Christmas Message from Central Catholic President

December 25, 2023

Dear Central Catholic Community, As I write my first Christmas letter to the Central Catholic Community since becoming President, I have found myself reflecting on the idea of family. The great Feast of Christmas encourages all Christians to contemplate our belief that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…”  But sometimes, we overlook the fact that with the Incarnation, God entered our world by becoming part of a human family with Mary and Joseph. Family is at the heart of Christianity. The all-powerful God entered the world as a baby in a simple and fragile family. It was in this family that Jesus experienced unconditional love as he grew into adulthood.

During this holy season, we take time to appreciate our family and all that family means. Christmas is a season to recall the joyful memories of past Christmases and remember those who are no longer with us. Family is what is most important because it is in the family that faith is fostered, love is shared, and life is lived to the fullest. It is also in the family where sacrifices are made. So many of our families make significant sacrifices to entrust their sons to Central Catholic High School.

For me and countless other people, Central Catholic is family. The young men of Central Catholic like to refer to themselves as “brothers” and to the Central Catholic experience as a “brotherhood.”  Those are family words, and they describe the deep relationships that exist among students, teachers, coaches, and counselors. The mission of the Christian Brothers, who continue to be an essential part of our family, is to foster a spirit of Christian brotherhood in their schools, and they have been doing that here since the school opened almost a century ago. The Central Catholic family cares for one another, looks out for one another, and supports one another. That love and concern does not end with graduation. The family spirit transcends multiple generations. We witness this family spirit through the incredible generosity of so many alumni, current/past parents, and friends. All of us at Central are deeply grateful for the generous support that sustains our Mission.

On behalf of our students, faculty, Christian Brothers, and administration, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Wishing you Christmas Blessings,

 

Matthew J. Stoessel, ’95

President

 

St. John Baptist de LaSalle … Pray for us!

Live Jesus in Our Hearts … Forever!