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King of Hearts 2021 - President Clem Martin

Added Feb 16, 2021 •

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Speech by President Clem Martin at 2021 King of Hearts Gala

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normally the first two minutes of my speech has we standing here waiting for the Applause to quiet down for a student speaker Michael did a great job early this evening and we were very out of him and all he has accomplished I'll be half of our board chair Peter Brennan our school principal Katie Olson our entire faculty and staff our students and their families I'd like to begin by saying thank you your presents tonight I'll be at Virtua and support of our mission and support of our young women and men helps to make many amazing things possible thank you we have a tremendous host committee for a Gala their names can be found in the program books that you received through email they're incredibly generous and of the driving force behind the success of this event every year know that we are grateful for all that you do to support our students has been great to work with you again this year thank you very much you're a prince of a son in a recent conversation I had with one of our board members who shared with me that is able to spend time with his father before he passed he was able to enjoy several conversations with his dad and he talked about this phrase your Prince of a son that is Dad shared with him and one of their final conversations after I hung up the phone I settled back into my computer and stared up at the monitor but my thoughts just as my own father who passed away more than 30 years ago almost immediately I could hear his voice and imagine him saying the only thing you'll get from TV is square eyeballs and a flat  my father was from the Bronx 20-plus years in the Marist brothers and the gentleness of my mom and all his sarcastic wit or the language of some of his globalism daddy share the Martin house my dad strongly believe that we did not need a television as kids my siblings and I would pester him in hopes of getting a TV for the house especially if some of our friends got an Atari or ColecoVision but my dad remain steadfast whenever the conversation was broached that phrase would be repeated I treasure the years I was able to spend with my father and remember finally sense of humor is integrity his face and the love he had for my mom and my siblings although it's been decades since my dad died there words or phrases that I can see and hear him saying as if it were yesterday 20 years from now what will be the words the phrases that will Echo about our memories from this past year between Zoom calls and binge watching my dad's where is might be the most accurate but they won't be the ones that I take from the pandemic the phrase I will remember is drawn from a conversation I had with a parent as we were talking I was sharing my thoughts about the importance of our school building she listens looked at me and responded Christ the King is more than a building this here what you are doing is more than a building as part of our family assistance fun we are provided families much do to support for rent and food over the past 10 months this mom this family was one of many we're able to provide with some help her words were part of a bigger conversation that helped to remind me of the strength the beauty of Christ the King Christ the King is much more than a building much more than a school for I was hungry and you gave me food I was thirsty and you gave me drink Bill and you comforted me in Matthew's gospel you find the roots of the Corporal Works of Mercy in the final judgement Passage got invites those who fed clothes and comforted him into the kingdom but Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you to drink many of our families have struggled over the past year lost jobs reduced hours civil unrest serious illness the loss of family members to covid-19 we are more than a bill we including all of you joining us this evening are the Community of Christ the King over the past 10 months we have demonstrated to the world our resolve we have demonstrated our care for our sister and brother we have seen Christ and nose and through our actions have demonstrated that we love our brothers and sisters partnering with our neighbors at Chicago Jesuit Academy we provided tons literally tons more than a hundred fifty thousand pounds of food to ask families and now there's a need across the West Side during the summer months in into the fall through the generosity of all those of you who have supported our family assistance fund as well as help from a great group of nuns the Society of helpers we have provided more than set thousand dollars worth of rent and food assistance to ctk families whatever job Partners Mackenzie and Company provided the computers needed to help us create a space at ctk for students to work remotely for their companies in the corporate works program the incredible generosity of the Perry family and McCormick foundations and their continued belief and increased array model people generously gave hats jackets and gloves needed for winter but also provided gifts and toys front of the tree so children can still experience the joy of Christmas the companies are work-study program that did not waver in the support of our young men and women even though they have not been able to deploy for work this year the countless supervisors reached out asking about their students wanting to ensure their well-being the people including many of you love you who have responded this year with increased generosity knowing that many in our community are struggling the call the cars we received throughout the year asking how to help the prayers offered for her students and teachers as well as their families I'm not sure if Matthew was told that a word count when writing the COS basketball but I was told by the folks on a development team to keep it short evening giving more time more examples could be shared but leave no doubt Christ the King is much more than a building in recent homily celebrating the Feast of Christ the King Pope Francis share the following dear young people dear brothers and sisters let us not give up on great dreams let us not settle only for what is necessary the Lord does not want us to narrow our Horizons or to remain parked on the road side of life he wants us to race boldly and joyfully toward lofty goals when we first opened our doors at Christ the King of It's the Great Recession in 2008 we did not narrow our Horizons a remained parked on the roadside of life before the head today the pandemic is put new obstacles in our path but I can assure you that our students will continue to race boldly and joyfully to our lofty goals they have you as brothers and sisters supporting them Chase great dreams we are much more than a building we are Christ the King thank you again for joining us this evening and for all you do to support the mission at Christ the King as we begin our paddle raise we ask did you give until it feels good thank you so very much for joining us this evening God bless

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