Diocese of Gary parents who send their children to Catholic schools appreciate the intentional infusion of faith, morals and charity into daily life, but anticipate even more the long-term, positive effects of religious education on their children’s futures.
Stephanie Cook’s son Memphis attends preschool at St. Thomas More in Munster. She appreciates the religious reinforcement the school provides, as well as the additional knowledge.
“We enrolled him in Catholic school because just here at home is not enough. It makes religion the forefront of his life,” Cook said.
Similarly for Brigid McKee, it was easy to enroll her children in Catholic schools following a long family history of Catholic education. She and her husband met at a Catholic university and their five children are following in their footsteps – from kindergarten at Notre Dame Catholic School in Michigan City through Marquette Catholic High School in Michigan City and onto Catholic colleges. “My children at school go to Mass during the week and again on weekends,” McKee said. “God is in every moment of our lives – at home, at school, at work. It’s such a blessing. Catholic education keeps faith in the forefront.”
Javeita Gibson said sending her children through the Catholic education system has been a blessing. “They receive a great education and great values,” she said. “A Catholic education is beneficial because it gives you core values in life – respect, love of neighbor and the foundation to help you become a better person.
Gibson said her daughter Madison, a senior at Andrean High School in Merrillville, works a job, volunteers, and has participated in sports. She has applied to five colleges and has been accepted by all. Gibson praises her Catholic education and credits it as being key to her daughter’s long-term goal of trying to be the person God created her to be.
Gibson said she and husband Bryann already recognize similar dedication to the faith with son Samuel who is an 8th grader at Aquinas Catholic Community School in Merrillville. He takes an honors Algebra class at Andrean and is already well-known by teachers there. Through sports, he has made lasting friendships with student athletes at St. Michael Catholic School in Schererville, St. Mary Catholic Community School in Crown Point, St. Mary School in Griffith, St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic School in Michigan City and more.
“It’s a confidence builder,” Gibson said. “People know him; he learns good sportsmanship, self-discipline and Christian principles.”
Rick and Jessica Clements have five children who have attended St. Paul Catholic School in Valparaiso. The youngest still attends while two are at Andrean and two are at Catholic universities.
Rick Clements attended Catholic school for first through eighth grade in Indianapolis. “I got an excellent education there, but more importantly, what I learned about the Catholic faith while a student there has helped to sustain my own faith throughout my entire adult life,” he said. “Jessica did not get to attend a Catholic school, but sincerely wishes she could have. Both of us wanted to provide the opportunity for a Catholic education to our children for a positive impact on their futures.
“We are certain that attending Catholic schools has played a key role in forming our children in the Catholic faith,” he added. “We have seen them grow in their prayer lives, in their interest in learning about the faith, and in their desire to be active in our local parish as altar servers, lectors, volunteers in parish ministry, etc.”
Although neither she nor her husband received a Catholic education, Lucy DeLuna said she chose Catholic education for several reasons. “I chose Catholic education for my children because I wanted them to know about their faith and build a relationship with Jesus. I wanted my children to grow in knowledge of what our Catholic tradition consisted of. I also knew that sending them off to a Catholic school would bring us – mom and dad – back to our Catholic faith as well, and years later here we are standing strong in our faith!”
DeLuna said her oldest son was bullied before attending St. John the Evangelist School in St. John as a third grader. “Transitioning to a Catholic school has been the greatest gift because he learned to stop being afraid and he made so many beautiful friends and the environment was the complete opposite, friendly, loving and caring.”
He is now thriving at Andrean while two younger siblings attend St. John. “I am hoping for the future that my kids decide to go to a holy and Catholic university, but it is God's will and in his plan,” she said. “I am hoping (that) if they join a religious order that they are all knowledgeable in their faith in order to defend and stand up for their beliefs. But if their vocation is marriage then I'm hoping they lead their spouses to heaven and that they give their children the same opportunity they had to learn and grow in their faith.”
Cook said she and husband Brad are thrilled to see how enthusiastic their son is about praying and attending Mass. “He knows so many more prayers. He is more interested and engaged in church. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him!”