News Release: Chesterton Academy of St. James Announces New Headmaster Mr. Greg Billion
Mr. Greg Billion
When describing education, our patron G.K. Chesterton said that it is “the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.” This endeavor is more pertinent today than ever, for we live in a society that is indeed at risk of losing its soul. Amidst such a crisis, relying on societal trends and fads to form our youth is proving to be insufficient, presenting us with the noble yet challenging task of rearing our youth in a more intentional way, one that will prepare them to withstand the buffets of this windy world. Chesterton wisely noted that “A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.” This prophetic remark continues to ring true today as the tyranny of relativism, the breakdown of the family, attacks on religious freedom, and the denial of the dignity of the human person continue to gain momentum in society as they sweep the many downstream. It is no surprise that our youth feel groundless, dissatisfied, and even hopeless in a world where such idols are worshipped to no avail. In the midst of the resulting struggle for meaning, young people are filled with a deep longing for something greater to hope and live for.
Our proposal to youth is ever ancient yet ever new: that life to the full is being offered to them in Christ, and that in Him our deepest longings are fulfilled. At our academy, we stand firm in the idea that Chesterton put so well: “that there is a whole truth of things, and that in knowing it and speaking it we are happy.” Indeed, it is Christ who provides this unity, He who is our Way, Truth, and Life. This idea is manifested in both our curricular approach, which seeks to integrate all of the disciplines into a beautifully ordered whole, and in our community life, which places our human pursuits in the proper perspective within the life of Christian charity, vocation, family, and ministry. Our classical curriculum introduces students to life’s biggest questions, while also giving them the tools to arrive at real answers to these questions for themselves. From Homer to Dante, from Socrates to Thomas Aquinas, from Euclid to Newton, our curriculum not only furnishes the minds of our students with Goodness, Truth, and Beauty, but also equips them with the ability to perceive and incarnate these ideals in their own lives. Moreover, our school serves as a model of Christian community, integrating the whole life of the students into Christianity not merely as an academic pursuit or moral code, but as a complete way of life. This culture of “life to the full” not only forms students in the human habits and skills they will need to succeed in life, but also forms them in the Faith that will allow for the fullest expression of their humanity to be accomplished in Jesus Christ. Naturally, the proof of our model of education can be witnessed in our graduates, who not only succeed in college and beyond, but are convicted of God’s love for them, that He is calling them to do great things in this life, and that in following Him they will be truly happy.
In my own life, I have had few experiences more rewarding than being a part of a team that founded a Chesterton Academy in Minnesota. For the past five years, I have witnessed the joys and challenges of founding such a school, and am thrilled to bring my expertise to the worthy task set before us at the Chesterton Academy of St. James. In my time at Chesterton Academy, I had the privilege of seeing hundreds of lives changed through Daily Mass, the rich curriculum, and authentic Christian friendships, and cannot wait for our students to experience this for themselves. Despite the difficulties of starting a school, I am convinced that we will succeed if we remain united in this great mission under the banner of Christ. There is always a tremendous risk in following God and seeking to accomplish His work, one that requires deep faith. In light of this, however, the words of G.K. Chesterton help us recall the fact that “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried.” Like the Apostles, we are invited to place our complete trust in Christ, for like them, we are left asking, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.” Now is the time for us to cast out into the deep, for the souls of our children, and indeed, the soul of society is worth the risk. I am honored, humbled, and enthused to assist in bringing this authentically Catholic and refreshingly classical educational model to the people of the Bay Area. It is my most sincere hope that this academy will contribute in a profound way to the formation of the next generation of joyful Catholic leaders and saints, who will bring the light of Christ to a world that is longing for His good news now more than ever.
We hope your family will consider joining us in this grand adventure! If you are interested in hearing more information about our educational approach, more details about the school, or are interested in applying for admission, please feel free to contact us at info@chestertonstjames.org or call (650) 703-9295.
We also have a number of faculty openings available for the coming fall. If you are interested in participating in this educational endeavor as a teacher, please visit the careers page on our website to see what opportunities we may have for you to join our team of outstanding, faithful faculty!
Onward in Christ!
Sincerely,
Mr. Greg Billion
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Billion is thrilled to return to the Bay Area to serve as the inaugural headmaster of the Chesterton Academy of St. James. For the past five years, he had the privilege of serving at Chesterton Academies in Minnesota, where he held the roles of founding faculty member and Academic Dean. He has taught many courses across the Chesterton curriculum, including Euclidean Geometry, Astronomy, Philosophy, Theology, History, Literature, Biology, Spanish, and Music. In addition to teaching, Mr. Billion has worked extensively with the Chesterton Schools Network as a curriculum writer and consultant. He is excited to share his experience with the Chesterton model of education to help serve the people of the Bay Area through classical Catholic education. Mr. Billion received a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas, where he majored in Philosophy, Catholic Studies, and Pre-med Studies. While at St. Thomas, he spent 2.5 years in priestly formation at St John Vianney Seminary, and one semester at the Pontifical Angelicum University in Rome, Italy. He then received an M.Ed. From the University of Notre Dame, serving for two years as Teaching Fellow with the Alliance for Catholic Education in Oakland, CA. He will complete a Master of Humanities at the University of Dallas this spring. In his spare time, Mr. Billion enjoys liturgical and recreational singing, reading, cooking, downhill skiing, and backpacking.