When St. Dominic school in Bolingbrook closed at the end of the 2021-22 school year, then-third grade student Carter and his family were in search of a new school.

The family settled in at St. Mary Gostyn in Downers Grove and Carter could not be happier.

As a fifth grader, he participated in basketball and cross country, which he said will be traded in for track and field, and excelled in the classroom.

Above all, Carter has made a whole new group of friends outside of his Aurora neighborhood, which he can keep up with through gaming or having an old-fashioned sleep over.

Finding a Catholic school for Carter was paramount for the family, not only because both of his parents attended Catholic schools for their entire education, but because with his dad’s schedule as a police officer, Christina was looking for a place to teach that she could bring Carter to and from school each day.

“There is something about a Catholic school and the family that it is,” Christina said “ The principal and assistant principal and the pastor know everyone by name.”

While the family wanted a Catholic education, they needed some financial help – and they found that in a scholarship from the Catholic Education Foundation of the Diocese of Joliet.

“We are incredibly grateful for this blessing, and it is difficult to express just how helpful it has been for us,” Christina said. “We are thrilled to have Carter at St. Mary of Gostyn, where he is thriving after St. Dominic closed a few years ago.

“St. Mary of Gostyn is an amazing school and we are so thankful that we ended up there. The scholarship helps immensely. It is wonderful that [the CEF] has this program and the donors that want to support Catholic education, because we find it so valuable for Carter and our family.”

Carter’s dad Mark said that value starts with the foundation a Catholic school builds.

“The kids have a good moral base,” he said.

Carter is enjoying his time at St. Mary Gostyn – in the classroom and in athletics.

“I like basketball the best,” he said. “It is fun to play for the school because all of my friends are playing with me, so that is cool.”

Being in a small school offers no-cut athletics, which Christina likes.

“No matter what skill level you are, you have an opportunity,” she said.

In the classroom, Carter, like most sixth-grade boys, loves PE class, but he also enjoys using the 3D printer in his Social Studies class. His favorite subject, however, is Religion.

“It is a serious topic,” Carter said. “Our teacher can make it fun, not sad. I can also flip ahead in my book and read about things before we get to the topic.”

Last school season, 16 Diocese of Joliet student-athletes earned state championships from the Illinois High School Association thanks in part to a Catholic Education Foundation scholarship.

The Benet Academy boys basketball team won the Class 4A boys basketball title, joining the Benet girls tennis team (1A), the Montini Catholic football (3A) and girls basketball (3A) teams, Immaculate Conception’s team wrestling (2A) and Providence Catholic’s competitive dance (1A) as Joliet Diocese champions.

Individually, Benet’s Finn Richards won the 3A boys cross country title and Shane Delaney and Clare Lopatka took home the 1A girls tennis doubles title. They were joined by Class 2A wrestlers Allen Woo (Montini, 113 pounds), Max Cumbee (IC Catholic, 116), Deven Casey (IC Catholic, 132), Kam Luif (Montini, 138), Justus Heeg (Providence, 150) and Brody Kelly (IC Catholic, 175), who all won state titles.

The accomplishments in sports complement the academic achievements the Diocese of Joliet schools have in the classroom, making it crucial that all students have the opportunity to enjoy success. 

After the passing of Peg Breyne in 2016, her children – Chris, Matt, Pat and Mari – were looking for something for those who knew and loved her to donate to in lieu or flowers.

Among the choices was a scholarship in her name for a child attending St. Andrews school in Romeoville – the place she taught for 24 years.

“We all went there and she started teaching at St. Andrews in 1968,” Chris said.

Not only was Peg a teacher, her and Ron were founding members of the parish and Ron served as the school board President.

“My mom would always say it was her ministry, it wasn't a job, and so we thought that was an obvious choice to make,” Chris said. “Her friends were very generous as far as how much they gave, so once we got that going, we decided to keep it going on an annual basis. There is a need up and down, so we leave (the choice of the recipient) at the discretion of the CEF and with the principal.”

Chris said the decision to help those families wanting a Catholic education, but cannot meet financial requirements came from the lessons of his parents.

“My parents put all four of us through St. Andrews and then my two brothers and I went to Joliet Catholic and my sister went to Providence. We had 13 years of Catholic education.

My parents were by no means wealthy, but we never were for want of anything. And then, when I started my kids at St. Isidore in Bloomingdale, it's one of those things you start realizing when you do the math on what they had to do. My mom was a Catholic school teacher, so we know she didn't make much and my dad worked at Argonne Labs. It was a sacrifice for them.”

Chris said, his parents even deferred some of Peg’s salary to help support students in need at St. Andrews.

“Every little penny out of a Catholic school teacher's salary is a lot,” Chris said. “They were dedicated to St. Andrews to the core. We learned from them about giving back to the church in general, but especially to St. Andrews.”

Establishing the scholarship and working with Catholic Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Georgis, opened another door for Chris.

At the beginning of 2024, Chris was asked to join the CEF Board, which he accepted.

“We specifically wanted to go through the CEF with the scholarship just because we know they handle it properly and they handle it well and that they'll make sure that it goes to the people in need,” Chris said. “So I couldn't say no to that? I've only been on for 6 months now, but the quality of people that they have on that board and the dedication to Catholic education and those in need is really outstanding.

“I joke that I gave my mom and dad a hard enough time - I wasn't a bad kid, but I needed some guidance - so this is this is a small way I'm paying back my mom for the years of torture that I gave her.”

While serving on the diocesan school board, Chris said his mom joked that he could not let St. Andrews, which was struggling at the time, close on his watch.

Both the scholarship and his efforts on the CEF board, can help keep that promise to his mom.

“Keeping the school open is important to me,” he said. “If you don't have the people here, you're not going to have the opportunity to teach the students and unfortunately, we've seen what happens if the enrollment dips too far. So, it's a double bonus, you can help a family need, and you're getting a child in a seat that needs to be filled.”