01Jan

Christmas Continues

Dear Families, Faculty, and Friends,

The Christmas season has only just begun! I find it very fitting that the Christmas season is filled with so many feasts and solemnities. While the secular world deliberates what type of resolutions can be made at the turn of the calendar year, our liturgical calendar points us to the truest type of resolution: the resolution to accept the gift of life and mission from God, evident in the lives of these Christmas saints. This is not a once a year type of change, but instead the transformation of living a life of meaning that resolves to live each day bette...

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20Dec

Christmas: The Origin of our Dignity

Dear Families,

The season of Advent inspires us to be awed by simplicity. God's power is not evident in where we perceive it to be; I think of so many prayer intentions offered that have yet to be answered. Much like the people of Israel who were awaiting their preconceived politically messianic figure, I find my own prayer intentions outside of God's plan in the here and now. 

This makes me ponder, what are we to do with the here and now then? The Church speaks to us on this occasion the words of St. Leo the Great. In his homily we come across a very famous exhortation. Perhaps the greatest ...

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11Dec

Education For Its Own Sake

The liberal arts curriculum offered by Mount Royal Academy is classical in that it has been time tested over millennia. Rather than utility, this education seeks to impart a knowledge of and love for truth for its own sake. Having this focus allows one to attain the highest good - that which is good, true, and beautiful in its very self. Read More
11Dec

Advent is Evident

Dear Families,

As Advent began last week we were blessed to have an excerpt from a pastoral letter by St. Charles Borromeo featured in the Divine Office:

Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see. This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving… When we remove all obstac...

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04Dec

God's Virtuous Act

Dear Families,

It is never easy to process different but converging experiences, so here goes.

Sunday marked the beginning of Advent, followed by a solid snow storm, and then yesterday was Giving Tuesday. Here we have the liturgical calendar and its primacy transitioning into the reality of weather - an uncontrollable but inescapable dynamic to be dealt with - then a secular occasion that summons reflection on why we give what we give to what we do.

As I was immersed in all of these experiences, I got to thinking.

There is one certainty in life: all parents want what is good for their children...

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20Nov

Paideia: Education and Formation of Young

Dear Families,

As I was listening to a podcast recently, I was again struck by something of note. It concerns the idea of paideia: the Greek ideals pertaining to the education and formation of young children. The priests on the podcast (Catholic Stuff You Should Know) likened this to gardening. Molding the young, helping children to choose the right path, is indeed similar to gardening. (I did like the metaphor extension when they noted the difference between pruning vs. weed-wacking!) Also discussed the importance of creating a nurturing and proper environment to encourage good growth.

It ma...

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15Nov

Magnanimous Teaching

Dear Families,

Virtues are the skills required to live a happy and fulfilling life. There are rules to human life that establish the boundaries (do not steal, be dishonest, or hurt another person), much like any sport. But the most successful athletes practice the skills that make them excel within those self-evident limits. A skilled quarterback still excels within the rules of football. A virtuous person excels within the rules of life. Without practicing the skills of throwing, timing, and reading the opponent, the quarterback cannot succeed. Without practicing the skills of human life - vi...

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06Nov

An Ancient but Contemporary Mission

Dear Families,

Last week I was blessed to witness the confirmation of many of our young people.  With the transition to the restored order of sacraments in our diocese, many parishes have experienced larger confirmation classes than usual. In this instance, Our Lady of Fatima (New London), was proud to host Bishop Libasci for two separate ceremonies, featuring over 100 young people!

I was proud to see so many of our own students present. I was also proud to see so many of our own Mount Royal community members there as well: parents, siblings, sponsors-- witnesses all. To see the overlap of...

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30Oct

All Saints' & All Souls'

Dear Families,

This is the time of the year when the pace of life seems to really ramp up. It isn't even that the first two months of school are any different, but I think we all sense the increased rhythm of the academic calendar as we turn to November. Dr. Kalpakgian always taught me the needs resulting from the rhythm: there has to be an element of dance, play, and leisure - even sometimes unplanned - in order to rejuvenate the soul and make us more free to focus on and love the good things that are always happening around us - even when we aren't looking closely enough.

Our liturgical cal...

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24Oct

Many Parts, One Body

Dear Families,

I am privileged to teach catechesis here at Mount Royal Academy. I am even more privileged that I have been able to teach (and learn) with the same group of students for three years in a row. We are able to dive more deeply and quickly into discussions, to offer one another more critical feedback in an honest manner, and to truly experience the joys of helping one another along the path to heaven.

In Catechesis III (eighth grade) we just finished our first unit. The featured themes of solidarity, family, common good, and community were striking. We contextualized these topics fr...

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