I was born in the city of Jackson, the only child of a blue-collar family. My father worked in a factory. My mom was a stay-at-home mother until I was 11 years old, when she became physically and mentally handicapped after contracting lupus. My parents soon divorced. My mom died young, although not before witnessing my marriage. May she rest in peace.

Our family wasn’t Catholic. In fact, throughout my childhood we were non-religious. No prayers at home. No church on Sunday. We did have a distant respect for a distant God, but that was as far as it went. Without anybody suggesting it, I always knew there was a yet-unidentified absence in both my life and my public-school education. I just knew it. But what, or who, was missing? By early high school, I was beginning to discern the answer — the first twitch upon the thread.

During those teenage years, I ran track and field. At local race meets I would compete against boys from Lumen Christi Catholic School. We would run, and then we would talk. Their manner toward me, a stranger, was always polite and kind. They would tell me something of their Catholic beliefs. On top of that, they talked of their school as a place where the teachers truly cared for students and, in return, students respected their teachers.

I wanted to know more. I needed to know more. So, at the age of 15, I contacted Lumen Christi and asked about the possibility of enrolling at the school. I then spoke with my father. At first, he was a little hesitant but, very soon, agreed, saying, “If this is something you want to do, and you can figure it out, then you have my blessing.”

Upon arrival at Lumen, I was met by the school principal, Father Thomas Rieden. I told him I wasn’t Catholic. With paternal affection, he assured me of a warm welcome and then gifted me a little booklet entitled Outlines of the Catholic Faith, saying, “Have this, and keep it with you for your journey.” Over 30 years later, I still have the book. It is a precious memento of a saintly man.

It was a time of new discoveries. I discovered prayer. I discovered the Mass. I discovered the generosity of donors who made my education at Lumen Christi possible. I am still grateful to them. I also discovered teachers who really cared about my future.

In fact, I still recall the moment when my history teacher, Mr. Spitler, suggested that I consider going to college, saying, “you would make a great history teacher.” Until that point, I had never thought of going to college, never mind becoming a teacher.

In recent years, I was blessed to meet Mr. Spitler, now deservedly retired. I thanked him for the education and encouragement he imparted, in equal measure, to my youthful self and many others.

My story doesn’t end there, though. For while I had certainly embraced Catholic education, I had not yet fully embraced the Catholic faith. So, during my college years I prayed, studied, and discerned.  After graduating and before starting our family I  became Catholic along with my wife, Amanda, a fellow alumnus of Lumen Christi. There to receive us into the Church was Father Paul Grehl, our school chaplain emeritus. A great man, since deceased. God rest his soul.

That’s why I say that Catholic education really changed my life. Indeed, it saved my life, Deo volente, for all eternity. And it continues to do the same, both for me and countless others in dozens of schools across the Diocese of Lansing. It’s a daily miracle in our midst.

As St. Paul writes: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (2 Cor 2:14)

As a teacher in the Diocese of Lansing for a quarter of a century, I can testify with some authority that our schools are now more authentically Catholic, and more academically rigorous, than they have been in generations. They have gone from good to great. They raise saints and scholars — not “either/or” but “both/and.” Faith and reason. Head and heart. And, most importantly, they do it for the noblest of reasons: Ad maiorem Dei gloriam! For the greater glory of God!