Go with God, God goes with You!

#4  Be Saint Martin

If you have not yet heard, a very special thing has been happening since 2003 on 6111 Lausche Avenue in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood on Cleveland's east side--namely the transformation of urban Cleveland, one student at a time. Saint Martin de Porres High School is a Cristo Rey school of about 500 students and upwards of 80 faculty/staff members. Recent graduates are attending--and many excelling at--local colleges/universities as well as a host of Jesuit institutions throughout the country. At the heart of their mission are the following words:

WORK. STUDY. SERVE. LEAD. PRAY

In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples that "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." I like to think that sometimes we are most humbled when others tell it how it is versus our own interpretation. I have included two very unique videos, from young alumni as well as parents/corporate work study sponsors, both of which I believe capture what it is to be Saint Martin. I could list the names of the students, faculty and staff who have given countless hours to making Saint Martin de Porres High School the incredible academic and spiritual community that it is; however, I would like you to meet them and see for yourself. Feel free to watch these witnesses or perhaps visit us the next time you drive past E.55th & St. Clair. 

so when are you moving back to Cleveland?

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard that question, since I departed from northeast Ohio in May 2011. While I would love to live more permanently in Cleveland someday, there are many factors that become involved in such a decision. Time, as always, will tell. I did, however, leave you with the promise that I would continue the FINAL FOUR moments of my Top 25 Cleveland countdown, so I would like to follow through on that guarantee. Please enjoy the last four in a seemingly 2-year series of posts that put the final squirts of Bertman's Ballpark Mustard bottle on the best four years of my life.