“All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.” -- John F. Kennedy Archbishop Vigneron,

Never procrastinate or do anything half-way. Accomplish what you wish to accomplish in your days in office, but do not encourage progress for progress's sake. Make every action meaningful. Make everyday count. God be with you.

Amy Fogel
Grade 11
Bishop Foley Catholic High School, Madison Heights

Rick

Dear Archbishop Vigneron,

My journey through nine years at Holy Cross Catholic School has been a very positive one. I learned that putting God first in my life opens up many opportunities for me. My Catholic education has helped me build strong values that will always stay with me. I am held accountable for my actions at all times, and I have learned to respect my peers and teachers. Our school feels like a family. I will truly miss this wonderful atmosphere when I graduate. Congratulations on your new position!

Sincerely,

Rick Berschbach
Grade 8
Holy Cross Catholic School, Marine City

Painting by Philomena Laboe, 11, a fifth-grader at St. Michael School in Monroe

Slagle

Archbishop Vigneron,

We, the students and staff members of St. Patrick School are proud to welcome you as the new archbishop of Detroit. At St. Patrick's, we learn to never lose hope, even when times are tough, because we know the Lord will guide us in the best direction. We love the kindhearted people in our school community, the remarkable religious education, and the fact that we can express our faith at school and no one objects about it. We also love participating in all the activities at St. Patrick School.

We would like to share our love for Catholic education with others and through you this would be possible. Could you please tell others how much we love St. Patrick School and the community spirit we share here? Sharing our faith is important and through Catholic education we are able to do that on a daily basis. Congratulations and good luck to you in your new position! We wish you the best!

Sincerely,

Awbreigh Slagle, 12
Grade 7
St. Patrick School, Carleton

Carrie

Dear Bishop,

Welcome back to Detroit! Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills was founded 50 years ago by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Marian is a community of love that both supports and challenges us to actively learn, lead and serve. Please remember us teenage girls in your prayers. Please pray that we cherish our Marian education. Please remember also, the senior class as we prepare to graduate and leave our faith community. Please ask God to bless us and may we continue to live with faith and integrity in our new settings and share these Marian values with those we meet. Thank you.

Carrie Tamarelli
Grade 12
Marian High School, Bloomfield Hills

Drawing by Trevor Hartman, 7, a second-grader at St. John the Baptist School in Monroe

Mackenzie

Dear Archbishop Allen Vigneron,

Congratulations on becoming the new archbishop of Detroit. My name is Mackenzie Flanagan, and I attend St. Scholastica Catholic School. I am sure you will do an excellent job as being our archbishop. I enjoy the environment that our school is located in, and I also enjoy the other children and teachers. The things I have learned from going to this school are that the teachers actually care about me and where my education is headed. At my school, we usually celebrate the Mass once a month. It has really inspired me to be honest and connect with the Lord much better than before. As a school we discussed it over, and we would really love for you to come to church and celebrate with us one day. To me, the importance of all Catholic schools is to help students connect to the Lord and to learn that it is a much better to pray rather than to fight at a public school. We ask you to stay positive on everything you do and to please continue supporting Catholic schools especially the ones in the city of Detroit. God bless you and have a wonderful day!

Yours truly,

Mackenzie Flanagan
Grade 7
St. Scholastica School, Detroit

Dear Archbishop Vigneron,

On behalf of Everest Academy, welcome back to Michigan! Everyone here was so glad to hear of your appointment! Shepherding all of us in Detroit is a large job, and I wish you well with it. I have been at Everest Academy since preschool and will be attending Everest High School in the fall of 2009. One of the best things about Everest for me is having many priests on campus who are always willing to help in any way. Please plan to visit Everest – I would really like to show you my school!

In Christ,

Benjamin Bates, 13
Grade 8
Everest Academy, Clarkston

Drawing by Carly Schultz, 5, in kindergarten at Holy Family Regional School in Rochester Hills.

Katherine

Welcome, Archbishop Vigneron! Over the past 10 years, I have had the privilege of attending Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Anchorville. I’m pleased to claim Archbishop Vigneron as an IC graduate. Immaculate Conception provides all students an excellent education and strong faith to carry with them for life. Everything I have learned or experienced here will stay with me forever.

I truly believe Immaculate Conception has taught me to achieve to the best of my ability. As a student, I can say that I would not be the person I am today if I wasn’t a part of the IC family.

Katherine Knoche
Grade 8
Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Ira Township

Bishop Allen Vigneron,

Do you have the spirit? The St. Dunstan Spirit!

Well, I have had the St. Dunstan spirit since kindergarten and have kept it all the way through eighth grade. I love my school because it is nice to have a learning environment where you are surrounded by friends and all your questions get answers. It will make me very sad to leave this school seeing as it is my last year here at St. Dunstan. However, I know that my friends and I will walk out of this school with a sense of accomplishment, pride, and St. Dunstan Spirit, just like all of the previous eighth-grade classes, as well as graduation classes to come.

Sadie Crunk, 13
Grade 8
Saint Dunstan Catholic School, Garden City

Drawing by Margaret Smith, 10, a fourth-grader at St. Edward on the Lake School in Lakeport.

Dear Archbishop Vigneron,

Congratulations on being the new archbishop! I am so proud to have someone like you to lead the Archdiocese of Detroit.

I am so proud to be at a Catholic school, learning about God, Jesus, and other things that help me grow in my faith. Congratulations again on becoming our new archbishop!

Sincerely,

Kurtis Rhein, 11
Grade 6
St. Mary Catholic School, St. Clair

Natalia

Archbishop Vigneron,

Congratulations on your appointment here in Detroit!

As a ninth-year student of St. Robert Bellarmine, I have been and am blessed with the highest quality education such a Catholic school provides. We, as a student body (aka SRB Cardinals), keep true to our mission statement: Strength in academics, Respect for others and Belief in Christian values. SRB students are afforded the foundation to become faith-filled and life-long learners. I am confident that under your leadership, Catholic schools will continue to flourish and be a source of continuity, challenge, spirituality and academic prowess. SRB has been, and will always be a venue of educational excellence.

Respectfully,

Natalia Havlin
Grade 8
St. Robert Bellarmine, Redford Township

Beattie

Welcome Archbishop Vigneron!

On behalf of the entire St. Frances Cabrini School community of Allen Park, I would like to congratulate you on your position as archbishop of Detroit. With the economy affecting the state of the Church the way it has been, taking over as our archbishop will not be a trouble-free task. Through faith, knowledge, and right judgment, we believe that you were blessed with this opportunity by God to fully carry out His and your mission to spread His word and love to the people. As your journey continues on this new found path, we send you our support and prayer-filled thoughts. Jesus’ humble servant and CHS Student,

Joseph Beattie
Grade 9
Cabrini High School, Allen Park

Welcome, Archbishop Vigneron!

We cannot wait until Archbishop Vigneron is installed as archbishop of Detroit. It is exciting that we are getting a new bishop. We know that Archbishop Vigneron will do great things for all for the Catholic schools around. Here at St. Germaine Catholic School, our pastor, Fr. Jim (Bjorum), is an important part of our Catholic community. He helps us realize what is important in our lives. He teaches us how to be altar servers and better people. Fr. Jim leads us on the right path and helps us get back on the path when we are off.

Ethan Slabaugh, Rex Corless & Steven DeGrez
Grade 7
St. Germaine School, St. Clair Shores

Dear Archbishop Vigneron,

Welcome to Detroit. The school and church are happy to welcome you to our parish. The teachers here are really nice, so are the students. We have small classes so you get to know everyone. Holy Redeemer School has a room where kids can go during school time if they need extra help. They also give advanced work to other students. The kids learn more about Jesus in a Catholic school and I like it. Archbishop Vigneron come and visit us at our school. We would like you to come and say a Mass some time. If you want, I know a good Mexican restaurant.

Carmen Ramirez
Grade 3
Holy Redeemer School, Detroit

Dear Archbishop Vigneron,

St. Genevieve School and community would like to congratulate you on becoming the archbishop. We would also like to welcome you back to Michigan. We know of your devotion to quality Catholic education, and here at St. Genevieve, we strive to do just that. St. Genevieve is a welcoming environment all its own, that inspires and encourages young Catholics to live to their fullest potential through Christ. Throguh Christ we are strengthened, and are inspired to help strengthen others. In strengthening each other, St. Genevieve becomes more than a school; it becomes a place where dreams are nurtured, true friendships are made and love abounds.

Zachary Lapinski, Christopher Semaan and Hannah Wagner
Grade 8
St. Genevieve School, Livonia

Hello, Archbishop Allen Vigneron!

Welcome to your new duties in the Archdiocese of Detroit! I have had a really good experience being a student in a Catholic school (Christ the Good Shepherd in Lincoln Park). I would like you to try and fix the problems in other Catholic schools that may have to close so more students can have an opportunity to have a good Catholic education. It would also be good if you can provide more help with tuition for people with money problems so they can be able to send their children to a Catholic School. I have had a great time being a student at Christ the Good Shepherd School! The teachers are amazing and the students are awesome! We have a great school program, a great principal and a great priest here! My favorite thing is that we are like family. We work together and put a lot of effort in making our parish and school continue to grow and thrive.

May God bless you and be with you always!

Charlie Lourenco
Grade 8
Christ the Good Shepherd School, Lincoln Park