Champions

Cathedral Prep is a school that is made
up of different kinds of champions.
We are surrounded by academic, athletic
and spiritual champions every day. Our
spiritual champions are our students who
want to make a difference, who never give
up and give everything no matter what the
circumstances may be. They work hard and
never lose sight of their goals. At Prep, we
have several spiritual champions who lead
in their faith.
Senior Nate Brown
has been told by people
that they can see Christ
through him, and it’s no
wonder. He is involved
in several activities that
strengthen his faith,
including serving as a
sacristan at Prep, participating in the Teens
Encounter Christ retreat, OLP youth group,
and also teaching CCD at Sacred Heart
Church.
Brown’s faith helps him to get through all of
his life struggles and brings him closer to his
friends and family. He said, “Prep gives me
the opportunity to practice my faith every
day if I want to, but it also gives me the
chance to talk to my fellow brothers of Prep
about our faith experiences.”
He believes that Prep can help others just
by the way the Theology Department cares
for their students and the constant prayer
that the teachers go through. He said,
“Spiritually Prep is a powerhouse in the
Diocese of Erie.”
Brown is planning on entering the seminary.
He said, “I want to enter the seminary
because throughout my life I’ve felt that
the Lord has called me to it many different
times.”
Like Brown, Hunter
Lytle ’15 is also a
spiritual champion of
faith. He is an active
member in Campus
Ministry and is also a
liturgical minister. His
home parish is Saint
George Church, where
he is an active member. He said, “Faith is
The Men of Prep
Spiritual Champions of Faith
By Christine Eddy
the basis for life. If anyone wants to fully
succeed in life and truly be happy, they must
have a strong faith-based life. Without faith,
we have nothing.”
Lytle is grateful for his experience at Prep.
“Prep has solidified my faith in many
aspects. One way is offering Mass every
morning. We, as a school, have the ability to
receive Jesus Christ every morning at Mass.
Prep also offers the Divine Mercy Chaplet
before both lunches and adoration after
school, so many opportunities throughout
the day to visit Jesus with your classmates.”
Senior Paul Sitzler
made the March for Life
trip with his church
youth group, and he led
a confirmation retreat
along with a few of his
peers. He also worked
at a retreat for the eighth
graders of Our Lady of
Peace Church. Every Wednesday he goes
to OLP’s youth group. He prays the Divine
Mercy Chaplet every day, and every Sunday
he serves as a Eucharistic Minister.
He said that when it comes to faith, Prep
has so much to offer. “Having the ability to
pray in school and go to all-school Masses
is something to take advantage of. I know
many people who don’t have that ability,
and it does seem harder for them to excel in
their faith.”
Senior Daniel Barron
has witnessed God’s
work. He said, “Being
a part of the Prep
brotherhood and
developing friendships
with my classmates has
shown me how God can
work through others. I
see God do his work at Prep every day.”
Barron is involved in several spiritual
activities. He goes to the Divine Mercy
Chaplet before lunch every day, and he
is Eucharistic minister for school Masses.
He also stays involved in other faith-based
activities outside of school. Barron wants
to live a life with God at the center. He said,
“If I can do that, I can positively affect those
around me.”
Our spiritual champions
are our students who want
to make a difference, who
never give up and give
everything no matter what
the circumstances may be.
They work hard and never
lose sight of their goals.
Prep helps other students connect with their
faith. Barron said, “Prep offers you a chance
to advance in your faith if you are willing to
look into it. There are a lot of things that the
Campus Ministry can offer you, but the best
way students at Prep can strengthen their
faith is by watching God work through their
brothers in their school.”
Sophomore Christian
Burch believes his faith
defines him. He said,
“It should be put before
all things in life.” He
attends Mass every
morning before school
and every Sunday. He
also takes part in the
Divine Mercy Chaplet held in the crypt
before lunch every day at school, and when
he can, he takes part in adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament after school.
Put your faith first and everything else will
follow. Burch said, “Prep can help other
students strengthen their faith by first
proving to them that one: a strong faith life
is essential in finding true happiness and
meaning in life beyond material pleasures,
and two: that it is our call to be strong
in faith, by providing them with ways to
take part in the faith and live it freely in a
Catholic community.”
These students are spiritual leaders of faith
and viable witnesses at school and in the
community. They participate in Campus
Ministry, pray the Chaplet at lunch, serve
in various ways at school liturgies and
pursue their prayer life with retreats. They
continually live their faith and act as “Men
of Prep.”
SPRING 2013 The Magazine of Cathedral Preparatory School 25