2011 Catholic Schools Week Supplement

A touch of Providence: Switch to a Catholic school transforms the lives of married teachers

Art teacher Donna Burden, second from right, discusses elements of design with students, from left, Katelyn Koopman, Melina Cochran and Nathan Wimsatt during a class at Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High School in Clarksville. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

Catholic schools have thrived for generations because of the belief that a faith-based education makes a difference in the life of a child. Now, Brad and Donna Burden have learned that a Catholic school can also transform the lives of adults.

Just consider the reality of the married teachers’ lives before Brad interviewed in 2008 for the position as the girls’ varsity basketball coach at Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High School in Clarksville.

“I know that I was extremely professionally frustrated, struggling with where I wanted to be, and if I even still wanted to teach,” recalls Donna, who was teaching in a public school at the time. “Coupled with not going to church, our professional lives were taking a toll on our marriage. Neither one of us was happy. I cried a lot of nights with frustration and finally started to pray for guidance. That was when things started to change.”

First, Brad accepted the coaching position. Next, Donna was hired at Providence as an art teacher. Then Brad joined the Providence faculty as a Spanish teacher.

The most dramatic change was still to come for the husband and wife—who were both non-Catholic at the time.

“With Providence High School, we got way more than we thought,” Brad says. “The way that everyone lives and works as one big family inspired us to examine our faith and research the Catholic faith deeper.”

They began attending Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in New Albany. Feeling at home in the parish, they began the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the fall of 2009 to become members of the Catholic Church. Their first child, Eva, was born on March 9, 2010. Less than a month later—on April 3—Eva and Donna were baptized, and Brad and Donna entered the Church.

“We started RCIA class at the same time I learned I was pregnant,” says Donna, who is 31. “We went on a journey together. That whole evening—when Brad and I joined the Church together, when Eva and I were baptized—was so moving. And to do it in front of our families and so many people from the Providence community was an incredible experience.”

It’s a day their family will never forget, Brad says.

“We can always point to that day as the day our family established and proclaimed our faith,” says Brad, who is 32. “It’s how we’re going to lead our lives and raise our daughter.”

Being at Providence and putting faith in God has made all the difference, the couple says.

“Ever since coming to Providence, our marriage and our professional lives have flourished,” Brad says. “When we put ourselves in the hands of God, it opened up the avenues, both personally and professionally, of where we want to be in our lives.”

As a coach, he prays with his team before and after each game. The team also attends Mass together several times throughout the season.

“I feel comfortable sharing my faith with my players,” Brad says.

“Our whole mission of teaching has changed, too,” Donna says. “You couldn’t speak about God in the public schools. Here, you get to talk to the kids about your faith. You’re not just teaching art. You’re not just teaching Spanish. You’re teaching your faith.”

Joy fills her voice as she adds, “I honestly feel we were called to be here. It’s really important to us to raise Eva in the Church and the Providence community. Joining the Church has really strengthened our marriage. It’s really a big part of our lives now.

“We both struggled before we found this community—or maybe I should say that this community found us. It’s been awesome. I’ve never felt like that before in my life. I really feel we’re living our faith. It just feels right.” †