St. John Paul II celebrates
10 years of quality, affordability

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Bishop Michael Mulvey appointed Father Peter Martinez as president of St. John Paul II in March.

Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

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When community members in the Diocese of Corpus Christi met with then newly appointed Bishop Edmond Carmody in 2000, they wanted something done about the large numbers of young people leaving high school before graduation.

“It represented a huge loss of talent to the area,” Bishop Carmody said.

To remedy the situation, the diocese opened John Paul II High School in August 2006 with a freshmen class to provide an affordable and accessible Catholic education. The school—which took on the name of St. John Paul II when its benefactor was beatified—added a class every year until grades 9–12 were in place. 

The school is still going strong with an enrollment of 310, and on May 5 will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special Mass at the Immaculate Conception Chapel on campus. And now it has new leadership; in March, Bishop Michael Mulvey appointed Father Peter Martinez as president of the school.

The small student population has been a plus for students and has meant they perform much better in class. Because of the small numbers, the staff is able to listen and try to help each student.

“Since enrollment is lower, all the staff is able to form closer relationships with the students,” Bishop Carmody said. “Statistically, a lot of these students might have dropped out.”

The John G. and Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation helped with building renovation costs. From its inception, the school began to cover tuition for eligible students with the help of an endowment from Citgo. 

Father Martinez will be doing double duty as he assumes his new position as president of the school while remaining on as pastor at St. Paul the Apostle in Flour Bluff. But he hopes to have an assistant priest onboard at the parish soon.

He is proud of many things the high school has achieved, including the performance of 10,000 volunteer hours annually by students. They help with the annual Special Olympics track meet at Cabaniss Field and work with the Ark Assessment Center & Emergency Shelter for Youth.

“We want students with a heart for others, not just for themselves,” Father Martinez said.

He is especially proud of the school’s academic programs. Fifty-four percent of the staff has postgraduate degrees and there are five dual-credit courses taught by certified teachers in theology, history, English, Spanish and biology.

“The school has had an exponential impact. It has created students who will be servant leaders,” Father Martinez said.

And this fall, the high school will be starting a new science, engineering technology program called “Project Lead the Way.” Flint Hills Resources will sponsor the engineering component, Father Martinez said.

Father Martinez will also provide leadership to Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School.
“My job is to unite grades six through 12 under one mission. We are reaching out to the community to help our students have resources to achieve success in this life and in the life to come,” Father Martinez said.

In order to achieve this goal, Father Martinez announced a bold new program as part of the 10th anniversary celebration. “In light of this anniversary, and the coming together of leadership to oversee both St. John Paul II High School and Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School, we are implementing a Tuition Incentive Program for grades 6th to 12th,” Father Martinez wrote to current and prospective parents.

Currently, the actual cost per student at St. John Paul II High School is $9,700 and at Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School is $6,900. These costs are well above next year’s tuition of $6,000 for the high school and $3,795 for the middle school; however, “no matter the cost, Catholic education is a great sacrifice for our families,” Father Martinez said.

The objective of the Tuition Incentive Program is to recognize the sacrifices families are making for a Catholic education; build unity between the two schools; and invite new families in the community to share in that unity. The highlights of the program are modeled after the 10 years of St. John Paul II’s existence and thus will offer 10 percent off tuition responsibility for:

• any new families enrolled by June 3;
• returning families enrolled by May 16;
• every accepted and enrolled new applicant family that names a family as the referral;
• incoming Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School 6th graders from Catholic parochial schools that do not have a 6th grade; and families with multiple children in 6th through 12th grade.

“Parents want the best for their children,” Father Martinez said. “It is because they wish them success in all of life’s challenges that Catholic schools are the right choice. Catholic schools provide an education program based on religious beliefs and values, enabling children to grow in their understanding of themselves, their relationship with God and their relationship with others.”

Catholic school students are encouraged to contribute to society and to assume leadership roles in shaping public discourse, attitudes and programs. In Catholic schools, young people learn to question, to establish confidence in their own good choices in life and to experience the sense of accomplishment stemming from individual achievement and responsibility, Father Martinez said.  

For more information on the Tuition Incentive Program call (361) 855-5744.  

(Alfredo E. Cardenas contributed to this article.)