on the kids’ faces while attending Mass with them, especially those serving for the first time. I love encouraging them and seeing them experience what my kids have experienced growing up in the Catholic Church.”

family values

Catholic school educators have a unique opportunity to pass on the Faith. For Stephanie, she draws on her experience as a mother.

“We still attend Mass as a family with our adult children. When I attend Mass at Nativity, my school families and students see me attending Mass outside of school. They see me living my Faith.”

For Joe, passing on the Faith goes beyond the classes he teaches. He is also in charge of Guardians of the Altar at SMA High School. These boys serve Mass at the high school, and their training also has led to being called up for Masses celebrated by Bishop Johnston. “I teach them about serving Mass faithfully, but also showing people love and dignity out in the community … living their relationship with God and sharing it with other people.”

According to Joe, Stephanie experiences joy as a principal because, “She shows people love.”

Joe’s experience with the Catholic Faith extends to his close-knit family, particularly the relationship he shared with his grandpa. For all of Joe’s life, his dad and grandpa owned a local auto mechanic’s shop in addition to being strongly devoted to their faith and their parish, Our Lady of Lourdes in Raytown.

“I looked up to my grandfather and the love he gave to his customers,” Joe said. “My grandpa originally encouraged my interest in the Faith. I especially loved my grandpa’s stories about when he was an altar boy.”

As soon as he was old enough, Joe jumped at the chance to serve at Mass, too. When he realized that he wasn’t going to learn Latin like his grandpa did, it quickly led to a fascination with the Latin Mass and the Extraordinary Form.

This fascination, and Joe’s path to teaching, was all part of God’s plan.

“A theology teacher of mine in high school told me I would be a really good teacher. He never pushed me but planted that seed.”

That seed would remain underground for the time being. While Joe was in high school, he was learning to be an automotive mechanic with the intention of one day taking over the shop from his grandpa and dad.

“If you told me I would be teaching high school, I would have laughed at you,” Joe emphasizes.

After he graduated from high school, Joe enrolled at Rockhurst University, where he pursued theology and religious studies with the possibility of attending seminary. God had other plans for Joe.

“I fell in love with my wife in college and realized I was not going to be a priest. When I graduated [from Rockhurst], St. Michael’s had an opening for a theology teacher, so I applied just to see what would happen.”

Turns out, the theology position was filled, so Joe assumed he would continue to work at the shop and possibly teach at a parish school.

“Then, St. Michael’s came back and asked if I would teach Latin instead. I thought it was a trick, but I accepted. I let go and God provided,” Joe recalls.

A couple of weeks after signing his contract at St. Michael’s, Joe’s grandfather collapsed at the shop and subsequently passed away. Even though his dad would be running the shop on his own, Joe had the full support of both of his parents in his decision to take the position at SMA High School.

Teaching in a Catholic high school also gives Joe the opportunity to share the love of Christ, especially his Real Presence in the Eucharist.

“I can show them it’s not a bad thing to outwardly show their love for God and teach them to buy into what they are saying when we pray. To say, ‘I’m Joe knew his grandpa going to mean that Hail Mary’ would want him to and actually buy into the concept take this opportunity that this is a relationship that I to teach the Faith — want to keep.”and God even found a way for Joe to pass on Joe knows in his heart his his knowledge of small grandpa is proud of him, “’That’s engine repair. my boy’ is what he would say.”

Blessed Carlo Acutis provides inspiration for the Eucharistic Revival

Blessed Carlo Acutis is the patron saint of the first year of the National Eucharistic Revival and one of its intercessors. This initiative began in June 2022 and will run through its culmination in the National Eucharistic Congress in July of 2024. The U.S. Bishops were presented with a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo by Italian Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino this past spring. There are multiple opportunities around the country for the faithful to venerate the relic. “OUR GOAL MUST BE THE INFINITE AND NOT THE FINITE. THE INFINITY IS OUR HOMELAND. WE ARE ALWAYS EXPECTED IN HEAVEN.”

Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first person from the millennial generation to be beatified, was an Italian teenager who used technology to spread devotion to the Eucharist. He died at the age of 15 in 2006 from leukemia, and he offered his suffering for the Church and for the pope. His stated goal throughout his short life was: “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.”

Blessed Carlo called the Eucharist “my highway to heaven,” believing that “by standing before the Eucharistic Christ, we become holy.” With his family’s

VISIT

Blessed Carlo Acutis’ website at miracolieucaristici.org to view his exhibit on Eucharistic Miracles.

support, Carlo worked tirelessly for more than two years to create exhibitions dedicated to the Eucharist and its miracles experienced throughout the world. His efforts have had a hand in spreading devotion to the Eucharist, even after his death.