A couple of months ago, I was asked to write a brief reflection on how St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School shaped me into the person I have become and the important influence the school played on my spiritual and academic development.
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A Seminarian’s Memories of St. Charles School

Tucked away in my mother’s box of pictures is an image of a happy little kindergartner wearing a bright yellow rain coat, a vibrant red fireman’s hat, and sporting a shiny black pair of cowboy boots. Carrying an orange plastic pumpkin to collect Halloween candy, I stood there in the terrazzo hallway by Mrs. Ricker’s room waiting to trudge through the classrooms to show everyone that I was going to be a fireman when I grew up. Boy, did God have other plans for me!

Also nestled in the picture box are the memories of dressing up as Saint Paul on All Saint’s Day and standing before the statue of Mary in the courtyard with my classmates after we received our First Communion. There too, are other pictures: of my trip to Saint Augustine in fourth grade and of me sitting in Miss Patchett’s room reading a book. The memories just keep flooding in as I remember middle school and the antics of Mr. Dziedzic standing on the table teaching us that Star Wars really did have a connection to the Bible!

I wanted to never leave Saint Charles School. But the plan is for all little firemen to grow up and move into the realm of life where God wants us. We can hold on to the memories forever, but we can’t stay. We can only pass through the hallways and the classrooms learning what we will and then move forward on the path that God calls us to follow.

I am grateful that I spent my childhood at St. Charles School. I will forever be grateful to all the wonderful teachers and school staff (especially Mrs. Barbosa and Mrs. Windus who became like mothers to me). I will never forget the loving support of my family, my friends, and my church community. I believe that there is no better place for a future seminarian to develop his faith than in the arms of the patron saint for seminarians – Saint Charles Borromeo.

Tommy Pringle
St. John Vianney College Seminary