DISCIPLE: Holy Spirit Academy Deepens Partnership with Parish

This article appears in the Fall 2024 edition of the DISCIPLE newsletter. If you are not receiving DISCIPLE in your mailbox, contact the parish office at 763-497-2745  to register as a parishioner or update your contact information. 

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This fall, our local Catholic high school, Holy Spirit Academy (HSA) in Monticello, formalized a new partnership with St. Michael Catholic Church and School (StMCS) to expand access to Catholic education for teens in the northwest metro.
 
The new partnership is most visible in the leadership structure of HSA: Not only has HSA chemistry teacher and longtime St. Michael parishioner Steve House been named president of the school, but St. Michael pastor Father Brian Park, StMCS Director of Catholic Identity and Mission Melissa Zachman, and Cory Sommer, another longtime St. Michael parishioner and StMCS parent, have joined the Board of Directors—supporting a shared vision and providing insight into the needs of Catholic families in the St. Michael-Albertville community. 

Steve's wife Sharon is the librarian at StMCS, and multiple HSA faculty members are St. Michael parishioners. In addition, since St. Michael and St. Albert families make up the largest student demographic at HSA, our Youth Ministry staff visit the school monthly to engage students and encourage connection and community.

“I’m honored to have been appointed President of HSA,” says House. “And am proud to represent Holy Spirit’s faculty and staff as we forge new opportunities to offer Catholic education beyond middle school levels. HSA and StMCS are very well aligned in mission and culture. It’s such a natural fit.”

The two schools are fostering deeper and more visible connections as well. In fact, the entire Holy Spirit student body will join our students for their school Mass on Wednesday, November 6 (and again in February), with the HSA Chamber Choir providing music. Students will meet in the social hall afterward, ahead of the next Holy Spirit Academy Open House on Thursday, November 14, 5:00-7:00 PM. (See ad below.)

“St. Michael is the most dynamic parish in the archdiocese,” House says. “So it’s no wonder that the appointments of Melissa, Cory and Father Park to the Holy Spirit Board have already borne much good fruit for our school. As we continue to find ways for HSA to be present at the parish and to make a positive impact for middle-schoolers and their families, the future of our collaboration is bright.”