Freshman Brooke Holtquist Finds Joy in Helping Others Every Christmas
Barb Dawson • December 18, 2024
During Lombard's Shop With a Cop Event
Montini Catholic freshman, Brooke Holtquist (Lombard) finds great joy in helping others. In fact, it is a family tradition. On Saturday, December 7th, (and every December since she was very young) Brooke (with her mother, Elizabeth and brother Blake '24) joined Lombard police (and the Lombard Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association) at their 26th Annual Shop With a Cop event . 'Shop with a Cop' is a Lombard community outreach program where police officers take children shopping for holiday gifts with the goal of providing a unique opportunity for them to shop for their families while building positive relationships between law enforcement and the community. (While the children are busy shopping for their families, volunteer shoppers select special gifts for the children.)
Brooke has been participating in this event with her mom and brother, Blake '24 since she was very little. "We arrive (at the Village Hall) at 7AM to help decorate the room, place wrapping paper, tape, and scissors at each of the tables, and the officers go pick up the children and bring them back to the village.The officers and their designated volunteer hop in the squad cars and they all caravan with lights and sirens to Dicks Sporting Goods and Target where the children have an opportunity to shop for their families with funds raised throughout the year. After shopping is completed, everyone meets back at the Village Hall to wrap presents, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and eat lunch."
Volunteering is something that Brooke takes very seriously - for the "good feelings" she experiences knowing she is helping others. "My advice for my peers is to get involved with your community and make it a tradition around the holidays or make it a monthly goal to volunteer. Volunteering is both rewarding to the volunteer and to those who you are helping. It's a win-win situation!"
Brooke and her family also help out with the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser every year when Law enforcement officers "stake out" on local Dunkin' rooftops to raise awareness and donations for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.
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Montini Catholic in Lombard is proud to announce the senior members of their 2025 Prom Court. The king and queen will be announced and crowned during the Lasallian college preparatory high school's Prom Night on Friday, April 25th. The evening, themed - The Roaring 2020s - will be held at Bolingbrook Country Club. Class of 2025 Prom Court Members Queen Liliana Cruz Peyton Farrell Natalie Gartlan Autumn Schumerth Sienna Skarda King Nicky Castaldo Jonathan Hayes Sean Hubeny Matthew Silveyra Collins Whitfield Image above l to r: Peyton Farrell, Collins Whitfield, Natalie Gartlan, Sean Hubeny, Liliana Cruz, Nicky Castaldo, Autumn Schumerth, Matthew Silveyra, Sienna Skarda and Jonathan Hayes
We were honored to be joined at Mass on Monday, April 7th 2025 by Father Jeff Stoneberg of Christ the King Parish and Brothers Rob Veselsky, Chuck Gregor, Joel McGraw, Richard Merkel, James Gaffney, Phil Jones, Brother Kotek, Dr. Steven Torres and Brother Br. Michael Fehrenbach (with Principal Chris Tiritilli (left) and President Kevin Beirne (far right)) to celebrate the Feast Day of our Founder St. John Baptist De LaSalle. Students commemorated the 306th Anniversary of St. John Baptist de La Salle, Patron Saint of Teachers and Founder of our Lasallian Mission. He was a man of deep prayer, unwavering faith, and boundless compassion, devoting his life to God through service and education. "St. John Baptist De Lasalle, pray for us. Live, Jesus, in our hearts, forever."
Under the direction of Fine Arts Department Chair and Music Director, Donnie Glowinski and Art Teacher Christiana Blatchley, Montini Catholic students were invited to participate in the creation of a beautiful mosaic of the Lasallian college preparatory high school's founder, St. John Baptist De Lasalle. St. John Baptiste De Lasalle was designated the Patron Saint of teachers by the Catholic Church in 1950. The artistic endeavor was an activity created as a part of Montini's celebration of Belongingness Week (March 24-28, 2025). "Belongingness Week is designed to promote a sense of inclusion, connection, and community among students and throughout the school," said Principal Chris Tiritilli. "The purpose of this week is to enhance and emphasize an environment where each student feels known, accepted, valued and supported, regardless of their background, identity, or differences. During this week, we seek to provide several experiences and activities to celebrate the things that make us each unique and special, such as the backgrounds, experiences and traditions that we come from, all while also realizing that we come together and belong as one Montini community and family." Throughout the week, each department wwas asked to organize an activity to align with one of the three main goals of the week: Building Positive Relationships, Promoting Inclusion, Increasing Self-Esteem and Emotional Well-Being. The mural was a way for Montini students to come together through a fun and artistic activity. Each piece of the mosaic symbolized an individual, with its unique shape, color, and position contributing to the overall 'masterpiece.' The final piece will be unveiled during Montini's upcoming Mass to celebrate the Feast Day of St. John Baptist De Lasalle which is April 7th.
