Who was Pope John XXIII?
Pope John XXIII was born in Italy in 1881 and lived most of his life as Father Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. He was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals in 1958 and served just 5 years before succumbing to stomach cancer in 1963.
During his short tenure he worked hard to bring about social reform. Pope John XXIII had great compassion for the poor and was passionate about equality and human rights. He wrote, “Man has the right to live. He has the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services. In consequence, he has the right to be looked after in the event of ill health; disability stemming from his work; widowhood; old age; enforced unemployment; or whenever through no fault of his own he is deprived of the means of livelihood.”
Pope John XXIII is perhaps best remembered for convening the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican from 1962-1965 which modernized the Mass, allowing for it to be delivered in languages other than Latin and with the presiding priest facing towards the congregation. He was the first Pope in more than 75 years to walk the streets of Rome visiting with the people, including the poor, the sick, and the incarcerated. His late night walks around the City earned him the loving nickname, “Johnny Walker.”
He died of cancer in 1963 at the age of 82 and is buried in the grottos beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In 1965 he was posthumously awarded the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award that can be conferred upon a civilian, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. His citation for the award reads, “His Holiness Pope John XXIII, dedicated servant of God. He brought to all citizens of the planet a heightened sense of the dignity of the individual, of the brotherhood of man, and of the common duty to build an environment of peace for all human kind.”
On April 27, 2014, a date known as Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope John XXIII was canonized by Pope Francis. His cause for sainthood was based not on the traditional two-miracle rule but on the recognition of one miracle, curing an ill woman, and the merits of Vatican II.
We celebrate his feast day not on the date of his birth or death as is traditional but on the date of the convening of Vatican II, October 11.
What does it mean to be a Catholic School?
Pope John XXIII is a Catholic school serving two parishes in Evanston, IL, St. Nicholas and St. Mary’s. It is part of the Archdiocese of Chicago which is one of the largest private school systems in America with the most schools awarded the National Blue Ribbon Award of any system, public or private in the nation. Pope John XXIII shares the educational mission of more than 193 elementary schools educating more than 57,000 students each year. Our success is based on educating the whole child, academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Our philosophy is rooted in the gospels of Jesus Christ.
Pope John XXIII educates children from preschool to eighth grade. Our campus consists of three buildings and two playgrounds. The day begins and ends with a all-school prayer over the public address system. Religion is taught everyday using the Sadlier Religion Series and following the newly revised Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum for each grade from preschool to eighth. The Catholic Identity of Pope John XXIII School is strong and vibrant and can be witnessed in the monthly all school children’s masses. Mrs. Nancy Marcheschi, a national presenter on children’s liturgies and liturgical dance, plans and organizes the children so there is full participation by the students.
How does Pope John XXIII evaluate academic progress?
Pope John XXIII School has excellent academics. More than half of the children consistently score above average on the TERRA NOVA standardized tests. Mean scores are in the top 10% nationally. Students are accepted to highly selective private high schools and test into honors classes at Evanston Township High School.
Accelerated classes are offered to challenge students starting in sixth grade. Differentiated instruction and small guided reading groups target students at their instructional level from kindergarten through fifth grade.
Graduates from Pope John XXIII School continue their academic success by winning prestigious scholarships for college and earning placement in highly selective colleges.
How are Catholic Schools funded?
The majority of our school’s funding comes from tuition and fees. The subsidy support of two parishes, good fiscal management, an Annual Fund, and a healthy endowment not only balances the operating budget yearly but is able to offer STEAM enhancements and capital improvements annually.