Earlier this year, Marist was voted the number one private school on Chicago’s South Side. With students coming from over 80 zip codes and 200 places of worship, the people who make up Marist come from all sorts of different religious backgrounds and upbringings.
In a survey conducted by MHS Media, students were asked which religion they identified with. Out of 138 responses, 131 students identified as a denomination of Christianity, with Catholicism being the most common.
Although Marist is a Catholic school, the different religions at Marist still feel acknowledged .
“I do feel represented at Marist, and even though it is a Catholic school, there are a good amount of Orthodox Christians that I am good friends with and can bond with over our shared faith,” says senior George Kottoras, who identifies as a Greek Orthodox Christian.
No matter which religion, the majority of students at Marist care deeply about their faith.
The same survey found that 66.7% of students consider religion very important or a priority in their lives.
“My faith as a Greek-Orthodox Christian is one of, if not the most important thing to me. I attend church as much as possible on Sunday,” says Kottaras. “In fact, the thought of becoming a Greek Orthodox Priest has lingered in the back of my mind for years.”
“I can’t live without God, without him there would be no life,” says freshman Eliora Hartt.
According to the poll, 75% of students believe that being in a faith-based environment has positively impacted their faith.
“Marist has helped strengthen my relationship with God and my religion because it offers me a medium to do so,” says senior Billy Petto.
Marist presents many opportunities for students to practice their faith and get closer with their religion.
“The chapel is open all the time and that’s a great resource for me to use,” says Petto.
“Kairos, monthly mass, and the religion classes here have strengthened my faith even though I am not Catholic,” says Kottoras.
Seniors can choose from four different religion classes to help them explore their faith.
“Faith, Science and Reason is an insightful class because you get to learn about your faith and answer philosophical questions,” says senior Josh Reisner.
Senior Service allows students to serve their community and practice their faith at sites such as CPS elementary schools in the area and different adult care facilities.
“I’ve learned a lot of virtues such as compassion and patience and I’ve made a lot of meaningful connections,” says Petto, who is currently enrolled in the course.
For students who want to engage with their peers in a learning environment, they have the option to take Peer Leadership.
“I think it’s a unique experience to have your peers in the classroom with you assisting with basic learning needs,” says senior Ava Krueger.
The final option, Religion in the 21st Century, allows students to explore different religions they might come across in their everyday lives, including Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
For 35% of students polled, Marist’s Catholic identity influenced their decision to attend.
“The fact that Marist is a Catholic school helped me lean towards it rather than either of the public high schools that I could have gone to. I would rather attend a school with faith-based values and an opportunity to meet those that are close to their faith than a public school without these opportunities,” says Kottoras.
