Winter 2008 - Sacred Heart Schools

Seniors Jade Fields, Shannon Hamilton, and
Molly Dickinson in conversation with Mr.
Everitt.
the Sacred Heart, as an instructor
and coordinator of Service Learning.
He loved his time at Duchesne and
attributes his commitment and passion
for a Sacred Heart education to his
experience there, and in particular was
influenced by an RCSJ by the name of
Sister Sharon Karam who served as a
mentor to him. Before that he worked
as a youth minister and taught religion
to middle school students at St. Cecelia’s
Church, also in Houston. He also
worked briefly in a private counseling
practice outside of the church after
he finished his Masters degree. That
experience was a strong indicator for
him that he was best suited for a faithbased
environment.
James grew up in Houston, Texas,
the youngest of three children. He
was raised Catholic and was most
strongly influenced by his mother,
whose own life was devoted to serving
others, particularly at the Catholic
Worker House in Houston, which
provided hospitality and shelter for
poor immigrants and refugees from El
Salvador & Central America. James
spent much of his childhood serving
with his mother at the Catholic Worker
House and St. Vincent de Paul which
gave him first-hand experience about
social justice related to the poor.
James always knew from a young age
that he wanted to be a teacher and for
him, in particular, Catholic education is
his passion. According to James, “I value
Catholic education because it challenges
students to think about themselves in
relationship to others and to a God
who loves each person deeply. Catholic
“As a leader, James’
creative vision for
the future holds great
promise for Sacred
Heart.”
education calls forth in students the very
best in what it means to be human.”
Virginia Boesen, religious studies
teacher and Retreat Coordinator at
SHP, knew James when he first started
working with youth in Houston over
fifteen years ago. They first met working
at a summer retreat for high school
students. They became friends and have
had the pleasure of working together
ever since, in Houston and now at
Sacred Heart. It was through Virginia
that James heard about a position at
Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton over
six years ago.She remembers that his
gifts for working with youth were as
remarkable then as they are now and
that he has always been a man of great
faith and integrity, not to mention
he has a great sense of humor. James
dressed in a variety of costumes for
school events still comes to her mind-
Henry VIII complete with tights is one
of her personal favorites.
What James hopes to accomplish
in his role as Principal is that when
students leave school they know that
God loves them. He also hopes that
they will have a new respect for what
it means to be Catholic and to think
critically about how the church can be a
part of their adult lives. Each day James
reminds himself to try and see God in
each one of his students.
James earned his BA in Theology from Saint
Mary’s University and his MEd in Educational
Psychology from the University of Houston.
He is currently pursuing his doctorate in
Educational Leadersip at the University of
San Francisco (USF). The date he is looking
forward to most is the completion of this
program in May 2009.
(Continued from pg. 17)
so that the customers can see what
the little seedling they take home will
look like as a mature plant. The path
leads you through a Redwood grove
with a natural pond, past wild rose
bushes, and native Aspen, Oak, and
Buckeye trees. Pass a field of springflowering
wildflowers where the scent
of sage fills the air, and a year-round
stream babbles in the distance and
the only other sound is from acorns
falling from trees. Kathy likes to feel
enveloped by nature and enjoy her
surroundings, and it seems she found
the perfect place for her.
She remembers her time at Sacred
Heart fondly, especially the beauty of
the campus. She found “beauty of the
campus to be inspiring and enjoyed
the oak trees and being outside with
the birds.” She describes Sacred Heart
as a “cocoon of nature in the middle
of civilization” and her life out in the
country today aptly reflects that same
idea.
Her ties to the campus are still
strong. Kathy is quick to point out
the picture of Mater behind the
desk in the gift shop, she has regular
visits from Sister Nancy Lassotovitch
(SHP ’45, Lone Mountain ’49, and
former SHP teacher), and she has
also donated plants to the nuns at
Oakwood. It is apparent that the
Sacred Heart culture and the teachings
of Mater have made an impact in her
life.
Metal work and garden art, much
of which Kathy has made herself,
appear throughout the grounds.
Big signs with quotes hint at her
personality. A large sign near the
gift shop displays a Hindu poem by
Rabindranath Tagore. It reads: “I slept
and dreamed that life was joy. I awoke
and saw that life was duty. I acted
and behold: duty was joy.”
Wi n t e r 2 0 0 8 H e a r t o f t h e M a t t e r 19