Dear Parents and Students,
 
The hallmark of our Catholic mission is to transform boys lives through an integrated approach to academics, arts, athletics, and Campus Ministry. This is not only true on Baker Street, but also now through the incredible work of our community to provide holistic resources for students and families to continue living our mission in these challenging times. Here at Catholic Memorial, we strive to educate the mind, body, and the soul. We remain committed to these tenants even more so now. This letter provides resources that we hope will enhance the learning and growth of all students.
 
To start, I wanted to provide some important perspective on ways of managing the collective levels of anxiety and stress that people are feeling right now. I would urge each of us to take time each day to recognize these feelings. Taking stock of our emotions will be critical as we live in the moment and think about the path ahead. This is critical to our well-being and how we care for our families and ourselves.
 
Our Campus Ministry Team has shared many resources to help our students continue to develop their spiritual life, which is critical in these moments. These include a five-minute meditation for the CM community. Engaging and practicing in a daily Ignatian Examen will have an enriching and positive impact. I urge all families to participate in this reflective and spiritual technique .
 
We have also provided a number of resources that direct our students to engage and develop their spiritual life including daily prayer and online liturgies. We urge students and families to engage together in these important opportunities as well. Creating a community of memory has a lasting power and creates important bonds.
 
Physical activity is also critical for our mental health and wellbeing. In the days ahead, it is going to be very important that we take time to run, walk, do yoga, or engage in other activities. With that in mind, our athletic staff has provided resources , daily work out schedules, and video tutorials that can help all CM students to stay fit and well. The workouts utilize many items that we have at home and have been designed for students of all ages.
 
Understanding the power of friendly competition and camaraderie and in the hopes of engaging with our students, CM announced a wellness challenge – the Move More Challenge!  The program and challenge will start on Monday, March 30 and run through Sunday, May 10. We encourage all students and faculty to build teams. You can register for the challenge here .
 
If a family member or a student is feeling a great deal of anxiety in these moments, please recognize that this is understandable. In these moments, I would urge parents to spend time one-on-one with their sons and remind him things will get better and eventually back to normal.
 
It is also beneficial to articulate that most people in this world are good, and the good people in this world strive to work together to solve problems. Presenting all the goodness that exists is critical in these moments. If someone in your family experiences heightened anxiety, work with them, and encourage them to live in the moment. Focusing on today, not tomorrow, five-days from now, or a month helps ease anxiety. Taking things day-by-day is critical to recognizing the good that emerges in challenging moments.
 
We have an excellent set of counselors here at CM, who can help as well. They are available via email every day, as well as hosting counselor-specific groups during each school day on Microsoft Teams where students can “drop in” for a quick conversation or chat. These are great options to consider for students to connect with a trusted conversation partner.
 
Additionally, our counselors are adding reflection and mindfulness activities once a week to the grade-level advisory section of OnCampus that students can complete, including college counseling content for our Beyond CM program. Please know that we continue to do our best work even in these difficult times.
 
I also wanted to share some general suggestions as we collectively sort through this rapidly evolving situation and establish new strategies to balance our school-work-life at home:
 
  • Social distancing does not mean emotional distancing, please use technology to connect widely and with those loved ones that we can’t see in person.
  • Find and make time with those in our homes for important family bonding.
  • Create clear routines and schedules as structure is important and welcomed in moments of uncertainty.
  • When screens are not needed, turn them off and have face-to-face conversations with family members.
  • Pick up a real book, I still believe in the power of holding a book and reading quietly, especially with our growing need to be online.
  • Create more positive family time and focus on the positive aspects of these moments.
  • Play board games, cards, and embrace this time together.
  • Find time for some alone time, outside if possible. It is important to give everyone some space during the day.
  • Focused meditation, relaxation, and prayer are beneficial and often not prioritized enough.
  • Remember the things that you really enjoy doing, that you can do in this situation, and find a way to do them.
  • Be aware when you are over-exposed to television and internet news. The news cycle runs all day and night. Choose small windows to stay informed, but do not oversaturate.
  • Laugh often as it is good for the soul.
 
Here at CM, we have taken important steps to continue our education of the whole student. We understand young men and continue to develop programs that meet the needs of our students. We also appreciate the cooperative spirit of our faculty, the sacred partnership with parents, and generosity of spirit that CM community displays each day.
 
I am so grateful to our teaching faculty, staff, athletic department, academic and college counseling staff, and campus ministers as they continue to innovate to meet the educational, physical, spiritual, and socio-emotional wellbeing of our students in these challenging times.
 
Live, Jesus, in our hearts, forever!

Sincerely,
 
Dr. Peter F. Folan