Students serve Mass with Fr. Heip at the Mother of Hope Camp's outdoor chapel. |
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Dear friends of Chesterton,
This month, our students had a day retreat at the Mother of Hope challenge course in Chepachet. Students were split into three groups and given several tasks, such as turning a tarp over while standing on it, or standing on a balance and then sitting down on it, as a group, without letting the balance touch the ground. The challenges requires careful communication and teamwork. |
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At first, groups struggled and experienced frustration. As the day went on, though, the challenges pulled more and more of the students' virtues out onto display: taking responsibility, listening well, serving the common good, putting themselves in others' shoes.
All these virtues are related to fortitude and temperance. They are virtues of self-discipline. They give us real self-possession. Only people who truly |
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possess themselves can answer the ultimate calling of every human person: namely, to truly give ourselves away. The virtues grow as we practice them, so it is powerful to reflect that, at events like this retreat, our students grow measurably closer to their human fulfillment in Christ.
We will unveil our new school song this evening at our spring choir concert. Without giving too much away, I can share that the song celebrates our identity as the Chesterton Knights. It is a fitting mascot. Knights are an image of total self-possession - and total self-gift.
Historically, knights were profoundly disciplined. But at the same time, they did things that seem to us pretty lighthearted. Our word “quixotic” is named after a knight, Don Quixote. We might expect it to mean brave, noble, or self-sacrificing, because knights are all these things. But, in fact, "quixotic" of course means “idealistic or impractical.” Knights sought out dragons and devils to slay them and clear the land of evil. Along the way, they followed a strict code that sometimes forbade them from taking practical steps to accomplish their mission. Knights would put themselves in harm’s way to uphold the code of chivalry, rather than doing the “practical” things necessary to conquer their foes. For this reason, although knights were disciplined, they were not what we would call "practical." |
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Knights lived to give themselves fully for a purpose that is more stable and permanent than the “practical” concerns that govern our day to day. For this very reason, knights accomplished the most deeply practical thing: they cleared the land of evil forces to establish of the peaceful kingdom of Britain. They literally cleared the way for civilization. This is what we are forming our young men and women to do. It is, in certain respects, a quixotic task. Daily, we foster |
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a culture where we strive to take responsibility for the highest things by remaining true to those high things even in our smallest actions: for example, telling the truth, encouraging and not complaining, overlooking others’ faults, completing our tasks with a smile, organizing our things, firm handshakes and eye contact, neat uniforms, punctuality, courageously singing out. Pursuing this ideal earnestly makes space for the full meaning of the Kingdom to unfold itself in our minds and hearts, so that, like the quixotic knights for which we are named, we bear witness to that Kingdom’s coming.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support. Thank you to our many volunteers who continue to help us build up this beautiful school. Keep an eye out for an exciting update about our Lenten appeal, and be assured of our prayers for you! See below for upcoming events and opportunities to join and support Chesterton. Rise up, Knights!
Gratefully yours in Christ, Robert Duffy, PhD Headmaster
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Virtue of the Week Students focus on a different virtue each week. This week, after having pursued magnanimity and responsibility, we continue fostering the virtue of Justice by reflecting on loyalty. |
Wood Working - Tuesday 5/6 Two opportunities for wood working are coming up!
First, the wonderful wooden tables our volunteers procured for us from Aldridge Mansion need to be refinished. Students are invited to assist a team of volunteers in sanding and refinishing the tables. This will happen immediately after school, from 3-7pm, on Tuesday 5/6.
Second, students will have the opportunity to make Chesterton Adirondack chairs, both for sale at our Gala and perhaps for our own back yard. More details forthcoming.
Don't miss these opportunities to learn valuable skills, and leave a lasting and meaningful contribution to future generations of Chesterton students and the larger Chesterton community! |
Teachers present at PC Veritas Conference
Two of our teachers, Dr. Duffy and Mrs. Duffy, who presented at the Veritas Conference, and interdisciplinary conference in the humanities, this past Saturday, 4/28. Mrs. Duffy presented to more than 75 people a paper called "You Must Change Your Life’: Art, the Artist, and Receptivity to Reality.” Dr. Duffy presented a paper called "Love, Obedience, and Authority in Plato’s Apology.” Good work, Mrs. Duffy and Dr. Duffy, and thank you to Providence College for fostering dialogue about beautiful, good, and true things!
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How do you want to help? Is there something you'd like to see Chesterton do? Are you able to give your time and talents? Let us know! Email rduffy@chestertonri.org to get involved. |
Hiring
Do you know someone who would thrive in a career at Chesterton? We would love to meet them! Send them our way by emailing rduffy@chestertonri.org. |
Save the Date:
May 2 - Spring Concert - Cookout at 4:30. No Holy Hour. May 3 - Family Golf Outing to Support Chesterton Sports (See below)
May 29 - Happy birthday, G.K. Chesterton! June 6 - First Friday Holy Hour June 13 - End of Year Picnic @ 2:00. June 23-27 - Chesterton Arts Week (Register now!) November 8 - 3rd Annual Chesterton Gala |
May 17: Mother of Hope Camp 75th Anniversary Celebration and Open House |
Students delight in History, celebrate Shakespeare's birthday, play chess before school starts, catch a rogue morning chicken, and prepare for tonight's concert. |
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Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton |
“If I bet I must be made to pay, or there is no poetry in betting. If I challenge I must be made to fight, or there is no poetry in challenging. If I vow to be faithful I must be cursed when I am unfaithful, or there is no fun in vowing. . . . For the purpose even of the wildest romance results must be real; results must be irrevocable."
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