At JPII, the formation of saints and scholars extends far beyond the classroom. Through the school’s intentional seven-year immersion in the Charisms of JPII, students are invited to encounter Christ more deeply and to encounter the gifts of the Holy Spirit that shape authentic Christian discipleship. 

This year, the JPII community focused on the charism of LOVE, inspired by the teachings of Saint John Paul II and rooted in his Theology of the Body. At the center of this year’s theme was the understanding that love is grounded in the Trinity’s self-gift. True love opposes “use” and instead recognizes the dignity of every person, building the Kingdom of God through communion, sacrifice, and authentic care for others.

Throughout the year, students encountered this call to love through a variety of experiences designed to form both hearts and minds.

School assemblies featured reflections from faculty members Josh Mauthe, Scott Parrelli, and Thomas Koen, who challenged students to consider how love calls each person toward holiness and self-gift. Students were also deeply moved by a visit from Sister Mary Rebecca of the Dominican Order, who shared her vocation story and reflected on falling in love with God, responding to His call, and persevering through obstacles with faith and joy. Her witness, accompanied by music on guitar, offered students a powerful example of sacrificial and joyful love.

Students also explored the life of this year’s featured saint, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, during advisory gallery walks. Through his heroic witness of sacrificial love, especially in giving his life for another prisoner at Auschwitz, students saw a vivid example of Christ-like charity lived to its fullest.

The charism of love was also reflected in the daily culture of the school community. During house meetings, high school students participated in an activity where they wrote affirmations and compliments on one another’s backs, intentionally encouraging one another and recognizing the goodness in their peers. The simple but meaningful exercise reinforced the importance of building a culture rooted in dignity, kindness, and authentic friendship.

This year’s Caldwell in Color 5K run further embodied the theme of love through service and community. Dedicated to loving others as Christ calls His people to love, the event benefited The Jason Foundation and was led by students for the first time in school history. The event demonstrated how love moves beyond words into action, inspiring students to serve and uplift others in tangible ways.

As the school year comes to a close, JPII is already preparing for next year’s charism focus: MERCY. Students were introduced to the upcoming theme this spring and began brainstorming advisory service projects that they will carry out together next year, continuing the school’s mission of intentional virtue formation through action and community engagement.

The impact of the Cor Ad Cor initiative continues to grow beyond campus as well. This year, JPII’s Charism program was featured in NCEA’s Momentum magazine, highlighting the school’s distinctive approach to forming students spiritually, intellectually, and personally through the intentional study and practice of virtue through Charisms inspired by our namesake.

To learn more about the Cor Ad Cor program and the mission of JPII, visit Cor Ad Cor: The JPII Way webpage.

Click here to read the article in Momentum magazine. 

“Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8).