Each Advent season, the Catholic Education Foundation and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann hosts a dinner with a group of parents whose children were attending Catholic schools thanks to scholarships from CEF.
“Christmas is an ideal time to celebrate gratitude,” noted Jeff Jaworski, chair of the CEF board of directors. “Sharing a meal with the archbishop and parents who sacrifice so much to put their kids through Catholic schooling is incredibly rewarding.”
Before the dinner, held on December 19th, the group attended Mass in the chapel at the archbishop’s home. In his homily, Archbishop Naumann shared how his mother’s vocation as a Christian parent and educator shaped his life.
“She always had hope," he said, "and taught me that God had a plan for me.
“Our schools partner with parents to help children grow in knowledge and to know that they are beloved sons and daughters of God and that they carry the life of Jesus Christ within them.”
Over dinner and through teary eyes, Jessica Woosley shared that when she and her husband experienced the loss of a child, it impacted her faith and her parenting. She yearned for the supportive Catholic community she’d grown up with as a student at Holy Trinity School in Paola. But she didn’t think they could afford tuition for their two sons until a teacher at Holy Trinity told her about scholarships available through the Catholic Education Foundation.
“I knew that we needed to make a change, but my income was stretched to its limit,” Woosley shared. “Them going to Catholic school helped pull me back to the faith. I needed that. And now they’re flourishing in this faith-centered environment.”
Jeff Jaworski, chair of the CEF board of directors, speaks to CEF families during a special dinner following Mass at the archbishop’s residence.
This sentiment resonated with Daniel Alvarado, whose children attend Christ the King School in Kansas City, KS.
“At Christ the King, Jesus is present every day,” said Alvarado.
Alvarado shared that when he was growing up in Guatemala his parents could only afford to send one child to school. As a boy, Alvarado volunteered to work and help the family financially so that his sister could go to school.
“My opportunity is gone," he said, "but my kids, they have opportunities now.”
Erin Cronin agreed. Her three children receive CEF scholarships to attend John Paul II School in Overland Park.
“Yes, it’s a sacrifice but it’s one that I’m grateful for,” said Cronin. “I’m learning about my faith from my kids.”
“There’s a ripple effect,” CEF executive director Vince Anch told the parents. “Our schools help guide kids in their faith, but they also help drive families to the faith or back to church.”
For the 2022-23 school year, nearly 1,800 students throughout northeast Kansas are attending K-12 Catholic schools with financial support from CEF.
Give our communities’ most vulnerable students the opportunity to access the safe, supportive classrooms at our K-12 Catholic schools where they can learn and develop the love of Christ. Make a gift at cefks.org today!
