Finding Light at The End of The Tunnel At St. Brendan’s

Flashing back to March of 2020, my eldest daughter Maggie was deep into her Kindergarten year at Birch Elementary School in North Olmsted. My youngest daughter Madelyn was getting ready to start Pre-School in the fall and extremely excited to follow in her sisters’ footsteps by going to Forest for pre-school.  Everything seemed right in line for the McKee family, as it did for the rest of the world.

I fondly remember sitting at my desk and mapping out everything in my mind for the coming weeks.  The MAC Tournament would be in town the coming week, and the NCAA Tournament in town the following week.  I was credentialed to cover both and everything seemed too good to be true.  Sadly, it was.

In a matter of hours, the world began to shut down with the news of COVID 19.  I knew little to anything about it until chaos ensued at a Dallas Mavericks basketball game, and the next thing I realized, everything started to shut down.  First, Tom Hanks had it, and the next thing I knew, it was sprouting up everywhere.  Apparently, this “cold virus” was a little more serious then anyone realized.

Before we knew it, my wife Emily and I were sent home from work, the kids from school, and everyone was left scrambling.  My initial heartbreak of being a High School Sports reporter was sorrow for the seniors who would be missing graduation and prom.  A decision to this very day, I vehemently disagree with the cancelling of.  Never the less, all of it was gone in the blink of a eye.

As spring turned into summer, matters began to worsen and my sole attention of “would there be High School football in the fall”, turned into, “where are we sending the girls to school?”  Maggie was lukewarm about Birch, but Madelyn couldn’t wait for Forest.  She so wanted to be like her sister.

First came the news that Forest would not have room and only special needs kids could go.  Then, we found out that Birch would not offer in school learning as all North Olmsted City schools would turn to virtual learning only. Fear instantly set in, and sent my family scrambling.

We were not prepared to home school Maggie and the thought of home school pre-school just seemed silly for Madelyn.  She needed a school, she needed to be around other little kids, they both needed normalcy.

So, what was our family to do?  St. Brendan’s to the rescue!  I have been a parishioner since 1990 and have been a Catholic since baptism in 1982.  My faith, is what keeps me going every single day.  No matter the challenge, the family illness or whatever stress life can bring, my lord Jesus Christ is my savior and St. Brendan’s in North Olmsted, was no longer just the place I went to worship, but the school that would now save my family.

St. Brendan’s is run by an incredible Pastor in Father Tom Woost who recently celebrated his 25^th year of priesthood.  The school principal, Julie Onacila, is a bonified saint, who works endless hours to make sure every child who walks through those doors gets the very best education possible, grades Pre-K – 8^th.  And of course, the school sectary, “Mrs. D” has become a staple of the school who handles everything from treating boo boo’s, to taking calls and questions from parents.

The school is safe and offered in person learning the entire time during the pandemic.  They had zero outbreaks of COVID, and even when a case would slip through, they took every caution needed to make sure it didn’t spread and everyone was safe.

Over the last two years, my wife, who is not Catholic has begun to come to church with us on a weekly basis.  A dream I’ve had since we married.  My daughters know the saints, know all the prayers and look forward to the next day of school in which they get to dress up as a Saint, as Maggie did in first grade as St. Margaret. Perhaps best of all, this past April, I got to witness Maggie make her first holy communion.

I hate COVID, I hate what it has done to this world, and all the ills it has brought our economy, our values and so many other poisonous things.  It took people out of church, out of school, out of work and so many other things. However, this is one dark tunnel that actually had a bright light at the end, and for my family it is St. Brendan’s.

The lord works in mysterious ways, and if you would’ve told me in March of 2020 that I would find a way to afford private school, I would have called you crazy.  Yet, two plus years later, here we are with next year already paid for.  Jesus finds a way.

No matter the darkness in your life, or whatever challenge comes your way, keep your faith and it will work itself out.

“The times we are going through are difficult because cruel persecution of the Church is raging. But you bold and good young people should not be afraid of this small thing; remember that the Church is a divine institution and cannot come to an end. She will last till the end of the world. Not even the gates of hell can prevail against her.” – Pier Giorgio Frassati

Thank you.

Vince McKee

CEO & Founder of Kee On Sports Media Group

coachvin14@yahoo.com

Byline – Vince McKee is the father of Maggie & Madelyn McKee. Vince is the Owner of KEE On Sports Media Group. A company built on the very best in sports coverage and broadcasts of High School Sports, Boxing, NPSL Soccer, MMA, WWE and everything the sports fans of Northeast Ohio want to know about. Vince McKee is a 11x Author