St. Gerard pastor, Incarnate Word principal live the mission of Catholic education

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Father Thomas Molini laughed with Rebecca Mooney, Evan Spratte and Hailey Hobbes (back to camera) during a recent visit to the kindergarten at St. Gerard Majella School. Father Molini is one of 10 pastors nationwide to receive the Distingushed Pastor Award from the National Catholic Educational Association this year.

A priest and a principal in the archdiocese are being recognized for their commitment to Catholic education.

Father Tom Molini, pastor of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Kirkwood, is one of 10 pastors nationwide to receive the Distinguished Pastor Award from the National Catholic Educational Association for outstanding support to Catholic elementary education.

Mike Welling, principal of Incarnate Word School in Chesterfield, is this year's Distinguished Elementary Principal in the St. Louis Archdiocese.

Both are products of Catholic education and extol its value to the Church and to the world.

"Even in areas with excellent public schools systems, Catholic schools still make an important contribution, both in the faith element and in the education itself," said Father Molini, whose parish includes an elementary school with 350 students. "The best education is the one that recognizes the unity of knowledge. Catholic education has the ability to see that all knowledge comes from God, it originates from God and through His gift of reason in our lives we can take the gift of information from the natural world and recognize God's purpose in it all."

Welling, whose school serves 390 students, said, "There is nothing I do with my interactions with students, parents or teachers that is of no consequence. I really believe every moment matters."

George Henry, archdiocesan superintendent of Catholic education, praised both men. "Father Molini has been a strong supporter of Catholic education and has provided the leadership to not only sustain, but more importantly, to grow Catholic education at St. Gerard Majella," Henry said. He called Welling "an extremely faith-filled man who is committed to Catholic education and to Incarnate Word Catholic School. His leadership has distinguished him as a principal who cares deeply for every individual student, teacher and parent of his school."

Sign of God's presence

St. Gerard Parish strongly supports Catholic education, said Father Molini, pastor there since 2005. At the time, the school was growing and the parish committed to expanding to accommodate both parish and school needs.

The parish is developing a religious education committee, and Father Molini regularly meets with the religion teachers "to try and enhance the religious education and formation of the school community ... and plan a variety of events and resources throughout the year so we can have a more holistic approach to the religious education of our children."

The parish commitment to Catholic education includes its parish school of religion, which has 250 students. Father Molini said the PSR "is integral to our parish."

Both Father Molini and his associate pastor, Father Thomas Bryon, make a point of being present with the students, hearing confessions, celebrating Mass and working on sacramental programs. They maintain a presence in the school and engage the students so children become familiar with the parish priests, Father Molini explained.

"We want to be another sign of God's presence in their lives," he said.

Jane Koberlein, principal of St. Gerard Majella School, wrote in her letter recommending Father Molini for the Distinguished Pastor Award that he has a "robust enthusiasm for Catholic education and our parish school. His energy for his faith and for wanting to share it with everyone begins at the eucharistic altar, reaches out in service to all, and is absolutely contagious. Father Molini truly understands and believes in the mission and message of Catholic education."

Father Molini said, "The purpose of a Catholic school is to educate children for what they need and to help them be engaged in the community as the Body of Christ. Not just about being in school, but also about participating in the parish." He said that the Mission Advancement Initiative of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson had generated a lot of conversation about the value of Catholic education.

"We have a historic legacy to bring to the conversation and a lot of gifts that make the contribution of Catholic education important not just to Catholics but to the larger community."

The right priority

Mike Welling has earned the respect of his peers for his devotion to Catholic education. He was nominated for the Distinguished Principal Award by his fellow principals of Catholic schools in the west St. Louis County area and then chosen from among eight nominated principals from around the archdiocese by the archdiocesan Elementary Principals Coordinator Council.

A longtime educator, he spent more than 10 years teaching at area Catholic schools before switching to work in planning and administration at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for 18 years. He returned to Catholic education as principal of Incarnate Word in 1998.

That work with the aviation industry giant, he said, involved many of the supervisory skills he applies as a principal. But he said the best part of his job is working with the students.

"They are like little batteries of energy that just, by contact with them, by talking to them, give me energy, just in their innocence and their enthusiasm," he said.

Welling pointed to a number of accomplishments he is proud of at Incarnate Word, but stressed that the most important thing of all is not really an "accomplishment" at all.

"The most important thing I can do is have a good, active relationship with Jesus. That is not an accomplishment. That's a priority."

Instead of an assistant principal, Welling added a curriculum director and a learning consultant to focus on what he considered important aspects of the school's mission. With assistance from Catholic Education Office workshops, Incarnate Word School created a slogan, Growing in Mind and Spirit, that summed up the school and its mission, and developed a number of core values. The goal of Incarnate Word School is "to teach as Jesus did."

Welling repeated that he loves his work.

"I believe that all the time I spend with the students, every moment of every interaction with any student can make a difference for a lifetime. It sounds corny, but I know there are moments in kids' lives where teachers, the principal says something to them, something that seems inconsequential, but it can stay with the students the rest of their lives."