On February 5th, Senator Jimmy Dillon in Harrisburg honored Sister Mildred Chesnavage, the principal of Our Lady of Calvary, with a Senate Citation of Recognition for her 50 years of service to Catholic education at Our Lady of Calvary. She arrived there in 1987, bringing her heart, kindness, and good will to the halls of OLC. In a declaration of gratitude and honor for her hard work, Senator Jimmy Dillon stated, "When it comes to helping students to form strong foundations of values, self-esteem, self-confidence, and leadership skills, Sister Mildred has the heart for it."
Read more about Sister Mildred's experience of 50 years at Our Lady of Calvary and 60 years total within Catholic Education.
"I am the oldest of 12 children (6 boys/6 girls) from Baltimore, MD who attended Sacred Heart of Mary School, and after graduating from 8th grade and impressed by the Sisters of the Holy Family who taught me, I entered their Aspirancy Program while attending Nazareth Academy High School. In my junior year, I advanced to the Postulancy program, and after graduating, I became a novice and was selected to spend my two-year novitiate in Albano, Italy. Those two years had a profound impact on my young life as during that time, Vatican II was convened by Pope John XXIII. I was able to hear visiting Bishops celebrate Masses at our convent and speak of the wonderful changes that were to take place in the Church. As novices, we were also frequent visitors to the many religious shrines in Rome and the Italian peninsula since we were told we probably would not be returning. I soaked in as much as I could, knowing I was preparing for the teaching profession, and to this day, I am still able to teach of my experiences and show the numerous souvenirs of sanctity I treasure! Those two years abroad had a profound and memorable impact on my teaching and leadership. Even as principal & DRE, I teach 8th-grade Religion classes daily and weekly to my PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) students.
"Regarding challenges in Catholic Education, over the years, I just go with the flow. Life happens, and one of my faithful quotes on my bedroom mirror is, "Do not worry about tomorrow. God is there already!" I have been concerned about social media (cell phones handed in if brought to school and returned at the end of the day, a hard and fast rule from the jump and understood - no kickback.) I was encouraged by the meeting of CEOs, whose websites lure youth, at a recent Congressional hearing with numerous parents attending and showing pictures of their children who were victims of the misbehavior overlooked and hopefully soon addressed, as it is too little too late.
"Catholic education is valued because we hold on to our faith as we teach it and live it! The number of Sisters has decreased over the years, and I am proud of our lay faculty, many of whom were taught by Sisters, who continue the mission of Catholic Education. It is a worthwhile and necessary legacy to uphold the teachings of the Gospel and pass them on convincingly to future generations. This is what sets us apart and above secular education. What we teach affects eternity. In the words of Sam Levinson: "Each newborn child arrives on earth with a message to deliver to humankind. Clenched in their little fist is some particle of yet unrevealed truth, some missing clue, which may solve the enigma of our destiny. They must be treated as Top Sacred."
