Volume I | February 2019
Father Mike's message
Dear Carroll Community,

Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Padre Post, a monthly publication of Carroll's Office of Campus Ministry. Our intention is to provide you with valuable information about Carroll's faith life, coming events and witness from Carroll's students who are wonderful examples of our core values: Faith. Community. Virtue. Christian Service. Academic Excellence. Diversity and Inclusion. We'd love your feedback. Feel free to reach out to us


2019 is off to a great, busy start at Carroll! 

We just returned from our January Kairos for seniors. We had a record 71 retreatants join us at Malvern Retreat House for four days growing in their relationship with God, themselves, and others!

50 of our students with members of our Pro-Life Club attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19. It was a very powerful witness to see the hundreds of thousands of people praying and sharing the importance of the Pro Life message.
  • We had a successful Genesis (Eucharistic Adoration prayer group), Jan. 15, over 100 students present in prayer and witness. 

  • Best Buddies has a Bocce team and we competed against Upper Merion for our first match. We had a great crowd present to root our Best Buddies teams’ on. We raised $200 at our Chick Fil A fundraiser after the match in King of Prussia.

  • MLK Day of Service was this past Monday, Jan. 22. 45 CSC (Community Service Corps) members packed 500 breakfast bags for the poor. Packages were picked up by Aid for Friends in Norristown.

  • We are thankful for the generous donations of air conditioning in the chapel & the outdoor Stations of the Cross over the Christmas break!

God bless!
Father Mike Speziale
Director of Campus Ministry
Catholic Identity
Calendar of Events
Friday, Feb. 1 – Special Genesis (Eucharistic Adoration prayer group) at St. Charles Seminary, Wynnewood at 8 p.m., in the Immaculate Conception Chapel. 

Mr. Kirsch & the Pro-Life Club meetings:
Friday. Feb. 1 and 15, Room 200; Friday, Feb. 8 and 22, in the Carroll chapel for a prayer service.

Wednesday, Feb. 6 –

Steubenville NYC Youth Rally summer weekend information meeting in the ministry office (Room 222) at 2:30 p.m. (open to all current freshman) The Steubenville Youth rally at St. John University in NYC will take place the weekend of July 19-21, 2019.

Harlan, Ken., summer service trip info makeup meeting as well (open to current sophomores & juniors) - add info to the Steubenville meeting in Room 200!

Tuesday, Feb. 12 – Genesis (Eucharistic Adoration prayer group) in the Carroll chapel at 6:45 p.m. Head to P.J. Wheelihan’s for half-price wings in Newtown Square afterwards. 
Catholic Athletes for Christ during 6th Period lunch in Room 110.

Wednesday, Feb. 13 –

Best Buddies general meeting after school in Room 200. 

Diversity Club, Ms. Ginn's classroom, Room 308

Thursday, Feb. 14 – CSC (Community Service Corps) general meeting after school in Room 200.

Friday, Feb. 22 – PatrioTHON from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. – Dance marathon raising money for CHOP and Catholic Relief Services.

Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Catholic Athletes for Christ during 6th Period lunch in Room 110.
Genesis (Eucharistic Adoration prayer group) in the Carroll chapel at 6:45 p.m.
Student Witness: Living Our Faith
Kairos Retreat Experience

By James Sweeney ‘19 & Megan Elizabeth Harrell ‘19

Kairos for us was a really good experience. When we first arrived for our Kairos retreat, we weren’t expecting to get anything out of it. We actually did.

We were a little hesitant. We were leaving the outside world for four days. To say the least we had our doubts about this retreat. Hours into the retreat, all of our doubts were gone.
We were a little hesitant. We were leaving the outside world for four days. To say the least we had our doubts about this retreat. Hours into the retreat, all of our doubts were gone.

During Kairos we found ourselves and we found God. We believe that Kairos really changed everyone in some way on K97. During the four days it was a super fun and enjoyable time. Kairos was truly one of the best experiences of our lives and we are not just saying that. We truly enjoyed the retreat.

After the first night we did not even think about our phones. All of our anxieties and fears disappeared on Kairos. The pure relaxation and peacefulness was surreal. We received love and true happiness. Kairos was one of the best things that has happened to us at Carroll and we want every student here to experience the joy we received.

We now live life with a new perspective; to be a servant of God, to be a good person, and to be truly happy. We made so many new friendships that we hope will last a lifetime. Our group became close and we bonded with people that we never even talked knew before.

Overall, Kairos was amazing and we truly wish for everyone to have this experience. 
Called to Serve
Best Buddies Service & Bocce Team

Best Buddies is a worldwide, nonprofit organization that has existed at Archbishop Carroll, the only Catholic high school in Pennsylvania that offers this opportunity.
It pairs and builds one-on-one friendships with St. Katherine Day School students with cognitive and intellectual disabilities with Archbishop Carroll students. Through Best Buddies, individuals with intellectual and cognitive disabilities create meaningful relationships with peers by going on monthly events planned by our Best Buddies chapter as a group or one-on-one. We go bowling, watch movies, go to dances, play games, go to mini golf, host some BBQs, etc.

A new addition this year is our Best Buddies Bocce Team, a new inclusive PIAA sport and extension of the Special Olympics that allows Best Buddies pairs to play and compete together against other Best Buddies chapters. The team played its first match against Souderton on Jan. 23, before a packed house at Carroll!
Opportunities to Support Our Mission

Pro-Life March bus and student support          
$3,000   

Best Buddies Monthly Activity                          
$250      

Best Buddies Prom                                               
$2,000   

Steubenville Support sponsor a student                    
$250 per student

Kentucky Service Project                                   
$5,000
   
Kairos Retreat Sponsor                                                     
$300 per student

Holy Thursday Dinner Event                             
$300  
    
Genesis Dinner Sponsor
$200 per event (twice per month)

Service Project                                                     
$5,000 
  
Kairos Retreat Sponsor                                                     
$300 per student

Genesis Dinner Sponsor                                     
$200 per event (twice per month)

Click here to make a tax-free donation. Thank you!
May our journey be a concern for others
A road of peace
A path of love

#CarrollCatholic 
#CarollCares
The Carroll Padre Post is a publication of the
Archbishop John Carroll High School's
Office of Campus Ministry