A Jesuit high school opens in south Minneapolis to help low-income, minority students gain an edge in life.
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School starts classes this week in the Phillips neighborhood, with a student body of economically disadvantaged teens. The private school is one of 19 in the national Cristo Rey Network, which touts tough standards and high graduation rates as proof of its success.
"I wanted to come here, because when I grow up it's going to give me a better job and better everything," said Valdivie, 14, whose passion is working with children and the deaf.
One recent morning, the school's 99 ninth-graders piled into the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center's pumpkin- and-lime-green second floor, its layout more like an office building than a school.
Valdivie and others were learning skills for work: punctuality, drug tests, how to fill out paperwork. One teacher taught the art of conversation to students who had been instructed to dress in "business casual" attire.
One student was asked to introduce himself in a loud, crisp voice. Again. And again.
Downstairs, tables with folded napkins and sparkling silverware were set up for a lesson on dining etiquette.
All of this took place before Tuesday's official start of school. To prepare them for work and academic expectations, students had to attend three weeks of orientation.
"I got interested because it was safe here to learn and no one will judge you," said Jose Montes-Osorio, 14, an aspiring computer technician who lives six blocks from the school.
Kristine Melloy, a professor at the University of St. Thomas who is taking a leave of absence to serve as Christo Rey's first principal, said most of the students are two or three years behind academically.
"They're not the run-of-the-mill students," said the Rev. John Foley, president of the Cristo Rey Network, headquartered in Chicago. "They're kids who are motivated. They're kids who want something more. They're not necessarily well-prepared. We told them, 'If you do your best, we'll take care of the rest.'"
Corporate funding comes from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, venture capitalist B.J. Cassin and area businesses, which will employ students.
Like many in the network, the Minneapolis school sits in a poor neighborhood. The spacious new building on 4th Avenue S. near E. Lake St. also houses Urban Ventures, a faith-based community organization.
Light pours through floor-to-ceiling windows. A portrait of Powell, the former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who is scheduled to be in Minneapolis for next month's building dedication, hangs in the main hall.
Religious services are optional
Religious studies are in the curriculum, but daily services will be optional, said the Rev. David Haschka, the school's president. [What is the nature of "daily services?"]
"We're not going to downplay the Christianity, but we're not going to shove it down anyone's throat," said the Rev. Bill Johnson, Cristo Rey's admissions director. [Interesting terminology, Father Bill! How 'bout Catholicism? Are you going to mention Catholicism? Was "shoving religion down throats" what you were taught in the seminary? No wonder the Jesuits are hurting for novices these days.]
The inaugural class includes Muslim Somalis, Hmong students from shamanistic backgrounds and students from Baptist and other Protestant families, Johnson said.
Sixty percent of the student body is Hispanic, 35 percent black and 5 percent from other racial backgrounds. The school draws largely from the Phillips neighborhood, but it also has enrolled students from St. Paul and Richfield.
The school day starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. with academic-oriented extracurricular activities until 6:30 p.m. Athletics aren't part of the program, although Haschka said that could change as the school adds a new grade level each year. There's no band or orchestra, either.
Longer school year
The school year is longer than average, running until June 18 with only a week off at Christmas and a two-day Easter break.
That compares with a 64 percent graduation rate for St. Paul high schools that year; 60.7 percent for Minneapolis (including several alternative schools); and 92.3 percent for the state's largest school district, Anoka-Hennepin.
Cristo Rey officials and outside experts agreed that the schools' success is partly due to an application process and rigorous demands that attract willing students and families.
"A kid has to want to come to this school," Haschka said.
Last year, the average family income for the 2,882 students attending Cristo Rey-affiliated schools was $33,051. That means a substantial number of lower-middle-class families are in the mix, as are families living below the poverty level, which is $20,650 for a family of four.
"What that does is get relatively stable families," said Harry Levin, director of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at Columbia University.
While lacking an independent study of the schools, Levin said he trusts Cristo Rey's numbers and approach because it's forthcoming with information about its schools.
The school will seek formal accreditation as soon as it is eligible, after several years of operating, Haschka said. The current class of 99 came from about 150 applicants. Prospective students sent in applications, letters of recommendation and transcripts. They were interviewed by an admissions committee; their parents were interviewed separately.
Families are expected to contribute about $200 per month toward a total "cost of education" of about $11,000 to $12,000 a year, Haschka said. School officials shy away from the word "tuition."
The rest comes from what students earn at their jobs, which is paid directly from the sponsoring businesses to Cristo Rey. Dorsey and Whitney, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, Best Buy and Catholic Charities are among the partners who will employ Cristo Rey students.
'Never underestimate them'
In Cleveland, when students from Cristo Rey's St. Martin de Porres High School first came to Huntington National Bank seeking work, executive assistant Daphne Washington didn't know what to do with them. But once she began treating them like adult employees, giving them computer access and greater responsibilities, "it was a beautiful thing," she said. "Never underestimate them."
Allina, headquartered near the Minneapolis school, got involved to help create a pipeline of qualified health care workers.
"They're critical to the revitalization of the neighborhood," said Dick Pettingill, Allina's CEO. "We have to make a long-term commitment to this community. Over the course of time, you'll see the results of that."
For Matt Dyson, with Best Buy's Geek Squad affiliate, "The goal with partnering with Cristo Rey is that we can inspire and teach a new generation to embrace new ideas. Our world needs some point people to lead the charge." StarTribune
| Cristo Rey High School | Baltimore, MD 2007 |
| Holy Family High School | Birmingham, AL 2007 |
| North Cambridge CatholicHigh School | Cambridge, MA 2004 |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit High School | Chicago, IL 1996 |
| St Martin de Porres High School | Cleveland, OH 2004 |
| Arrupe Jesuit High School | Denver, CO 2003 |
| Providence Cristo Rey High School | Indianapolis, IN 2007 |
| Cristo Rey K.C. High School | Kansas City, MO 2006 |
| Notre Dame High School | Lawrence, MA 2004 |
| Verbum Dei High School | Los Angeles, CA 2002 |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit High School | Minneapolis, MN 2007 |
| Christ the King Preparatory School | Newark, NJ 2007 |
| Cristo Rey New York High School | New York City, NY 2004 |
| St Peter Claver High School | Omaha, NE 2007 |
| De La Salle North High School | Portland, OR 2001 |
| Cristo Rey High School | Sacramento, CA 2001 |
| San Miguel High School | Tucson, AZ 2001 |
| Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (WDC) | Takoma Park, MD 2007 |
| St Martin de Porres High School | Waukegan, IL 2004 |
| Brooklyn | 2008 |
| Detroit | 2008 |
| West Side Chicago | 2008 |
| Feasibility Studies | |
| Houston | |
| San Francisco |
14 comments:
Well, yes, I went to elemntary Catholic school in the fifities and had religion rammend down my throat but good. Then John XXX111 came along and opened on the windows. Sadly under the last two pontificates they are shutting again and those inside are suffocating on the bones of sterile dogmas.
A pity.
Ray, keep in mind this is the Star Trib--they could be getting it wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
It also brings up the issue of what would a required Mass attendance look like if the people attending were unable to participate (b/c they weren't Catholic, or hadn't received sacraments, etc.). I'm not saying don't do it, but I can think of legitimate reasons to do prayer (say the Office) rather than the Daily Mass. Just food for thought.
It’s a crying shame that Mr. Mvckenty (sic) wasn’t made a bishop when he was born. He also should learn how to type Roman Numerals properly.
Having had Catholicism rammed down his throat 60 years ago has irreparably damaged him. Yet I suspect that hasn’t stopped him from celebrating the sacraments and the Mass under his peculiar, modernistic and anonymous terms.
Why is it that pride goeth before the fall?
Ray Marshall
Stella Borealis
Funny, I don't feel like I'm suffocating..
Anyway, Cristo Rey is nothing more then a corporate feeder school. I would say it's not Catholic at all. If they want to be a corporate training ground-fine, but they should not even vaguely be calling themselves a Catholic high school. They aren't.
I wonder if anyone told them that the Gates Foundation is one of the biggest supporters of Planned Parenthood in the world?
I think Cristo Rey is very Catholic in that it gives underprivileged but bright kids who otherwise might be lost in the system a chance to get a great education and attend college and make something positive of their lives. Being Catholic isn't just about going to Mass. We also have a social justice mission, modeled by Jesus, to uphold. Some more conservative Catholics need to broaden their minds a bit.
Anon.: Which do you prefer, the "Social Justice Mission", or, the "Mass?"
Why is it that so many of the Social Justice types consider the Pope to be one of their advisers and the Church's instructions, laws and liturgies to be "rough drafts" for their use in creating entertaining performances?
The Social Justice Mission is critically important, but it never should come at the expense of ignoring the Pope and the Magisterium.
Much as you hate it, the Church is not a democracy. Jesus is its head and He will be there forever. No voting.
Wow, Ray, you seem like an angry person based on your last comment.
In response, I don't prefer either the social justice mission of the church or the Mass. We need both. And I don't think Cristo Rey is going against the pope or the magisterium in any way.
I'm guessing that I'm not nearly as legalistic as you are with regard to my faith, although at one time I was. I've come to realize that the Church Jesus founded was not based on a lot of rules and dogmas, but on loving one another and God. Canon law and dogmas came later.
I think we need to go back to basics and concentrate on what is really important: LIVING the faith that Jesus modeled. Cristo Rey is an example of that.
I would say that the Church is, in fact, a democracy. However, it is not the people who make up the Church who vote, but the bishops.
Anon:
I'm not angry; actually I'm sad for you.
If you say this: I've come to realize that the Church Jesus founded was not based on a lot of rules and dogmas, but on loving one another and God. Canon law and dogmas came later.
And the Church says that Canon Law and Dogma come first, how is that you can consider yourself to be Catholic? Have you made your own separate Anon. Catholic Church?
anonymous 1 and 2:
Huh? The Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives. NOT, social justice. Both are important but not equally important.
Jesus talked about rules and guidelines for being His follower all the time. Where've you been?
Love God and love one another. Those are the most important commandments, and how we live those out will determine our final destination. Everything else is secondary. Read your Bible if you don't believe me.
Ray, please back up your claim that the church says canon law and dogmas are more important than loving God and neighbor. I think you might have a hard time doing that, but I would like to know where you're getting that information.
Cathy, yes, the Eucharist is the "source and summit" of our lives. However, if you receive the Eucharist every day but do not allow it to transform you in the way that you live your life (social justice), I would be concerned about your salvation.
Anon:
Matthew 18:18 - Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Canon 12 Art. - 1 All persons for whom universal laws were passed are bound by them everywhere.
Canon 96 - By baptism one is incorporated into the Church of Christ and is constituted a person in it with duties and rights which are proper to Christians, in keeping with their condition, to the extent that they are in ecclesiastical communion and unless a legitimately issued sanction stands in the way.
Canon 204, Article 1 - The Christian faithful are those who, inasmuch as they have been incorporated in Christ through baptism, have been constituted as the people of God; for this reason, since they have become sharers in Christ's priestly, prophetic and royal office in their own manner, they are called to exercise the mission which God has entrusted to the Church to fill in the world, in accord with the condition proper to each one.
Article 2 - This Church, constituted and organized as a society in this world, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the bishops in communion with him.
[Sound familiar? It seems to me the document released last month said the very same thing.]
Canon 205 - Those baptized are fully in communion with the Catholic Church on this earth who are joined with Christ in its visible structure by the bonds of profession of faith, of the sacraments and of ecclesiastical governance.
Canon 209, Article 1 - The Christian faithful are bound by an obligation, even in their own patterns of activity, always to maintain communion with the Church.
Article 2 - They are to fulfill with great diligence the duties which they owe to the universal Church and to the particular church to which they belong according to the prescriptions of law.
Anon: There is a lot more to living the Christian life then just social justice. There's turning away from sin, prayer, receiving the Sacraments (eucharist, confession, etc), following the 10 commandments, accepting the teaching authority of the Church, giving glory to God. I could go on and on. Read a Catachism-cover to cover. It's all in there. All the guidelines/rules that we, if we call ourselves Catholic, must accept and try to live in order to be truly Catholic.
I'm not saying that social justice is not important. I'm just saying it's a part of a much bigger picture.
You can't accept one part without accepting all of it and call yourself Catholic. No one, certainly not Jesus, said it would be easy.
Hmmm...I'm certainly not suffocating, but I was starving. I went to school in the 70s and had relativism and modernism rammed down my throat. Being a cradle Catholic, it is amazing to me that I was recommended for Confirmation not knowing that Our Lady was conceived without sin. I'm ashamed to admit it! I hope Cristo Rey does a better job catechising its students.
God help us if we didn't have dogmas.
It's one thing if those outside the Church don't understand the Catholic faith, but if you are a Catholic and find the Church to be suffocating and sterile, THAT is a pity. There is such much beauty, mystery, comfort, joy, on and on, that you are missing.
Like Cathy mentioned, no one said it was going to be easy.
Post a Comment