By Linda Kaiser
In 2021, shortly after I retired as Director of Catholic Education Ministries, I received an invitation to breakfast from a former principal, Sue Scipioni. During that first meal together, Sue shared that she had also been meeting regularly with Kathy Cziok and asked if Kathy could join us the next time. Not long after her own retirement as principal, Christine Friederichs joined our table as well.
Those breakfasts quickly became something special. We gathered not simply to eat, but to reconnect. We shared stories from our years in Catholic education, laughed about old memories and enjoyed the kind of easy conversation that comes from having walked the same path for many years. There was a comfort in those mornings that only former principals could understand.
We didn’t realize at the time how important those gatherings would become.
Christine was diagnosed with a severe form of cancer, and in July of 2024, we lost her. Sue had been struggling with her health for quite some time, and in December of 2024, her heart gave out. Within months, two seats at our breakfast table were empty.
At one of our last breakfasts together, Kathy looked at me and said, “Linda, who can we get to join us?”
It was a simple question, but it carried weight. Kathy was determined that the connection we shared should not fade away. Retired principals still needed each other. The bond formed through years of serving Catholic schools did not end with retirement.
At the same time, I found myself attending more funerals for former principals than I cared to. It felt like we were gathering only to say goodbye. That didn’t seem right. These were people who had given so much of their lives to Catholic education. Surely, we could gather to celebrate life, friendship and shared history instead.
So I decided it was time to plan a day for the living.
I did not have contact information for everyone, but thankfully, Google is quite helpful. Slowly, the invitations went out to retired principals who had dedicated many years to Catholic education. My apologies to those I was unable to reach.
With this in mind, 16 retired Catholic school leaders gathered at BoHo Café in Holdingford on May 19 for a joyful reunion luncheon. We honored those who had gone before us, those unable to attend and each of us for the roles we played in leading Catholic schools. Together, the educators present represented a remarkable 630 years of dedication to Catholic education!
There is something that has always been said about Catholic schools: they are a family.
This gathering of retired principals proved that statement to be true. Years may pass, schools may change and careers may end, but the relationships remain. The shared experiences, challenges, joys and mission create a lifelong connection.
What began as a few friends meeting for breakfast grew into something larger — a reunion of people who understood one another in a way few others could. We did not gather out of obligation. We gathered out of friendship, respect and love for the vocation we shared.
We came together not to mourn those we had lost, but to honor them by continuing the connection they valued so deeply.
In the end, this get-together was more than a simple meeting of retired principals. It was a reminder that once you are part of the Catholic school family, you are always part of that family.
Very Special article 💖