Marquette Academy principal Brooke Rick on how faith births hope

In the wake of the success of Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 26–Feb.1), it seems appropriate to return to the theme of hope in our Catholic schools that has been the subject of two articles in recent months.

These earlier articles featured interviews with diocesan principals Kelly McLaughlin, of Jordan Catholic School in Rock Island (Oct. 28), and Sister Mary André Thelen, OP, of St. Jude School in Peoria (Nov. 20).

We can always bring everything back to . . . those conversations with God.” – Marquette Academy principal Brooke Rick

In this installment, principal Brooke Rick of Marquette Academy in Ottawa describes the sources of hope that spring to mind for her in the Catholic school context.

NO NEED TO BE SHY HERE

“I think everything comes back to faith,” she said. “That is what makes us different; that is what sets us apart.”

She added that in a Catholic school, no one need be shy about acknowledging faith as the source of their hope in any given situation.

Marquette Academy principal Brooke Rick

Here, prayer is a best practice.

“That is the beauty of Catholic education,” she said. “We can always bring everything back to . . . those conversations with God.”

FAITH PROTECTS FUTURE HOPE

She also treasures “those moments” when Catholic educators have the privilege of helping to strengthen a student’s faith and thus provide an ongoing source of hope after graduation.

“You’re arming them with . . . a defense of their faith – and building that foundation.”

“We can always come back to our beliefs, and our values, and our morals and our principles. But more importantly – just that faith in God . . . .”

Stay tuned for one final installment in this series in the coming weeks about how diocesan principals foster hope in an often challenging societal context (next time it’s Central Catholic’s Chris McGraw) and how they are personally inspired by the mission of Catholic schools.

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