“The Hunk” Inspires a Movement in a Most Marianist Way
Chris “The Hunk” Armitage attends Marianist-sponsored St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School in St. Louis, MO. That may not seem like an extraordinary feat in itself, but it required resolve and the Marianist spirit of adaptability to achieve.
What many take for granted — simply living and learning — was a hard-fought journey for Chris. While still in the womb, it was detected that he had underdeveloped lungs, heart, and brain conditions. Steadfast in their Catholic faith, his parents, LeeAnn and Tony Armitage, refused to consider suggestions of terminating the pregnancy.
Chris was born with Down syndrome. At five weeks, he had shunt surgery to drain fluid from his brain. At five months, he had a complex heart surgery. The first four years of his life were solely about survival. Chris proved to be a warrior, overcoming the odds, and was soon ready for school – but was school ready for him?
“I just assumed Chris could go to our parish grade school with his older sister. I wanted my child in his community and to be loved for who he is,” recalled LeeAnn. However, the small suburban Catholic school, with around 375 students from PK to 8th grade, simply lacked the resources at the time to accommodate Chris in the classroom beyond preschool. And so, he was homeschooled. That is, until the community got wind of it, and “the Holy Spirit took over” according to his parents.
The FIRE Foundation in Kansas City arranged for the Armitages, parish leadership, and a community support network to visit one of its schools, which incorporated a successful model for inclusive education.
Their parish pastor concluded, “It was better to try and fail, than to not try at all.” With that blessing, the Armitage family founded the non-profit One Classroom, which provides a pathway for children with intellectual and developmental delays to attain a Catholic education. Tony’s boss, St. Louis philanthropist and Chaminade College Preparatory alumnus Fred Brown, became One Classroom’s first board member and provided the financial backing to get the ball rolling.
After many years of raising funds for paraprofessionals, exploring Catholic resources, and offering interactive training sessions, One Classroom currently works with more than 110 students at 28 partner schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, including the Marianist parish of Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School. After all, part of the Marianist Charism is “fostering a spirit of inclusion and adaptation.”
“Our school has always been about raising each other up. All of us face challenges of some type, and Chris is no different. It’s about forming young men with a heart for others and bringing Christ into the lives of all young people,” explained St. Mary’s President Mike England.
Chris, now in his sophomore year, is learning at his own pace but has a peer mentor, a lunch group, and is surrounded by other students in general education classrooms – which provides valuable life lessons for all. “Chris’s presence has been a blessing to our community, teaching our young men that it’s not just about achievement, it’s about empathy,” said England.
LeeAnn added, “Chris is so excited for school each day that he stands by the door with his backpack a half hour before we need to leave. We’ve seen major changes in his social skills, spiritual development, and ability to learn.”
“We were out to dinner recently, and this young man started yelling, ‘Chris! Chris!’ He ran over and gave Chris a fist pump, then started talking to him. Turns out, he is one of Chris’s classmates at St. Mary’s,” said Tony. “There is genuine love from his peers.”
It’s a similar situation for Elizabeth Barnes at Our Lady of the Pillar – you can witness the delight captured in the smiles of her and her classmates in the pictures below.
Her parents, Bill and Darby, are parishioners of Our Lady of the Pillar and also serve on the board of directors for One Classroom. In fact, a large majority of the board has a Marianist connection, having either attended St. John Vianney High School, Chaminade College Preparatory, or having a child who attends a Marianist-sponsored school.
“As Marianists, our focus is education, not just for job skills but life skills, educating the whole person. The core characteristics of a Marianist education include family spirit – fostering a community where each person is accepted with love and respect, promoting a spirit of collaboration and compassion. The way Chris and his family pioneered for adaptation and change resonates, and to see our alums step in to support and serve is a testament that a Marianist education truly extends beyond the classroom,” said Assistant for Education Bro. Jesse O’Neill of The Marianist Province of the United States.
One Classroom offers resources for families, clergy, and educators and is happy to consult with anyone interested in working toward similar initiatives in their community. Visit their website to learn more.
Click here to read more from Mike England on how the experience has opened his eyes and his heart.
In The News
Nursing Students Credit Marianist Mission for Medical Advantage
St. Mary’s University marked a milestone as it welcomed 33 students into its new nursing program. It’s a four-year curriculum to earn a Bachelor’s of Nursing degree.
The program’s founding director, Donna Badowski, states that the program focuses on implementing the school’s Marianist ideals. “We empower our students to become leaders who have a strong foundation in faith,” said Badowski.
Paige Severson, the first student to officially enter the program, said she chose St. Mary’s for its holistic approach. “Part of the Marianist Mission is that they prepare us for diverse environments,” said Severson. “They have us take philosophy, theology, and a language course because you’re not just healing the body. You’re also healing the minds and spirits of people, because they’re not just patients – they’re humans.”
The program garnered news coverage in San Antonio. Click here to view the story.
UD Researchers Awarded Grant to Explore Lung Cancer
The National Institutes of Health awarded nearly half a million dollars to two University of Dayton (UD) researchers who are exploring strategies for the detection and potential treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
The project, led by Shawn Swavey, professor of chemistry, and Kristen Krupa, chair of UD’s department of chemical and materials engineering, will focus on developing fluorescent imaging tools to better understand how stress inside cancer cells can be used to detect and potentially destroy tumors.
The duo will test a family of compounds that can be adapted to act as real-time sensors of cancer cell stress, carrying chemotherapy drugs directly to tumor cells and serving as light-activated agents that trigger cancer cell death.
The grant will include four undergraduate students per year who will assist with the creation of these probes, as well as test their effectiveness in lung cancer cells. “Our goal is not only to advance science but also to train the next generation of researchers who will continue this important work,” said Krupa.
Marianist Ministries in Action
October 12, the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, marked the 41st annual World Day of Marianist Prayer. Marianists worldwide offered prayers of gratitude to Mary for her constant presence and asked that she may rekindle the hope of new vocations in the Marianist Family. Join us as we ask the Lord to hear our prayers.
Every year, a Marian Shrine with a Marianist presence is chosen for a special celebration. This year, Marianists gathered spiritually in prayer at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where Mary is honored as the “Salus Populi Romani.” The World Day of Marianist Prayer originated in the 1970s when Lay Marianists in St. Louis, MO, began gathering in prayer on the Sunday nearest the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar. In 1981, Fr. Quentin Hakenewerth expanded the annual gathering to the worldwide Marianist Family. Since then, a specific Marian shrine has been designated each year to give focus to the prayer intentions.
Marianist Moments
Marianist Schools Unite
They compete on the courts and on the fields, but in faith and spirit, they are united. Every year, faculty and staff at the three Marianist-sponsored high schools in St. Louis, MO, put aside any sports or enrollment rivalries and come together to pray.
Chaminade College Preparatory, St. John Vianney High School, and St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School take turns hosting the collaboration, with the latter hosting this year. Povincial Fr. Oscar Vasquez celebrated the Mass, reminding everyone of the mission that inspires us all and recognizing Mary as a source of inspiration.
United in the Marianist Charism and dedication to upholding the characteristics of Marianist education, the annual Mass also provides an opportunity for collaboration among educators. Seen in the picture with Fr. Oscar Vasquez and Fr. Sean Downing, from left to right, are the presidents of all three schools: Ian Mulligan of Vianney, Todd Guidry of Chaminade, and Mike England of St. Mary’s.
Pray With Us
Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.
◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family
◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018
Good to Know
L-R: Bro. Stan Zubek, Bro. Esteban Reyes, Bro. Richard Schrader
Marianists Help with Monarch Migration
At the Marianist Family Retreat Center (MFRC) in Cape May, NJ, they practice the belief that caring for the environment is part of the Marianist Mission. Brothers Stan Zubek, Richard Schrader, and Esteban Reyes initiated a special project to support the remarkable migration of monarch butterflies.
The brothers joined the University of Kansas’ Monarch Tagging Program, which helps monitor the long journey of monarchs to Mexico—gathering vital data about their migratory routes, survival, and habitat needs. Earlier this year, they tagged 25 butterflies at MFRC to track their movements.
They planted flowers that the winged wonders love—from vibrant Mexican sunflower, to fragrant milkweed, and yellow cosmos. Curious about their efforts? Click here for their Friendly Garden YouTube channel and subscribe.
Recycling Efforts Awarded Support
The University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute is working to improve campus waste and recycling operations through student-led educational initiatives. It was awarded a $70,000 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to help in these efforts.
The funding will help provide infrastructure and equipment to meet institutional goals of reducing campus waste by standardizing trash and recycling bins across UD, along with detailed signage to help users properly separate items. Click here to read the full story.
JOIN US!
Click here to discover job opportunities within our Marianist Ministries across the United States.
New listings include:
Marianist Province of the United States (MO) – Technology, Digital Asset, and Data Specialist
Chaminade Julienne High School (OH) – President
University of Dayton (OH) – Asst. Director of Marianist Strategies
Archbishop Moeller High School (OH) – Campus Minister
Check Out More Marianist News
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All Things Marian podcast from the International Marian Research Institute
Justice Jottings from the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
AMU Newsletter from the Association of Marianist Universities
Region Update #97 from the Marianist Region of India
FatherSide Chats is a web video series featuring Fr. Gene Contadino. Discover new episodes every Tuesday about a variety of topics. Click the graphic to view episodes. Click here to read more.
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