Cardinal George visits St. Viator

Sunday was a day of firsts for St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights.

It was the first day of the school’s 50-year anniversary celebration, it was the first day of Catholic Schools Week, and it was the first time Francis Cardinal George visited the school.

School president Rev. Robert Egan said the cardinal’s visit almost didn’t happen because he originally had a meeting scheduled in Rome.

Fortunately for the school, the meeting was canceled and the Cardinal showed up to deliver the homily and shake hands with guests after a special Mass in the gymnasium Sunday.

“It sets the tone for a great year of celebration,” Egan said.

After the Mass, the cardinal praised schools like St. Viator.

“I’m glad to be here instead of the meeting in Rome,” he said. “We have very good schools in the archdiocese. Take a look at the statistics. (Nearly) everybody graduates. Of the high schools, 85 percent go on to college. I think the secondary schools are of particular importance, because that’s such an important stage in young people’s lives. And so the parents can count on the schools to support what they are trying to do with the family.”

During his homily, Cardinal George said that what is distinctive about St. Viator and all Catholic schools is the cooperation among the school, the students’ families and the church.

Several people who have been associated with St. Viator over the years returned to join in the festivities, including the school’s first president, Brother Leo V. Ryan, who is the last surviving member of the building committee.

Ryan said the original intention was to build a high school for boys, because in those days the high schools were a direct source for those entering the priesthood.

Egan said some of the activities planned for the school’s the 50th year anniversary celebration this year will include a speaker series and “The Night of the Lion” gala at Navy Pier April 9.

“We have been a school since the beginning that is committed to academic excellence and passing on our religious and faith tradition. And we have been faithful to that for 50 years,” Egan said.

St. Viator senior Tim Hogaboom said the school is brimming with pride and tradition, including teachers that come back to teach and former students who return to rekindle high school memories.

”Every day, alumni wander around the halls and stop by and see their old teachers,” he said.