CATHF's Orientation Week (2023-24)

Sep 21

On August 21st, 2023, the Chesterton Academy of the Holy Family (CATHF) in Lisle, IL, began its ninth school year with a lively, faith- and fun-filled Orientation Week. Highlights included prefect training, freshman – senior orientation, daily Mass, House sorting, and House bonding.

House prefect training kick-started the week. Student Life Coordinator Kaitlyn Reznicek told the prefects that they are the “backbone of the culture” of the school. These sixteen prefects, four from each House, are juniors and seniors who serve their fellow students in a leadership role, setting the standard and helping to build the culture of the school. “For good fruit to be produced, there must be attention to what one is putting into the soil,” Ms. Reznicek reminded them. She further challenged the prefects to cultivate the culture of the school by their service and example.

The school’s motto Cultura Vitae, the culture of life, was the theme of the week’s orientation and formation. Faculty speakers emphasized that this motto needs to permeate the very lives of the students and staff down to their thoughts, words, and interactions. Since a “culture of life” is only possible through Christ Himself, each day centered around daily Mass. Good times and laughter abounded throughout the week from the prefects’ humorous skit for incoming students on the uniform policy to the icebreakers that punctuated the week’s activities.

The high point of the week was arguably Thursday’s House sorting. House sorting assigns new students, faculty, and staff to one of the four Houses - Ambrose, Augustine, Athanasius, and Chrysostom.

The House system builds community through opportunities for growth in virtue across the three pillars of intellect, character, and spirituality. House colors changed this year to align with the Chesterton Schools Network. The new colors are as follows: Ambrose – Joyful Gold and Raven Black, Augustine – Caritas Red and Faith Ivory, Athanasius – Vitae Green and Courageous Silver, and Chrysostom – Fides Blue and Character Gold.

As forty freshmen and two new faculty stood in the center of the gym awaiting their House designation, the four Houses took to the four corners of the gym. Front and center in the gym was a rolling cage holding all the new House designations. This was flanked by faculty knights whose royal blue surcoats bore golden fleur-de-lis, which matched their gleaming helmets. As President Brenie Bowles called out each name and House designation, the knights pointed their swords at the student or faculty member and then swept their swords towards the corresponding House, from which erupted an exuberant welcome.