Category: General

This past week our elementary students and teachers enjoyed a tradition that they have come to love praying together, in song: the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It is precious to hear them fervently praying it. Through this beautiful chanted prayer, our students learn about God’s great mercy, that we can always put our trust in Him, and that we should love and forgive others just as He loves and forgives! 🌟🙏🕊 💙💚📿 #PrayerTraditions #DivineMercy #WeAreGRACEgb

Recently, ON MISSION, the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay’s magazine, featured and interviewed our religion teacher, Mrs. Jessica Melchert! Check out the article by clicking the button below.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

Our fearless leader Principal Dempsey was out clearing the sidewalks this morning to make it safe for others! And our staff and students are inclined to do the same. Everyday acts of service are something we encourage in our students (like Max shown brushing off a teacher’s car). In EVERY season we try to live out the mission message we derive from the acronym WOLVES (Our Father Allouez mascot): “Welcoming Others! Loving Vibrantly! Encouraging Service! – as disciples of God.” It is a motto we repeat each school morning with our entire student body: PK3 through 8th Grade. It is a powerful anchoring reminder of who we hope to be.

The latest GRACE Fall 2024 newsletter is now available to read! This issue highlights GRACE’s high school, Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School.

Discover everything the school has to offer by clicking the button below.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

Good morning, everyone! Today, we’re celebrating a very special feast day in the Church: the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Now, I know that title sounds a little tricky, but don’t worry! I’m here to explain it, and by the end of this homily, you’ll know exactly what it means and why it’s so important.

First, let’s clear up a common misconception. When we hear the words “Immaculate Conception,” we might think it’s talking about when Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb—like the Annunciation story we celebrate in March. But the Immaculate Conception actually refers to something different. It’s about how Mary herself was conceived in her mother’s womb, a long time before Jesus was born. 

The Immaculate Conception means that from the very moment Mary was conceived, God kept her free from original sin. Now, what is original sin? Well, when Adam and Eve first sinned by disobeying God, all of humanity inherited this tendency to sin. It’s like a stain on our souls that we’re born with. But, because Mary was going to be the Mother of God, God chose to protect her from that stain right from the beginning, so that she could be a pure vessel to carry Jesus into the world.

Imagine you’re about to bake a cake, and you want it to be perfect. You wouldn’t start with a dirty bowl or a broken egg, right? You’d want everything clean and ready so that the cake turns out just right. In the same way, God wanted Mary to be perfectly pure, without any stain of sin, to be the Mother of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Now, some of you might be thinking, “But why did Mary get this special treatment? I mean, we all sin, right?” That’s a great question. And here’s the thing: God’s grace is so powerful that He can choose to do things in ways we might not always understand. Just like how He sent Jesus to save us, He also prepared Mary to be the perfect mother for His Son. In the Bible, God says to Mary through the angel Gabriel, “Hail, full of grace!”—which means that God gave her an abundance of His grace, making her ready for this amazing role.

So, Mary didn’t become sinless because she was better than anyone else. It wasn’t about her own strength or goodness, but about God’s love and plan for salvation. And that’s something really important to remember: God’s love for us is so deep that He will do anything to help us become the best version of ourselves.

Let’s talk about what this means for us today. The Immaculate Conception isn’t just a story about Mary from a long time ago; it’s a reminder for all of us. God wants to make us pure and holy too! While we might not be free from sin from the moment we’re born like Mary was, we can be made clean and free through God’s grace—especially through the sacraments, like Baptism and Confession. When we go to Confession, we get a fresh start, just like Mary did at her conception. God wants us to be holy, and He gives us the grace to do that.

And just like Mary, we are called to say “yes” to God. Remember how Mary said “yes” to the angel when she was asked to be the mother of Jesus? We are asked to say “yes” too. Every day, God asks us to say “yes” to His love, His teachings, and His call for us to live a life of kindness, love, and holiness.

So, on this feast day, let’s celebrate Mary’s special role in God’s plan and remember that God has a special plan for each one of us, too. He wants us to be close to Him, to be filled with His grace, and to follow the example of Mary—saying “yes” to God, no matter what. And just like Mary, we can trust that God will always help us become the people He created us to be.

GRACE is pleased to share that The Mulva Cultural Center is offering viewings of the film – I Am the Immaculate Conception – on December 12 and December 14, 2024.  This is an exclusive offering in our area of this religious docudrama.

What is Our Lady’s role under the title of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception for the United States? Hear from the rector of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at the nation’s capital speak about Mary’s historic role in American history and why the U.S. Bishops urged consecration to Our Lady under the title of the Immaculate Conception.

PG-13 – 94 minutes

View The Mulva Cultural Center’s website to learn more, check availability, and buy tickets. View the film site to learn more about the movie.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

Keep the Momentum Going

The 2024-2025 GRACE Annual Appeal is in full swing!

Your gifts provide vital support to the more than 2,400 students enrolled in our schools. With your help, we can continue to provide an education that nurtures both academic and spiritual growth. Donations can be sent to the GRACE Development Office at 1822 Riverside Dr., Green Bay, WI 54301, or made online at gracesystem.org/giving/donate-now.

Thank you for helping us build a brighter future! 

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

GRACE (Green Bay Area Catholic Education) is pleased to announce the appointment of Nate Tackaberry as the new Executive Director of Advancement, starting October 7, 2024. Nate brings over 15 years of experience in leadership, development, and relationship cultivation, including a successful career in non-profit fundraising and marketing. In his new role, Mr. Tackaberry will lead advancement efforts for GRACE, with a focus on strengthening partnerships, enhancing donor engagement, and driving long-term financial sustainability for the system and its nine Catholic schools focusing on our highest priorities and needs.

Most recently, Mr. Tackaberry served as Regional Philanthropy Officer for the American Red Cross. His extensive experience also includes five years at St. Norbert College as Development Officer. Nate’s leadership extends beyond fundraising; he has demonstrated a commitment to the GRACE community through roles such as serving on the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School Advisory Council. His combination of passion for Catholic education, professional experience, and dedication to mission-driven work will be invaluable in his new role at GRACE. 

In addition to his development expertise, Mr. Tackaberry holds an MBA from the Schneider School of Business and Economics at St. Norbert College, which he completed in May of 2024. He is also a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish. Nate and his wife, Katy, have two children who attend GRACE schools, underscoring his deep commitment to the GRACE mission. 

“We are excited to welcome Nate to our leadership team,” said Kim Desotell, President of GRACE. “His extensive experience in development, leadership, and building community partnerships will be a tremendous asset to our mission at GRACE. With his passion and expertise, I am confident that Nate will help us reach new milestones and expand opportunities for those we are privileged to serve.”

“I’m elated to be joining GRACE in this role,” said Mr. Tackaberry. “Not only due to the privilege of working with this remarkable team, but also the blessing to support such a meaningful and important organization. I very much look forward to our work ahead, along with the opportunity to meet and converse with many GRACE stakeholders in the near future.” 

In his new capacity, Mr. Tackaberry will be responsible for leading strategic fundraising initiatives, building key donor relationships, and supporting the long-term vision of GRACE as a leading system of Catholic education in the state of Wisconsin. The timing of this aligns with the upcoming retirement of our longstanding GRACE Director of Development, Lisa Niemuth, who will be stepping into planned retirement on January 3, 2025. 

Please join us in welcoming Nate Tackaberry to GRACE as we look forward to his leadership in advancing our mission of providing high-quality and faith-filled education to our students and families. 

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

By Matt Riebe, Director of Athletics and Activities, GRACE

I am honored to have been welcomed into the GRACE community since I started in my role in November 2023. This brand-new position to spearhead system-wide athletics and activities resulted from efforts involving key focus areas of the GRACE Strategic Plan. My role at GRACE is focused on helping communication and collaboration between GRACE Schools and to the greater community. GRACE is blessed with so many amazing individuals who give their time and talents to creating positive learning experiences to help our students grow and enjoy being a part of something bigger than themselves. To start, I have focused on identifying needs and supporting athletics programs, but my aim is to work on growing GRACE school activities in the near future.

My first weeks in my role revolved around ingraining myself at each GRACE school community. I met with the principals and athletic directors at each school to gather perspective on what extracurricular opportunities are currently available, common challenges faced by each school, and ideas to help build system-wide athletics at GRACE. My work has focused on creating avenues of communication for site athletic directors, booster clubs, and parish staff to work together and share knowledge between other GRACE schools and communicate effectively. 

The end goal is to find a way to communicate effectively and to cultivate environments that lead to positive experiences for students. We are working to increase participation in athletics at each school and building bridges across the system to open opportunities to play as many sports that may not be available at every school. We want to showcase the great things our schools are doing for students.

The connection with our CatholicLink partners, St. Norbert College and Notre Dame Academy, has opened up tremendous experiences for our students. We are creating amazing experiences for our students to interact and learn from high school and college student-athletes. Through this partnership, all GRACE students can attend St. Norbert College and Notre Dame Academy athletics events for free! Student-athletes from both schools are eager to give back and we are opening up opportunities for some great experiences for GRACE students.

I am very excited for the future of athletics and activities and I hope you join in on the fun!

Accomplishments

• Met with administrators at every level of athletics at each GRACE School to better understand the system, share knowledge, and provide support & guidance
• Hosted 7th and 8th grade basketball and track and field championships at St. Norbert College
• Formed a booster club at Chesterton Academy to help guide growing athletics programs and engage the school community
• Created a communication hub for all athletics seasons on gracesystem.org
• Established partnerships with area organization to supplement referee pools for games
• Met with CatholicLink partners to set up numerous collaborations such as volunteer programs, event passes to SNC/NDA games, and facility rentals
• Held an archery clinic for middle and high school students at St. John the Baptist, which included students from every GRACE school
• Guided the Holy Family Booster Club in filling their athletic director role and served as their interim athletic director to support the leadership transition

Future goals

• Growth of activity offerings and create collaborations between schools
• Introducing the GRACE Athletics Handbook to better communicate common policies and showcase opportunities for students in all sports
• Fostering athletics participation and forming independent teams at St. John Paul II and St. Thomas More
• Seek out opportunities to play other Catholic schools in our diocese

At Chesterton Academy, our Catholic Classical high school, athletics and activities have started to grow with boys and girls basketball and golf teams that finished their second seasons, as well as a chess team that finished in the top ten in the state this spring. We will be starting cross country and track & field programs starting next year, guided by the newly-created booster club to help build the necessary structure to support students and create strong high school programs.

This is an excerpt from the Spring 2024 GRACE Newsletter. Check out the whole newsletter by clicking the button below!

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.