Photo Caption: Michael Lootens, the new principal at Epiphany School in Normal, receives from Bishop Jenky framed art with this year’s theme for diocesan schools, “The Liturgy — Our Encounter with God.”

By: By Jennifer Willems

Before he did anything else at the Mass for the principals of Catholic schools around the Diocese of Peoria, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, noted how important their work is and thanked them for doing it.

“You are the folks on the front lines. You are the evangelizers. You make Christ present in our Catholic schools,” he said in his greeting at the Mass to open the 2011-2012 school year. It was celebrated on Aug. 11 in the Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Spalding Renewal Center in Peoria.

“All the pastors and the chaplains, our vicar generals, and your unworthy servant are immensely grateful for not only the skill you bring to your ministry but especially for your Catholic Christian belief,” Bishop Jenky said.

After Communion, all of the school administrators pledged to continue doing that work “so the good news of Jesus Christ will be preached to all.”

They also agreed to embrace the responsibility of serving the children and adults in their school communities, “educating both minds and hearts, supporting and strengthening them in their efforts to develop and use their gifts and talents.”

The theme for the schools of the Diocese of Peoria is “The Liturgy — Our Encounter with God” and before the Mass ended, Bishop Jenky presented a framed piece of art including that theme to each principal “as a reminder of your ministry as spiritual leaders in your schools.”

At the luncheon that followed, the principals heard about a study program that has been developed to help the students in schools and CCD programs in central Illinois gain a deeper appreciation for the Mass and how the prayers will change when the new English translation of the Roman Missal is implemented on the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27. The seven-week program is based on “A Study of the Mass” by Father Christopher Layden and resulted from a collaboration between the Office of Catholic Schools, the Office of Catechetics and the Office of Divine Worship of the Diocese of Peoria. (For more information, see Catechetical Conference.)

DISTINGUISHED PASTOR, PRINCIPAL
In addition to celebrating the start of a new school year, the principals celebrated the accomplishments of three colleagues and one special pastor.

Bishop Jenky presented tokens of appreciation to Joy Allen of Central Catholic High School in Bloomington and Jane Barrett of Seton Catholic School in Moline for completing 20 years of service as principals. Brother William Dygert, CSC, superintendent of diocesan schools, added that Barrett had joined the staff at Seton in 1991 and was a teacher for several years before being named principal.

The group also honored Rosemary Costello, principal at Holy Cross School in Champaign, as the 2010-2011 Distinguished Principal for the Diocese of Peoria. As such she was nominated for national recognition by the National Catholic Educational Association.

Involved in Catholic school education in the Diocese of Peoria since 1972, starting at the former St. Patrick’s School in Danville, Costello has been at Holy Cross since 1976. She has been the principal for 12 years.

In nominating her for the award, a colleague said that Costello “is a person of faith, living a life of service to others and a lifelong advocate of Catholic education. As principal of Holy Cross, she has created an environment in which the Catholic faith is infused in every aspect of education.”

Named the 2010-2011 Distinguished Pastor and nominated for NCEA recognition was Msgr. Richard Pricco, pastor of St. Paul’s Parish in Macomb.

Brother William cited Msgr. Pricco for his tireless efforts to sustain the school and his belief that it is the mission of the church to provide a Catholic education to every child who desires it.

Those who nominated Msgr. Pricco for the award noted that he visits the school every day, attends special events, provides for the liturgical and spiritual needs of the school, and works well with the parish education commission and the Home and School Association.

Principal Barbara Shrode wrote that Msgr. Pricco “goes about his daily life being an example of someone who lives out the advice he gives to the children, that is to be one ‘who says his prayers and does his work.’

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Brother William updated the principals on special events planned throughout the year and ongoing work to implement recommendations from the Meitler study, “Renewing Our Mission: a Blueprint for Our Future.”

He also invited Zachary Wichmann, director of government relations for the Catholic Conference of Illinois, to talk about what has been happening in Springfield with legislation of interest to Catholic schools.

Among the items he discussed was restoring funding for the textbook loan program, which is the conference’s top priority. The program, a casualty when the education budget was cut a few years ago, provides money for schools to purchase secular textbooks.

He said legislation to put that funding back into the budget was introduced last year and again this year. While it was not included in the budget prepared by the House this year, it was in the budget passed by the Senate.

“What the Senate decided to do . . . is pass the House budget, send it to the governor, and attach the extra funding they had in their budget, which included textbook loans, onto a capital bill,” Wichmann explained. It was pulled when it looked like the bill wouldn’t pass.

“Both the Senate and the governor have said they view the budget as being incomplete and that they want to move a supplementary budget in November or January,” he said, pledging that the Catholic Conference of Illinois would do everything possible to restore funding to the program.