|
What is something people do not know about you?
My father (Bellarmine baseball), grandfather (UofL and St. Xavier football), and great grandfather (St. Xavier football) were all fortunate enough to be inducted into their respective schools’ Hall of Fame for their chosen sport. It’s special to know they excelled in something like that and I feel proud and humbled to be their son. I apply much of what I learned from my family values and through playing and watching sports into the field of education. It is its own reward in education to know you’re helping young people build their own legacies.
What is your favorite scripture or prayer and why?
Matthew 11:30 - “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I think the world can feel a bit on fire sometimes with worry, anxiousness, and fear. Many of us, myself included, can often feel overscheduled and burned out at times by the weight of responsibilities and external stimuli. This scripture verse has always hit home for me. Our God is relational and the invitation is always there to be with Him and to follow Him above all else. I feel blessed to be employed by an organization, the Catholic Church, that has the answers to life’s challenging questions.
I also love the Thomas Merton Prayer and a prayer called Prophets of a Future Not Our Own by Cardinal Dearden. They are both on my bulletin board in my office. Look them up sometime if you’re interested!
What do you love most about your ministry/serving at St. Patrick?
I’m beginning my 10th year at St. Patrick this coming school year and it’s been an incredible blessing to work in Catholic education and be a part of such an awesome St. Pats community. We have a talented and committed staff and wonderful families, and we consistently find ways to utilize everyone’s talents and strengths to innovate and support the students and their families. It’s also fun to work with so many ages, from Preschool all the way through 8th grade. As a principal there are new challenges every day (even more than there used to be), but I enjoy that part of it.
The greatest reward might be the spiritual journey that the role of a Catholic school principal requires of you. It’s unique as a trained educator to serve in a ministry of the church; I work closely with not just elementary and middle school teachers, students, and parents, but faith formation directors, pastors, priests, deacons, ministers, and many more. Our entire organization is working for a higher purpose, and that call to transcendence challenges me every day to be not just a better educator, but a better husband, a better father, a better friend, and a better man.
| 
