Halle McKeon
NDCL CAMPUS MINISTRY, DIRECTOR
LEADING BY FAITH
Campus Minister Halle McKeon beams with pride describing her first year and a half serving in her role at NDCL. Much of her pride stems from growing NDCL’s Labre ministry as part of the active Campus Ministry program.
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McKeon grew up in Catholic schools—from St. Barnabas Elementary School to Walsh Jesuit High School and later the University of Dayton. After teaching at Colerain High School near Cincinnati, the NE Ohio native landed at NDCL teaching world history. As a teacher, McKeon volunteered with the campus ministry program and in 2019 transitioned into her current role. “I realized that I can bring my enthusiasm for service to this program,” she says. “It fulfills me to help other people.”
Rev. James Caddy “Fr. Caddy” CHAPLAIN, NDCL
Serving as NDCL’s first chaplain since 2014, Rev. James Caddy “Fr. Caddy” says that his work with teenagers keeps him young. “I find teenagers to be very loveable people,” Caddy says. “You see them at a deeper level. I find it rewarding to be among them. Their struggles are honest but I see so much goodness.” Caddy has long been a fixture on NDCL’s campus. At first as a regular celebrant of school Masses, then after his retirement as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Gates Mills he became chaplain. The lifelong Clevelander, now living at Divine Word in Kirtland, knew he was going to be a priest at a young age. “As a 7th grader at St. Raphael’s in Bay Village, a missionary came to talk to our class, and this is what got me thinking of the priesthood,” he says. “My father was OK with the idea, but not as a missionary. My grandmother was very encouraging. My mother—well she was a little neutral to the idea.” Caddy was born in Cleveland and moved to West Park. He moved between Our Lady of Angels and St. Raphael’s, and then went on to St. Edward’s High School in Lakewood. After two years he enrolled at Borromeo Seminary High School. He was in the first class of students for Borromeo Seminary College. His first assignment was part-time at St. Robert’s Parish in Euclid and the faculty of St. Mary Seminary. Much of Caddy’s work in the diocese has been at Borromeo College/St. Mary’s Seminary with a stop at St. Clare Parish and finishing at St. Francis of Assisi. What has always been a driver in his ministry is working with young people. Caddy was involved for 30 years with Search for Christian Maturity, a ministry similar to today’s LifeTeen or Kairos. It was a weekend retreat for high school and college-age students. This work was in addition to being active in the youth ministry at St. Mary’s Seminary. At St. Francis of Assisi, Caddy got to know many students and families that would go on to NDCL which made the transition to chaplain easy for him. It was a way for him to extend his love of youth ministry even during retirement. “The teenagers really look after and care for each other. I think they are some of the most caring young men and women anywhere.” In working with the NDCL students, Caddy hopes that they take from this place the faith with them wherever the venture after high school. This is his greatest hope.
“I think these teenagers are some of the most caring young men and women anywhere.”
The McKeon name is familiar to the NDCL community. Her grandfather is Bill McKeon, Cathedral Latin class of 1945. In addition, cousins Caitlin, Colin, and Claire McKeon are all NDCL graduates. Now living in Lakewood and attending St. Christopher’s parish in Rocky River, McKeon has been active in campus ministry for many years. She was active in Walsh Jesuit’s Labre ministry while in high school, and later at the University of Dayton participated in the popular “Christmas on Campus” day that treats under-privileged youth in the Dayton area to a fun-filled day of Christmas cheer. Her hope for the students she serves is to inspire them to reach beyond the walls of campus and serve others as Jesus did. A gateway to this goal is attracting students to the annual Kairos retreat. “I feel when kids go on the Kairos retreat, it opens them up to so many more possibilities throughout the year,” she says. “It gets them away from their bubble of family and friends for a moment and gives them the chance to make a real difference for our world.”
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