From Civil War Chaplains to the Beauty of Math
Why You’ll Love Susan Sucher’s Homeschool Courses
What do Civil War chaplains and the elegance of mathematical patterns have in common? They’re both part of the unique and inspiring courses taught by Susan Sucher—Homeschool Connections’ newest instructor and a homeschooling mom of nine. With a deep love for history, a fresh approach to math, and a heart rooted in faith, Susan brings something truly special to the Catholic homeschool community. In this interview, she shares her journey into homeschooling, the saints and stories that inspire her courses, and how she’s helping students see beauty, purpose, and God’s hand in every subject.
Tell us a bit about your background, especially relating to homeschooling. How did you discover homeschooling?
I began homeschooling in 2003. My two oldest sons were in public school, in the same gifted program I had attended. Or so I thought. The curriculum had been watered down and neutered, using fill-in-the-blank worksheets instead of a more integral approach that encourages critical thinking and exploration of the world. One of my friends from elementary school was homeschooled intermittently. So when I was discerning whether this would be a good decision for my children, I called her mother and asked where I might begin. I had a complete paradigm shift when I discovered that I didn’t have to go along with the system just because it was normative.
What would you say to other parents considering homeschooling and aren’t sure if they should make the leap?
When I was discerning homeschooling, in addition to talking to homeschoolers I knew, I read Dr. Mary Kay Clark’s book Catholic Homeschooling. In it, she suggests that you pray a novena to St Joseph to discern whether or not your family should homeschool. This was the fastest and most effective novena I ever prayed. All I did was suggest that we pray the novena, and my husband immediately agreed to remove the children from public school and start homeschooling!
Ideally, homeschooling should be something you are excited about and something that you want to do, not just an escape from another system. Spending time with your children, learning about the world with them, and having the freedom to follow the interests and path that God has given you are great reasons to homeschool.
The graces you have as parents in a sacramental marriage are enough to discern the appropriate education for your children. Trust that God has given you those graces for your particular children. Make a united decision and then walk confidently, knowing that God will accompany you on the path.
You are doing a summer class on military chaplains with Homeschool Connections. What inspired you to create a course centered on chaplains?
My interest in military chaplains was sparked when my father shared his personal experiences with good chaplains during his Navy career. I have encountered several military chaplains in my own life and have always been impressed by their vocation.
As a part of our history study, we decided to follow the path of one of our ancestors who fought in the Civil War. His service included being captured in the Stoneman-McCook raid and imprisoned in Andersonville Prison Camp. The children and I spent a couple of days there, and we heard about Fr. Peter Whelan. The material at the National Park only scratched the surface of his impact on the prisoners at the camp. I decided to dig deeper and found a beautiful story of self-sacrifice, which added so much to my understanding of the experience of Andersonville.
Chaplains have served in American wars since the beginning of our country. Unfortunately, many histories of battles and wars neglect to tell their stories. By looking at history through the lens of faith and chaplains’ experience, we find a more complex and fascinating story.
Of course, as a mother of seven boys, I hope that contemplating the heroic virtues of military chaplains and other men of faith might help my boys discern their own vocation to heroic sacrifice, whether that call is to the priesthood, marriage, or religious life.
Can you tell us a bit about one of the chaplains you will be profiling in your course?
Fr. Peter Whelan immigrated from Ireland in 1829 in response to an appeal by Bishop John England of Charleston, SC. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Finnbarr in November 1830. He served as a parish priest in Raleigh, Greensboro, and Fayetteville. When the Civil War broke out, he served as a Confederate chaplain near Fort Pulaski and was captured and imprisoned on Governor’s Island in New York. He was furloughed and returned to Savannah. Even though he was in his sixties and had already been a prisoner of war in the North, he responded generously to the need for a chaplain to minister to the Union troops at the infamous Andersonville Prison Camp (Camp Sumter).
Fr. Peter slept in humble accommodations about a mile from the camp and ate a simple gruel for breakfast. He walked to the camp in the blazing Georgia sun to minister to the sick, despairing, and dying. Younger chaplains arrived to work with him, but all left shortly after they came, as the post was too difficult for them to endure. Before he left, Fr. Whelan bought a large amount of flour from a Savannah baker to provide bread for the prisoners. “Fr. Whelan’s bread” saved many lives. Fr. Whelan suffered from tuberculosis for the rest of his life and died in 1871. His funeral procession was the largest Savannah had ever seen because he was so loved by all who knew him.
You’re also teaching an out-of-the-box math course called Math as a Human Endeavor in the 2025-2026 academic year. This sounds fascinating! How do we approach math as a human endeavor?
As Catholics, our approach to learning ought to be integrated. No subject stands alone, and all should be learned in the context of the others. Mathematics affects our ability to think logically and consistently. We find math in art and music. The study of science is predicated on a solid grasp of mathematics. In the order of the universe, we see ratios and patterns that point to the mind of an intelligent designer. Mathematics, far from being a boring exercise, is literally a way to learn more about the mind of God!
Unfortunately, too many math curricula neglect the beauty of mathematics for technical acumen alone. Consequently, many students find math boring. Nothing could be further from the truth. Using a textbook written by the great Harold Jacobs as a spine, we will explore mathematics that genuinely matters. This course is ideal for both students who excel at math and those who can’t stand it. Our typically reductive mathematics track, which begins with algebra and culminates in calculus, excludes some of the more interesting topics in mathematics. Exposure to topology, combinatorics, set theory, patterns, logic, discrete mathematics, and practical applications will benefit every student and could possibly spark a lifelong love of mathematics.
This course, which uses a textbook that is also used at the college level, will count as a full-year high school math credit.
In Closing
Susan Sucher brings not only deep knowledge and creative course design to Homeschool Connections but also the heart of a veteran homeschooling mom who understands the beauty and challenge of educating children at home. Whether your student is exploring the forgotten stories of military chaplains or discovering the beauty of math in unexpected places, Susan’s classes promise to be both enriching and inspiring. We’re thrilled to welcome her to our teaching team and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll have on Catholic homeschool families across the country. Keep an eye out for her upcoming courses—you won’t want to miss them!
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can “meet” Susan here: Mathematics Outside the Box
