Discover Chesterton
Our Model of Education
Discover Chesterton Academy of The Holy Family, a joyfully Catholic, classical high school with a higher purpose, raising up a new generation of joyful leaders and saints.
Inspired by Saint Pope John Paul II, we take as our motto Cultura Vitae, the culture of life. We make it our mission to prepare our students to triumph over the materialism and despair that pervade our culture and to accept our Lord's offer to have life and have it abundantly. Our classical curriculum combines a broad liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on the cultivation of Christian virtues and an appreciation of beauty.
The Three Pillars
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We teach the classics of Western thought from physics to philosophy, and the interrelationship of the great ideas; teaching students not merely what to think but how to think.
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We help students grow in the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice, which we believe are the foundation of leadership.
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Our students come to understand and embrace the truth of why they exist: to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.
Our Patrons
G.K. Chesterton
The Chesterton Schools Network is named for the great English writer and Catholic convert, G.K. Chesterton (1874- 1936). Chesterton is our school’s patron because he exemplified the Catholic faith through a life filled with joy, wonder, and gratitude.
Chesterton was considered one of the world’s most outstanding men of letters in the early 20th century. An accomplished essayist, novelist, and poet, he wrote a hundred books on all different subjects. In 1922, he shocked the literary establishment by converting to Catholicism. He was later eulogized by Pope Pius XI as “a gifted defender of the faith,” and there is presently a popular movement to have him canonized. He not only represents the fullness of faith and reason, but also Catholic joy and common sense.
The Holy Family
We chose the Holy Family as the patron for our school because in today's world, the family faces numerous challenges and is often under attack. The Holy Family, consisting of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, serves as an exemplary model of unity and love. By looking to the Holy Family, we find guidance and inspiration to nurture strong family bonds, uphold traditional values, and navigate through the complexities of modern life. Their unwavering commitment to one another make them the perfect role models for our school community as we strive to promote the sanctity and importance of family in society. In times of turmoil and uncertainty, who better to turn to for guidance and strength than the Holy Family?
Image Credit: Lawrence, OP. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED
The Chesterton Schools Network
We are part of the Chesterton Schools Network based in Minneapolis. An apostolate of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, the Chesterton Schools Network aims to inspire and encourage parent-led Catholic schools across the nation. The Network offers consulting services, templates for evaluating interest and operating a school, and the Chesterton Academy curriculum framework.
Board of Directors
Mr. Brenie Bowles – Chairman
Mr. James Taglia - Treasurer
Mrs. Nancy Cook - Secretary
Mr. Kevin Comer
Mrs. Sarah Elk
Mr. John Severance
Mrs. Madonna Muscarello
Mr. Cooper White
Advisory Board
Peter Breen
An attorney by training, Peter left a lucrative private law practice in Chicago in 2004 to enter full-time public service. A founder of not-for-profit Project Gabriel for women in difficult and untimely pregnancies and Vice President and Senior Counsel of the Thomas More Society. Peter has served as an elected Trustee and stepping in as Lombard’s Acting Village President where he also served as Chairperson of the Lombard Economic & Community Development Committee. He is sought out by local and national television, radio, and print media as an expert legal analyst. Peter was elected to serve as State Representative of the 48th District on November 4, 2014. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame. He is a member of Lombard’s Father Boecker council of the Knights of Columbus and is an Eagle Scout. Peter and his wife Margie have been married for 9 years. Peter and Margie attend Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where they have been parishioners for 8 years.
Sheila Liaugminas
Sheila is an Emmy Award winning journalist with extensive experience in both secular and religious journalism. She has reported for Time magazine for more than twenty years and has been published in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago business, the National Catholic Register and the National Review Online. Sheila is married with two sons: one is a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago and the other a graduate student and writer, studying abroad. She resides in Chicago, Illinois.
