June 30, 2010

Arrupe president steps down, new one to start this week

By John Gleason

Now that school is out for the summer at Arrupe Jesuit High School in northwest Denver, Father Stephen Planning, S.J., is cleaning out his desk.  A changing of the guard is taking place as he steps down from his position as school president today, June 30.

“I’ve been here since before the school opened up its doors to receive students,” he told the Denver Catholic Register. “It’s hard to say goodbye to anyplace you’ve lived, especially one you’ve been a part of from the beginning.  But it’s good to know I’m leaving behind a program that’s thriving and firing on all cylinders.”

After eight years as president, Father Planning is leaving to complete the last phase of Jesuit formation called “tertianship,” a spiritual year during which he’ll make his final vows as a Jesuit. 

“I’m going to miss the people here,” Father Planning said.  “But I have the best principal anyone could ask for in the person of Michael O’Hagan, a staff that can’t be beat and then, of course, there are the kids.”

Arrupe Jesuit High School is a co-educational, college preparatory school serving economically disadvantaged students from Denver’s inner-city neighborhoods.  The mission of Arrupe is to empower graduates who will continue their education and will return as leaders in their communities.  As part of their study, students work one day a week at corporations that have partnered with the school.  Through this work-study program students earn nearly 70% of their tuition.  Proud that the enrollment is now at near capacity, Father Planning said that in the beginning, selling a new idea in education posed a challenge.

“We had the standard challenges like finding a building and getting it ready for the kids, but we also had to win over parents so they would see this as a place worthy of sending their children to,” he said.  “Today the student body stands at 300 and our students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend high school, work at more than 90 companies in the area. Because of this (partnering) success we can offer them a quality Catholic education.”

Taking over for Father Planning will be Father Timothy McMahon, S.J., who spent six years as provincial superior for the Missouri Province and most recently was rector of the house of philosophical studies at St. Louis University.  Father McMahon, who has worked in secondary education at both the classroom and administrative level and was one of Arrupe’s founding board members, told the Register he’s looking forward to taking over as president.

“Father Planning has done a fantastic job as president,” Father McMahon said.  “The school’s in good shape, they have a dedicated faculty and board of trustees—everyone is so engaged in the mission of the school. I’m excited at working with the people there and getting to know the students and families.”

Father McMahon takes over as president July 1.