A Hero Among Us / Chaplain Wayne
A Hero Among Us / Chaplain Wayne
The hero is known for achievements; the celebrity for “well-knowns.” The hero reveals the possibilities of human nature. The celebrity reveals the possibilities of the press and media. Celebrities are people who make news, but heroes are people who make history. Time makes heroes but dissolves celebrities.
Daniel J. Boorstin
When asked to write an article about a certain person that makes such a difference around the school community, I started to think to myself; what would be a great topic, or name if you will, to give to this certain person. It was quite hard at first, but as time went on I realized that nothing describes this person better than hero.
We all think of heroes as people who have superhuman powers, people who can lift buildings, or people that can fly above the clouds. But why dream about heroes when they are so much closer than we actually think. These heroes are all around us, and the one whom I would like to recognize is none other than Wayne Lachapelle. Wayne is the chaplain of Assumption College School and has been with us since the 2001/2002 school year.
Campus ministry at Assumption is ministry to students, staff, families, and the greater community. Campus ministry focuses on Christ's life, as well as encouraging outreach to the poor, sick, and elderly being afflicted, whether it be in Brantford or around the world. Campus Ministry at Assumption provides short-term counseling, and will refer individuals to professionals within the community if necessary. Under Wayne’s guidance, Campus ministry works to build a caring, loving, and fun community.
Over the years Wayne has done some amazing things for this school and the students in it. From Fashion shows to the Valentine’s Day Outreach at the John Noble Home, Wayne has truly shown how generous and selfless one person can actually be. Perhaps the highlight of this spirit of generosity was the House of Love project. In 2005 the Lion’s Den own Pelzer family was chosen to be part of the Habitat for Humanity program. Wayne wanted the Assumption College community to support the family in some special way. “I suggested that maybe the (ACS) kids could ‘adopt’ the Pelzer kids’ rooms and completely decorate and furnish them,” recalled Chaplain Wayne. The House of Love proved to be a smashing success as the Pelzer children were thrilled with their fully furnished bedrooms.
During school hours Wayne’s personal office is a place where students can share their thoughts, emotions, and daily life situations. To most of the students Wayne is not only a member of the administrative team at Assumption College School; he is considered a mentor and role model for all students that he connects with on a personal level. In this office Wayne makes time for anyone who needs it, often providing excellent advice and positive commentary. His own brand of humor adds certain liveliness to the room; this makes tough situations more bearable.
On a more serious note Wayne does more things than most can handle around the school. Wayne has a God-given talent that allows him to take on and lead numerous tasks at once. Assumption College School Principal Rob Campbell provided the following comments on Wayne’s contribution to the school community: “Wayne has worked tirelessly to provide meaningful opportunities for students to live the gospel values of faith, hope, love and charity. Our students’ lives have been deeply enriched by Wayne’s charismatic leadership.” Wayne’s optimistic attitude, time management, and organizational skills make him a true and fearless leader within the Lions Den.
Over the course of this year, Wayne has done so many things. He has led a dedicated sixteen member Student Council, he handles morning announcements as a very enthusiastic MC, and has dedicated his own personal time to lend a helping hand at additional school events; including the Canadian Cancer Society’s “Relay For Life.” Imagine that workload, but these are only what we would call “extra-curriculars.” In addition to this Wayne successfully fulfills his righteous duty and mission as the high school chaplain. This year he took on such jobs as organizing and carrying out all grade-level retreats, organizing school liturgies, general counseling, and planning school functions such as our own 15th anniversary Carnival Day.
Wayne’s character has single handedly exemplified the light that the students need on their journey through life. Each year, he takes on cooperative education students who serve as chaplain assistants. Earl Kuener, one of his coop students this semester, credits Wayne with providing many life lessons. “Wayne said that life is like a restaurant; you get what you order. What he meant by this is that I get out of life what I put into it. That made a lot of sense to me and it really made me think about how important it is to believe in ourselves.”
For senior students Wayne is not only our chaplain, but he is also a personal companion. His present and past achievements are indicative of the bright future that lies ahead. As you can see Wayne is an exceptionally valued member of the ACS school community.
You have blessed us with such a great year and for that I thank you. We thank you. Without your dedication and commitment our school would not be the same. So to all students out there who haven’t really had the chance to meet Wayne, I urge you to just stop by his office and give him a quick hello. I guarantee you that your life will be changed.
Written by: Matthew Picanco
Special Thanks To: Carolina Spagnuolo
