Message from the President

Updated 12/02/21

Dear Detroit Cristo Rey Community,

The news over the last several weeks, with verdicts in some closely watched murder trials, increasing infection rates and threats of new COVID variants, and most recently, the tragedy impacting our neighbors in the Oxford community, is overwhelming and weighs so very heavily on all of us. So many of the recent events bring up hard questions about gun violence, racism, physical and mental health, our justice system, social media, and at a very basic level, how we treat one another. The weight and magnitude of these events, one on top of the other, has led to feelings of outrage, frustration, hopelessness, despair, sadness, and fear. These emotions do not escape any of us, including the students and families we serve at Detroit Cristo Rey High School.

As a school and faith community, we partner with families to develop a sense of the inherent value and dignity of human life, along with respect and compassion for one another, while working towards justice in the community. To live our Gospel values, and our very mission, we must work against violence, racism, physical and mental illness, injustice, and hatefulness, especially against the poor and most vulnerable.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all who have suffered the senseless loss of life by any means, and especially in solidarity now with our neighbors in Oxford.

Let us pray, individually and in community, for guidance from the Holy Spirit to enlighten our hearts about real actions we can take, in the words of Fr. Foley, "to make the Kingdom of God concrete in the here and now, not only to make things slightly better, but to effect transformational change at every level".

By the hard work of many, and the grace of God, our school has a long history of being that incredibly safe haven in an unsafe world. That remains true today in spite of threats from COVID, violence, or other ills impacting other schools. We have also rolled out the OK2SAY student safety program as yet another way to keep our school safe and secure.

As we move from grief toward healing with resilient faith and hope, let us be living examples of the fruits of the Holy Spirit today, bringing “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal 5:22,23).

God bless, and ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Mr. Lynch

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Detroit Cristo Rey opened in 2008, during the “Great Recession”, with a simple goal of preparing our students to graduate from college. Now as we maneuver through over a year with the COVID-19 pandemic, the goal remains unchanged, though the challenges are like none the school has experienced before.

As I take over the helm from Mike Khoury, who built a strong foundation for this school along with the hard work and dedication of a very committed team, I am humbled by the generosity of so many. Since our Corporate Work Study Program Partners have been hard hit by the economic effects of the pandemic, the support from individuals and foundations has played an even more important role. However, we have not yet weathered this storm.

The Corporate Work Study Program is the most distinctive feature of the Cristo Rey concept, complementing the school’s academic program with one day per week of real-life work experience in many of the finest businesses and organizations in metro Detroit. The Corporate Partners are a vital part of this unique academic approach, allowing the school to make a faith-based, student-centered education available at a very affordable cost while equipping the students for personal and professional success.

Does your company have a challenge recruiting and maintaining qualified minority workers? Is your company’s target market demographic changing to a heavier mix of minority customers? If the answer is “Yes” to either response, then Detroit Cristo Rey can be a valuable partner. Our Corporate Work Study Program functions as a pipeline supplying diverse, qualified workers who are developing the right skills to assume the challenging jobs of the future. The school and the Corporate Work Study Program are distinct legal entities and the CWSP is a non-religious non-profit organization. CWSP is a training and temporary employment agency, similar to Manpower, whose purpose is to provide entry-level support to clients.

On the bright side, and there are so many, our graduates continue entering and graduating from college at two to three times the national average! Our alumni currently study at Yale, Dartmouth, Michigan, Michigan State and many other outstanding schools. They have already earned degrees from Notre Dame, Loyola, Michigan, Michigan State, Howard and Wayne State to name a few.

We are proud to be part of the Cristo Rey Network, one of 37 schools utilizing one of the most exciting and innovative models of education in the country. We dare to dream big!

Located at the corner of Vernor and Junction on the Most Holy Redeemer campus, Detroit Cristo Rey High School is sponsored by the Basilian Fathers and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and is committed to providing a college-preparatory, co-educational, Catholic high school education for the most potential-filled and hardworking youth of any faith in the city of Detroit. All are welcome!

Please contact me to learn more about our incredible students and school.

Christopher Lynch

President, Detroit Cristo Rey High School

clynch@detroitcristorey.org