There was no doubt that the principals and pastors of Catholic schools who gathered at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria on Aug. 12 believe in Catholic education, according to a fellow educator and the chief catechist of the Diocese of Peoria.

“We know how necessary for our faith, for our communities, for our state, for our country Catholic schools are. They give us so many goods,” Bishop Jenky said in his homily at the opening Mass for the 2010-11 school year.

“They offer excellent education. They hold teachers and students and administrators to the highest possible standards. They encourage service. They encourage good athletics,” he told the principals and pastors. “They do all sorts of wonderful and good things.

“But the heart and soul of our schools, the reason why we really exist as educators in the faith, must be the Gospel of the Lord, the good news of God’s love and mercy and the joy we share together as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,” the bishop said.

They demonstrated that joy and their commitment to sharing the Gospel at the luncheon that followed the liturgy as they celebrated the selection of
Michael Birdoes, principal at Blessed Sacrament School in Morton, as the distinguished principal for the 2009-10 school year, and Msgr. Albert Hallin, pastor of St. Boniface in Seymour and St. Joseph’s in Ivesdale, as the distinguished pastor.

The group also honored two of their colleagues who are celebrating significant years of service. Receiving tokens of appreciation from Bishop Jenky were Anita Kobilsek, principal of Holy Cross School in Mendota, and Sharon Warfield, principal of St. Mary’s School in Pontiac.

Kobilsek is marking 10 years of Catholic school leadership, first at LaSalle Catholic Academy (2000-01) and then Holy Cross (2001-present), while Warfield has given 20 years as principal at St. Paul’s School in Odell (1990-95) and St. Mary’s (1995-present).

The pastors and principals also heard about plans for the coming school year, good news about academic and religious formation test scores, and opportunities for continuing education from Brother William Dygert, CSC, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Peoria. He said the Office of Catholic Education had chosen “Creating a Future Full of Hope,” which is based on Jeremiah 29:11, as this year’s theme.

They received bookmarks that echoed that theme after Bishop Jenky commissioned them “to go forth to proclaim a vision full of hope to the teachers, parents and students entrusted to your leadership and care.”

DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPAL
The recognition of Birdoes and Msgr. Hallin comes as the result of a nominating process for awards given annually by the National Catholic Educational Association, Brother William explained.

An educator for 30 years, Birdoes has been involved in administration for 20 of those years. He was principal at Blessed Sacrament School in Morton from 1992 to 2001 and St. Vincent de Paul School in Peoria from 2001 to 2010 before returning to Blessed Sacrament this fall.

In nominating him as the Diocese of Peoria’s candidate for the NCEA award, a colleague said Birdoes was “always willing to take bold steps and to lead,” Brother William said. The letter goes on to cite that leadership as key to completing the recent renovation at St. Vincent de Paul School, which included construction of a new gym and the remodeling of several classrooms.

“Mike’s teachers describe him as humble, prayerful and committed to modeling virtue to those around him,” the nomination letter continues. “He is described as compassionate and supportive when handling adversity. Mike’s teachers also describe him as an approachable, collaborative leader, who is committed to making himself and those around him better.”

OUTSTANDING PASTOR
As with the distinguished principal, each diocese is invited to nominate a pastor who has given outstanding support to Catholic education for the NCEA’s Distinguished Pastor Award. “NCEA hopes that by honoring individual pastors each year it will also honor the many other pastors who give their support to Catholic schools through the United States,” Brother William said.

Representing the priests of the Diocese of Peoria for 2009-10 is Msgr. Hallin, whose contribution and commitment to Catholic school education has been “significant and sustained,” according to Brother William.

“For most of his time as a priest, Msgr. Hallin has been intimately involved with Catholic schools as an associate pastor at parishes with schools, as a pastor of several parishes with schools, as a high school chaplain, as a high school faculty member, and as a high school pastors’ board president,” he said. “He also played an instrumental role in establishing The High School of Saint Thomas More in Champaign.”

Following his ordination on May 28, 1961, Msgr. Hallin was named to the faculty of Academy of Our Lady in Peoria and its successor, Bergan High School, where he was also chaplain from 1967 to 1978. He was a school pastor or co-pastor at St. Matthew’s, Champaign; St. Anne’s, East Moline; St. Mary’s and Sts. Peter and Paul, Westville; St. Columba’s, Ottawa; and Holy Cross, Champaign.

In addition, Msgr. Hallin has been an assistant chaplain at St. John’s Chapel at the University of Illinois.

It was during his tenure as vicar of the Champaign vicariate that The High School of St. Thomas More opened in 2000.

“By his integrity and great love of the faith, and devotion to Catholic education he has earned for himself a place of great distinction and special place in our hearts,” one parishioner said in nominating him.

During the business meeting, Brother William said the Office of Catholic Schools would continue to focus on implementing “Renewing Our Mission: A Blueprint for Our Future,” the long-range plan for Catholic school education in the Diocese of Peoria that was facilitated by Meitler Consultants.