By Michael Cooney | For On Mission
KAUKAUNA, WI — On a cold January morning in Kaukauna, it was clear this was not an ordinary school day at St. Ignatius Catholic School. Students moved through the halls in uniform. Parents talked over coffee. Teachers paused to greet one another. Families, parishioners and guests had come together for a blessing — one that marked not just a new science lab, but a school community confident in where it is headed. This was a day of blessing and of gratitude.
Families, parishioners, benefactors and school leaders gathered as Bishop David Ricken blessed a fully renovated science laboratory. The celebration marked not only the completion of a major facility upgrade, but a moment to reflect on why Catholic education, especially classical Catholic education, continues to draw families from across the region.
Standing among students and parents, Bishop Ricken spoke with visible enthusiasm.
“At a time when public education is facing all kinds of budget issues, it’s really wonderful to see this kind of growth happening,” he said. “People have confidence in the Church again. And they’re willing to fund it. They’re generous. That says a lot.”
For Bishop Ricken, what is happening at St. Ignatius reflects a broader trend across the Diocese of Green Bay. After a post-pandemic dip, Catholic school enrollment is rising again — along with renewed participation in parish life.
“Enrollment was down a little after COVID,” he said, “but now it’s picking back up. Families are looking for something solid, and they’re finding it in our Catholic schools.”
He pointed to the sight of children filling the pews that morning.
“All those children — it’s beautiful,” he said. “Sunday Mass attendance is up, too, even higher than pre-COVID levels in many parishes. There’s a ripple effect.”
At the heart of that renewal, Bishop Ricken believes, is a school system confident in its identity.
“We educate the whole child,” he said. “Not just the physical, mental and emotional — but the spiritual. We don’t apologize for that. We do it intentionally, from our own Catholic tradition that’s 2,000 years old. It’s tried and true.”
That intentional approach is something Drew Mulloy, headmaster of St. Ignatius, sees lived out daily.
“Classical education means we stand on a tradition of intellectual formation that’s been tested over time,” Mulloy said. “Our students read works that have endured for generations.”
Younger students encounter “Winnie-the-Pooh” and “Charlotte’s Web.” Older students read Shakespeare and Dante’s “Inferno.” But for Mulloy, classical education extends well beyond reading lists.
“We’re proud to teach traditional morals,” he said. “We stand up for the Church’s teaching and help children learn what’s right and wrong.”
Equally central is the school’s sacramental life.
“We’re an environment that’s joyfully Catholic,” Mulloy said. “We have daily Mass, weekly adoration, and prayer woven into the school day. There’s a real joy in the faith here.”
St. Ignatius currently serves about 260 students drawn from more than 20 parishes, including families who travel from Neenah, De Pere, and Greenleaf. Despite that reach, the school has intentionally remained small.
“Every teacher knows every student’s name,” Mulloy said. “Our kids are known.”
Students are encouraged to participate fully — in academics, athletics, the arts, and service. In high school, every student takes part in drama and choir. Those who want to play sports get meaningful playing time. Graduates pursue a wide range of paths.
“We’ve had students go on to UW-Madison, into the trades, the arts, and even three alumni now in the seminary,” Mulloy said.
The high school, Chesterton Academy, connects students to a national network of Catholic classical schools with a shared curriculum and formation model.
“It’s not just a name,” Mulloy said. “It’s a common experience of Western tradition — and it opens doors.”
Another sign of the school’s health is found among its faculty.
“Last year we had very close to 100 percent teacher retention,” Mulloy said.
In an era when many schools struggle to recruit and retain educators, St. Ignatius finds itself in a different position.
“We have teachers calling us every year asking to come work here,” Mulloy said.
Many are experienced teachers drawn by the school’s mission.
“They’re looking for a traditional Catholic environment,” Mulloy said. “They want to teach in a place where faith, intellect, and joy are integrated — and where what we teach is clear and consistent.”
That stability benefits students and families alike. Teachers build long-term relationships with students. They know siblings, parents, and parish communities. The school’s culture remains steady because the people shaping it remain committed.
“For our teachers, this isn’t just a job,” Mulloy said. “They want to be here.”
One of the most visible investments celebrated during the blessing was the newly renovated science laboratory serving grades five through 12. The project was made possible through the generosity of the Marvin and Debra Cherney Family Foundation.
For Debra Cherney, the gift grew from a desire to give back.
“I’ve had a long science background and owned a laboratory for 31 years,” she said. “When it was time to close that chapter, I had equipment that needed a new purpose — education.”
The year-long project involved completely gutting the old classroom and starting from scratch.
“Everything in here is new,” said Alex Wolf, head of the upper school.
The lab supports both classical formation and modern scientific study.
“In high school, we teach biology, chemistry, and physics,” Wolf said. “With younger students, there’s also an emphasis on studying nature — how it works, how it’s ordered. The lab fits perfectly with that.”
Cherney described the blessing day as both humbling and joyful.
“This is rewarding,” she said. “Being able to impact children this way is very meaningful.”
That spirit of generosity and connection extends beyond classrooms. Nearby, parents and parishioners gathered around tables long after Mass, thanks to coffee poured by Cindy Auth.
“When my daughter started here, I wanted families and parishioners to build community,” Auth said. “People come from all over. This matters.”
The monthly coffee has become a simple but powerful tradition.
“This is where people get to know each other,” she said.
Auth drives her daughter from Neenah by choice.
“I wanted a classical education rooted in truth, beauty, and the goodness of God,” she said. “That’s important to me.”
She sees that formation reflected in daily life.
“She loves it here,” Auth said. “She’s learning Latin. The music is beautiful. And there’s a respect among the kids that feels genuine.”
As the blessing concluded and students returned to class, Bishop Ricken lingered, greeting families and faculty. Asked whether he feels optimistic about the future of Catholic education, he didn’t hesitate.
“Very much so,” he said. “Little by little, it’s coming back. And I’m having a lot of fun trying to keep up with it all — which is a great problem to have.”
At St. Ignatius Catholic School, that optimism is tangible — in growing enrollment, dedicated teachers, renewed facilities, generous supporters, and a community confident that faith and learning, rooted deeply together, still form young people for lives of purpose, service, and joy.