On Thursday, one of my staff members posted a yearbook picture from 1979 to our school's Facebook and Instagram accounts. The picture shows several students making what any viewer today would see as a Nazi salute, while one is wearing a KKK costume.

After investigating the matter, it became clear that no current student or other staff member was involved in this posting. The staff member who posted the image was the singular person involved in selecting and posting this photo. While we believe this was not an intentional act, this was a serious lapse in judgment that precludes this person from continuing in a position that holds such responsibility. Because of this, this person's employment with Lansing Catholic has been terminated effective today.

The picture is old, but the wounds it opens are fresh. I am deeply sorry that this picture was shared under my leadership, and I'm sorry that one of our students — no matter how long ago — would decide to play dress up in the clothing of hate.

Lansing Catholic High School is, above all else, a Catholic institution. As we go through the season of Lent — a time when the Catholic Church asks us to remember how we've fallen short of what our shared faith demands — each one of us can reflect on our mistakes.

As an entire school, we've started a Novena for Racial Healing and Unity as we hold additional conversations to discern what concrete actions we can take to move us closer to living as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

I pray that each of us can take this chance to accompany one another more closely and find new respect for the experiences and suffering of all people.

St. John Paul the Great – pray for us.

Sincerely In Christ,
Dominic