All are Welcome

September 28, 2025

At a recent Pure in Heart meeting, I talked with our young adults about Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. To help keep the focus on these two Saints, I told our young people at Pure in Heart that we would focus our discussions on The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. I want to share with you some quotes from the book and questions to provoke your thinking. These are good not just for those who attend Pure in Heart, but all of us.

To the people of our time, her travelling companions, the Church also offers her social doctrine. This doctrine has its own profound unity which flows from Faith in a whole and complete salvation, from Hope in a fullness of justice, and from Love which makes all mankind truly brothers and sisters in Christ. The Cross shows the depth of God’s love for us.

Discovering that they are loved by God, people come to understand their own transcendent dignity, they learn not to be satisfied with only themselves but to encounter their neighbor in a network of relationships that are ever more authentically human. What do you see as structures of sin?

Christian love leads to denunciation, proposals, and commitment to cultural and social projects; it prompts activity that inspires all who sincerely have the good of man at heart to make their contribution. How can we make progress for the true good of humanity?

I pray for you. You pray for me.

We all strive be more like Saints Carlo and Pier Giorgio. 

Congratulations to Hank Golec as the 2025 recipient of the Saint Joseph Christian Worker Recognition Award

For 25 years, Hank was a history teacher, coach, and vice principal at Dracut High School.  From a young age, Hank knew he wanted to be an educator. 

He had  a passion for history that made him a popular teacher among students--even students who did not enjoy history enjoyed Hank’s class.  For many students,  it takes just one teacher’s class to help them get through the day and for many Hank was that teacher.    But what really made him a special teacher was how he also worked with students outside of the classroom.  For most of his career at Dracut High School he was the varsity baseball coach and an assistant football coach.  He helped students not only develop their academic skills in the classroom  but helped teach them on the field responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance.  

Over the years, he wrote numerous college recommendations and worked to support the annual Dracut Scholarship Foundation Telethon which provides scholarships to graduating seniors each year.  He also served as vice principal of Dracut High School for several years.  In that role, he helped to create the master schedule for the building, assisted in discipline, and helped students who struggled with attendance.  

After retiring from Dracut High School, Hank served as principal of Saint Patrick’s School in Pelham, NH.  At Saint Patrick’s, Hank was able to use his many years of experience in education, and his deep faith, to lead Saint Patrick’s.  He formed strong bonds with staff, students, and families and was an excellent Catholic role model for the students in grades k-8.

After leaving Saint Patrick’s,  Hank has continued to remain active and continues to give back to the community.  He is an active parishioner at Saint Francis in Dracut, MA and on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army. He still works as a substitute teacher for the Lowell Public Schools.  

The award was presented at the 4 o'clock Mass on Saturday, September 13th. Photo shows Hank with his family and Father Amesse.

Join with us in congratulating Hank!