Dear Elyria Catholic Community,

Like so many of you, I was horrified, enraged, and deeply saddened by the heinous murder of George Floyd. I wondered how yet another Black person could be killed mercilessly by another human being sworn to protect and serve. And like so many of you, I know I have to do more. We have to do more; we have to do better. I am humbled by my role as leader of Elyria Catholic High School and accept the responsibility entrusted to staff members and me to help form the teens that enter our building as freshmen and leave our beloved school as young adults.

I wonder how in the year 2020, when we should have progressed so far, we still have so far to go. I think back to my second grade year in a local Catholic grade school when my best friend, the only Black girl in my class, was also the only girl not invited to a classmate’s birthday party. Even at a young age, I knew injustice when I saw it. I approached my parents and my school principal, who was moved to right the injustice. I still remember the joy I felt when my best friend walked into the party and smiled at me.

I want our students to not only recognize the injustices they see in our world but also act constructively to right them. It fills me with pride when our students embrace the rights afforded to them by the laws of our great country. I have listened to their chants as they marched for life through the streets of Washington DC to the Supreme Court Building to champion an end to abortion. I have prayed with and for them as they gathered on the plaza in prayer to end the violence of school shootings. We encourage our students to speak out and act peacefully to end injustice.

We also know it is imperative to educate our students and see all facets of modern-day issues. After sophomores read a novel that addressed systemic racism and police brutality, we invited an Elyria Police officer to meet with classes to discuss the difficulty of protecting and serving his community. Our students were filled with respect and admiration for those sworn to accept these responsibilities and take their lives into their hands as they go out into a challenging and difficult world each and every day. 

Our students experience so many moments of learning throughout their high school journey. And yet nothing fills me with more pride than our graduates sharing that they understand the lesson that we wanted for them all along - that we want them to be good people, a Christian people. 

It is this lesson that our graduates take with them when they leave our halls. It is this lesson that will allow them to continue to do the work that is yet to be done. The work that will allow them to do more, that will allow them to do better. 

It is a work that transcends race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and political affiliation. It is work that we are inspired to do by the greatest man that ever walked the face of the Earth, the same one who instructed us to love our neighbor as ourselves. We do the work of our Loving Savior, who uses our eyes to look with compassion upon the world. 

At Elyria Catholic High School, we are committed to actively encouraging young men and women to use their God-given gifts to fulfill their potential and experience the joy resulting in fighting injustice. Know that we are determined to do better in championing racial equality in our school and in our community. Please continue to pray for us as we carry on this critical work.

In Christ’s service,  

Suzanne Lester