Msgr. Michael Sexton was ordained a priest on July 10, 1961, in Ireland, and became a priest of the then Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham. His service to Catholic education began in the 1960s at St. Jude Catholic School in Montgomery, prior to the establishment of the Diocese of Birmingham. By the time he completed his service at St. Jude’s, the Diocese of Birmingham had already been established. He went on to serve several Diocese of Birmingham school communities, including as the assistant principal at John Carroll Catholic High School and as the pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School in Madison, playing a large role in the expansion of the school’s campus. Known for his humility and his kindness, Msgr. Sexton spent 62 years as a priest in our diocese before his retirement.

A parishioner approached Msgr. Sexton with the intention of making a donation to benefit the Catholic Church and asked the priest what the best use of the donation would be. Msgr. Sexton immediately replied, “Catholic education.” Through the generosity of this anonymous donor and Msgr. Sexton’s unwavering commitment to Catholic education, the Monsignor Michael F. Sexton Continuing Education Endowment was formally established in December of 2022.

The endowment provides annual scholarships for professional staff in diocesan Catholic schools who wish to continue their education or pursue advanced degrees. Annually, professional staff who desire to advance their education to benefit our Catholic schools may submit applications for a Monsignor Michael F. Sexton Continuing Education Scholarship. The scholarship review committee reviews applications to make award decisions. Awards cover up to 80% of the recipient’s tuition.

The first Monsignor Michael F. Sexton Continuing Education Scholarship awards were made in May 2023 to Victoria Jordan and Courtney Magee. Certificates of recognition presented to each recipient at the annual Catholic Schools Office Formation Day on Sept. 15.

For the past five years, Vicki Jordan has served the Prince of Peace Catholic School community as a teacher and as the school counselor. She is pursuing a Certificate in Leadership and Instruction at the University of North Alabama.

The recipients recognize that the impact of this scholarship goes beyond their own education to the benefit of the students, staff, and families within their schools. When asked about the benefit of this scholarship for her school community, Jordan replied, “Receiving the Monsignor Michael Sexton Scholarship was a heartwarming surprise in my educational journey, one that I deeply appreciate. This scholarship strengthens my commitment to Catholic education and enables me to continue to support the administrators at Prince of Peace Catholic School. In education, effective leadership is crucial, fostering a positive school culture and promoting collaboration among staff. Through this program, my goal is to enhance my leadership skills and contribute to the growth and success of both my school and the broader Catholic educational community.”

The second scholarship recipient, Courtney Magee, has served St. Joseph Catholic School in Florence since 2005, first as a teacher and now as principal. Magee is pursuing a graduate degree in instructional leadership from the University of North Alabama.

Magee views the scholarship award as contributing to the the overall legacy and tradition of St. Joseph Catholic School saying, “St. Joseph School was founded in 1878. It has a rich tradition here in Florence, and the St. Joseph School community is unmatched. Once I became a part of this community in 2005, I realized why this place is so special. It is a home away from home, a safe place for both students and teachers to grow and learn spiritually, academically, and emotionally. I hope to lead our faculty as we continue the tradition of educating generations in the Shoals for years to come.”

To support the Monsignor Michael F. Sexton Continuing Education Endowment, please visit https://bhmdiocese.org/monsignor-sexton-endowment.