Each year St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, Wis., holds an essay contest in which they challenge eighth graders to write about Fr. Leo John Dehon, the SCJ founder. Contest winners earn a modest scholarship.
Patrick Rydeski was this year’s winner and he read his essay at the eighth grade graduation. It is reprinted below:
Fr. Leo Dehon, the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, has had a positive influence on me in many ways. He founded the Priests of the Sacred Heart to bring him and others closer to God. In this essay, I will tell about some of the ways he influenced me to be the person I am today.
Fr. Dehon was born in France into a very loving family, much like mine. He believed that children should have a catholic education. If he hadn’t founded the Priests of the Sacred Heart, St. Martin of Tours wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t have had a catholic education.
Fr. Leo Dehon has also had a positive influence on the teachers here too. What Fr. Dehon believed, the teachers believe too. What Fr. Dehon believed is the children should have a good, strong education, and that he helps other people out of love. The teachers have a good strong connection with the students, and the teachers share his love of education.
Fr. Dehon also had a love for children, and the priests here do too. The priests here care about us. They ask us how we are doing, and they sometimes visit the classrooms to give us a mini-lesson on religion. The priests here teach us the Word of God, and they are not afraid to share it openly. St. Martin of Tours is a place where you are accepted for who you are.
Fr. Dehon has a lot to do with the history of St. Martin of Tours. He taught the priests to have faith in God. He also taught the teachers to be loving to the students. Because of him, I learned a lot about my faith, and about the regular subjects. That can help me in high school.
The school also has a loving atmosphere. The teachers cheer you up when you are sad, and they help you a lot. If Father Leo Dehon had not founded the Priests of the Sacred Heart, I would not know what kind of person I would turn out to be today.
