March 28th, 2025

Students visited the Cathedral for Ash Wednesday Mass and the statehouse for a tour, mock senate, and the annual RI Right to Life Vigil. Thank you to Chesterton parent Senator de la Cruz!

Dear friends of Chesterton,

It is a great blessing to observe the Lenten season in a community shaped by the Church's daily liturgy. Lent encapsulates a rhythm close to the heart of classical education: the rhythm of death and resurrection.

Education is above all a formation in virtue. To grow in virtue is to become free to be fully alive. This process involves dying to ourselves - to what we think we want - so that we can be filled with the goodness, truth, and beauty that will truly make us free. This pattern is throughout scripture, from the story of Noah's Ark to the resurrection of Christ on the third day and beyond. But as Jesus Himself pointed out, this process of death and resurrection is not only supernatural - it is at the heart of nature, and human nature, itself.

Preaching to the Greeks, who spoke the language of nature, Jesus taught, “Unless a grain of what falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (Jn. 12:24). And Christ tells us that this natural pattern is brought to a deeper fulfillment through grace: "For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it" (Lk. 9:24).

This Lent let I pray we find this deep meaning in our acts of self-discipline, even and especially when they are painful rather than pleasant, and that we accept the graces we receive to live fully alive in Christ.

If you'd like to think more about classical education and helping our students be "fully alive," I recommend the podcast linked here and below. It is from an excellent classical, Catholic school in the D.C. area. It ends on a beautiful note connecting classical education and self-sacrifice.

Finally, keep an eye out for a chance to support us during 401give on April 1, when we will launch our Lenten appeal! And we hope you will visit us for Mass, daily at 11:10 in St. Francis Chapel, and for our first friday Holy Hour starting at 4:00 April 4. Thank you for all of your prayers and support, and be assured of our prayers for you. I wish all of you and your families a blessed Lenten season and a joyful Easter.

Gratefully yours in Christ,

Robert Duffy, PhD

Headmaster

2nd Annual Chesterton Arts Week: Register Now!

May 3: Support Chesterton Athletics
Fundraiser Family Golf Outing

May 2 - Spring Concert (no Holy Hour)

Save the Date:

April 1 - 401Gives and Lenten Appeal Launch

June 6 - First Friday Holy Hour

June 13 - End of Year Picnic

November 8 - Annual Gala

Beyond the Walls: Opportunities for Ongoing Formation

April 4 (Diocese of Providence): Jackie Angel on Dating and Marriage

Upcoming Event at the Providence College Humanities Forum!

March 28: “The paradox of Dorothy Day: Humanism and Personalism” Join the Providence College community for a talk by Tom Jeannot, professor of philosophy at Gonzaga University. https://humanities.providence.edu/the-providence-college-humanities-forum-sp2025/

April 25-26: Veritas Conference at PC - including a paper by our Headmaster! https://humanities.providence.edu/veritas/

To see more upcoming events click above or here: https://www.chestertonri.org/beyond-the-walls.

Glimpses of Chesterton

This month freshman shared the fruits of their reflection and hard work, giving oral presentations on Homer's Odyssey and Plato's Phaedo. Sophomores and Juniors presented on Augustine's Confessions. The day was a celebration of intellectual friendship, culminating in the opportunity to share food and casual conversation. Good work, panelists!