From the Principal’s Desk 1.23
Dear Parents and Friends,
Lent is in full swing and it often leaves me thinking about the future. Kids, and adults, often fear the future. They worry about the test, the dance, the meeting and the bills. They are ‘concerned’ about what college they will be going to and what Mom and Dad will think. Are they going to find a date, are they going to have a good career; the list is endless.
We of course are not alone in this experience. Even Christ was apprehensive about His future. In the Garden he was plainly suffering; what He did we also should do. When life is rearing its ugly head, and things look doubtful, pray and then do what you must. Jesus knows what you are going through, He knows what you need and in the final analysis He will be the one who will provide what you need. It may be hard but we are comforted to know that after every Good Friday, there is Easter.
Finally, I recently heard a talk by Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan survivor of the genocide that occurred in 1994. She described that what enabled her to survive was the Rosary and her Catholic faith. I would encourage all of you to learn more about this amazing woman and her story. Her website is http://www.immaculee.com/
From the Principal’s Desk 1.22
Dear Friends,
A couple of interesting notes to share, a study on marriage recently concluded that the best indicator of whether or not a child is going to be successful in life, work and faith is their degree of education. (First Things, March 2011). Of course statistics have their limitations, they can more easily tell us what a 100 people will do, and nothing about what one person can do. I firmly believe that if we at the high school work in conjunction with the parents of our students, then they will have the greatest chance of being successes. The greatest success of all is to be a saint. In fact in the final analysis it is the only success worth talking about.
That brings me to my second point; Tonight Dr. Frank Gumerlock is going to speak about St. Augustine
Finally, we had a pep-rally Monday to celebrate the amazing season of the Girls Basketball Team and their 4th ‘annual’ State Championship. Many of you did not get the message about the pep-rally and I must take the blame for that, because of a miscommunication the announcement never was sent. Mea Culpa.
I hope and pray lent is going well,
As usual any questions, comments, cares or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
From the Principal’s Desk 1.21
The glorious season of lent, the great time of prayer and fasting, is finally upon us. Lent is one of those things that while in the midst of it I find it a valuable source of blessing; and when Easter comes, I am happy!
The Lenten series on the saints continues tonight with Peter Galmish talking about GK Chesterton. It begins at 6:30 with the rosary in the chapel and the talk is given at 7 p.m. in the library. I would encourage all to come and be inspired. If you can not make the rosary please at least come for the talk.
In our life there is truly only one measure of success, whether or not we become saints. Studying the lives of the saints helps us realize they are like us in so many ways and yet they found a way to achieve the goal. May your lent be a blessed one and may you someday see God face to face.
From the Principal’s Desk 1.20
Finally, Lent is upon us, the great season of Prayer and Self Denial; a great opportunity for all of us to focus on our spiritual journey allowing us to consider our final destination. Sirach says, “Remember your final end and you will not sin”. In much the same way we ask our students to study and practice all semester for their final exams, so we must study and practice for ours. Self denial, a hallmark of Lent, helps us realize we are not slaves to our senses but masters. We find with such amazement that we don’t need that donut, or candy; that we will not die if we fast. We find out that extra prayer is like fast acting medicine for the soul. It is a wonderful experience…if we want it. So many things are offered to us by God. We must decide to choose them.
I have often thought Easter is best celebrated when we have spent a good amount of time preparing during Lent. A good way to do this is to join us for the 2nd annual Lenten Series, starting this Wednesday with the rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by a talk at 7 p.m. with discussion following. This year we are studying the life of the saints. I get to start the ball rolling with St. Athanasius. I urge you to come, young and old, to be inspired by the saints of old.
From the Principal’s Desk 1.19
Greetings Friends,
No doubt we are all aware that the Oscars were awarded the other night. The winner for Best Picture, The King’s Speech shows us what the role and limitations of a good teacher are. A good teacher guides a student, sometimes uncomfortably, to help them achieve. A good teacher instructs, cajoles, and encourages a student, but the achievement, or failure, is the students. We can help our children; we can not do it for them. This is true is all aspects of life, and of salvation. No one can be saved by our merits. It is their choice. As the saying goes, “God doesn’t have any grandchildren, only children.” We can bring our children to the faith but they must choose it for themselves.
In the end that is the best, we can not force a student to learn, we can not save their soul, when a student learns and when a soul is saved, many may have helped but the glory is the students alone. They achieved because of us, but it is their victory we share. Would we want it any other way? May we share in many, many victories!
Supplement- For Teachers
We teachers are privileged in that we get to work with human lives. We get to mold the future and in many ways, indelibly mark it. Every interaction with a student can lift them up to heights they would never have even dreamed of, or help thrust them into depths unimaginable. In either case the student makes the decision, we just aid. When I walk through this building I so often see teachers lifting student’s spirits, challenging them, and inspiring. It is part of what makes Holy Family a great place. Are we perfect, alas no (see the beginning of this note) but we strive to be. As it is said of Saints, they were not perfect, but everyday tried to be.
Lets strive to be Saints,
From the Principal’s Desk 1.18
Dear Friends,
Hilaire Belloc a noted English author once stated the following:
I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.
High School can often be one or the other, a distraction or a fulfillment; the experience is the same, the mental attitude is the defining characteristic. Which one our children choose is of course their choice, however we can help them understand the value of what they are learning by asking them what is going on in class, what they have learned, how they have been challenged. I do not just mean the “How was your day?” queries but more involved comments about the subject matter etc. Asking a student to recall what they learned in foreign language or math class not only helps them understand the importance of the subject matter but also helps the student recall the material. So encourage your student to discuss what they have learned, it will make the learning more effective and hopefully add to the quality of your dinner conversation.
Thank you for your support, and if you have anything to ask, or comment on please do not hesitate.
God bless
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