In the January/February 2025 issue of FAITH Magazine Grand Rapids, legendary West Catholic teacher Pat Nugent shares his commitment to the life and dignity of every person. Check out the excerpt below and read the full cover story to learn more about how Mr. Nugent continues to impact generations of students and parishioners within the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

After attending Lowell High School and graduating from Michigan State University, Pat began his teaching career at West Catholic in 1993. “I figured I would teach here for a couple of years, but here I am, 32 years later and teaching the children of those first students,” Nugent says with a smile. “It’s a place where I can talk freely about each person being a special and unique creation by God. It’s the job of these young people to convince other young people, and older people, of the value of life.”