10/4/24 - Friday Forget-Me-Nots by Jim Silcott

Photo Caption: 7th Grade at Environmental Camp

Dear Our Lady of Peace Family,

The principals, assistant principals and Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools staff gathered last Thursday and Friday for a retreat. We prayed together, and had both Eucharistic Adoration and Mass. We listened to very powerful and personal messages from principals around the Diocese all centered on The Gospel message of “I am the Vine, and you are the branches.” We also had time for fellowship and the breaking of bread, something we don’t get to do very often. 

It was an incredible two days. As I sat in the conference room at Cherry Valley Lodge in Newark, I found myself looking at the crowd of almost 100 wonderful men and women who dedicate their time and talent to running our Catholic schools. It took me back to my very first gathering of principals in 1989. I was one of the younger ones there that day as principal of st. Timothy. Now, I am one of the oldest. And of all the administrators present for the opening meeting of the 1989-1990 school year, I am the only one left at the 2024-2025 administrators’ retreat. 

The deans of principals back in 1989 to whom I looked up and admired were the high school principals: John Durant from Bishop Watterson, Pat Rossetti from St. Francis De Sales, Jim Parker from Father Wehrle, Joe Boyle from Bishop Hartley, Bill Groce from Bishop Ready and Dominic Cavello from St. Charles. John was my first principal starting out as a teacher at Watterson and Joe Boyle was an assistant principal there. Dominic came to the St. Charles faculty my junior year. I knew the rest by reputation and by their strong presence at our gatherings. 

What these men had in common, apart from the fact that they were all, indeed men, was a longevity and loyalty to their schools. Most of them succeeded priests as heads of their respective schools. Each one of them put his own distinctive stamp on the institution that they ran. All of them improved their schools before leaving for retirement or other employment. 

When I became principal of Bishop Hartley in 1992, I joined what was left of their illustrious group. Father Wehrle High School had closed by then and Joe Boyle was principal of Grandview High School. We gathered once a month for CCL meetings. We argued, we laughed, we compared notes. What I found was that they were competitive as professional athletes when it came time to advancing the needs of their respective schools, but they were also fast friends. I looked up to each and every one of them and learned things from them about being a good principal that I still utilize all those years later. 

In addition to these wonderful men, there were many men and women in other schools that mentored me over the years including Walt Miller from St. Paul, Mary Lang from St. Brendan, Bill and Janet Weisner from St. Andrew and St. Catharine, Sr. Barbara Jinks from St. Agatha, Joe Rose from St. Philip, Suzie Emswiler from St. Leo just to name a few. We had many, many principal gatherings together. There were lots and lots and lots of in-services, some incredibly good and some incredibly awful ones. We all felt free to call one another with any concern or question dumb enough to hide our ignorance from the downtown office. 

Over the years, some have passed away, many have retired, others took jobs in public schools or outside of education. I miss them. But, at the same time they have been replaced by a new crop of energetic, creative, deeply spiritual men and women who continue on a daily basis to teach this old dog new tricks.

The role of administration has changed since 1989. Marg Mooney, whom I replaced at St. Timothy, warned me about a week in October where “lots of paperwork is due. Keep that week free,” she warned me,” and tell your wife you won’t be home for supper that week.” Now, almost every week, something is due! 

What hasn’t changed since 1989 is that very good people, hearing God’s call, continue to say yes to Him and lead the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Columbus in the work of educating children with God and for God. It is an honor to be a part of that group. 

Jim Silcott