A Message from Our President, Fr. Tony Marti
Dear St. Francis Family and Friends,
 
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." -   Albert Einstein
 
The Christmas season is a joyful time to celebrate the birth of our Savior - it is also a time that calls us to pause and reflect, to treasure our blessings and to set inspiring goals. As we once again take stock, we count among our greatest blessings, the family that is St. Francis. A family that makes sure every child, every Golden Knight, has a champion - someone who is their somebody that never gives up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be. It is in this spirit that our Franciscan virtues are called into light - virtues like acceptance, brotherhood, service. These are time-honored traditions that set our Golden Knights apart in the many roles they will play during their lifetime. These are also themes that are carried close to the heart, in a world that changes so quickly, and at times with such furor. These are a calming peace and complementary balance during a time of change and rapid progression.
 
In our quest for inspiration, the concept of balance once again comes to mind. And by balance, we consider several nuances: stability, steadiness, fairness and justice. These nuances speak again to our time-tested educational mission and philosophy that recognizes our Golden Knights are not numbers; they are individuals with unique needs and goals. Our commitment to providing a nurturing and safe environment - stability - where each Golden Knight can be guided to uncover and develop his God-given gifts to become the best man he can be remains unwavering. We challenge our Golden Knights to think and act globally - to serve others, especially the minors and those who do without and to be an advocate of goodness for those who lack a voice.
 
As we consider balance, it is essential that we celebrate measurable achievement and results as well as intangibles like character development and spiritual growth. I would argue that in the final analysis, a greater value ought to be assigned to those things that cannot be counted or measured. As men of virtue, we see the Corporal and Spiritual Acts of Mercy. We live Franciscan virtues. We embrace the traditions of St. Francis High School that are blended ever so carefully and thoughtfully, with the need to keep pace and stay current with the demands of the time, all the while staying true to who we are.
 
And so we are intentional in our quest for balance. As we marry tradition with progression, in the classroom, in the art studio and on the stage, on the field or in service, we see Francis and heed his wisdom. We express our priorities through action. In the pages that follow, you will read our progressive efforts to educate - through the launch of a student wellness program, an honor code, a curriculum review and a broadening of our learning specialist role. We invested in our campus once again, giving the Fr. Alphonsus O'Connor Gymnasium a "facelift", adding new technology to the theater and preserving our chapel. We applaud the amazing record-setting results of our One in a Million Annual Fund - we loved hearing about what many of you felt made St. Francis and continues to make St. Francis one in a million. We celebrated life milestones together: baptisms, confirmations, weddings - rites of passage: graduations, retirements, promotions as well as comforted one another in challenging times, in sickness and in grief. Our tradition of family and celebrating life is stronger than ever.
 
Let me thank you, St. Francis family, for your incredible support of our efforts to find balance. You join us as we honor our significant traditions, especially those of faith and family - you partner with us to innovate and adopt contemporary methodologies, to stay relevant and vibrant. You pray for us and we ask you to continue to keep our St. Francis family, particularly our Golden Knights, in your prayers. We are so very grateful to you, dear St. Francis family and will continue to remember you in our prayers.
 
Yours in Jesus and Francis,
Fr. Tony Marti, OFM Cap.
President

Alumni Spotlight: Chris Provenzano '07
The St. Francis Family was honored to welcome Chris Provenzano '07 back on campus Tuesday night and present him with this year's Distinguished Alumnus Award. Chris was joined by his family, friends, and fellow SFHS grads. We are grateful to Chris for sharing his insights and words of encouragement with our students as part of our Academic Awards Night. Chris, thank you for serving as a shining example of what it means to be a true Golden Knight...GO KNIGHTS!

"Next year's the year I'm going to be out there running." I had told myself this annually while watching the New York City Marathon since moving to the city five years ago. Cheering on both friends and strangers alike, I watched amazed year after year as each runner continued his or her personal journey towards the race's finish line in Central Park. Except that when the first Sunday in November would come around the following year, I would find myself in a familiar position as a spectator hearing the same voice in my head saying, "Next year's the year." In late June, motivated by the sheer challenge of the feat, I committed to run the 47th New York City Marathon. Finally, next year was here. 
Chris with his fellow St. Francis grads who came out to support him at this year's Distinguish Alumnus Award presentation.
The modern marathon is a 26.2 mile journey from starting line to finish line. The race is best classified as a journey not simply because of the physical distance traversed on race day, but because of the mental and emotional strength tested in the months of training prior to the race. Running a marathon has aptly become a symbol of human endurance and evidence of the power of the human spirit. Like every runner at the start line on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge that morning, I had been physically and mentally training for November 5, 2017 for months; in reality, my own personal journey had been preparing me for this day for years.
In December 2010, I came home for Christmas break just before my last semester of college with what I thought was a typical flu virus. As my fevers reached 104°, it became apparent my body was battling something far more serious than a normal virus. After spending a week at Huntington Hospital, doctors had yet to determine a cause for the extreme symptoms I was displaying or reach a diagnosis when I crashed: I began to have difficulty breathing and was suffering organ failure. I was immediately rushed to the ICU and spent seven days intubated on a ventilator. During this week long period, doctors did everything they could to ensure my vital organs remained functioning properly to keep me alive. Unfortunately, I lost circulation to each of my four extremities and sustained extensive damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in my left foot. Since April 2011, I have been a left below knee amputee.
When doctors initially informed me that they recommended amputation, the weight of the reality brought on a wave of emotions. I was shocked, angry, confused, and cried hysterically. My whole life I have played sports. I grew up playing baseball, soccer, and basketball then played football and baseball while at St. Francis. I even had the skill and good fortune to walk on the baseball team while at Villanova competing in the Big East Conference. As the doctor gave his recommendation, I knew my life would be entering unchartered territory. How difficult would the transition to my new life with an amputation be? How would others look and perceive me now that I had a noticeable physical disability? Perhaps most importantly, though, would I be able to enjoy the same active life I had enjoyed and thrived on up to this point in my life?
As a former baseball player, one of the most revered men in the game's great history is legendary Yankee first baseman, Lou Gehrig. Gehrig is also famed for being forced into an early retirement due to the onset of ALS. As Gehrig formally retired on July 4, 1939, he made a brief speech in front of fans and former teammates gathered at Yankee Stadium. Paraphrasing his now immortalized words, Gehrig said, "Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth...I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for."
In the six years since my amputation, I have found that "The Iron Horse" was right; I do have an awful lot to live for. Doctors were eventually able to diagnose my symptoms as a rare autoimmune disorder known as Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). With the loving support of my family and friends - including the entire SFHS community - I completed a 40 week chemotherapy and steroid treatment protocol. By January 2012, I was healthy and able to return to Villanova for my final semester and graduate. Pushed by a close circle of competitive friends and SFHS teammates, I quickly resumed the physically active lifestyle I initially wondered might be lost. Enriched by my faith, I soon had a new perspective on life and my inner strength.
One of the most positive influences in my new life as an amputee has been the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). CAF's mission is clear: give those with the desire to live active, competitive lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love. After attending my first CAF running clinic in October 2012, I improved as a runner thanks to a grant from CAF and advice from other amputees in the community. I was a beneficiary of CAF's 2012 grantee class when I received the running prosthetic blade I used to run multiple distance races including this year's NYC Marathon. Over the last five years, I have become a fund-raiser and ambassador for CAF speaking to local groups in the New York area about the foundation and my journey. Thanks to the tremendous generosity and support of my friends and family, we raised over $15,000 for CAF in race pledges for running the marathon.
As I made my way through each of New York's five boroughs that Sunday, I couldn't help but reflect on my personal journey. From my sickest days at Huntington, to my first steps using a prosthetic and my final chemo session, to the rigors of the New York City Marathon, I have been fortunate to have the tremendous love and support of my family and friends with me every step of the way. Each experience has made me stronger, helped me find deeper conviction in my faith, and enriched both my mind and my heart. As the 19th century author Horace Bushnell said, " The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be."
Chris Provenzano (07') resides in New York City and works on the trading desk of Wolfe Research Securities, a Wall Street research and analytics company. He continues to follow Golden Knight football from across the country each fall and is an avid Villanova basketball fan in the winter. He remains involved in the disabled sports community as both an athlete and an ambassador. For more information on Challenged Athletes Foundation and athletic opportunities within the disabled community, please visit: http://www.challengedathletes.org/ 
 
KnightLight Magazine - Winter 2018
St. Francis High School Alumni and Development News 
Losing Our Religion and Our Humanity
A plea for kinder communication, from a pastor in chaotic times
By Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review
Cain and Abel and the Tower of Babel: These are far from the most inspiring of biblical images. And so they are the ones that jump out at you upon reading Pope Francis's recent message on "fake news" and our communications today. As I quickly checked Twitter before setting down to write this column, I saw someone express a wish that an ideological opponent would get hit by a bus, simply for having a different point of view. In such a climate, when we are losing our grasp on the reality of our common humanity, the pope's message seemed like an urgent plea from a wise pastor.

Pope Francis talked about why it can be difficult to unmask and eliminate fake news:

Many people interact in homogeneous digital environments impervious to differing perspectives and opinions. Disinformation thus thrives on the absence of healthy confrontation with other sources of information that could effectively challenge prejudices and generate constructive dialogue; instead, it risks turning people into unwilling accomplices in spreading biased and baseless ideas. The tragedy of disinformation is that it discredits others, presenting them as enemies, to the point of demonizing them and fomenting conflict. Fake news is a sign of intolerant and hypersensitive attitudes, and leads only to the spread of arrogance and hatred. That is the end result of untruth.

Intolerant and hypersensitive much these days? Aren't we seeing such states of mind everywhere in people's frequent inability to read not just beyond a headline but even past a word or a name? (And honestly, one name in particular, of a man who happens to currently occupy the White House - and you don't even have to take a stand on him to acknowledge that we might have an unhealthy attachment to him, whether you might find yourself gawking at, denouncing, defending, or celebrating him.)

I've seen intolerance for years online, but in the fairly recent past, it often took the form of an email from someone who disagreed with you who hoped that you and people you loved would die long, agonizing deaths (thinking of my own inbox over the years). Oftentimes, though, I'd find myself emailing back with a heartfelt word or with sorrow that I might have said anything to elicit so much painful anger.

Usually I received a response of embarrassment - the emailer was venting and never thought anyone would actually read his message. What a relief for humanity that a simple opinion column did not truly bring out venomous wrath in another. And yet, now, with the speed of many modes of social communications and their overwhelmingly ubiquitous nature, it becomes increasingly difficult to have the kind of actual human (albeit cyber) encounter we once had over email.

Pope Francis diagnosed the problem well when he wrote: "Constant contamination by deceptive language can end up darkening our interior life." He quoted The Brothers Karamazov as "illuminating":

People who lie to themselves and listen to their own lie come to such a pass that they cannot distinguish the truth within them, or around them, and so lose all respect for themselves and for others. And having no respect, they cease to love, and in order to occupy and distract themselves without love they give way to passions and to coarse pleasures, and sink to bestiality in their vices, all from continual lying to others and to themselves.

He ultimately offered a new prayer, inspired by Saint Francis's prayer for peace, encouraging a "journalism of peace," including:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Help us to recognize the evil latent in a communication that does not build communion. . . . Where there is shouting, let us practice listening; where there is confusion, let us inspire harmony; where there is ambiguity, let us bring clarity; where there is exclusion, let us offer solidarity; where there is sensationalism, let us use sobriety; where there is superficiality, let us raise real questions; where there is prejudice, let us awaken trust; where there is hostility, let us bring respect; where there is falsehood, let us bring truth.

This prayer needn't be only for those employed as journalists or writers. It could be well prayed and practiced by any one of us with all varieties of platforms and opportunities for communication. This could be an international television network, on social media, or at your office water cooler or kitchen table. Pope Francis writes that "the effectiveness of fake news is primarily due to its ability to mimic real news, to seem plausible." Similarly, some of the poisonous social-media exchanges only mimic real human communication. Let's raise the bar - in person and online...(read the full article HERE)


How to Unplug and Reconnect in the Digital Age
You are invited to a special and important evening with speaker Dr. Joe Dilley. This Parent Program will address the timely and critical topic of teens and technology, especially the impact of smartphone and social media use. Recent studies have shown the correlation between excessive online/screen time and mental health issues, depression, anxiety, distraction, isolation, and unhappiness. Dr. Dilley will discuss the trends and offer thoughts on "How to Unplug and Reconnect in the Digital Age." Please see the attached flyer for more information and you can RSVP to counselingevents@sfhs.net

Franciscan Virtue of the 3rd Quarter: Faithfulness
The Tightrope and the Wheelbarrow - A Reflection on Faithfulness
The story is told of a great circus performer by the name of Blondin who stretched a long steel cable across Niagara Falls. During high winds and without a safety net, he walked, ran, and even danced across the tightrope to the amazement and delight of the large crowd of people who watched.
 
Once he took a wheelbarrow full of bricks and amazed the crowd by pushing it effortlessly across the cable, from one side of the falls to the other. Blondin then turned to the crowd and asked, "Now, how many of you believe that I could push a man across the wire in the wheelbarrow?" The vote was unanimous. Everyone cheered and held their hands high. They all believed he could do it!

"Then," asked Blondin, "would one of you please volunteer to be that man?"

As quickly as the hands went up, they went back down. Not a single person would volunteer to ride in the wheelbarrow and to trust his life to Blondin.

Many people say to Jesus, "Yes, I believe!" If you are among those who say that, are you willing to demonstrate your belief by trusting your life to him? Are you willing to get in the wheelbarrow and to risk everything on your faith? That's what it means to believe. Faith is not just an intellectual exercise. It involves total commitment. 
Join DJ Richard Blade at MiniPOSH 2018 on Saturday, March 17
Registration for MiniPOSH 2018, scheduled for Saturday, March 17, is now open! We hope you can join us and DJ Richard Blade as we come together as a St. Francis Family to celebrate our Capuchin Franciscan tradition of education and the "Brown and Gold"! GO KNIGHTS!

Online Registration: https://sfhslc.ejoinme.org/miniposh18

Richard Blade DJs St Francis HS Fundraiser March 17 2018
Richard Blade DJs St Francis HS Fundraiser March 17 2018
An examination of restlessness
By Casey McCorry, The Angelus  
Going home to Michigan this Christmas offered the opportunity for uncomfortable self-examination. Deprived of the distraction of work, I was forced into repose, huddling near fireplaces as feet of snow and iced roads made trips outside dangerous. In my hibernation I was forced to examine more penetratingly the state of restlessness, or anxiety, my soul is in when forced to sit with itself.

And it is this treasure of isolation that I found to be a real gift, a forced reckoning with the ways in which I flee intimacy with God. It was an examination, not so much of conscience, but of boredom and what it reveals about the restlessness of my soul. As Pascal says, "I have discovered that all human misfortune comes from one thing, which is not knowing how to remain quietly in one room."

There are the overt ways in which we separate ourselves from God through sin, and we attend to these through an examination of conscience; it was on this trip at home that I found a penetrating examination of our souls, that may not necessarily be in a state of mortal sin, but perhaps more of a state of moral stasis.

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote about this stasis, what he called the "daughters of acedia," which is spiritual sloth or apathy. When forced into silence, what are the thoughts your mind continues to turn to? With the New Year upon us, we have a remarkable opportunity to evaluate what it is that keeps us from a more passionate relationship with God, and Aquinas' "daughters" serve as a perfect examination. These are the four I tackled this break.

Mental flightiness

"What could I be doing right now that is better than this?" Aquinas saw this as those moments when we are seized by a desire to find novelty outside of the present moment and task at hand. In those fifteen minutes in line waiting to mail a Christmas package at the post office, why am I seized by the urge to read four Buzzfeed articles on my phone? Why do I manufacture a perfectly "gramworthy" picture of a table-setting while my mom finishes dinner, instead of sitting in thoughtful silence or engaging her in thoughtful discussion? Why do we flee these small moments of mild boredom with petty distractions, instead of reveling in their sweetness as a gift from God?

Garrulousness

Do you think about or involve yourself in the lives of others more than yourself? Aquinas noticed an inability to focus on one's own interior life and path of salvation, leading us to clutter moments naturally given to thought and silence by taking refuge in chatter, gossip, other people's lives and business. This is clear to me when, while looking around at Christmas Eve Mass, I'm consumed me with thoughts of how much this parishioner has lost weight, or admiring the attractive matching ensembles of this or that family. And after Mass, I sing impatiently through the closing song as my thoughts are of the numerous people I hope to chat with after Mass, despite the fact they will be there anyway.

Physical agitation and instability

I've got to get out of here. Aquinas noticed a somatic reaction to spiritual restlessness, an inability to "sit still." This can be visceral in the tapping of a foot or impatience when sitting still, but it usually affects us in a larger scope with what Aquinas calls a "nervousness of the soul." It is wanting to change one's present location or circumstances with the hope that by changing where one is, you will change who one is. We are attracted constantly by new pursuits or places that will take us far away from our present state in life. For some, this may mean feeling incomplete about being the token single sibling when visiting their family full of in-laws, nieces and nephews. For me it was meandering through my day anxiously as I waited on an email about work. Or, for my husband and I, feeling uneasy when confronted with a barrage of questions about "settling down in the Midwest," and anxiously wondering when we'll "catch up" to friends and family who already have homes and steady incomes.

Activism

This is an all-consuming state in life or task, and I have no time for prayer. Aquinas saw this stealthy state of spiritual restlessness in disordered activism that leads to constantly inventing new activities to flee the dread of nothingness. Time free of a useful and profitable occupation makes us uneasy, therefore we fill it up so as to dispel the anxiety of emptiness. For me this is easily done by pouring my energy into my baby girl. I rationalize lack of prayer time or silent time by imagining demands from my daughter in the faintest of coo's and her slightest moments of inactivity. This virtuous service gives me the faint impression that I am actually living out my Christian faith in action, when I am often inventing needs for her to avoid sitting in contemplative union with God, even if it might not be in front of a tabernacle.

At the New Year we are often inclined to reflect and resolve to free ourselves from this or that shackling sin, but in this we may fail to reflect on the deep-rooted anxiety that leads us into that sin in the first place, or even more deceptively, our spiritual stasis. The nature of sin is to distract us from its source, but this year, let's resolve to not be fooled...(read the full article HERE)

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Catholic Schools Survey 
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is interested in your feedback regarding your experience and perception of Catholic schools! Share this survey with every Catholic parent you know - they could win $500, and St. Francis High School could receive a $3,000 technology grant. LA Catholic Schools just need a few minutes of your time to share your feedback.

www.SchoolSurveyLA.org
How a Devastating Accident Taught Me Gratitude
By Colleen Kelly Alexander 
I was still in a hospital bed months after being run over by a truck, and I was steaming mad at God.

So many times I wished I had just died on the pavement that day. It would have been finite, not this never-ending battle just to have some semblance of ... what? Normalcy? You couldn't even call it that. My life was not going to be normal ever again, and at the moment, I couldn't see it ever becoming even sort of OK again. It was going to be eternal torture. And why? Because I took a bike ride home from work on a day when I wasn't even supposed to be working, only to be told the following month that it was all for nothing because I didn't have a job anymore? What kind of ridiculous destiny was this?
 
I can't even stand up to brush my teeth, I thought. I have no purpose left anymore.

It all came to a head that day. I screamed and cried, and screamed and cried some more. Every time someone entered the room, I screamed them right back out. I just wanted to be left alone.

Maybe if they left me alone long enough, I would just go ahead and die of my wounds. I would fall asleep and disappear. Maybe that would be better for everyone. Not only was I feeling horrible about the physical effects of my trauma and about losing my job, but I felt so guilty for what it all meant for Sean. Was he supposed to become an abstinent caretaker for the rest of his life? I hated doing that to him, and yet there was no way out I could see.
 
Either he would leave me and I would feel horrible, or he would stay with me and I would feel horrible. Every conclusion I came to was a dead-end street. If I died, he could get remarried without guilt and live a normal life.

And what about my parents? Why did I have to be such a burden on them long after they were done raising kids?

I was so angry about everything. I was mad that God had let me be in that path-and then let me live like this. Was it something I did? Are You just trying to get my attention? Because this is not the way.

Then came the guilt about being angry with God.

What right did I have to be angry with my Creator?

I lay there in my own waste until 1 p.m., wanting to make it all go away with the force of my despair. I was angry with the people who'd saved me, angry with the machines that kept me alive. Meanwhile the nurses would patiently check in on me.

And there, in the midst of all that misery, one thought popped into my mind. It was a quote from Jody Williams: "Emotion without action is irrelevant."

I'm being completely selfish.

It hit me that quickly. As I was sitting there moping in my misery, I wasn't doing anything to make it better. Instead, I was dragging everyone else down around me when they were just trying to help. I needed to find a path to make this better-if not physically, then at least mentally. The idea of going poof in my sleep was not productive; I was a person with worth and value, and I needed to find a new purpose. Considering how much anger I had harnessed, I could use all that energy toward something good instead of something bad.

Forget this
, I thought. I've already been through seizures and brain surgery. And now, after being run over by a freight truck, I'm still alive. There has to be a reason I'm still here. There has to be a way for me to become a light in the world again, even if it's not how I expected to do it.

We all have a purpose. Getting to the heart of that purpose can be grueling, but it will always reveal itself when you search for it.

In the months to come, I learned to refocus my attention on gratitude. Whenever I would get down about the physical pain, I would remind myself of the hundreds of people who had come together to save my life that day: the blood donors, the EMTs, the bystanders, the medical professionals ... I consciously changed my perspective by thinking about ways to give back to the people who'd saved me.

When we go through trials-and all of us do-it can be easy to lose that perspective. Take time each day to consider who and what you're thankful for, and how you can take action to show your gratitude.

For me, it was about getting more involved with the Red Cross to raise awareness about the need for blood donations, as well as getting back to doing triathlons and marathons so I could give my medals to the everyday heroes around me. It was about raising money for adaptive bikes for disabled athletes, throwing a party for my medical team ... it was about recognizing all the good in people, which slowly drowned out the negativity that had overwhelmed me.

Consider today how you can show your gratitude. You may find, as I did, that it helps to heal you...(read the full article HERE
   
Called to Share Our Gifts with Others 
Br. Vic visited the students at Holy Angels in Arcadia yesterday and encouraged them to share their gifts.  Often times we think of gifts, and immediately turn to birthdays or holidays.  Br. Vic encouraged the students to come to know a different kind of gift, that which comes from God.  He instilled in the kids that each and every one of them has at least one gift, given to them by God.  (In the picture, he explained that Francis came to learn that the gifts inside of him, not those material gifts, but the gifts of love and compassion, were what God wanted him to use).  

Gifts are meant to be shared, and he encouraged the students to come to know that gifts that they've been given, and to then share them with others.  At the end of the talk, and as an example to, and for, them...Br. Vic shared his gift of music with the students and rapped about Christ!

Mental Strength Training and Mindfulness 
St. Francis is so blessed to have our mental strength coach and personal counselor, Mr. Andy Shaw! He always makes sure that he is available to work with our Golden Knights in a wide variety of situations. For instance, Mr. Shaw took time out of his day earlier this week to talk with the basketball players about mental strength training and mindfulness. Thank you, Mr. Shaw, for everything you do on behalf of our students' well being! GO KNIGHTS!

Five keys to Catholic education, according to Cardinal Versaldi
Catholic News Agency 

In his keynote address to Chile's Sixth National Congress on Catholic Education,  Cardinal Versaldi explained that education "must be careful to avoid  two  extreme and opposite dangers: that of an educational program imposed on the student without respecting his autonomy and requirements; and an educational program that simply goes along with whatever the  students ask for, or without any consideration for their personal growth."

The cardinal then proposed five keys for education in Catholic schools:

Proclamation of the Christian life

"The Catholic school has both the right and duty to not only teach in consistency with its own values, but also to have an inner dynamic of proclaiming and living the Christian life," Cardinal Versaldi said.

"Such an educational program becomes for believers in Christ an opportunity for  growth and the  integration of faith and reason and also for living out the life of the Church."

For non-believers it is "an opportunity to better know the authentic Gospel message which their conscience has to then consider and  which they're always  free to accept or not," he said.

"It would be unjust to ask, in the name of tolerance for Catholic schools to take a neutral approach  in what they teach  and to not to be able to foster a religious way of life, while still respecting people's freedom, since the students  have decided to go to an institution they already know is Catholic."

The witness of charity

Cardinal Versaldi said a school community's  witness must be "obviously noted for" its charity, which makes "the values conveyed through its teaching credible and attractive."

"A Christian school community imbued with this charity is in and of itself the best means of pastoral ministry."

Ongoing formation of teachers

The ongoing formation of professors in teaching methods and especially in "their spiritual growth  and their truly living out their faith ... is not a waste of  time or effort which takes way from their actual  teaching," Cardinal Versaldi said.

Such formation can make both the faculty and the administration able to "credibly engage with and also to be a partner in dialogue with civil society and the state schools in order to create a Chilean society founded on the  shared values of respect for cultural and religious diversity."

Working together with the Church

Cardinal Versaldi said the school's pastoral ministry must work side by side with the local Church and parishes so that they "mutually help each other out in their different  roles" without "imposing  on the school the responsibilities that mostly belong to the parish or vice versa."

In addition "it is important to foster a consistent witness, including that of their lives outside the classroom, such that the Church community would think the school a living example of her realities."

Providence as a guide

"Schools need to deepen their knowledge of what's going on in society in both its positive and negative aspects, discerning  the signs of the times, animated not by a paralyzing pessimism but rather with Christian hope founded on the faith that human history is always guided by Divine Providence despite people's free will," the cardinal stated.

"It is important to maintain this faith and translate it into the work of education as an overriding way of acting in order to become protagonists in a true renewal of the social scene without letting oneself be manipulated by the various political factions."

"Thus the Catholic school will always be on the forefront of dealing with the new challenges that the world must face such as care for the environment and immigration that politics in general tends to discount, marginalizing more people and creating dangers for future generations," Cardinal Versaldi concluded...(read the full article HERE)

Please Pray for Jacob Conde and His Family 
Dear St. Francis Family - Please keep Jacob Conde in your prayers. Jacob is the son of Roger Conde '86, nephew of Ernie Cruz '91, and cousins of Nathan Cruz '21 and future Golden Knight Owen Cruz. Jacob is 12 years old and has been battling a very rare but extremely aggressive bone cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. Jacob has endured 3 years of surgeries, chemo and radiation treatments and continues to fight. He currently has 14 tumors that we know of. Please help us pray for more time and the hope of finding a cure. If you would like to follow his story, check out his Facebook page at Jacob's Journey ~ Sarcoma sucks!

In Search of Science Professionals to Assist with Genes in Space Competition 
 
We are excited to announce that the St. 
Francis Golden Knights, led by Mr. Bill Heinen, will be participating in "out of this world" science through the Genes in Space Competition. This is a fantastic opportunity for students in our science program to make a real-world contribution to human space travel. Our students will be designing a DNA experiment that addresses challenges in space travel and deep space exploration.
 
If you are a science professional and would like to  vol unteer to be part of an advisory board to help guide our student inquiry, we would love to have you join our team! The biggest hurdle to getting started is generating questions about what biological issues might arise as we start to colonize space. Please direct any questions or interest to Mr. Heinen via email to wheinen@sfhs.net. We hope you will join us for this hands-on learning project! GO KNIGHTS!
 
Golden Knights Enjoy Screening of I Lived on Parker Avenue 
A Short Film About Adoption
The St. Francis Family was honored to welcome David Scotton to campus for a screening of his short film I Lived on Parker Avenue. David received a standing ovation for his film and presentation. The Golden Knights also had a chance to speak with and thank David after the screening. Our students were excited about the film and its important message about the power of adoption!

David Scotton is a college student raised in Louisiana who boards a train headed to meet his birth parents in Indiana. His tattooed birth mother, Melissa, and reserved birth father, Brian, anxiously wait for him, concerned David will reject them for decisions they made before he was born.

I Lived on Parker Avenue is a short documentary about a mother's agony in choosing what's best, the joy of a couple starting a family, and young man's search for where his life began. The film will be released online on March 8 2018. Visit www.ILivedOnParkerAve.com for more information!


I Lived on Parker Avenue Official Trailer
I Lived on Parker Avenue Official Trailer
Golden Knights Inducted into Spanish Honor Society  
Congratulations to the young men inducted into the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica (Spanish Honor Society) earlier this month! Additionally, we would like to thank our Spanish teacher Mrs. Andrea Nelson for organizing this special ceremony for the young men who have worked so hard to get to this point in their language studies. GO KNIGHTS!

SFHS Aviation Club Members Take a Front Seat in Soaring Experience
Members of the St. Francis Aviation Club had the chance to soar to new heights thanks to the leadership of Mr. Mark Fredette. Mr. Fredette arranged this once-in-a-lifetime experience to give our Golden Knights a taste of flying in the front seat of a glider. GO KNIGHTS!


Service Immersion Introduces Golden Knights to the Needs on Skid Row
A special thanks to those Golden Knights from the freshman and sophomore classes who participated in the most recent Mattina (Morning of Service) and Knight of Service on Skid Row. We are proud of your service and compassion...GO KNIGHTS!
 
 
Introducing the 2018 St. Francis Mountain Bike Team
We are thrilled to introduce our 2018 St. Francis High School Mountain Bike Team! These Golden Knights have been working hard all winter in preparation for the upcoming So Cal High School Cycling League races this spring. Thanks for representing us with distinction...GO KNIGHTS!

2018 Race Season (http://www.socaldirt.org/)

Feb 24-25: Beach to Boulders at Lake Perris  
Mar 10-11: Vail Lake Challenge  
Mar 24-25: Cruise the Keys 
Apr 14-15: Victory at Vail
May 05-06: SoCal Finals  
May 19-20: State Championships (High School only), NorCal/Petaluma

St. Francis Basketball Proves Resilient in Win Over Loyola
The St. Francis Family is so proud of our Varsity Basketball Team's 61-57 road win against Loyola Monday night! These young men have battled through some tough/disappointing losses but have never given up. They have demonstrated the power of hard work, discipline, determination, teamwork, and positivity. We're proud of you, gentlemen...GO KNIGHTS!



St Francis Basketball Promo (1st Half Of League) 2018 
St Francis Basketball Promo (1st Half Of League) 2018
St. Francis Soccer Picks Up Important League Win at Home
Congratulations to the JV and Varsity Soccer Teams for picking up strong home wins against Chaminade! GO KNIGHTS!

Eight St. Francis football players haul in All-CIF accolades
By Charles Rich, Glendale News-Press 
As a result of their skill, tireless work ethic and success, a contingent of local players - a whopping eight from St. Francis High and one from Crescenta Valley - were bestowed with All-CIF Southern Section recognition Monday after the CIF office unveiled its teams for all 13 divisions.

Following one of the greatest seasons in program history, St. Francis had a parade of honorees with Darius Perrantes, Elijah Washington, Greg Dulcich, Matthew Barriga, Bobby Gazmarian, Blake Howard, Gabriel Grbavac and Kevin Armstead receiving Division III accolades.

All of the players received the impressive honor for the first time.

St. Francis finished 12-2, 4-1 in the Angelus League for second place before advancing to the championship game against fourth seeded Rancho Verde, which got a game-winning field goal with no time remaining to earn a 44-42 win.

Perrantes, a junior transfer from Crespi, was named to the team as a quarterback. Perrantes, the Angelus League's co-most valuable offensive player, completed 155 of 260 passes for 2,917 yards and 28 touchdowns to seven interceptions. He rushed for 324 yards and 11 touchdowns in 75 carries. Perrantes had 39 total touchdowns, including 15 in the playoffs, to help the Golden Knights advance to the championship game for the first time since 1964.

"Darius came in and had a great year," St. Francis coach Jim Bonds said. "His touchdown-to-interception ratio was huge and that gave us a chance to succeed.

"He got better as the year went on and got some great playoff experience against some very talented teams."

Washington, a senior, was recognized as a running back after the all-league first-teamer rushed for 1,005 yards and 16 touchdowns in 166 carries. He also caught 20 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns and added 48 tackles at linebacker.

"Elijah brought it every game," Bonds said. "He could come from any direction and get the big yards.

"It's something when you can rush for more than 1,000 yards when you have the attention of the other team."

Dulcich earned the nod as a receiver after the senior hauled in 50 catches for 1,168 yards and 12 touchdowns. The all-league selection provided a big-play dynamic to the Golden Knights, averaging 23.4 yards per catch. In addition, he rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns in 33 carries and completed 20 of 37 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns while filling in for Perrantes.

 "He came into the summer determined and he worked hard at becoming a better receiver," Bonds said. "Greg had an unbelievable year and he came up so big in the playoffs."

Barriga, a senior, earned a spot on the offensive line. Barriga, who received all-league first-team accolades, was a captain, a standout on the offensive line and finished with 27 tackles and 14 quarterback hurries at defensive tackle.

"You always knew what you were going to get from Matthew in that he could provide stability on offense and defense," Bonds said. "He's somebody who never left the field and could always be counted on to come up big at any point in a game."

Grbavac anchored St. Francis' defensive unit as a senior lineman. The league's co-most valuable lineman finished with 66 tackles, 32 hurries and four sacks as a defensive end. Grbavac also played tight end and served as a prolific blocker.

" He seemed to be double-teamed almost every game," Bonds said. "He knew how to get to the quarterback and had great awareness as evidenced by all of those quarterback hurries."

Howard, a senior, was picked as a linebacker after the all-league honoree collected 70 tackles, four sacks, 11 hurries and two interceptions. Howard also had 37 receptions for 581 yards and seven touchdowns and provided a boost on special teams (he averaged 37.4 yards per punt).

"He did everything well and he was our team most valuable player," Bonds said. "He was a catalyst everywhere and he kept getting better every year."

Gazmarian proved to be a sparkplug at defensive back after the senior recorded 62 tackles, three interceptions and four passes defensed. The senior, who picked up all-league accolades, blocked one punt, one field goal and three extra-point attempts and averaged 29.4 yards per kickoff return.

"Bobby was like a human missile," Bonds said. "He was the motor that wouldn't stop and that's because he was always in on the big plays."

Armstead, a sophomore defensive back, earned a spot on utility after the all-league pick finished with 36 tackles, five interceptions, five forced fumbles and six passes defensed. Armstead rushed for 103 carries for 656 yards and 14 touchdowns.

"He was always around the ball and he'll be a big part of our team going forward," Bonds said. "He had some big interceptions late in games, including in the playoff game against La Serna."...(read the full article HERE)

SFHS Varsity Baseball Defeats Top Ranked Nevada Team 
This past weekend the St. Francis Varsity Baseball Team competed in the Border Battle Tournament, a annual event that pits some of the top Southern California teams against the best Nevada teams. The Golden Knights went 2-2 and defeated the #1 ranked team in Nevada, Basic Academy, 4-1! We are proud of you, gentlemen...GO KNIGHTS!

Celebrating the Success of Our Graduates
St. Francis loves to share the success stories of our graduates! We would love to hear from you...please message us on Facebook or email burghdorfa@sfhs.net with updates! GO KNIGHTS!
Congratulations to St. Francis grad Ryder Christ '12 for being awarded a Golden Mike in Best Live Television Coverage of a News Story!

Ryder emailed us the morning after the awards presentation with the following: "I just wanted to say thank you to St. Francis High School for forming me into the man I am today. Last night I was awarded a Golden Mike in Best Live Television Coverage of a News Story. This would not be possible without Mr. Eulalia's guidance in the KNIT program . My love for television news started in his class and has continued with me even today." Ryder Christ '12

We're so proud of you, Ryder...GO KNIGHTS!

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - At the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California Golden Mike Awards Dinner Ryder Christ was awarded Best Live Coverage of a News Story in Division B.

Christ's Golden Mike was awarded for his live coverage of a structure fire in Goleta, CA. Judges said they were "impressed" with his ability be both videographer and reporter.

The Golden Mike Awards, according to their website, is Southern California's most prestigious, and most coveted, broadcast journalism prize. Winners of the Golden Mike Awards must meet the "Standard of Excellence". What sets the Golden Mike Awards apart from other awards, is if no entry meets the "Standard of Excellence" then no award is given.

Christ currently is a full time video journalist at KEYT/KCOY/KKFX in Santa Barbara. In 2015, he was an editing intern there for 6 months. Before interning at KEYT/KCOY/KKFX, Christ was an intern at KABC. Christ has also worked as a Media Intern at the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company and E! News. Christ also works for the City of Santa Barbara as a content producer.
Congratulations to Jacob Lucas '14 for being selected as a John Brandl Scholar! Lucas is grateful to the McCarthy Center for naming him as a John Brandl Scholar and enabling him to pursue his goal of interning in Washington D.C. this summer. Jacob is grateful to all his mentors and supporters in the St. Francis Community who have pushed him to become an ambitious and determined individual. GO KNIGHTS! 

St. Francis continues to celebrate the service/success of grads Sebouh Bazikian '14 and Shawnt Bazikian '16 and their non profit, Bikes 4 Orphans. Thank you, gentlemen, for embodying the Franciscan virtues and living lives of service...GO KNIGHTS!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words 
Images from Across the St. Francis Community  
A special thanks to these wonderful women and Tardino Bros (Julia Smith) for preparing and hosting an Italian feast for this January's Faculty Lunch!
Creative, fun-loving, supportive, and enthusiastic...what's not to love about the SFHS Dungeon? Thank you, gentlemen, for showing up to cheer on your brothers and demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship!
We were honored to have National Championship winning Former UCLA Head Coach Jim Harrick at basketball practice to talk to our Golden Knights. His message was simple; "Whatever goal you set, you need a team to accomplish it."
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