Catholic School Roots Shine Through in Notre Dame Student

Mornings for most students at the University of Notre Dame usually include hitting the “snooze” button once or twice, bracing oneself for the winter chill while waiting to greet friends on their way to class, and sleepily pouring a cup of coffee (or two). It’s no wonder, then, that Patrick Rodgers, a Notre Dame freshman, grew nostalgic when asked to talk about what mornings were like back in grade school.

As a former student of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Pinellas Park, Florida—now one of two Notre Dame ACE Academies in the Tampa area—Patrick said he remembers the morning routine at Sacred Heart as one filled with equal parts laughter and reflection. Rather than marching off to class at the start of the day, students and teachers at Sacred Heart begin every morning by gathering together in the school social hall. 

“Our morning assemblies really made it feel like we were a family,” Patrick said.  

From the principal’s daily reflection to Patrick’s own “Class President Recap” segment of the school-wide meeting, mornings always began with community. He said he also remembers fondly the thirty seconds of silence practiced during each morning meeting, an opportunity for meditation that Patrick said helped to cultivate within him an appreciation for quiet moments and a desire for contemplation. Each meeting ended with a call to action from Sacred Heart’s principal: “Let’s get to work.”

Getting to work is exactly what students and teachers at Sacred Heart are all about, both fostering the Catholic faith and challenging students academically.  

“My teachers always strove for excellence,” Patrick said, pointing to various teachers and school leaders who modeled excellence in faith for him. 

From Sister Mary Ann’s ability to make bible stories come alive in his sixth grade religion class to ample opportunities for Lenten sacrifice and prayer, Sacred Heart proved fundamental to forming his faith, just as it has endeavored to do for the thousands of other students who have passed through its halls.

Sacred Heart—along with the other four Notre Dame ACE Academies—provide an environment in which students are able to excel academically, and Patrick is a perfect example. As valedictorian of his high school and a successful student at Notre Dame with aspirations to pursue work in the field of science, he has undoubtedly been well-prepared for the academic rigor of university life. While he excels academically, he exhibits an impressive humility and generosity that reflect an education of the heart alongside the mind with the goals of college and heaven, an education that started at Sacred Heart.