Chicago, February 10, 2007. The sounds of the Chicago Bears fight song still echo in the corridors of White Pines Academy, who recently hosted Mrs. Virginia McCaskey, owner of the Super Bowl contender Chicago Bears. Mrs. McCaskey will be honored at the White Pines Gala in March with the Semper Altius award, who came to the school to meet the students, staff, and administration of the school.

A lifelong Catholic and daily mass attendee, Mrs. McCaskey was married for 60 years and is a mother of 11, grandmother of 21, and great grandmother of 12. When asked what she attributes the longevity of her marriage to, she responded “love of God” first, and then “loving each other”. Mrs. McCaskey still finds the time to be involved with many apostolic projects in addition to attending every Bears game, with one notable exception.  A few years ago, when her grandson was being confirmed on a game day and she chose to attend his Confirmation to show him that nothing is more important than God. The Bears’ opponents that day were their division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings.

Mrs. McCaskey visited each classroom and gave each student a holy card of St. Katherine Drexel that had been blessed by Fr. Paul Campbell, LC, just after she arrived. She wanted each student to realize the part that this saint played in her decision to participate in the school’s Gala. Mrs. McCaskey attended Drexel University in Philadelphia which was founded by Saint Katherine’s grandfather, and Saint Katherine’s feast day is March 3, the same date as the White Pines Gala.

After the final student was greeted and holy card given, everyone participated in a Mass offered for Mrs. McCaskey’s intentions. The homily given by Fr. Matthew Kaderabek, LC, focused on teamwork and how hard work towards a goal always pays off.

Just before the conclusion of Mass, a thank you address was given by an eighth grade student who spoke about how students at White Pines are sculpted in the image of Christ. The student praised Mrs. McCaskey as a role model who showed that it was possible to bring Christ into our ever changing culture. To bring an appropriate end to Mrs. McCaskey’s visit, the entire school bid farewell by singing the Chicago Bears Fight Song which the students had learned especially for the occasion, rooting as much for the football team’s victory as for the school’s continued success.