THE HEART OF A ST. PIUS X EDUCATION

Dear St. Pius X Family,

In preparation for the new school year, I visited the Our Lady of the Assumption Rectory to have dinner with Monsignor Lopez. From 1981-2014, “Father” Lopez, as we all called him, inspired students daily in his senior Theology classroom. He was a magnet to students from all walks of life, bringing the young people who walked our halls closer to Jesus Christ for over 30 years. 

Monsignor Lopez was a great teacher. He is the only teacher in school history to win the Teacher of the Year award twice. However, it wasn’t his teaching skills that defined his legacy. Rather, it was his deep love for the students that set him apart. He brought joy and belonging to every student he met because he saw Jesus in all of us. 

His example is a beautiful reflection of the heart of a St. Pius X education. We are not merely an academic institution; we are a faith-filled community committed to forming the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. This mission is lived out in partnership with our parents, the primary educators of their children. Together, we guide our students to lead lives of virtue, purpose, and significance.

This week, we welcomed over 1,000 students back to campus—each one a unique and unrepeatable gift from God. It is our promise to nurture, challenge, and care for them each day.

While the start of the year brings excitement and new energy, we know the path ahead will include challenges. With that in mind, I encourage us all—students, families, and our faculty and staff—to reframe our understanding of “failure.” Mistakes will happen. Academic struggles may arise. Classroom plans may not unfold perfectly. But within those very moments lie the seeds of growth. True learning often begins in adversity, and it is through setbacks that our students will discover resilience, perseverance, and grace.

In closing, my hope for this school year is to have a strong collaboration between the “home” and the “school.” Together, we are a powerful community that has an opportunity to evangelize our students, the future of the Church. I can’t think of a better community to be a part of than St. Pius X Catholic High School. 

Domini Sumus,

Aaron Parr ‘06

President

A CALLING FULFILLED:

JOE McCURDY ON LEADING

SPX ATHLETICS WITH HEART

Joe McCurdy stepped into his new role as Athletic Director this summer. A former CNN Sports Producer and proud father of four St. Pius X alumni, McCurdy recently shared how his professional background and personal connection to the school prepared him for this position—and what he hopes to bring to it. Look for the full interview in the upcoming issue of Between the Lions magazine.

What inspired you to take on the role of Athletic Director at this point in your career? Quite simply, FAMILY. I've seen that word all over St. Pius X since first walking on campus, probably around 2010. And it's still the biggest part of everything we do. Walking into that first Friday night football game on the invite of a FAMILY friend, the welcome feeling was so intense it stayed with my wife, Maura, and me to this day. We sent four very active McCurdys through St. Pius X, and Maura and I were constantly on campus, on the road, and volunteering for various roles, and Pius became a huge part of our identity. As I wondered what was next on my career path, SPX Athletic Director was way, way in the back of my mind. Random, unsolicited people from my life started saying I would be perfect for that role, and I laughed it off. But God had a plan. It might sound cliché, but it truly is a calling. 

You had a long career at CNN as a sports producer. What skills or experiences from that world do you think translate well into your new role?

It's a question I've asked myself. I see sports as a universal connection point. Music, art, and live performance fall into the same category. Elements that make us feel alive—mystery, drama, love, joy, pain, suffering, sacrifice, reward, success—that's why I got into sports, and in particular, telling stories of sports. I'm energized by telling those stories and finding the unique narratives that showcase our amazing student-athletes and coaches here at St. Pius X. 

What role do you think athletics plays in the overall student experience?

There are so many positives to the student-athlete experience here, but for me, I come back to something I've seen with my own eyes, felt in my heart, and experience every day now as Athletic Director: Teamwork. And within that comes a sense of belonging. When someone learns to reduce their own ego to help benefit others (the team), they are truly living our Catholic identity. These students develop an unbreakable, family-like bond.

What’s your approach to fostering school spirit and community engagement through sports?

Ah, my favorite topic. Sports are often the front porch for the school, often a person's first encounter with St. Pius X. When I walked out of Maloof stadium for the first time after a football game some 15 years ago, a few years before any of our children were enrolled, there was this amazing sense of joy and belonging. If you've met me, you might feel my passion for the school immediately. I think it's second only to our resident SuperFan, Mr. Martin Scott, who, if you haven't seen a grown man leading our cheer section at multiple games across multiple sports, you soon will! As a parent-volunteer at basketball games, I helped bring the "We Ready" tradition to life a few years back, and when you feel that spirit, that togetherness, it can be overwhelming. It's so beautiful. I encourage everyone to come see a game, our student-athletes will be so grateful!

The Golden Lions are taking on the Dunwoody Wildcats in the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, August 16 at 10:00 a.m.

Purchase your tickets today!