Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

By Mike Lang, OSV News

WILMINGTON, Del. — When Sarah Mazalewski received her diploma from St. Elizabeth High School on June 3, her parents, John and Jackie, experienced a familiar milestone for many parents. The last of their 13 children had graduated high school, marking a significant turning point in their lives. Unique to the Mazalewskis was that this was their 13th high school graduation, with 11 of those at St. Elizabeth.

The financial commitment concluded on May 31 when the final tuition payment to a Catholic school was deducted from their bank account after 31 years of payments.

“It was definitely worth it,” John said regarding the decision to send their children to Catholic schools. Both he and his wife attended public schools on Long Island but desired a faith-based education for their children — Claire, Matt, Bridget, Catherine, Bernadette, Cecilia, Daniel, Andrew, James, Anastasia, Jordan (who they raised as a daughter), Joey and Sarah.

Their journey began at Holy Spirit School in New Castle before transferring to St. Anthony of Padua School in Wilmington. Claire chose St. Elizabeth for high school and set a precedent followed by her siblings.

“We couldn’t physically have done an elementary school and two different high schools,” John explained to The Dialog newspaper of the Diocese of Wilmington. They valued St. E’s “community feeling and family-oriented atmosphere.”

Cecilia noted that Claire’s positive experience influenced her siblings’ decisions: “She had a great experience...and so on and so forth.” Like many Mazalewski children who were athletes at St. Elizabeth's Vikings teams—Cecilia played field hockey and basketball—the shared experiences contributed significantly to their sense of community.

Matt echoed these sentiments: “St. Elizabeth did a good job creating a family culture.” He appreciated teachers who were invested in both the school's culture and teaching.

Shirley Bounds, retired teacher and principal at St. Elizabeth's said: “To have sent 11 to St. Elizabeth is something I regard as a gift.” She highlighted the family's active church presence as impactful.

Anastasia remarked on how peers found it remarkable that one family would commit so many children to one school despite tuition costs: “Everybody knew me...‘It’s little Maz.’”

Andrew reflected on growing up with numerous siblings: “Twenty-five years of having 11 siblings...it was always nice to have someone in the hallways.”

John works as youth minister and facilities manager at St. Catherine of Siena Parish; Jackie is a nurse at Christiana Care Hospital. Despite space constraints in their three-bedroom townhouse near New Castle—one room each for parents, boys, girls—they never considered withdrawing from Catholic education due to its perceived value.

“That’s why we never bought a bigger house,” John stated about prioritizing tuition over moving expenses.

Three children currently reside at home where Cecilia recalled sharing athletic uniforms among siblings: “You’d fight over uniforms...whatever fit.”

Looking ahead towards future generations continuing this tradition remains uncertain though grandchildren already attend local Catholic schools such as St Peter Cathedral School accordingly described by Cecilia reflecting upon emotional significance during recent graduations celebrating familial achievements culminating through dedicated parental support across multiple decades instilling values encompassing work ethic alongside community service demonstrated post-Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts emphasized within parish-school events illustrating sustained faith-led leadership upheld consistently throughout family dynamics thereby fostering legacy characterized predominantly via generosity coupled alongside kindness acknowledged widely therein:

“I feel like most my family approachable easygoing friendly people," summarized Andrew adding "work ethic" distinguishing key attribute among his siblings reinforced positively shaping respective endeavors undertaken consequently appreciating mutually beneficial relationships established enduringly amidst institutional affiliations namely cherished memories affiliated closely corresponding directly related impactful educational experiences thereby attributed significantly toward parent-driven dedication ultimately recognized universally exemplified steadfast commitment manifested unequivocally toward achieving successful outcomes therein concluding favorably expressed sentiment echoed collectively amongst all involved parties thereof summarized succinctly accordingly affirmed conclusively:

“St E’s good us like think good them definitely good high school experience wouldn’t change it.”

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