From the Principal's Desk 3.28

From the Principal's Desk 3.28

Dear Friends, The world awaits the selection of the successor of St. Peter and all eyes are on Rome. This presents an excellent opportunity to speak about what the Pope can and cannot do.  The Pope cannot change doctrine, he is not a soothsayer, or, except in very special circumstances, infallible.  He is the father of temporal church, he governs the Universal Church and, in the last few men at least, is a holy and wise man.  He can change how we perform certain sacraments, a bit; there is a limit to this.  His actions cannot contradict scripture or sacred tradition.  He does appoint Cardinals, Bishops and a host of other offices.  Except in rare cases, the Papacy is for life.  He has no peer, except that we are all equal before God. He is responsible for the entire world.  This is not a job, it is a calling.  He has no free time, everything he says is recorded, and people line up for days to see him, to seek him and to hear him.  And if he follows Christ we all benefit.  Personally my life is much richer, fuller and better because of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict. We pray for the Pope at every mass; well does the successor of Peter need it.  The next Pontiff faces a world that is ever more desperate in its need for Christ, is fraught with tensions and pain, and eagerly seeks a leader.  May this man be the one we are waiting for.  He need be an apostle of love, of faith and of hope. Let us pray for the Cardinal Electors as they select the next Pontiff. Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411

From the Principal's Desk 3.27

From the Principal's Desk 3.27

Dear Holy Family Community, It is with a heavy heart that we convey the tragic news of the death of the baby of one of our faculty members.  Albert Castillo and his wife Nicolette lost their 7 month old baby boy over the weekend and while we don't know all the details, we do know that this is a family who will need help and support during the coming days and months.  We ask for your prayers  for the Castillo family during this difficult time. Students, faculty and staff were informed of this news yesterday and were allowed to go to the chapel to pray and to speak with someone if they were struggling with the news.    In an effort to help the Castillo family through the coming months, a fund has been created at the mGive Foundation by a parent at the Goddard school where Nicolette Castillo is a teacher.  This parent is the Executive Director of the mGive foundation.  The fund has been created to help the family with financial aid for the myriad of expenses they will undoubtedly experience as a result of this tragedy.   If you are wondering how you can help, this is an option.  Families can donate funds to The mGive Foundation- Castillo Family Fund.  100% of the donations will be sent directly to Albert and Nicolette.  There are three easy ways to give: Check/Cash:  Make a check payable to The mGive Foundation.  In the memo line, please write Castillo Family Fund.  You can either drop a check off in our collection box located in the main vestibule, or mail a check to:  The mGive Foundation, Attn: Jen Snyder, 2150 West 29th Avenue, Second Floor,  Denver, Colorado 80211.    Credit Card:  Starting tomorrow afternoon, you can text the word HOPE to 80108 to give a donation using your credit card.  (There is a small processing fee that will be deducted from each donation given through credit card.)    $10 text donations:  You can text the word FAMILY to 80108 to give a $10 donation to the mGive Foundation's Castillo Family Fund.  Life is precious, from the baby unborn in the womb to the elderly and  the infirm.  The loss of a baby strikes the heart in a manner that shatters the day's peace and causes us to cry out to God, "WHY!"  It is right and proper that we ask God,  and we express to God that we don't like what is going on.   We shouldn't like it, we should be grateful.  Grateful for the death of a child? What madness is that? No, we are  grateful for the salvation of a little boy, and sorrow at how it happened.  We all want  our children to share in the beatific vision, to spend eternity happy before the thrown of God, but we want them to get there after us, and after a long life filled with wonder.     It remains for us to help those whose journeys are not yet ended.  It is those who are left,  the Castillo family,  who must shoulder the burden and the loss.  As in all things hope remains   that one day we shall see all of our loved ones again.  Until that day, let us help as we can, pray as we ought, encourage as we are able, and be a strength for our friends in their time of grief. Duc in Altum! Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411 p.s. All questions, cares, comments and concerns are welcome! _________________________________________________________  2013 Lenten Series - Stories of Conversion Please plan to attend this year's Holy Family Lenten Series, Stories of Conversion     Hear the powerful stories of conversions and faith this Lent presented by members of the Holy Family Community.      Speaker Schedule:    Thursday, March 7 - 6:15p.m. - Peter Galmish  **Please note this time has changed Thursday, March 14 - 7:00p.m. - Tim Gallic Thursday, March 21 - 7:00p.m. -  Michaelann Martin    Presentations will be in the HF Library Refreshments will be served after the presentations.

From the Principal's Desk 3.26

From the Principal's Desk 3.26

Dear Friends, Last night snow fell bringing much needed moisture to the land, creating a bit of hardship and a lot of beauty.  Life often has these qualities.  We find that what we need can bring with it some hardship and often a great deal of beauty.  To achieve a high school diploma, a need, one must study and work diligently-the hardship, becoming a well-developed young man or young woman- the beauty.    There exists another aspect of this which needs to be considered, the corporate role of each individual.  If someone fails to do what they need to do, oftentimes others find they cannot accomplish their tasks.   If an open receiver finds the quarterback does not throw the ball to him, he cannot catch it and win the game.  It doesn't matter how open the receiver is, without the quarterback throwing him the ball, there is no play.   We can back that analogy even further to consider the role of the center, and the coach and the lineman, etc.   We find many of our actions depend on others for their success, and many of our actions allow others to succeed.  When we fail to act properly, seldom, if ever, do we only affect ourselves.   Our private short comings as well as our strengths effect far beyond what we think.     So when our students are faced with a hardship, or an opportunity let us encourage them.  The impact of their labors is incalculable. Finally,  to illustrate this last point this year's Lenten series began last week with a wonderful talk by Paul VanHoudt.  This week's story of conversion is by our very own Matthew Gear. If you ever wanted to know what makes Mr. Gear who he is, this is your moment.  This Thursday from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the library Mr. Gear will kindly share his conversion story.  I heartily encourage all to come.   Duc in Altum! Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411 p.s. All questions, cares, comments and concerns are welcome! _________________________________________________________  2013 Lenten Series - Stories of Conversion Please plan to attend this year's Holy Family Lenten Series, Stories of Conversion     Hear the powerful stories of conversions and faith this Lent presented by members of the Holy Family Community.      Speaker Schedule:    Thursday, Feb. 28 - Matthew Gear  Thursday, March 7 - Peter Galmish Thursday, March 14 - Tim Gallic Thursday, March 21 - Michaelann Martin     Presentations will be in the HF Library- 7:00pm - 8:00pm Refreshments will be served after the presentations.

From the Principal's Desk 3.25

From the Principal's Desk 3.25

Dear Friends, I am struck that when we say the first words of the Creed in mass each Sunday, we are agreeing with a  profound truth.  We are not rendering an opinion when we say "I believe" as if other opinions are equally valid. No, we are saying definitively  there is God, who is  the Father Almighty (and so on)  and we are stating publicly that anyone who disagrees with this is in fact, wrong.  The truth exists absolutely; and my assent to it, or lack thereof fails to make it more or less true. This way of thinking is commonplace.  We would all readily agree there is no such thing as 'Catholic' truth, or 'Muslim' truth or 'secular' truth;  there is only truth. If a medicine will cure an  illness, it does not matter who takes it ,who makes it or who discovered it.  If it effective, it is effective.  I may not like the way it was made, but that doesn't change its effectiveness.   If I am thirsty, I need water.  I may think I need maple syrup, but I need water.  Only water will quench my thirst whether I like it or not.  About the practical things of this world we clearly understand that truth stands on its own and we do not want our children to think any differently.   Not everyone agrees with Catholics.  There are good, smart and well-meaning individuals and organizations who hold that Catholics are wrong.   In ages past this would prove to be a stumbling block, a point of departure.  Today,  we have learned that we can live in peace and work with our fellow man, as long as we can agree on basic tenets of human behavior.  This is how a Catholic High School can welcome Protestants, Jews and others to attend and even work for us.  With God's grace someday we will all be in agreement, until then we will work together trying to make this world a better place, one person at a time.  Happy Lent, Duc in Altum!   Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411  p.s.  Please let us know if you have any questions, cares, comments or concerns! _________________________________________________________ 2013 Lenten Series  Stories of Conversion Please plan to attend this year's Holy Family Lenten Series, Stories of Conversion. Beginning Thursday February 21 at 7:00 pm in the Library and for the following 4 Thursdays. Come and enjoy powerful stories of conversion and faith journey's. Students and Parents are encouraged to attend! Refreshments afterward.

From the Principal's Desk 3.24

From the Principal's Desk 3.24

Dear Friends,    Tomorrow begins the great season of prayer and self-denial - Lent. As a Catholic school we take the obligation of Lent very seriously so we will not be serving any meat in our lunch room on Friday's as well as encouraging fasting.  Why do Catholics speak of obligation so often?  We are obligated to attend mass, we must fast, abstain from meat, must confess our sins and so on.  Why not just say we get to go to mass, fast, abstain, confess etc.?   When we speak of obligation we recognize a reality; God supremely calls us and we must obey.  It is not so much an invitation as a summons.  For only when I recognize God's authority, can I appreciate His mercy.  I don't go to mass because of great homilies, or fine music, or comfortable seats (although I do not object to any of them) I go because God tells me I must.  When an earthly judge tells me to appear, I may not like the courtroom, but I must go.  I am under the authority of the court.   In much the same way, we start by accepting God's jurisdiction than something wonderful occurs.  We find out the judge, is our Dad, our Heavenly Father, who is prepared to show us mercy then we find out the command is really more like an invitation. We know that our children who obey simple commands, to clean rooms, speak kindly, do chores, are more likely to behave well when out with friends.  We are also aware of the converse.  If we want our children to be successful adults they must learn to obey right authority.  A final thought, not all of God's commands are difficult, all bring joy. In the old Robin Hood movie, with Errol Flynn, the final scene has Robin Hood holding Maid Marian's hand as the king commands them to marry.  Robin responds,  "May I obey all the King's commands with as much joy".  May the same be said by us to God. Happy Lent! Duc in Altum! Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411

From the Principal's Desk 3.23

February 5, 2013                         FORTITUDE    Dear Friends, Why do some succeed and others, just as talented fail?  Often we find that it is the not the strongest or the smartest who win the day, but the one who has the most determination.  We can think of many examples of over achievers and the one unifying characteristic in them is today's topic.  Known by many names, diligence, grit, determination, discipline and several others it is the ability to do what we said we would do, with no exceptions or explanations.  Christian writers call it fortitude.  The ability to see a project through to completion regardless of the cost, pain, discomfort or inconvenience, the very nature of God Himself, as Christ demonstrated when at the Garden of Gethsemane, he stood and embraced Judas went to his death and never turned back. In His imitation, young, old, wealthy, poor, brilliant, challenged, male, female, people of every race, tribe and culture have given their lives through martyrdom both red and white.   Some have dedicated their lives to raising families, living out their vocations honorably, and working diligently their entire lives; others have suffered nobly, waited patiently, and all won gloriously.  Those who have succeeded in life are those who don't quit, who overcome the flesh and do what is right.  Is this a trait we want for our children? For ourselves?  I should hope so! Rudyard Kipling once penned a poem for his son about manly virtue. While the entire poem is an excellent read, there is a poignant stanza where he exhorts his son to be a man by saying "If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew, to serve your turn long after they are gone, and so hold on when there is nothing in you, except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!" This virtue, more than many others, does not have a moral component.  One can exercise great fortitude for evil as much as for good which is why it must be mated to a strong moral conviction.  For  virtue practiced in small ways, in the competition of homework, in training or chores, will lead to greatness and eventually if set to right, will lead to heaven. Duc in Altum! Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411 p.s. Thank you very much for the prayers and cards regarding the birth our daughter, Alanna.  She and Mom are doing very well.  p.p.s. If you have any questions, comments, cares or criticisms please do not hesitate to send them in.

From the Principl's Desk 3.22

Dear Friends,

As I sit at my desk my wife is nearing the end of her pregnancy and we shall hopefully see our newest child very soon.  This serves as a poignant reminder as to the inherent value of a child, to the inestimable work of a mother and especially to the divine bond of love that is formed over the 9 months of carrying a baby.   Love, the selfless desire for the good of another, so sorely needed in this world, so vital to human life,   stands as the hallmark of mankind's imitation of God.  Not to be confused with passion, or lust, love can conquer all, even the evil of abortion.  The tendency to wrap love in carnations and chocolates, gifts and favors does not diminish its value if it occasionally obscures it, for love can come wrapped in gifts, or discipline or in the simplest of human actions;   the kiss of mother, the embrace of a child, the giving of one's life for a friend or a stranger and the discipline of a wayward son or daughter.

Love never fails, even when the relationship with your child becomes strained, even when wrong occurs, even in the face of evil.   We might fail, our actions may be loveless; God's love never fails, His actions are always full of love.  No matter the circumstance, no matter the sin, the wrong, the hurt, the loneliness, God's love remains.  He does not brood over injury, but rejoices in the truth.   If our children, our society, would learn to love, there would be no more abortion, no more murder, selfishness, or greed, and in its place would be a much better world.

To end abortion, we need prayer, we need to work politically but most of all we need to love.  For while someday we may get this hideous practice outlawed, it will only end when we can love each mother and care for each child.

"For Love is of God and anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not does not know God, for God is love." ( 1:John 4:7-8)

May God have mercy on this land, growing under the weight of 55 million murdered children.

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School