June 2022

Message from Principal Adams

Another school year has come and gone, a year of memorable moments. These years all fly by too quickly. June marks an ending for some but also a new beginning.

Mrs. Mary Maher, a teacher for the full 40 years of JPII’s existence will be retiring this year. We were so blessed to have her dedication to changing many lives over those 40 years. We wish her the best as she begins a new stage in her life.

We began our annual appeal fund a little over 20 years ago and created levels of giving we could only hope to reach. Your dedication over these years has been a true testament of your belief in our mission. You have exceeded those levels and feel it is time to add more. We were very thoughtful in choosing the names to reflect who we are and who we serve. The titles are very fitting to our mission and legacy.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing summer. We will be here with limited hours but planning for the new school year. Please continue to follow us on social media for all of our summer activities.

May Crowning

On May 24, we honored the blessed Virgin Mary with a May Crowning Mass celebrated by Msgr. McCann from Immaculate Conception. We also honored Mrs. Maher for her 40 years of dedication to the students at JPII.

Honoring Mary Maher for 40 Years of Service

Mary Maher, Special Education Teacher, is retiring at the end of this school year after a 40-year career with JPIl. She has been with JPII since it first opened its doors in September 1982.

Mary's faith is what guided her from the moment that she first saw in her church bulletin that a group of parents wanted to start a special learning center. “It’s almost like from the beginning that the Holy Spirit was guiding my steps. During my initial interview, Sister Francis Bisland even said that the Holy Spirit was guiding me to work at John Paul II Center. Many times, your faith takes you on a path that may not be what you expected in life, so it’s important to have an open mind and open heart. It’s so gratifying and heartwarming to know that this is exactly where I am supposed to be,” she said.

Principal Mary Adams added, “JPII has been very fortunate to have Mary teach since the inception of the school. For 40 years she has been a pillar of our school community. Her dedication to our mission is unwavering and will be greatly missed. She has impacted many lives in many ways over the years. We wish her many blessings as she moves into retirement and on to her next venture in life.”

The Meaning Behind JPII’s New Giving Levels

At JPII, we understand the importance of thanking each donor for every gift made to support our mission. We’ve been blessed to receive gifts that exceeded our current donor giving levels, so we decided it was time to add two new giving levels. When doing so, we thought a great deal about naming each level. We didn’t want to simply select a new name, but instead wanted names that truly represented JPII and our mission.

The Sr. Francis Bisland Society ($100,000 and above) is named for our founder and supporter, Sister Francis Bisland. Sr. Francis’ dedication, especially during the school’s early years, is legendary. As the school’s first principal, she was there when JPII opened its doors to 16 students in two classrooms. Every school day for five years she personally carried five of the children from the first-floor entrance to the classrooms on the second floor until money could be raised to install an elevator. Her determination to provide access for all students remains at the heart of JPII’s mission.

The St. Margaret of Castello Society ($50,000 to $99,999) is named in honor of Margaret of Castello, an Italian woman in the 13th and 14th centuries, and a member of the Dominican third order. She was born blind and with multiple disabilities. Despite a difficult childhood, she became known for her deep faith and holiness. St. Margaret (1287-1320) is the patron saint of the poor and anyone dealing with a disability or physical challenge. Pope Francis declared her a saint through equipollent canonization on April 24, 2021.

Help Out YOUR Way

Donation Options:

Set up a one-time donation to help the students and adults at JPII.

Simple Donation

Help on a monthly basis by setting up a recurring donation.

Recurring Support

A gift to JPII’s endowment becomes a forever gift for future generations of students and adults.

Planned Giving Info

Matching Gifts

You may be able to double your gift to JPII through your employer’s corporate matching gift program. If your company offers this benefit, you may be able to maximize personal contributions and increase the impact of your gift.

There is an understanding that giving is both a reflection of the best parts of who we are and the key to the most important work we will accomplish as neighbors and communities.

John Paul II Center is able to care for and teach our incredible students and adults because of the support we receive from our community. In an effort to make giving as secure and convenient as possible, we now provide a number of ways to help fund JPII’s mission. Simply choose which form of giving suits you best. And if you need assistance, remember, we're just a phone call away.

For more information, contact Melissah Jablonski

Phone: 610-777-0605 - Email: mjablonski@johnpauliicenter.org