The Campaign for St. Louis Catholic High School
By
Bishop Edward K. Braxton
In Super Bowl XXXVII the Tampa Bay Buccaneers triumphed over the Oakland Raiders 48-21. But perhaps the real victory was won by the television broadcast network that charged $2,500,000 for every thirty seconds of advertising time during the game. Why would a car company, a soft drink company or a hamburger company spend so much money to air commercials that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to make? The answer is obvious. They want to get our attention. And they know very well that there are few television events that get the attention of the money-spending American public than the gladiatorial combat known as football.
As I write this reflection Catholic schools in Southwest Louisiana and around the country are celebrating Catholic Schools Week. The Catholic Church is committed to Catholic elementary and secondary schools because we know that Jesus Christ wants to get our attention! And in a very special way he wants to get the attention of young people. In the gospels he says. "Allow the children to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." "Father, you have revealed to children what you have concealed from the clever and the wise." One of the most important ways that the Diocese of Lake Charles helps the children and teenagers to realize that Jesus wants to get their attention is through our seven elementary schools and our only Catholic secondary school, St. Louis Catholic High School. During these past two years I have taken a personal interest in all of our schools and our students and staff. I look forward to visiting the classrooms of each of our schools during Lent.
Since I have no doubt that St. Louis Catholic High School is one of our most powerful ways of urging our young people to pay attention to Jesus Christ, I have supported the idea of a renovation and expansion of the campus ever since the idea was first shared with me by Ms. Julie Miller, who was then the school's Development Director and is now the overall coordinator of "Opening Windows: The St. Louis High School Capital Campaign," which has the goal of raising $3,375,000.
I fully support this Capital Campaign. I invite the entire community of Southwest Louisiana to become involved in the work of raising the funds needed to renovate and expand St. Louis so as to almost create a new school on an old campus. I am confident that not only the thirteen parishes that own the high school but also all of our parishes will support this mission of transforming St. Louis into a Catholic high school prepared to welcome generations of students in the 21st century and offer them the best possible intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical, social, and religious education. I am also hopeful that Christians of other Traditions, who know firsthand that our High School is focused on assisting our students to integrate the ethical teachings of Jesus Christ into their daily lives, will be generous in their support. I have already heard individuals who are not Christians and have no particular religious affiliation remark that they are eager to support this community-wide effort. This is because they have seen the caliber of the young men and women who have graduated from St. Louis over the years and they have seen their extraordinary contributions locally and nationally. A strong secondary school that strives for excellence is a great resource for all who live in our area.
The goal of "Opening Windows" is to develop the resources needed to build a new Learning Resource Center and Library with six urgently needed new classrooms, including a physical science laboratory. There will also be a new Health and Physical Education Center as well as the completion of the renovations of the Landry Memorial and Kimberly K. Krajicek Memorial gymnasiums. The schools current classrooms will be renovated and soundproofed and the Priest's Residence will become a Continuing Education Center. Knowing that many potential donors appreciate the opportunity to honor their loved ones when they make significant contributions, Memorial Named Giving Opportunities have been established ranging from $10,000 to $890,000. These memorial contributions can be arranged over a three-year period.
Long-time residents of Southwest Louisiana are aware that St. Louis Catholic High School traces it roots back to the hundred year-old tradition of excellence in education and Christian formation begun by St. Charles Academy, Landry Memorial and Sacred Heart High School. Now we are at the dawn of another century in a country and a world that is changing and developing at a speed that is almost impossible to comprehend.
There is no doubt that the future will need leaders who have the knowledge, courage, creativity and moral responsibility to make momentous decisions concerning science and technology, war and peace, poverty and wealth, education and employment, housing and health care, family life and the welfare of children among many others. The future will certainly need leaders in business and commerce whose values and principles call them to be concerned not only about their personal well being but also about the well being of others, particularly those whose opportunities for self-improvement have been limited. The future will also need, perhaps with a special urgency, gifted teachers, philosophers, theologians, artists, poets, musicians and spiritually committed guides who will help illuminate the uncertain road ahead.
I am convinced that St. Louis Catholic High School, renewed and expanded by a successful Capital Campaign, will be in an even better position than it is today to help prepare those much needed leaders. Our student body of young women and young men of diverse religious, ethnic, racial, cultural, economic and social backgrounds, all striving to be the best they can be in an atmosphere of faith, hope, love and service, is a true "wisdom community," giving all of us reasons to be confident about the shape of the world to come!
Please help us make "Opening Windows: The Capital Campaign for St. Louis Catholic High School" a great success. Help us help Jesus Christ get the attention of young people for generations to come. If you are not able to help us financially at this time, please help us with your prayers. It is my great hope that prayers for so worthy a cause will not go unanswered.
