Schools

Chicago Bishop Visits Everest Academy

Bishop Andrew Wypych of the Archdiocese of Chicago had lunch with students and led a special mass Friday, Jan. 6.

Students and teachers at in Lemont were treated to a special visit Friday by Bishop Andrew Wypych of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Wypych's visit included a lunch in his honor, a tour of the school, student presentations and a mass in the school's chapel.

When the bishop entered the school, he was greeted by students, families, faculty and board members, who lined the hallways and applauded. After a tour of the school and lunch, the bishop enjoyed a presentation by students that included songs, a prayer in Polish and an address from student council members Veronica Kopec of Lemont and Peter Diamond of Orland Park.

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Bishop Wypych spoke to the students for a few minutes, telling them how
he loved school and reading as a child. He encouraged them to become good readers themselves.

“People who read become great thinkers—people who run countries, bishops, and priests.”

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Originally from Poland, Father Wypych came to Chicago in 1983 and was ordained a bishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal George on Aug. 10, 2011. He is now responsible for administering Vicariate V, which covers much of the southwest of the archdiocese, including Lemont.

On Friday, students honored Wypych's Polish heritage by giving him flowers and a gift, after the Polish custom.

The visit concluded with mass, which was celebrated by Wypych, Fr. Edward Gleeson of St. James at Sag Bridge and the school’s chaplain, Fr. Jon Budke, L.C.

Everest Academy is an independent Roman Catholic school in Lemont that teaches students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.


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