Marian A N e wsl e tter
f or
Matters
M a ria n C ath oli c A lu mni , P a rents a nd F riend s ... B ecause M a ria n C ath oli c R ea lly D oe s M atte r SUMMER 2015
Sister Judine Hilbing prepares for life after Marian Catholic
Throughout life, I have always
enjoyed the feeling of freedom that comes from living along a working waterway. Barges trudging up the Mississippi, ocean vessels entering the International Port, and steamboats meandering along the Illinois River linger in my mind as nostalgic memories of movement and motion. The passage along these waterways is facilitated by the proper construction of bridges, the symbolism of which is very rich for me. Whether a suspension, lift, or drawbridge, each is a feat of engineering and often a work of art. The purpose of the bridge, however, is to serve, providing safe passage along the waters below and the roadways above. I have come to think of my time at Marian Catholic High School as one of serving on the bridge. I began my tenure as President at a time of great jubilation as we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of academic excellence and looked to the next 50 years with hopeful expectation. The creation of our most recent strategic plan, 2020 Vision, compelled us to search out new strategies and formulate new objectives for our Next Generation Learners. Finally, the formation of a strong structure of Board Governance prepared for a new era in which local leadership might one day
be entrusted completely to the care of lay administrators, deeply committed to the Dominican charism. Marian Catholic has crossed, and will continue to traverse, the many bridges that connect its rich history to its future vitality. As an individual, I too, navigate the many bridges of life. At 72 years of age and with 52 years of continuous service in the field of education, I am beginning to imagine a bridge that will provide passage to a new phase of life’s journey. As much as I have cherished my full-time career as an educator,
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Committee of the Board of Directors as they work to identify outstanding candidates who might serve as the next President of Marian Catholic High School, whose term will begin on July 1, 2016. I look forward to enjoying my final year as President in this outstanding institution. It has been my deep honor and pleasure to serve in the capacity of what I now fondly refer to as bridge administration. I am filled with active hope for the future and pray for all that is held gently in the hands of our Provident God. We are travelers
WE ARE TRAVELERS ALONG THE BRIDGES OF LIFE THAT CONNECT THE PAST, PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF MARIAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. WE MARVEL AT THE WONDEROUS WAYS IN WHICH OUR GRACIOUS GOD HAS BLESSED OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.”
I have discerned that now is the appropriate time to pursue a part-time position. My appreciation for life and all that it offers, beckons me at this stage of life, to attend to activities for which I have not had time in recent years. Part-time employment will allow for greater flexibility in creating a space for the Prayer, Study, Community, and Preaching that we claim so proudly as our Dominican Pillars. I have made my intentions known to the Board of Directors and the Member Board. I am fully committed to collaborating with the members of the President
along the bridges of life that connect the past, the present, and the future success of Marian Catholic High School. We marvel at the wondrous ways in which our Gracious God has blessed our school community. My own heart is filled with gratitude for the goodness of God, the support of each of you, and the opportunity to serve in the Office of President at Marian Catholic. It has been a rich personal experience and an opportunity to grow professionally in my capacity as servant leader. For this opportunity, I am and will be forever grateful.