What's Happening in Cougar Country

In Matthew’s Gospel, it is written that Jesus told the Pharisees the second-greatest commandment is “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Lake Catholic High School and St. John Vianney Parish have been neighbors since Lake Catholic opened, shortly after St. John Vianney was established. The partnership between the two has grown and thrived for more than 50 years. Much of that relationship has been nurtured by SJV pastor Rev. Tom Johns.

To honor him and his commitment to the school, Fr. Johns was presented with the Lake Catholic Torch of Loyalty Award on December 11 at the school’s President’s Circle reception. 
“It is my privilege to extend the Torch of Loyalty Award to Fr. Thomas Johns, in recognition of his lifelong commitment to faith, leadership, and his enduring partnership with Lake Catholic,” President John Morabeto said in front of nearly 200 guests. 

The Torch of Loyalty Award is the highest recognition the Lake Catholic President can bestow on an individual, family, or organization. It exists to celebrate those who embody the core values of Lake Catholic and demonstrate a lasting commitment to the success of the school, not just for today, but for generations to come.

Michele Bernot, who worked at Lake Catholic from 1996 to 2017 as a theology teacher, service coordinator, campus minister, and Vice President of Mission and Ministry, introduced Fr. Johns with several stories of her time working with him.

She recalled how he had celebrated hundreds of reconciliations, masses, and team blessings. He would grant every request to bless rings, talk with a distraught student, run over to the school for ‘just a minute,’ or serve on a committee. 

With the completion of the current SJV church in 2002, Fr. Johns helped facilitate the Lake Catholic all-school masses there. The walks as an entire Cougar community grew into opportunities to not just ‘travel’ but to serve, as the Honor Guard tradition along Bellflower Road during funeral processions began with Fr. Johns’ guidance as well.

The stained glass windowpanes that grace the St. Thomas Aquinas Learning Center are sections from the original SJV Church building donated by Fr. Johns. Additionally, after many conversations with him about growing Catholic identity at Lake Catholic in the early 2000s, he was instrumental in suggesting, supporting, and celebrating the selection by student vote of the school’s patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas — the patron of scholars. The evening's event in that space, in the center of this school, in the presence of visible displays of St. Thomas Aquinas, is because of him, his support, and his joyful efforts, Bernot said.

“His presence and his inspiration are timeless here,” she said. “Indeed, as the years pass, many may not even realize his fingerprint on so much of the mission and Catholic identity here — but he IS the cornerstone.”

Upon his introduction, Fr. Johns was greeted with a standing ovation.

Fr. Johns received a crystal flame award to commemorate this special recognition. In addition, he was presented with a hand-embroidered stole featuring elements of Lake Catholic’s stained-glass artwork. The stole symbolizes faith, service, and a lasting connection to the school. Fr. Johns joins Fr. Marty Polito, Lake Catholic’s inaugural Torch of Loyalty honoree, as the only recipients of this stole — a distinction that reflects the profound and enduring impact of their ministry on Lake Catholic.

To honor and celebrate Fr. Johns and the legacy he has built, the Christ Child Society of the Western Reserve, for whom he has served as chaplain for more than 40 years, donated $20,000 to benefit Lake Catholic student scholarships. The Christ Child Society of the Western Reserve was last year’s recipient of the Torch of Loyalty Award.

“Lake Catholic has been so generous to us (St. John Vianney),” Fr. John said. “They’ve truly been great neighbors, and it’s a great pleasure for us to be associated with Lake Catholic.”

Fr. Johns recalled the number of SJV parishioners who are Lake Catholic alumni, whose weddings he’s officiated, who he still sees in every part of his life.

“I’m constantly running into Lake Catholic graduates, and it’s always fun to see how great they turned out,” he said. “Lake Catholic inspires kids to be great and give back, and I see it all the time.”

The evening started with the LC Singers performing a stirring rendition of O, Holy Night.

Morabeto then took to the podium and, before presenting the award to Fr. John, thanked everyone in attendance for their continued partnership with Lake Catholic as the school continues its forward-moving momentum.

“This gathering is one of my favorite moments of the year, because it offers me the opportunity to stand before the people who make so much of our mission possible,” he said. “You, our most dedicated families, supporters, and friends, are the energy behind Lake Catholic’s forward momentum. And this year, that energy wasn’t abstract or symbolic. It was visible. It was measurable. It was unmistakable. This year, you showed up in every way a community can.”

He thanked everyone for their support at the school’s 41st Annual Gala, this past summer’s Grand Reunion, including the Class of 1975’s 50th reunion, the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and Athletic Giving Day, the recent #weGiveCatholic day of giving, and the powerful impact that was made through the Angel Scholarship Fund – allowing people to direct their state tax liability to Lake Catholic for scholarships. 

Morabeto said the current momentum gives the school confidence to tackle the work that needs to continue to get done.

“Our Strategic Plan is no longer a plan,” he said. “It’s in motion. Our Advisory Board is helping steer the ship with purpose. And thanks to their support, we’ve already celebrated some early wins.”

Those early wins include:

• A Facilities Master Plan to assess and prioritize decades of deferred maintenance on the now more than 50-year-old building
• A refreshed brand that honors the school’s history and positions it for growth
• A comprehensive enrollment strategy that is already increasing class sizes
• A strengthened advancement plan that’s building sustainable support and transparency in giving
• And the introduction of the new planned giving society – a lasting way to carry values forward for the next generation.

“When we expect more of ourselves, when we lead with transparency, excellence, and purpose, your trust grows,” Morabeto said. “And you’re showing us that trust in the most meaningful ways. We feel the energy. We’re moving forward together.”