Share, Serve, Preserve | CC Mothers' Club Artwork

Slightly Less Scripted

Welcome to Slightly Less Scripted—the official podcast of Catholic Central High School. Join us for candid conversations with alumni, family, and friends of the Shamrock community as we share real stories, honest reflections, and a few laughs along the way. In this laid-back and less-scripted space, we go beyond the headlines to explore what it truly means to be part of the Catholic Central legacy. Whether you're a proud graduate, current parent, or longtime supporter, pull up a chair and join the conversation.

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Slightly Less Scripted

Share, Serve, Preserve | CC Mothers' Club

May 28, 2026 • Detroit Catholic Central High School • Season 1 • Episode 25

0:00 | 35:31

In episode 25 of Slightly Less Scripted, we welcome the next President and Vice President of the CC Mothers' Club, Maureen Squires and Andrea Ladasz.

The Mothers' Club operates on a mission to "Share, Serve, and Preserve," acting as a vital support system for the school's faculty, students, and families. This conversation highlights how the club fosters a "sisterhood" among moms, mirroring the brotherhood of the students. Maureen and Andrea emphasize that the club is an open, welcoming community for all mothers, regardless of their professional schedules or previous involvement.

Learn more about the CC Mothers' Club: https://www.catholiccentral.net/parents/moms

SPEAKER_03 0:21

All right. Well, welcome back to Slightly Less Scripted. We are here with the CC at Mothers Club. Mr. Squires, Maureen Squires, and Andrea Ledez, Vice President and President. Welcome, guys. Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Are you guys happy?

SPEAKER_00 0:35

Yeah. I'm excited. Very excited for the upcoming year. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:38

Did you guys ever think that this was something in your future?

SPEAKER_01 0:42

No. Honestly, no. My friends would tell you differently, though. All my friends were like, I'm not surprised at all. And I'm like, why? I'm so shy. I'm not shy at all.

unknown 0:53

No.

SPEAKER_03 0:53

So when you when you first joined Mothers Club, there was no you never thought, okay, I might run for some leadership or do anything like that.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

No. Really? No. I mean, it was this is great to be a part of Mothers Club. Um, I'm gonna participate because that's you know, that's part of how I'm wired. And then um ended up co-chairing uh faculty appreciation for a couple of years, and I'm like, this is great. And then once nominated, I thought, well, I'll just give it a go.

SPEAKER_03 1:23

That's that's awesome. Yeah. So why did you or how did you guys first hear about the CC Mothers Club each? So I can start with you.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

So um knew about it prior to Matthew entering his freshman year. Um, had heard about it from friends whose boys were already here. They said what a a great you know community it was and how much the mothers club did for the school. Again, I'm an involved kind of gal. So for me, I thought, yeah, I definitely want to be involved.

SPEAKER_03 1:55

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

Yeah, so for me, it was when um Xavier, my oldest, was getting ready to start freshman year, and we came to a new parent uh welcome night in early August, and they talked about the Mothers Club. And we came from a school where we didn't he didn't have any of his uh classmates coming here to Catholic Central. So I thought, well, I'm gonna try to get involved and see what the mothers club's all about. And I joined and um I was blessed the first year I was uh with our faith enrichment committee, and I was helping with putting on our women's retreat, and um we did like mass and mocha. It just really helped me as a new mom here, not knowing any moms coming in to get to know these women and just developed good connections. And I got to know our the vice president at that time, I became close with it was Becky Terrell. And you know, she was just kind of talking to me about leadership. I ended up um co-chairing the that same committee the next year, and then I got nominated. So ending this current school year, I'm currently the recording secretary um on the executive board. And so as the year went on, I thought I wouldn't mind, you know, taking on another leadership role. And I was nominated for the vice president role and um blessed to be voted in.

SPEAKER_03 3:15

So did you guys know each other before Mother's Club?

SPEAKER_01 3:18

No, not at all. No.

SPEAKER_03 3:20

So you guys met you guys met through Mother's Club's club and now are gonna be run running it together.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:25

That's pretty cool. So it's like, you know, like we tell the kids to get involved, it's similar with the moms and dads.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

Yeah, and listening to Andrea, um it it made me think she she made a good point of I didn't think that I was going to uh make the friends and the relationships that I that I do have and that have built over these past three years. Um, you know, with Matthew going into high school, it was okay, it's high school, he's gonna be on his own. You know, there's not gonna be as much involvement. Little did I know there would be that much involvement. But I mean, lifelong friendships now have developed. Andrea being one of them. Um it just it's not something that I saw coming. And so, so blessed with so many ladies that I have met that truly I can see us being at our son's weddings together, and it's just really neat how it has all um just unfolded over time and and come together.

SPEAKER_03 4:25

Yeah, see SC's a a special place. If you guys had to describe it in like a few words, maybe a sentence, what would you say what makes SC special?

SPEAKER_01 4:36

I think you can feel the camaraderie, like the brotherhood from the boys, and more and Maureen said it this this past year too, the sisterhood from the mother's club and just having those people you can turn to that will hold you in times of darkness and times of joy. So community. Community, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:03

Thank you. Yeah, community definitely came to mind, spirit, um, excitement. It's uh there's an energy here. That's all I can say. There's an energy. I don't care what you're involved in. Um and this is the type of community you can make what you want of it. You can make it as big or as small as you want. It all depends on what you choose to get involved in. Um I mean, it's definitely the same with Mother's Club. You know, serve on a committee. Not everybody wants to chair a committee, and that's fine. Serve on a committee. There's so much to choose from. And again, make it your own, however big or small you want it.

SPEAKER_03 5:45

Okay. So I think then let's get into like the and I'll ask on Andrea first. What exactly is the CC Mothers Club? Like for those who don't know that what you guys do, and I'm sure there's a lot of behind the scenes things that we could touch on too. But from a forward-facing perspective, what exactly is it?

SPEAKER_01 6:04

So we the Mothers Club's based on the mission to share, serve, and preserve. So we want to share the love I have for my son, I share with the sons of CC. And then just to serve the community and be there for them. So and we also want to preserve the traditions that are here because they run deep and we don't want to take advantage of anything that's been laid before us. And for the Mothers Club, it's having that community to come together to be able to do all the little things that look seamless. And that's why we do have over 20 committees that women can join and be a part of. Um, some raise funds which help then feed back into the mothers club to be able to provide the faculty appreciation because we're so blessed with the wonderful faculty that's here. Um, it feeds back into I was a part of the faith enrichment committee. And so I always like to say we do so much and we give so much to our boys and to our families. The faith enrichment, I feel like, helps us rejuvenate and you know, get back our spirit that we need. So I think that's kind of the the high level of of what Mothers Club is.

SPEAKER_03 7:23

And then Maureen, what kind of events do you guys put on that, you know, people probably know the events, but maybe they don't know that Mother's Club does all these things.

SPEAKER_00 7:32

Um, so are are you talking about things for moms?

SPEAKER_03 7:36

Or for the school for the school, yeah, too. Both. Um you guys do both. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

Yeah, definitely. I mean, for the moms, the first one that came to mind was um the retreat. Oh, yeah. Um, it's it's an amazing event for moms to come together. Um, you know, it's a it's a Saturday morning for a few hours, but those few hours are pretty powerful. Um I went this year and and loved every minute of it, and you really connect with so many different moms. Um so that one for me is a big one. Of course, Mother Son Mass, because that's with our boys, and and that's very special. Um for the school, it's I mean, we touch a lot. It's it's admissions, it's you know, state of the school, um, anything special that would pop up. Um you know, the mother's club gets called on, which that's what we want, right? I mean, we we want to help Andrea explained the Mother's Club mission, you know, share, serve, preserve. That's what we're here for. So um anything, any opportunity that we are approached with, we want to embrace, run with it, and and execute, you know, in the best way we can.

SPEAKER_03 8:51

Yeah, you you and me were talking in the in the faculty lounge about, you know, you basically letting me know how excited you work. So it's an opportunity to serve, to serve the boys, to serve the community.

SPEAKER_02 9:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:02

So, you know, touch on that a little bit. What you know, what does service to others mean and kind of look like in the mothers club? Obviously, you guys, as moms, are servants already to your own sons.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:14

But then you guys do like the extra mile to go help out in the in the community.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:19

Which is like it, that's a lot of work. It's tough, it's not easy.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

No, and that's why we're thankful and being there um to help Mr. Marmal in admissions with his growing junior shamrocks program, you know, um, that has just gone gangbusters for him. And I know I took advantage of it too with my youngest. I was like, $25, and he gets to go to all the football games for free. Yeah, sign me up, you know. And um, but knowing that it had he he came to us and said it's grown so much, I need help, and I don't have the staff for it. And we said, All right, we'll help, you know. And and the mom stepped up and and helped in any way that he needed. So I think those are some of the ways that we try to help serve on the the greater Yeah, that there's small stuff that you guys do that it's probably very unseen, and then there's obviously bigger stuff that everyone gets to see.

SPEAKER_00 10:10

I I think as moms it comes natural. Um we're so used to doing in our own households.

SPEAKER_03 10:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

And so, you know, this is just an extension of for all of us moms. Um, you know, you see something that needs to be taken care of, you just do it. You don't think about it, you just do it.

SPEAKER_03 10:27

You're not expecting to be thanked or anything like that. You're just doing it.

SPEAKER_00 10:30

No, you just you just do it because it needs to be done. And then you don't, like I said, you don't think about it, you just do it, move on, and all is good.

SPEAKER_03 10:38

I I think the you know, I try to tell at least the the students that I get to encounter our, you know, our boys in the esports program. I always try to remind them like your guys' parents do a lot for you. You guys might not see it. You know, I probably didn't see it in high school, and even today, you know, they still do a lot. I'm just like, guys, just like respect them, you know what I mean? You have no uh you have no idea because they won't tell you everything that's going on. And you know, they have to lift a lot. So it's like it's definitely an unsung, unsung heroes, not just for your own families, but obviously for the community as well, too. Yeah, yeah. So I'll say thanks.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

Oh, you're welcome. Thank you. We're happy to be here.

SPEAKER_03 11:14

What are you guys uh excited about for next year? Is there anything, you know, I I'm obviously probably a little bit more un unaware of how the mothers club operates on a day-to-day operation, but um, you know, with new lead leadership, I'm guessing that you guys probably want to come in with new ideas. Is that something that you guys have been thinking about?

SPEAKER_00 11:33

Or so we're we're going to be meeting and the the um incoming exec board will get together. Um some things that I've been thinking about. Um our mission. We've already said it a couple of times share, serve, preserve. You know what? If we adhere to that and carry that out, in my opinion, that defines success because that's what we're here for. That's what the mothers club is here for. So that to me defines success. And um with the past couple of years, our freshman classes have been larger, as we know. We've got another incoming freshman class. They're growing. Yeah, that's that's again gonna be substantial, right? And um, and with that comes an increase in moms. That there's an increase in our enrollment, right?

SPEAKER_02 12:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:27

So um, you know, we'll look to see what committees, you know, do moms have ideas as to, you know, maybe some more committees in that or um, you know, just more helping hands.

SPEAKER_03 12:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

So as we as we see our school grow, we see our mothers' club grow as well, just from sheer enrollment.

unknown 12:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:47

Like let's do like a quick uh open call to any of the incoming moms or maybe moms who haven't joined Mother's Club or never been to an event or something. You know, what what would be kind of your open call to welcome? Do they have to be, if they get involved, do they have to be super involved and they just come by, you know, to see an event to maybe lend a helping hand? Kind of, you know, what would you say to someone who might maybe is thinking about joining?

SPEAKER_01 13:12

We are always uh welcoming of the helping hands, especially for the larger events like rummage sale, for example, that's coming up in October. I believe it's the second weekend in October, and it's a huge, wonderful event and being able to give back to the community and um by helping people who are in need, but we need the help in those in that regard. So if we have a mom who's says, maybe I can't come to the monthly meeting of the board meetings, which those are fun in and of themselves, because we get to hear from Father Fulton and we get to um be blessed by Father Nolke joining us, which is always makes my heart happy. I love priests. And um, but we we are always looking for volunteers to help when it comes to those bigger events. So if they can't maybe be on commit to a committee for the year, but maybe they can watch the website and see what's coming up because they're always looking for volunteers, especially like rummage, senior activities. Like there's always events that need um helping hands at. But if there's a mom who wants to get involved, I definitely recommend looking at. I mean, there's 20 plus committees. You know, there's usually something that calls in your heart um to help with. Our biggest one is our fashion show, which is I've been able to go the past three years, and it's such a wonderful day. And it's just like to me, as somebody who hasn't helped on that committee, it's almost magical what they can bring together. Yeah. But, you know, many hands make light the load. So um with that one always needs help. And there's just such dedicated women that help put that together. And it's great for me because and for Maureen, uh, because next year we're both gonna have seniors, and so that's gonna be a fun event for us as moms who have been active on the mothers club. We get to walk with our sons if we want to. It's not a requirement.

SPEAKER_03 15:00

It'll be a special year.

SPEAKER_01 15:02

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:03

Now, I would my my advice to moms considering could be moms of current students, could be our freshman moms, you know, coming in. Um, don't be intimidated. We are a very, very welcoming group. Um, and it can be intimidating. Of course. Um, you know, when you first walk in, you know, there could be a mom that knows no one. It's like you are gonna make friends so fast. Um, the ladies are very, I mean, they will embrace anyone who comes in. And um, that would be my word of advice is don't be intimidated. Definitely just come, feel it out, see if it's your thing, um, see what we have to offer. Andrea made a great point of you know, we do have working moms, right? If you can make it to one or two things that fit your schedule, do it. Yeah, do it because they're gonna they're gonna see how much fun it is and they're gonna feel involved. Just give it a try.

SPEAKER_03 16:05

Yeah. I think it's great advice, not only for the moms, but also for I mean, that's good advice for the boys too, because of the way CC operates, the way we pull from so many different communities, schools. I mean, I remember I came from OVA, and I don't think, you know, maybe there was two or three of us, but I I really didn't know people either, right? Yeah, yeah. So like if you don't get involved, you're not gonna have that opportunity to to meet friends or to meet other families and and kind of form that bond, which I think is what makes like you guys said, the community is what makes it special. It yeah, it does, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 16:38

And it's a very welcoming for sure. The mother's club is very welcoming. Um, you know, we don't want anyone to feel as an outsider because that's not what we're about.

SPEAKER_03 16:47

Yeah. And I agree with you about the uh fashion show. I love share, I love sharing the social media pictures on uh on the school page. Yeah, it's a very it's like a high-level event. It looks very professional. Oh yeah. But looking back on it, I'm like, I wish I would have walked with my mom, but we didn't we didn't do all that.

SPEAKER_02 17:04

I did. Did you? Yeah, yeah, but back in uh 2009.

SPEAKER_03 17:11

And and then the comments uh on that was from Facebook. I saw people saying, you know, I walked in so and so it every year.

SPEAKER_02 17:18

It's just it's amazing that that even back then they were doing the video where you make a message for your mom. And I I do remember it was a very early morning getting there to help with the fashion show all day. But yeah, um, I yeah, wouldn't trade that memory for anything because I saw you know how much it meant to my mom to be able to be a part of that. Um you kind of you both kind of echoed some a sentiment that was shared on a previous episode with um Sherry Diedrich. We had her on. Her episode actually just went live today. Um, she mentioned we brought up the mother's club because she is the past president, and um, she said the same thing that you both have kind of said where you will regret not getting involved in the mother's club, but you'll never regret getting involved in the mother's club. Absolutely. But getting over that initial hurdle of, oh, I may not know anyone. I don't, that's it's a big group, it's kind of intimidating. Did either of you feel that way when you first started to get involved? And like kind of how did you uh how did you get over that hurdle?

SPEAKER_01 18:16

Well, um I think I definitely did. So because I came in, I knew a handful of people that were here at Catholic Central already when Xavier started, and they were not um a part of the mother's club. And so I had just thought to myself, okay, it's the gonna be a time I'm gonna get involved, get to meet new people, get to know people. And yeah, going to that first meeting, I thought to myself, what did I sign myself up for here? I was like, oh my goodness. And um initially I was on our fashion show committee, but unfortunately, I had another commitment that same weekend for another organization I was a part of. And so I worked with the president at that time. And I that's when I moved to the faith enrichment. And with between that group and then even getting to know the women and helping anywhere I could throughout the year, it just really overcame that hurdle of I don't know anybody, nobody's gonna talk to me. You know, you almost felt like you were starting high school again. And um it was just, it didn't take long. It didn't take long at all to feel welcomed, so which was fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 19:23

Yeah, I I would agree. It was um, I am not an easily intimidated person. And I will say the first time I walked in, I was like, oh my gosh, what am I doing? I mean, because you walked into the cafeteria and there's all these people and there's all this conversation going on. And I'm like, okay, everybody knows each other, you know. And and don't get me wrong, I knew I knew, you know, some moms and everything, but it was that initial, like you're walking into this room of this, just the sea of people. And it was, I mean, in the moment it was intimidating. And then um, I joined faculty appreciation that freshman year. And um, what made my transition easier was one of the co-chairs, is a really good friend of mine. And when she saw me, she was like, Oh my gosh, you have to be on faculty appreciation. So that's kind of how it all started. And then um, she was the only one on the committee that I knew. So, you know, you got to meet people and start to um just in that setting, start to get to know moms. And then from there, you started branching out more and more. And so um, yeah, after after the first meeting, you know, the the ice was broken and it made it much easier after that.

SPEAKER_01 20:40

Yeah. I've I've even encouraged um new moms coming in. Uh a good friend of ours started this year, her son's a freshman, and I told her out the gate, I was like, you have to join Mother's Club. And she was like, Okay, you know, kind of gave me that look, like, okay. But she joined and she had a great time. And she was with our admissions and hospitality group. So they they got to do the donuts at Boys' Bowl, the um open house events, you know, all those fun.

SPEAKER_03 21:05

It in a way, it probably helps your guys' boys too, even though they might not recognize it. But you guys being in so involved at the school, you probably you guys have probably a good idea of what's going on.

unknown 21:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:17

So I mean, I know I was going home and telling wild stories about drive and this and that, but my parents are probably looking at me like I'm crazy. But at least, you know, you guys by being here so often, you actually like, oh no, I actually understand what that is. Like I completely understand what that is. Yeah, exactly. So, how you know, how special is that that you're able to kind of see your guys' young boys turn into kind of young men and almost in a you know, in a special way by being involved.

SPEAKER_00 21:42

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Honestly, it is one of the biggest blessings because I did, as I said earlier, I didn't foresee that with Matthew coming into high school. I was very involved in his elementary school, K through eight. And I thought, wow, when he was graduating. Eighth grade and and moving to high school, I'm going, wow, this is all over. And then Mothers Club opened up a completely different door. And, you know, hear the involvement all over again. Personally, I was ecstatic. Um, and and it is nice to know what's going on. And, you know, just they're still boys, right? Of course. Just kind of, you know, keep them in line. However, I will say I appreciate, like at the change of class or something, Matthew will still walk up to you. Being able to say hi. Give me a hug. Yeah. I love you, mom. And and I'm laughing because as we were sitting here, he walked up to the phone.

SPEAKER_01 22:40

He was waving. He was waving. It was funny.

SPEAKER_00 22:42

So I'm like trying not to look at him, but it was cute.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

Yeah. And even um, it's it's been fantastic because I've almost had the opposite. Um, I wasn't super involved in Xavier's school. Um, and actually I have an up an incoming freshman in the fall too. And I mean, I did what I could. I was, I got my volunteer hours, I helped where I could, but I wasn't a part of the leadership. And so being a part of the mothers' club has helped me really get to know the school because my son tends to be a little more quiet and doesn't really tell me a lot of things that are going on at the school. It's kind of nice where I already have kind of the inside track of some of the things that are happening. But one of the great things that I've appreciated uh from being a part of the mothers club and and being active here on campus is getting to know Father Fulton and Father Nolke and um not know them, but you know, like just they recognize me. I interact with them. Thank you. And um and getting to meet Mr. Walters and um having that base with him. And that has been a big part for me because I did we did come from such a small school where we knew the faculty and the administration. And so it's kind of nice knowing some of those key players here too. It's been good to see. And the way that they are uh advocates for Xavier has been fantastic too, and the way they advocate for all the young men that are here is wonderful.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

I think that's you know, I don't know if that's unique to CC. I'm sure other schools have it, but I know maybe versus like when I went to public school, it it's definitely different because you know, here as a school, I think that we believe that it's not just the school that's gonna teach the boys stuff, but it's gonna be like basically a it's gonna take a village. Yeah, it's like the cooperation between parents, families, the school. I think getting to interact with the the people who the boys are around every single day. I mean, you know, that that's that's special. Yeah, that's a special thing.

SPEAKER_00 24:38

Yeah, for sure. And um, Andrea has brought up um both Father Noki and Father Fulton a couple of times. We're so blessed because they are our um moderators for the Mothers Club. How blessed are we to have the support of our priests? Um it means a lot. It means a lot to us moms. Um they're there walking with us every step of the way, they're there to support. Um we're just so thankful that that our priests would want to be involved to that extent. So I just I just beyond blessed for that.

SPEAKER_03 25:16

I think there's so many things that those guys do and did that people will never see or never know about. And I mean that's a different level of uh of dedication dedication and service to others. But you can tell that it was a it was a calling for both of them and all the other brazilian priests that came along to. That's actually it leads me to kind of a good question. How do you know how do we carry that Brazilian spirit? How does the the Mothers Club, you know, try to have that Bazillion spirit with you know the Bazillions kind of us dwindling down in numbers over the years?

SPEAKER_01 25:56

That's a good question. That is a good question. You know, I think the well the root here at CC with the bazillions is the goodness, discipline, and knowledge. And I think maybe seeing that service from the moms and from the dads even I shouldn't say it even like that, but the the wonderful work that the dads put in too to support the school. I hope that shows the boys what a vocation as a as a family can lead them to. And I think having the involvement with the bazillions that are here, I'm hoping opens the eyes to some of them for vocation to the priesthood. Um I believe it was at a meeting last year and I was talking about the um OCIT, which I love it. I love seeing people embrace the Catholic faith. And um, I love all people, but I really love uh the the new Catholics. I am a little jealous of them sometimes for all the stuff that they get to learn. But I joked around one, I said we had 20-something um young men come into the church. One of them's bound to be a priest. Maybe we'll maybe we'll get one. And um I just hope that we can give a just a fraction of what the bazillions have given to this school and to the boys that are here.

SPEAKER_03 27:17

Yeah, the last uh the last bazillion priest to come from DC is Father Nelkie.

SPEAKER_02 27:22

Is Father Nelkie. How crazy is that? We've had other alumni become priests since then, but the last to become a bazillion was Father Nelke.

SPEAKER_00 27:29

Wow, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:30

Which I think is uh that's that's almost the wild stat for me.

SPEAKER_00 27:34

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_03 27:36

Because we we need more of them.

SPEAKER_01 27:37

Yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_03 27:39

What would you guys say to um a family that doesn't know anything about CC but has maybe seen advertisements or maybe heard rumors or something about Catholic Central that you know you guys as parents are here now and and involved, you know, what would you say to someone that's interested in learning more about Catholic Central?

SPEAKER_00 28:00

Um there that could be a very long involved conversation because there's just so much to say. Um definitely I would encourage them to set up a tour. Um if it's around the time of open house, yes, definitely you want to attend. Um you know, it's it's so easy to share with them um so many different facets. The the faith piece, you know what, the boys have attend monthly mass. Um they're offered mass daily in the chapel if you know if that fits their schedule and if that's what they would like. Um look at our Hall of Science. I mean, we offer so much. These boys are so blessed here. Um we offer so much than that that a lot of other schools cannot currently offer. Um the the spirit, the brotherhood, um, the the overall energy and vibe, it's just um it's infectious, is what it is. And uh putting one foot in this school, you know, it's just like they would be sold. It I like I said, it would be so easy for me to to go on and on to anyone who would want. I mean, I tend, I tend to. Yeah, yeah, I do too. I do too. I mean, and it's like they're they probably look at me like, what the heck? And you know, but it's it's it's just that energy. I mean, you feel it, you live it, you you embrace it, and you want, I think what it is, you want others to feel that same excitement that you do. That's what I said, yeah. And I think that's a big piece of it. The academics, I mean, rigorous, yes, outstanding, absolutely. These boys are being sent out to college and then out into the world to accomplish anything. And why? It's because of fear. That's why.

SPEAKER_01 29:52

The foundation.

SPEAKER_00 29:53

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 29:53

That's a good way to put it. I think sometimes we refer to CC internally as Disneyland, but in in an interesting way, it kind of it kind of really is like that sometimes because this place is just different. I think the other day we were here and there was horses galloping around. I was like, this is not uh It was from St.

SPEAKER_01 30:10

Catharines.

SPEAKER_03 30:10

It's like this is not a real, this is not a real place, but there's a lot of there's you know, there's a lot of joy and there's a lot of I mean you guys said it right, spirit and and brotherhood and sisterhood for the moms.

SPEAKER_01 30:21

And yeah. For um I would always tell people when I came when I first came to CC, I felt like I was being embraced. And I'm like, I don't know if it's the Holy Spirit or the Blessed Mother, probably both of them, but I had somebody tell me one time, it's almost like a parish here. Like if you think about your home parish, it's a sm it's small, but here it's like on a on another level, but because of that community. And yeah, like Maureen said, I would just tell people, just go go check it out. Go check it out, go see it for yourself.

SPEAKER_03 30:52

Yeah. I mean, yeah, I I feel like everywhere I go, if you see, you know, you see the two little interlocking C's or something, it you can't escape an airport, different state. It's oh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:02

I was at um we were doing a college tour at John Carroll. I was actually wearing this uh same jacket, and I'm walking along, and this young man goes, Catholic Central? I said, Yeah, turned out he was a 23 grad, I believe. I can't recall his name, and I feel really bad now bringing it up.

SPEAKER_03 31:19

But everyone always gets the same level of excitement, though.

SPEAKER_00 31:22

Yeah, no, because you're right, when you're wearing your CC swag, someone will walk a doubt. Someone will definitely, and I told Matthew, I'm like, you know what? I go, being part of the CC Brotherhood, I said, you're not only gonna run into a CC brother in this country. I said it's worldwide. I said, you can be in another country and and you're gonna run into one of your brothers.

SPEAKER_03 31:45

Yeah. And specifically, if you're wearing a merch, you're you're gonna get one of two reactions. Are you gonna say I didn't I know that's cool uh for a different reason, or they'd be like, oh, I know that's cool because I went there. And the reactions might be a little bit different, though. I know sometimes I walk by uh certain things, uh, or if we're at an event for esports or something like that, whenever you know other students see the CC, they're like, that's Catholic Central. And then they're like, then the next thing out of their mouth is usually have you know they they have a lot of money or they they recruit something or they do. And I'm like, I just think you and I'm like, you know what, just just just allow it. You don't need to, you know, yeah, yeah, yeah. You don't need to say anything.

SPEAKER_00 32:21

You know, some things you don't have to feed, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:23

But those are the two reactions you'll get.

SPEAKER_00 32:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:26

Um, is there anything that you guys want to touch upon for next year that you want to share with the community or promote or get anything out there? Um, you know, the people listening.

SPEAKER_01 32:38

I think just the main thing is, you know, come and check it out. Come check out Mother's Club. Come um in September, we have uh our first general meeting, and it's a great opportunity to hear about the different groups that are um within the Mothers Club. Um, I got to know a wonderful mom this year who her son's a sophomore this year, and she didn't join freshman year, but she came and she went gangbusters um sophomore year. So it doesn't matter if you have a incoming freshman or a senior, just come and check it out and see uh where your heart is calling you. And, you know, and if you can't join but you want to help, look for the signups. We have bake sales that the boys love and we love baking goods for them. You know, we have the rummage sale, which is so much fun. It's the coolest thing to watch to come together and to come to be taken apart, but we need we need a lot of hands for that. Um, trivia night. I'm I love trivia night. I'm terrible at it, but I love it. We have so much fun, we had so many laughs this past year at Trivia Night, you know. Um just just all the things, just the social things too, which are so fun. And like I said, just come check it out and and see, you know, where it goes. And then the the coolest part too, I don't not this year, but the following year, we're getting ready for the hundredth anniversary. And you know, we're we're already getting uh okay, mothers club, you know, how can you help? And we're like, we're here to help, however, you guys might need it. So that's exciting.

SPEAKER_03 34:15

I think we're gonna need to lean heavily on the mothers, the dads, the students. I think everyone will need to be involved for the hundredth.

SPEAKER_00 34:21

Yeah, that'll that'll definitely be an all hands-on deck. Absolutely. I echo what um Andrea said. Um, take the first step. Best piece of advice I can give, take that first step. You will never regret that you did. And um we're we're there to welcome everyone. And uh it's it's turned into one of the best things, certainly, I've ever done. And uh lifelong friendships, you just don't know who you're gonna meet. So take the first step. It's worth it.

SPEAKER_03 34:51

And if you guys want to find out more, it's obviously on the Catholic Central website. Yeah, yeah. You guys have your own social media account, CC Mothers Club.