President’s Message: Making Space for Hope

SPRING 2026 CCS NEWSLETTER

In these 40 days of Lent, we are invited to slow down, pray more deeply, examine our hearts, and prepare, together, for the joy of Easter. 

This year, Pope Leo XIV’s Lenten message offers a particularly meaningful invitation for our school communities. In calling us to “disarm our language” and to cultivate kindness and respect in our families, workplaces, communities, and even in public discourse, he reminds us that the Lenten journey is not only about what we give up, but about the kind of people we are becoming. He also points us back to the heart of Lent: placing the mystery of God at the center of our lives, so that we may be renewed in faith and not consumed by the anxieties and distractions around us.

At Catholic Community Schools, this call is deeply embedded in the daily life of our schools. We see it in the way students are taught to speak to one another with respect, in the way teachers and staff model patience and compassion, in the way we work through conflict, and in the way our school communities seek to be places of welcome, encouragement, and peace. Lent helps us renew these habits with greater intention through prayer, service, reconciliation, generosity, and daily efforts to grow in love of God and neighbor.

I am also grateful for the many ways our school communities continue to reflect the mission and spirit of Catholic education. Catholic Schools Week gave us a joyful opportunity to celebrate that together, and to recognize the faith, care, and commitment that are present in our classrooms and school life every day.

This time of year, we are especially proud to celebrate our students as they represent our schools in state-level competitions across athletics and activities. This year, our students competed at the state level in Robotics, Dance, and Hockey—an exciting reflection of the many gifts present in our school communities. Their accomplishments reflect talent, discipline, and perseverance, and they represent CCS with excellence and character. We are grateful, too, for the teachers, coaches, moderators, and staff members whose guidance and encouragement help cultivate these gifts and support students in reaching these moments.

One story that especially reflects the richness of our CCS community is the feature on Sarah Kremer—teacher, composer, and performer—whose debut symphony with the Buffalo Community Orchestra is an extraordinary accomplishment. We are grateful for educators like Sarah who not only teach with talent and dedication, but also model for our students what it means to live a life of creativity, discipline, and vocation. Her work is a beautiful example of how the arts can inspire and elevate our whole community.

I also want to offer a special word of gratitude and recognition for two beloved principals who are preparing for retirement: Kathy Crispo at Cathedral and Sheri Rutar at St. Katharine Drexel.

Kathy first began serving Cathedral students and families as an educator in 1992. Over the years, she has shared her gifts in multiple leadership roles, including as principal of St. Francis Xavier School and, since 2020, as principal of Cathedral. Kathy’s leadership has been marked by deep commitment, steady care for school communities, and a lasting dedication to Catholic education.

Sheri came to St. Katharine Drexel in 2023 following 33 years of service in the St. Cloud school district. She has been a tremendously gifted and steadying presence at SKD, bringing wisdom, warmth, and experienced leadership to the school community. Sheri’s care for students, partnership with families, and thoughtful leadership have been a true blessing to SKD and to all of us in CCS.

We give thanks for both Kathy and Sheri—for their faithful leadership, their love for students and families, and the many ways they have strengthened the schools they have served. Their work has made a real and lasting difference, and we are deeply grateful.

As we continue through this Lenten season, I ask your prayers for our students, staff, and families, and for Kathy and Sheri as they prepare for this next chapter. I also thank you—our families—for choosing Catholic Community Schools, and for your partnership, prayers, and support. It is a privilege to serve this mission with you.

May this season draw us closer to Christ and make space in our hearts to live fully in the hope and joy of Easter.

David Fremo
President of Catholic Community Schools