Photo Caption: Msgr. John Prendergast, vice chancellor of the Diocese of Peoria, asked principals to remember that students will look to them to see the joy that comes from a relationship with God.

By: By Jennifer Willems

Even principals look forward to having some free time in the summer, but that isn’t why they were celebrating at the End of Year Mass and Luncheon on June 4 at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria.

During the gathering the Office of Catholic Schools honored pastors and principals of Catholic schools for milestone years of service and thanked those who are retiring. As the chief catechist of the Diocese of Peoria, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, was singled out for his work on behalf of Catholic education in central Illinois.

In addition, the Office of Catholic Schools recognized Jodi Peine of St. Philomena School as its Distinguished Principal. Peine received another round of applause for her selection by the National Catholic Educational Association as one of 10 Distinguished Principals in the United States.

Father David Richardson, pastor of St. Philomena Parish, said one of the privileges of working with Peine is seeing how she puts the students first every day.

“Everything she does is, ‘What’s best for the kids? What’s going to help them move along? What’s going to teach them about God loving them and using their minds to the best of their abilities?'” he said. “There are endless things I could say about the programs and the growth we’ve had in the school, but really at the top of the list is putting kids first, always.”

Laura Knapp, third/fourth grade teacher at Holy Cross School in Mendota, was this year’s Distinguished Teacher.

“You all know, principals, you have the teachers that step up and Mrs. Knapp is one of them,” said Anita Kobilsek, principal of Holy Cross in Mendota. “I just want to say thank you for all your good work and we appreciate it so much.”

Dr. Sharon Weiss, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Peoria, added her thanks to Knapp “for representing all our teachers.”

Father Mark DeSutter, who recently left Blessed Sacrament in Morton to lead Sacred Heart in Moline, was the Distinguished Pastor for the 2013-14 school year. (See related story here.)

Weiss also announced that Dr. Susan Stolt, financial services coordinator for the Office of Catholic Schools since 2012, has been named associate superintendent for finance and planning. Jerry Sanderson will continue to serve as an associate superintendent, overseeing curriculum, instruction, research and data.

MANY YEARS OF SERVICE
Catholic school pastors honored for their years of service were Father James Pallardy, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Peoria, 25 years; and Msgr. Eric Powell, pastor of Epiphany in Normal, and Father Michael Andrejek of St. Joseph in Pekin, 15 years of service or more. Those who recently retired are Father R. Michael Schaab, St. Pius X, Rock Island, and Msgr. Dale Wellman, Sacred Heart, Moline.

Principals receiving tokens of appreciation were Mary Paula Schmitt, St. Louis School, Princeton, 20 years; Michelle Mershon, St. Bede Academy, Peru, 15 years; and Maureen Bentley, St. Thomas the Apostle School, Peoria Heights, 10 years. In addition, Weiss is celebrating 35 years in Catholic education this year.

Michael Daly, principal of Jordan Catholic School in Rock Island, is retiring, while Gail Hulse, principal of St. Mary School in Kickapoo is relocating to the Chicago area, and Jill Marasa, principal of Costa Catholic Academy in Galesburg, is returning to the classroom. Also earning praise was Joy Allen, who stepped down as principal of Central Catholic High School in Bloomington after 23 years.

Msgr. Gerald Ward said he became pastor of St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington at noon on June 10, 1991, and at 12:30 p.m. another area pastor said he needed to interview Allen so she could be named principal at Central Catholic. When he replied that he would, he was told, “You need to do that now, right now.”

“She has done so much for our community, but most of all she has guided us through some very difficult times for Central Catholic and the building program,” said Msgr. Ward, who has succeeded Father DeSutter at Blessed Sacrament in Morton. “She taught me so much about serving the church and being a servant of children in the school.”