On Thursday evening of homecoming week, the community gathered for A Night to Remember, hosted by the Advancement Office under the leadership of Director of Advancement Michelle Barber. The program featured a panel of former heads of school—Hans Broekman, Faustin Weber, and Karen Phillips—alongside former Board of Trustees President Russell Marino and current President Dr. Erick Chittle.

What followed was a rare and meaningful stroll down memory lane. Panelists reflected on pivotal moments that shaped the school’s identity, culture, and mission. Karen Phillips shared, “Reunion celebrations fill us with a multitude of exuberant emotions and nostalgic reflections… Not only do we remember the joyful and sometimes challenging experiences that served as the base for creating community among us, but we also get to view the fruits of the guidance and inspiration that the JPII education produced. ‘A great education lasts forever’ is certainly borne out in the achievements of our former students… Reunion events take us back to recall fond memories and pivotal experiences, while propelling us forward as we anticipate the beautiful ways that Pope Saint John Paul II’s challenge to ‘be not afraid’ will continue to direct us into the future.”

Stories shared during the panel highlighted defining chapters in the school’s history:

• The Carell family’s meeting with Pope John Paul II in Rome, which inspired the founding gift that launched JPII.
• The creation of the Hand In Hand program, championed by Bill and Molly Gavigan, now a hallmark of our school’s identity.
• The generosity of Jim Carell, which transformed the athletic complex into a place of excellence for thousands of Knights.
• The foundational faculty—Betty Mayberry, Jennifer Dye, Richard Stephenson, among others—whose academic vision remains woven into today’s curriculum.

Michelle Barber noted, “Whenever an institution plans a move forward, it must first look back at its beginnings to ensure the threads of founding principles are being woven into the fabric of a new tapestry… It’s our responsibility to maintain what the JPII experience meant to our founders and means to our alumni while also evolving to serve current and future students.”

Looking Ahead With Hope
President Erick Chittle closed the program with the presentation of the future campus renderings. The architectural firm, Anecdote, paid special attention to honoring the original design, including the symbolic courtyard modeled after Bernini’s Plaza. In the new plans, this courtyard will be extended, completing an architectural intention that dates back to the founding vision.

This moment, in many ways, echoed the late 1990s, when JPII existed only as an idea and families and benefactors stepped forward to build a school they themselves would never use, simply because they believed future generations needed it.

“The coming together of our community as we share the new master plan is reminiscent of those early days,” Barber reflected. “We thank all those who are joining us on this journey and pray for all those who are good to JPII in His name.”