Dear Xavier FamilyHappy Catholic Schools Week! We have the privilege of kicking off February in celebration mode – February 1 was actually our annual Catholic Schools Week Mass and the entire week is full of themes, fun and special treats. Catholic schools around the nation use this week to thank their parishes, acknowledge their benefactors, and celebrate with their families. Let’s take a few moments this month to count our blessings as a shining light in a galaxy of stars. The first Catholic school in our country opened in 1783. At the time, and for the better part of the first two centuries of their existence, American Catholic schools were a response to a hostile public school system that derided Catholicism and espoused Protestant Christianity. As Catholics immigrated, they established close communities with fellow Catholics, frequently centering on the parish. Each neighborhood seemingly had its own parish, its own ethnic and cultural identity, and soon, its own school. As Catholics gained stature and recognition in the United States, Catholic schools became increasingly mission focused – not only for the children of Catholic families, but for the poor and marginalized. Catholic religious orders opened schools in crime-ridden neighborhoods to give the young people hope of a better life. They brought exceptional education and an evangelist’s spirit to areas of the country that no other institution was willing to serve. Many of us have a clear memory of sitting in our Catholic school classroom, being taught by religious sisters, learning about what high standards truly look like. Even as lay teachers slowly became more the rule than the exception, that desire for excellence continued to drive the Catholic education system. We want to make students more fully human, more completely cognizant of the dignity of all, and more capable of affecting positive change. Some Catholic schools advertise their two goals – college and Heaven. I pray that here at Xavier, we can aim for a few more things – a more just world, lives of grace, fruitful careers, happy families, legacies of goodness, and eventually Heaven.
February 2023 Volume #415 In this Issue: Athletic News ............................................... Business ....................................................... Campus Ministry .......................................... Passion Play ................................................. Upcoming Events .........................................
St. Francis Xavier High School 1600 W. Prospect Avenue Appleton, WI 54914 920-733-6632 Fax: 920-735-1787 www.xaviercatholicschools.org
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So for whom should we offer prayers of thanksgiving during this Catholic Schools Week? First and foremost, let’s thank God for the gifts and blessings of our lives, but especially for the chance to come together around this sacred community at Xavier. Next, to our sponsoring parishes and the pastors who make Xavier a priority – in increasingly challenging times, they see the value in what we do and invest in the future leaders of the Church who roam the halls of Xavier each day. To the pastors and their parishes, thank you for believing in us and thank you for making Catholic education possible. Next, we thank our generous benefactors – every amount of support makes a difference. Our annual system gala, Celebrate, happens this week and it is a great reminder of how generous our friends, families and alumni are in order to keep Xavier strong and successful. We thank our teachers who answer the call to vocation by choosing Catholic schools at a time when they could certainly be better compensated by teaching elsewhere. They are the core of Xavier – their example as much as their expertise makes our students who they are. Finally, thank you to the families who entrust us with the task of cooperating in educating their young people. It is an honor to be a part of such a sacred task. We stand with our fellow Catholic schools this week to celebrate what makes us different and look ahead to what continues to make us great. Thank you for being part of our Xavier family and Happy Catholic Schools Week! For God’s Greater Glory,
Mike Mauthe Principal
Xavier High School is a proud member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System, and has been accredited by AdvanceED (formerly the North Central Association) since 1970.