Greetings to one and all! How are you today? I hope that you are well. It’s amazing to think that we’re already nineteen days into the month of September. As you can see by the title of this eNewsletter we’re also nearly two weeks into the school year. We have been so blessed to have our school continue to grow in terms of numbers of students (we’ve currently got over 180 kiddos in our school for the largest enrollment in close to a decade) and in terms of our students’ moral lives.
Last year the school theme was based on John 15:16, “God chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit.” The theme went on to state, “Mission: Possible. Go Make a Difference.” I was able to see firsthand how the kids bore great fruit for the glory of the Lord in their respectful interactions with one another, in their volunteering for Feed my Starving Children, in their athletic competitions, in their musical performances and so much more.
This year, the theme for the school year is grounded in a quote from one of St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The theme also emphasizes the acronym “JOY” which stands for “
J
esus.
O
thers.
Y
ou.” Even less than a fortnight (two weeks) into the new school year I have seen the kiddos cheerfully sharing their lunches with one another, giving their attention to their teachers, and welcoming the new students with a heartfelt attitude of joy.
At the school Mass this morning the kids appropriately heard these words in the First Reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to his friend, Timothy, “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity” (4:12) . To be certain the kids are not perfect and they have their lapses in showing authentic Christian love to one another. However, the inspired words of the Apostle Paul remind us that our younger brothers and sisters can nonetheless help to keep us on the path of salvation by their way of life. May we return the favor by our own words and deeds for Jesus, others, and ourselves.
