ST. FRANCIS – By occupation, Attending the opening of the three-day orientation for Seton employees at the Cousins Center, they heard Don Drees, president and CEO of Seton Catholic Schools, tell them about the crusade on which they were about to embark.
Terisa Folaron, left to right, Mary Margaret Adams and Eizabeth Aviles, incoming teachers for Seton Catholic Schools, share classroom experiences during a first-year orientation at the Cousins Center, Monday, Aug. 15. (Catholic Herald photo by Joe Poirier)
“Crusaders left their homes and went on a long, long journey to a new land,” he said. “What we’re asking you to do is leave behind many of the things you’re comfortable with and think about things in a new light.”
Drees said he realized people were taking a risk, but he asked them to “take a leap of faith with us.”
Comparing the launch of Seton Catholic Schools with Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish, he said the schools “can’t do it alone.”
“We’re facing the same challenges in Catholic education. We can’t do this on our own. There are too many challenges in what our students face, what our families face, what our communities face,” Drees said. “Like the disciples, we need the grace of God to carry us forward.”
Noting that he has coached youth baseball, basketball and soccer, Drees said he would remind his players to “get on your toes” as a way of being prepared.
“For a long time we’ve been retreat in Catholic education. This is our opportunity to get on our toes,” he said. “This is a growth story. We’re going to fill our schools by having extraordinary, high quality academics so that we can go out and say, ‘These are the best schools in the city of Milwaukee.’”
Continuing with the sports reference, Drees told the gathering, “Game on.”[su_pullquote align=”right”]See related stories:
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“Catholic education is back in the city of Milwaukee. We’re going to get recognized across the city of Milwaukee for what this amazing group of people does,” he said.
