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In August of 2016, Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School accepted its first ninth-grade class. Four years later, in May of 2020, that class became the first to graduate from the Catholic school, whose mission is to educate young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, purpose and service.

Students at Cristo Rey schools participate in a work-study program through which they finance the majority of the cost of their education, gain real-world job experience, grow in self-confidence and realize the relevance of their education. 

For three St. Joseph’s Academy alumnae in leadership positions at Cristo Rey, the 2020 graduation was especially poignant. The SJA graduates spent their formative high school years learning about the Generous Promises of the Congregation of St. Joseph, including the promise to change societal systems that cause injustice, oppression and poverty. As Cristo Rey celebrated its first graduating class, the Academy alumnae watched its mission come to fruition and relished the belief that inequality can be overcome through equitable opportunities. 

Claire Losavio Willis ’99 is the principal at Cristo Rey Baton Rouge. Katie Dietz Tasman ’97 is the mission advancement director, and Mary Kathryn Wendt Layne ’04 is the college counselor.

“An excellent education that prepares youth for college and career should be a fundamental right, but inequities in our society have hindered this reality,” Mrs. Willis said. “Cristo Rey’s mission is to break down those barriers for students who otherwise may not have access to a private, college-preparatory high school. And our Catholic identity frames our work serving an under-resourced community in gospel values.”

Mrs. Tasman said the Cristo Rey mission is one of hope and equality. “I firmly believe that education is the great equalizer,” she said. “It brings communities together and ensures that economic growth is available for everyone and not just a small handful of people. Cristo Rey commits to providing both an educational learning environment and the opportunity of real-work experience in a corporate setting. All of this is done within the context of our Catholic faith, and we are provided a great lens specifically through Catholic social teaching.”

The student population at Cristo Rey is 85 percent Black and 15 percent Hispanic, and all students qualify for financial aid, Mrs. Willis said. Providing access to an education with the goal of a college degree is a key strategy for changing the systems that have historically oppressed people of color, she said. “A great deal of research points to the increased earning power of individuals with college degrees, but college acceptance and persistence rates for students of the same demographics are much lower than peers coming from private school backgrounds and higher socio-economic statuses,” she said. 

Providing educational and workplace opportunities is bolstered by a commitment to addressing racism and injustice. The school recently launched a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force and is committed to making decisions through the DEI lens. Plans are also under way for a prayer vigil for peace to allow the community to come together in solidarity against racism, injustice and violence in all forms.

“The task force is working to ensure that the conversation about race and inclusion happens consistently,” Mrs. Tasman said. “At Cristo Rey, our hope is in our students who are empowered in their learning to dream big and to truly know, from deep within their very being, that they are a gift to the world.”

All three alumnae say their Academy education helped lay the foundation for their ministry. “I have always understood the SJA call to ‘serve our dear neighbor’ and actively sought an education career in schools that served under-resourced populations,” Mrs. Willis said. “I also valued my Catholic education, so working at Cristo Rey has provided me with the perfect melding of my passions.”

Mrs. Layne agreed. “My Academy education strengthened my desire to answer the call to serve which ultimately led me to become a counselor,” she said. “Working with students at Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School has allowed me to grow and help our students grow mentally, physically and spiritually.” 

Mrs. Tasman said the charism of the Sisters helped guide her professionally and personally. Messages including “love the dear neighbor,” “weave one heart,” “be a woman for and with others” and “find what you’re passionate about and what the world needs” are intrinsically woven into her being. “They challenged me then, they stuck with me and they continue to guide my decision making now,” she said. “Over the years, I slowly unwrapped what these words specifically meant for me in my life. While the path was not and is not always clear, I continue to find myself in the mission-driven world of faith-based learning. Until God calls me elsewhere, this is where I will be. I remain grateful every single day for the gift of the Sisters and the beauty and depth of their message. All I had to do was listen.”   

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director