New principals preparing for the fall

Bishop Carl A. Kemme speaks to new principals and other Catholic school administrators Thursday, June 18, in the Pius X Room at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. (Advance photo)

Bishop Carl A. Kemme asked the new Catholic school principals to think beyond the idea of maintaining Catholic education.

“If that’s all we’re going to continue to do, we’ll lose our schools one by one,” he said Thursday, June 18, in the Pius X Room at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. “It’s critical we rethink the vision and purpose of our schools.”

Holding up a copy of the Pastoral Plan for the Diocese of Wichita, Bishop Kemme said he’d like the new principals to reflect on the plan every day, perhaps placing it next to their Bible. “This is the framework of where we want to go as a diocese.”

He said the plan calls for the faithful to form disciples and evangelize the culture. “This is where the Holy Spirit is leading us,” Bishop Kemme said. “We want people to know Jesus Christ.”

After explaining why their leadership and teamwork are critical for Catholic schools, he said: “We should be humble leaders, prayerful leaders.”

New principals attending were Joshua Bargdill of St. Mary School in Newton; Kylan Collins, St. Margaret Mary, Wichita; and Stephanie Warren, principal, and Brian Campbell, assistant principal, St. Thomas Aquinas School, Wichita. Charlene Laramore, the new principal of St. Cecilia School in Haysville, attended via Zoom from Olathe, where her daughter had just delivered her first child, Laramore’s third grandchild.

Father John Jirak, the vicar for Evangelization, Discipleship and Stewardship, spoke to the group via Zoom on Thursday. On Friday two principals shared “tips and tricks,” before a luncheon with pastors.

Fr. Jirak is also pastor of Church of the Magdalen in Wichita.