Becoming Great Saints Together - Our New Vision Statement
Becoming Great Saints Together
By Rachel Gemo, Head of School
This coming week we welcome back our students and families for a new school year at St. Benedict Preparatory School. Classrooms are cleaned and decorated, teachers are eagerly preparing to welcome their students, and families are settling back into the rhythms of another school year.
At the start of last year, we introduced four Root Beliefs that guide our decisions, planning, and daily practices. These beliefs provide the foundation for who we are and why we do what we do:
• All are made in the image and likeness of God.
• Learning and faith are the heart of all that we do.
• We grow through perseverance.
• Together we build our future.
Throughout the year, these Root Beliefs framed our daily announcements, prayers, conversations, and work. They have become an important part of our school's culture and are reflected in our mission, philosophy, and educational priorities.
Over the course of the past year, the School Improvement Leadership Team (SILT) worked to revise our school vision statement to ensure it more clearly reflected our Catholic identity and the true purpose of Catholic education.
A vision statement should describe not simply what we do, but where we aspire to go. It should inspire action, unite a community around a common purpose, and point toward a future that is both challenging and hopeful.
As we reflected on this question, we kept returning to a simple phrase that Fr. Ryan often shares with our students: "Let's grow to be great saints together."
Over time, we realized that those words captured exactly what we hope for every member of our school community. As a result, we are excited to introduce our new school vision statement: Becoming Great Saints Together
Why this vision?
First, it reflects the Church's teaching that every Christian is called to holiness. The Catechism reminds us that holiness is not reserved for a select few but is the vocation of all the faithful. While academic achievement, artistic talents, athletic success, and character development are important, our highest goal is to help our students grow in their relationship with Christ and learn to love God and neighbor.
Second, the word together reminds us that this journey is not walked alone. Students, teachers, staff, parents, parishioners, and alumni all play a role in creating a community where faith, virtue, learning, service, and prayer help one another grow closer to God. In a Benedictine community, we seek God together.
Third, the word becoming reminds us that holiness is a lifelong journey. None of us arrives fully formed. Through God's grace, we are continually growing, learning, and being transformed. Every day presents a new opportunity to become more fully the person God created us to be.
Finally, the word great challenges us not to settle for mediocrity in our faith. A great saint is not necessarily famous. A great saint is someone who courageously strives to love as Christ loves, serving others with humility, generosity, wisdom, and joy. It is a lofty goal, but a worthy one.
Ultimately, Catholic schools exist to help young people know Christ, develop their God-given gifts, serve others, and one day attain the fullness of life with Him in heaven. Our new vision statement captures that mission in four simple words: Becoming Great Saints Together.
As we begin this new school year, we ask for God's abundant blessings upon our students, families, faculty, and staff. May the Holy Spirit guide our work, strengthen our faith, and help us grow closer to Christ in all that we do.
We also ask our community to keep our school in your prayers throughout the year. Please pray especially for our teachers and staff, that God will grant them wisdom, patience, joy, and perseverance as they carry out the important ministry of Catholic education. Together, let us ask St. Benedict to intercede for us as we continue the work of becoming great saints together.