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The following information is meant to provide you with a little background about

myself and my vision as a 7th-8th grade Religion teacher at Our Lady of Grace.

Howdy! My name is Greg Aitchison (pronounced like the letter "H" + ison) and I was born and raised in the magnificent (no, heavenly!) state of Iowa (Go Hawks!). I attended Catholic school from kindergarten to my senior year of high school before heading off to Iowa State University. After a year of being internally nagged by faith-related questions (Why be Catholic? What will make me truly happy? Etc.) I transfered to the University of St. Thomas in search for answers (of which I believe I found!). In 2004 I graduated with a degree in Theology and a double minor in Catholic Studies and Youth and Family Ministry.

Upon graduating I spent a year discerning the priesthood and studying Philosophy at Mundelein Seminary (near Chicago). During this time I came to the realization that God had a different vocation set aside for me (or as I like to say, "God kicked me out of seminary"). I soon applied and was accepted into the University of Notre Dame's ACE (Alliance for Catholic Education) service-learning program. Following two summers of class work at Notre Dame and two years of teaching 5th-8th grade Theology at a Catholic school in Dallas, Texas, I received my Masters in Education and promptly moved back to the Midwest.

In the summer of 2008 I became the luckiest man on earth when I married my college sweetheart, Kate. On March 25, 2010, things got even better when we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, lil' miss Mary Sharon (for those of you interested, pictures and video of her can be seen here).

This school year (2010-2011) marks my 4th year of teaching middle school Religion at Our Lady of Grace. While my position at OLG certainly helps put bread on the table and pay off the bills, I can honestly say that the reason I'm teaching is because I feel like it's what God has called me to do. Lucky for me, I get to spend time laughin, praying, and learning with amazing kids each and every day!

Each year I tell my students what goals I have as their Religion teacher. Every year they are always the same:

                                 1. To help you become the saint God has called you to be

                                 2. To teach you a ton about our awesome Catholic faith

In essence, I want all of my students to become mini-theologians and BIG-TIME SAINTS. Of course, the latter is much more important than the former, but both would be preferred!

All that said, I know the best way to make someone else a saint is by first being one myself. So if you are reading this, I humbly ask that you pray for me, that my words, actions, and teaching may always reflect the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ.

May God be praised, today and always!

2 Tim 4:7,

Greg Aitchison

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