Ensuring a Marist future

Task force is working to ensure a solid Marist future for schools owned or sponsored by the Society of Mary.

By Fr. Joel Konzen, s.m.
Principal, Marist School (Atlanta)

Leaders of Society of Mary owned and sponsored schools in the United States have been meeting to discuss the nature of their leadership, governance, and ministry in these schools. Under the direction of the Marist Provincial, Fr. Ted Keating, s.m., a group of educators met first in Washington, DC, in December 2014 and then again in early March in Atlanta. Another meeting was convened in June 2015.

Included in some or all of these meetings are, in addition to Fr. Keating, from Notre Dame Preparatory and Marist Academy in Pontiac, Michigan: Fr. Leon Olszamowski, president; Fr. Joe Hindelang, principal; and Fr. Jim Strasz, faculty. From Marist School, Atlanta, Georgia: Fr. John Harhager, president; Fr. Joel Konzen, principal; Mr. Mike Coveny, Marist Way director. From Notre Dame Academy, Duluth, Georgia: Ms. Debra Orr, head of school. From Sophia Academy, Atlanta, Georgia: Mrs. Marie Corrigan, director. From Notre Dame des Victoires Catholic School, San Francisco, California: Mrs. Mary Ghisolfo, principal. Others participating are Fr. Paul Frechette, provincial-elect, and Fr. John Sajdak, longtime educator and parochial vicar, St. Francis-St. Blaise Parish, Brooklyn, New York.

Some of the dialogue the group has entered into centers around the methods that are being used and will be used to educate staff members of the respective schools regarding the history and spirituality of the Society of Mary. This is important because the continuation of the Society’s manner of educating and distinctive characteristics are transmitted through introductory programs for new staff members and experiences that later allow these colleagues to deepen their understanding of and commitment to the Society’s chief beliefs and values.

Recently, representatives of the faculty and student body from Notre Dame Preparatory School in Michigan and Marist School in Georgia met for several days, allowing them to compare how the two schools handle induction and training of new students and staff in the ways of the Society of Mary schools. Plans are underway for a shared method of introducing new staff members to the critical components of Marist education and spirituality.

Important, too, has been the collection of supporting documents which can be made available to all Marist educators throughout the United States. Considerable work has already been done on this by Mike Coveny at Marist School, Atlanta.

Other questions of reaching alumni of the schools, selecting board members, and relation to initiatives underway elsewhere throughout the Society are being addressed or are slated to be taken up in future meetings. Additional means of cooperation and support among the schools are likely to be forthcoming.