A Pastor's Perspective on Choosing SMA

In a compelling story of faith, education, and family values, Lutheran pastor Caleb Weight shares his journey of choosing Stella Maris Academy, a Catholic school, for his children's education. Despite coming from a different Christian denomination, the Weight family found that the school's commitment to faith-based education and financial accessibility aligned perfectly with their vision for their children's future. 

Caleb Weight, an associate pastor at Peace in Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, shared his journey and the values that led his family to choose Stella Maris Academy for his child’s education. 

His story began in the Twin Cities, where he and his wife Kara grew up. "We met in high school," Caleb recalls. "Her uncle was a DCE slash Pastor, and we had a youth trip." Their shared faith became the foundation of their relationship, leading them through college at Concordia St. Paul and then to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

The Weights' path eventually brought them to Duluth, where Caleb received a call to serve at Peace in Christ Lutheran Church. "We decided to take it because it's close to our family," he explains. "We have parents in the Twin Cities and in the Grand Rapids area." This move not only brought them closer to family but also presented a new challenge: finding the right education for their children.
    

As products of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), a conservative Lutheran denomination, Caleb and Kara place high value on Christian education. "Christian education is really important to us," Caleb emphasizes. "The church is the center of our life." This conviction led them to consider various options for their children's schooling, including homeschooling and public education.

However, their eldest daughter Nora's enthusiasm for learning about Jesus in school prompted them to reconsider.  "Nora started asking, 'Well, am I going to get to learn about Jesus there? Am I going to get to learn about the Bible?'" This innocent question sparked a deeper reflection on their educational choices.

Enter Stella Maris Academy, a Catholic school that offered the faith-based education the Weights were seeking. Despite not being Catholic themselves, they found the school's mission aligned closely with their values. Caleb explains, "We wanted our daughter to be in that environment... where faith gets to intersect with all of her learning."

The decision to enroll at Stella Maris wasn't without its challenges, primarily financial. However, Caleb was impressed by the school's commitment to making Christian education accessible. "Finances were the biggest obstacle for us," he admits. "But when I visited, they told us that finances should not be an obstacle for Catholic education or, in our case, Christian education. And you guys followed through on that promise."

This commitment to accessibility, combined with the school's strong academic and spiritual foundation, sealed the deal for the Weight family. Caleb reflects, "We have just had a great experience overall, and it was a pretty easy 'yes' when we figured out we were able to do it."

 

For the Weights, the value of a Stella Maris education goes beyond academics. Caleb sees it as an extension of their home life and church community. "Being in a Christian community is the best way to become and stay a Christian, in my opinion," he stated. He believes that this environment will help shape his children's worldview and prepare them for life's challenges.

"My biggest hope for all of my children is that they stay in the faith," he says earnestly. "That's probably my biggest fear, so that's my biggest hope - that they would always know Jesus, love Jesus, and that they would always be active in the church."

This hope extends to all aspects of his children's lives. Caleb believes that a strong foundation in faith will positively influence their future relationships, careers, and personal growth. "If they can come away with this great appreciation and love for the Gospel of Jesus and the scriptures, I think it's going to set them up to be extremely successful in everything else that they do," he explains.

For the Weight family, the decision to enroll their children at Stella Maris Academy is about more than just education. It's about nurturing a lifelong faith, building character, and preparing their children to navigate the world with strong moral foundations.

In a world where faith and education often seem at odds, the Weight’s story offers a perspective on how they can harmoniously coexist. Their journey with Stella Maris Academy serves as a testament to the enduring value of faith-based education and the lengths to which parents will go to provide their children with a holistic learning experience that nurtures both mind and spirit.