Last Saturday, I attended my daughter's first Reconciliation.
Early on, when Jubilee asked me where 'momma' went, I would say that she went to say sorry to Jesus.
I often express how I need to get myself to the penalty box. I was once a hockey player, so the image seems apt, but in another sense, it doesn't really capture the beauty of the sacrament.
God never quarantines us in a desolate space to punish us for our inability to love Him. That would be just selfish, an attribute inconsistent with and entirely inappropriate to God.
The problem is, we often send ourselves to the penalty box: we ...
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How often do you hear of a Catholic school that is growing?
We all know the story by now: Declining enrollment in Catholic schools has brought about widespread closure and consolidation of what were once evangelical centers of academic and moral excellence.
But do we know how the story ends? No. We do not know what will happen with our Catholic schools, but we do know that with the eyes of faith, God will make all things new again.
This season of lent is a fitting time to look at Catholic education through the prism of redemption, as our current climate in the Church also positions a particul...
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Last Friday I was privileged to journey to Montreal, joining fellow staff members in pilgrimage to St. Joseph’s Oratory, in thanksgiving for the journey which gave birth to Mount Royal Academy 25 years ago. Walking through the enormous main basilica, I was full of awe at the magnitude of all the blessings God has showered on this community over the years. Kneeling at the altar of the tiny, original, chapel I sensed the amazing scope of the dream our founding families possessed. Looking up I was surrounded by rows of crutches and canes, tokens of miracles granted through the intercession of S...
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The field of clinical psychology peaks my interest. Of late, I have been reading and seeking out the perspectives of people who really encounter serious sadness and tragedy in others, trying to assess how I can even improve my own mindset.
There is an adage that often gets thrown around to capture what happens when someone who feels extremely wronged or confused: "perception is reality". This is peculiar to me because it means we don't share any common experience of what is happening around us; instead, our personal experience of what is happening is what determines what really happened.
In ...
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Very few veteran Catholic teachers desire to relive their first year of teaching. The greatest experiential truths I have learned as a Catholic educator are from my failures. The first year of teaching is where I failed the most.
Professional development is frequently proposed as a suitable solution to overcoming deficiencies in knowledge or pedagogical practice for a teacher. But what comes to mind when we hear the term “professional development”? Sadly, mostly negative connotations abound.
The National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools articula...
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Lenten Reflection
Each year as Lent arrives I contemplate what actions I will take. Not simply a list of favorite foods to forego, or times I will fast; but ideas of how I can actively use this time to draw closer to God, focus more closely on his Passion, become more aware of the miracle of His Resurrection.
In our 8th grade Catechesis class students quickly covered the board with ideas - ways we could give alms, pray, and fast. Some suggested giving up screen time, a favorite Netflix show, or a specific device. They mentioned filling this new void with concrete actions: helping with chores ...
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Dear Families,
Tuesday was a hard day. Rick Mihaly - a spiritual father and prayer warrior in our school community - passed into eternal life.
Sometimes there isn't much to do but pray. And pray is what we did. I am not sure how else the human spirit can process such sudden reminders of our mortality. Each of Mr. Mihaly's (Andrew) classes went to adoration instead of history class. Elementary classrooms visited the oratory. We brought our Lord out into exposition, prayed the office of the dead, recited the chaplet of divine mercy, and then turned to the patron of the dying and our school's...
Read MoreDear Families,
Charity.
It is a word laden with baggage, such as past experiences and cliches. Images of food drives and used clothing collections come to mind. Charity is giving stuff to those in need. Charity is helping those in obvious need: the downtrodden, the suffering, the poor.
This past weekend we were faced with a challenging Gospel: Luke 6:27-38. Jesus told us to love your enemies… do good to those who hate you... do not judge, and you will not be judged.
This is tough stuff. It is easy to sort through my closet, choose clothes I infrequently wear, and put them in a bag for “charity...
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