Casting Off Baskets
Hello CAFM community, I wanted to take a few moments to introduce myself. I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the founding headmaster of Chesterton Academy of The Florida Martyrs. When my wife Raquel first introduced me to the Chesterton Academy model, I was immediately intrigued. The more I looked into it, the more I wanted to be part of this new phenomenon.
I call it new, despite the fact that the curriculum is based on old—ancient even—texts, because I believe today we are seeing a recognition that many “modern problems” are perhaps not best solved by modern solutions. In observing a concerning rise of agnosticism around him, our namesake, G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The world is still asking the questions that were asked by Job.” One of the most interesting things about this nearly century-old quote is that he was talking about the failings of “modern doubt” to provide anything except superficial answers to those ancient questions. Today, all around us, we see the fruit of the failure of modern questions to provide satisfactory answers. Only Christ provides adequate answers, and I believe that if we learn how to properly see the world, we will start seeing, and growing, the good fruits He promised us.
That is why I’m so excited to be part of the CAFM team. It’s no secret that the Catholic Church’s influence in today’s world has been steadily declining. I believe that is because, instead of setting a standard to which the world can aspire regarding behavior, education, morality, and belief, the Church has in many ways been following the lead of the secular world. But the world doesn’t need another religious organization telling it what it already believes, it needs the Church to be a beacon of Truth in a storm of liars. To again quote our namesake, “The one thing that is never taught by any chance in the atmosphere of public schools is…that there is a whole truth of things, and that in knowing it and speaking it we are happy.” We have essentially been placing our light under a bushel. My goal, with Chesterton Academy, is to cast off the basket from our candle. In short, I want to help build saints.
Before I sign off, I would like to thank all those who have been supportive of our efforts thus far. Many people have reached out asking how they can help. I am supremely grateful for everyone who has volunteered to assist with this herculean effort; this is certainly not something I can accomplish without you all.
In the coming weeks, I will be providing updates on what we are working on and what we still have left to do. Please stay tuned to our blog and newsletter for more information, and I invite you to reach out to me directly at [email protected] with any questions or concerns, or if you feel called to share your time, talents, or treasure.
