All are Welcome

August 31, 2025

This is Labor Day weekend! It is hard to believe the summer is over. Where does time go? As Father Ron always likes to remind us, “God does not have a clock.” It is true! We worry about time. God does not.

One of the ways we worry about time is through our work. Every Labor Day weekend since 2016, St. Joseph the Worker Shrine has presented the “Christian Worker Award.” We do this to recognize the individuals who, through their work and labor, demonstrate the values of St. Joseph the Worker—patron of our Shrine—integrity, respect, and service.

This year we honor HANK GOLEC with the Christian Worker Award. Hank was a teacher, coach, and administrator at Dracut High School for many years. We will publish Hank’s full biography in next week’s bulletin. I am always so humbled to read the nominations which are submitted each year. There are so many people doing so much good in the world. It fills me with joy and HOPE for the future.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination for this year. We had many worthy recipients.

I remember you at Mass. 

I pray for you, you pray for me. 

Congratulations to Hank Golec as the 2025 recipient of the Saint Joseph Christian Worker Recognition Award

For 25 years, Hank was a history teacher, coach, and vice principal at Dracut High School.  From a young age, Hank knew he wanted to be an educator. 

He had  a passion for history that made him a popular teacher among students--even students who did not enjoy history enjoyed Hank’s class.  For many students,  it takes just one teacher’s class to help them get through the day and for many Hank was that teacher.    But what really made him a special teacher was how he also worked with students outside of the classroom.  For most of his career at Dracut High School he was the varsity baseball coach and an assistant football coach.  He helped students not only develop their academic skills in the classroom  but helped teach them on the field responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance.  

Over the years, he wrote numerous college recommendations and worked to support the annual Dracut Scholarship Foundation Telethon which provides scholarships to graduating seniors each year.  He also served as vice principal of Dracut High School for several years.  In that role, he helped to create the master schedule for the building, assisted in discipline, and helped students who struggled with attendance.  

After retiring from Dracut High School, Hank served as principal of Saint Patrick’s School in Pelham, NH.  At Saint Patrick’s, Hank was able to use his many years of experience in education, and his deep faith, to lead Saint Patrick’s.  He formed strong bonds with staff, students, and families and was an excellent Catholic role model for the students in grades k-8.

After leaving Saint Patrick’s,  Hank has continued to remain active and continues to give back to the community.  He is an active parishioner at Saint Francis in Dracut, MA and on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army. He still works as a substitute teacher for the Lowell Public Schools.  

The award will presented at the 4 o'clock Mass on Saturday, September 13th. Join with us in congratulating Hank!