Letter to the Parents and Teachers of Atonement Catholic Academy
From: Dan Sevigny
President, Lumen Christi Academy
Chairman, Restoring Christian Culture Initiative
Dear beloved parents and teachers of the former Atonement Catholic Academy,
Yesterday, my heart was heavy when I received a phone call from one of your teachers telling me that your school had made the awful decision to close entirely. As a fellow parent who once walked these same halls with my own children at Atonement, I have always prayed for that institution's success, despite the many challenges it faced. I know that for you as teachers and parents, this is an extraordinarily difficult time filled with uncertainty about the future of your children's souls and education.
My letter today comes from my heart as a father who understands your struggle. I want to share with you why my family and I felt so compelled by the eternal destiny of young souls that we stepped out in faith and began Lumen Christi Academy two years ago.
A Word of Caution
Before sharing our story, I must speak to you as one parent to another. In emails I've read and statements I've heard, there seems to be an echoing from people in leadership telling you, "Don't worry, send your children to a public institution. It'll be fine," or "Any school with a Catholic name is good enough."
Parents, this breaks my heart because I know what's at stake—the eternal souls of your precious children. We are living in a time when the very leaders who should be protecting our children's faith are instead encouraging us to surrender to the spirit of this age.
True Catholic education is not about having a crucifix on the wall or teaching Bible verses as an afterthought. It is about forming immortal souls to know, love, and serve our Lord with their whole being. It is about placing the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the very center of their daily formation. It is about grounding our children in thousands of years of Church wisdom so that when they face this broken world, they have souls anchored in truth and minds equipped to live as authentic disciples of Christ.
This is what drives me each day—the knowledge that we are not merely educating students, but forming future saints.
Our Mission at Lumen Christi Academy
I understand the weight of this decision. When my wife and I, along with another family, began Lumen Christi Academy, we started with just six students—including our own children—because we believed that the salvation of souls was worth any sacrifice. Today, we have grown to 28 students, and we are building out a 10,000 square foot facility to serve kindergarten through 12th grade for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Parents, if you are seeking a school where your children's souls will be nurtured with the same care you would give them at home—a school that is unapologetically Catholic, where Christ truly reigns supreme, where we are deliberately forming saints for Heaven—then I invite you to consider what God is doing at Lumen Christi Academy.
If you're weary of institutional compromises and yearn for a place where your children can experience childhood as God intended—playing on grass instead of concrete, gathering daily for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, receiving nourishment for both body and soul through our hot breakfast and lunch program for every teacher and student included—I pray you will consider visiting us.
"A Different Kind of Catholic Education: Where Faith, Family, and Finances Actually Align"
As a father who has wrestled with the financial burden of authentic Catholic education, I know the impossible choices many of you face. That's why we have created what we call "A Different Kind of Catholic Education: Where Faith, Family, and Finances Actually Align."
My heart breaks when I see faithful families—families blessed by God with many children—forced to choose between properly forming their children's souls and putting food on the table. This is not God's will. So we decided to do something truly counter-cultural: We aligned our tuition structure with authentic Catholic values about family life.
Our philosophy is simple: If God has blessed your family with many children, that doesn't automatically mean He's blessed you with proportionally more income. We believe Catholic education should be accessible to faithful families of all sizes and means.
Our Revolutionary Approach:
Income-based tuition scaling that respects family size
Significant discounts for second and third children
No additional tuition costs for the 4th or more children
Self-reported income categories that honor family dignity
Simple and generous tuition forgiveness available as needed
Clear, transparent pricing without hidden fees
10% discount for RCCI Members
We are True to the Faith...Fair to the Family—where large families are welcomed, not penalized.
For families seeking full immersion in Catholic classical education, we also offer Monday-Thursday boarding options for grades 6-12, with the same family-friendly pricing structure. Boarding students join in praying Vespers, gather for community dinners, and are mentored by our Luminaries who provide guidance and accountability.
A Personal Invitation
As one parent to another, I want to speak directly to your heart. I know you are facing enormous pressure to "just find something that works" or to "not worry so much about finding the perfect Catholic school."
But I implore you—please do not surrender the souls of your children for the sake of convenience or societal acceptance. The salvation of your children's souls is what matters most. This is not the time to compromise or to believe the lie that "good enough is good enough."
Yes, the path of authentic Catholic education requires sacrifice. Yes, it may mean driving further distances, making financial sacrifices, or facing criticism from those who have chosen easier roads. But remember: God has entrusted these precious souls to you, and He will provide the grace and strength you need to do what is right for them.
Please, I beg you as a fellow parent: Hold fast to the faith, even when it feels like persecution, even when the path seems impossible. Be inspired by the knowledge that you have the power to shape eternity through the choices you make for your children today. Your courage to do what is right—regardless of the obstacles—will echo into eternity.
I am here for you during this difficult time. If you would like to speak with me personally—parent to parent, heart to heart—I will make myself available. I encourage you to visit our website at www.lumenchristiacademy.org to see our complete vision for forming young souls.
Please know that I am praying for each of your families during this time of discernment. Hold fast to the truth that your children "were not baptized merely to succeed in a fallen world, but to transform it. They were not created only for earthly happiness, but for sainthood. They deserve an education worthy of their immortal souls."
The road is indeed narrow, and the burden is real—but so too is the glory that awaits the faithful. Do not let the world convince you to settle for anything less than what God desires for your children's souls.
I encourage you: Do what is right, no matter the cost.
In Christ,
Dan Sevigny
President, Lumen Christi Academy
Chairman, Restoring Christian Culture Initiative
Visit us at: www.lumenchristiacademy.org
Email: president@lumenchristiacademy.org
"What greater work is there than training the mind and forming the habits of the young?" —St. John Chrysostom
Lumen Christi Academy: Where saints are forged, civilization is preserved, and Christ reigns supreme.
