We are all always learning. Continuing education is an important part of being a professional. Book studies, on-line courses, training at seminars and workshops all figure in to teachers' school year and summer. Mrs. Forse shared with teachers at the most recent staff development meeting some of the insight gained from two programs she attended this year. The first was from "A Place for All" which is conducted through the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. She shared strategies to help teachers provide a positive learning environment for students. The other presentation was based on content from the International Dyslexia Association Conference. This presentation gave teachers important insight and information to better serve students who have learning differences. Teachers are signing up to attend workshops and take courses this summer in science education, dyslexia, autism, Google classroom, developing literacy, teaching art, and more. Part of the excitement of returning to school in the fall is sharing all that we have learned over the summer.
During morning prayer, we have been learning about the origin of the prayers of the rosary. We are now learning about the story behind the Fatima prayer which is recited with each decade of the rosary. If you don't know the history behind Our Lady of Fatima, you might want to read "Fatima...In Her Own Words" by Sr. Lucia. You can find it on Amazon. Our Blessed Mother came and asked us to pray the rosary, receive the Sacraments, and offer penance to save souls and to pray for peace in the world. Her appearance was during World War I. The messages continue to resonate in our times. Pope John Paul II had a special devotion to Our Lady and responded to her request to consecrate the world to her care. Part of the consecration is below:
"Mother of all individuals and peoples, you know all their sufferings and hopes. In your motherly heart you feel all the struggles between good and evil, between light and darkness, that convulse the world: accept the plea which we make in the Holy Spirit directly to your heart, and embrace with the love of the Mother and Handmaid of the Lord those who most await this embrace, and also those whose act of entrustment you too await in a particular way. Take under your motherly protection the whole human family, which with affectionate love we entrust to you, O Mother. May there dawn for everyone the time of peace and freedom, the time of truth, of justice and of hope...
At OLQP, we renew our consecration on the day of May crowning which, this year, is also the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. We are grateful to God and Our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us such a loving mother for all time. Thank you for being part of the OLQP family. May God continue to bless you, our school, our community, our country, and the world.
Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us!
