Our Marist Legacy

Lunching with several members of the class of '48 yesterday, I was not only impressed but uplifted by the enthusiasm with which the now octogenarians spoke of their Marist experience at Central Catholic from the years of 1944-1948. You'd think that they were still students here, the word-pictures of the Brothers and what they gave their students were so vivid, humorous, and even astounding, as well as inspiring. Two of the men became chemical engineers and spent their whole lives with chemical firms thanks to the forceful impact of Brother Terrence, to some a "terror" at the time, but in hindsight, a "treasure". In those days the "chem lab" was just another classroom with a few test tubes and beakers (dirty at that!). Yet on went these two to higher education and life with a solid foundation in their major fields and their spiritual formation. I recently came across an old photo of the entire school reciting the rosary in front of the statue of Mary, which graced the circle in front of the Auburn Street school and now stands in the courtyard to the left of the main entrance. Prayer in community was a large part of a Central education, and still is, in many ways.
We are now in process of insuring that this spiritual formation continues to build on the legacy so firmly entrenched in the life of Central Catholic from the beginning. We are discussing and studying ways to insure that when our students graduate, they are "faith-filled disciples with a strong sense of God and a personal relationsihp with Jesus, Mary and Saint Marcellin, fostered through religious formation, a sacramental life and prayer". We want this not only for our students, but also for our faculty, parents, alumni, and friends. It is my hope that during this academic year, we will have taken some clear and concrete steps in this direction. More to come on this soon.
Bro. Rene