The wonderful gift of Catholic education

Four of our five children attended and graduated from our Catholic schools in Brooks. What a gift and blessing this was for Aggie and me, as we witnessed our children grow in their faith, not only at home but away from home. It was not an easy decision to move our children from a public school system where they were well treated, well educated and highly involved within their respective classes. We recognized though, that something was missing within the secular school system they attended, something we so desired them to have; a faith based Catholic education.

This deep desire for Catholic Education for our children was finally attained in 1996, and the journey of watching them grow and graduate in a Catholic education system was realized! Their experiences in Catholic education were so important in the career decisions and direction each of them were to make, following graduation from St. Joseph’s Collegiate High School in Brooks.

Catholic Education created for our children, experiences of sponsoring friends in joining the Catholic faith, mentoring young people in faith by being members of NET (National Evangelization Team), Face-To-Face (Catholic Retreat Team), CCO (Catholic Christian Outreach). The gift of Catholic education our children received in our Brooks schools led them to an even more meaningful, active faith life in their post- secondary education, which ultimately led them meeting their current spouses, teaching in Catholic schools, and their children attending Catholic schools.
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Catholic Education and the educators within Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools have been an integral part in the formation and witness our children are now demonstrating in their respective communities. The wonderful gift of Catholic education which our children experienced, and now their children, our delightful grandchildren, is a legacy and blessing we cherish with profound gratitude.

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Written by John deJong for Faithfully. John is a Catholic school trustee for the ward of Brooks within Christ the Redeemer Catholic School District.  He and his wife, Aggie, have five children and 16 grandchildren.  As founding parents in 1996, John and Aggie are so pleased to be celebrating 25 Years of Catholic Education in Brooks with their community.
Photos courtesy of John deJong.