Dear Families,
I hope and pray that all of you enjoyed your Christmas vacation. Our family took down the Christmas tree on the feast of the Epiphany, but then I was quickly reminded by a faithful student on Monday that the Baptism of the Lord marks the definitive ending of the Christmas season. The dates can vary depending on how the liturgical calendar falls in the monthly calendar, but the wisdom of this intentional celebration by the Church should not be overlooked.
I am always impressed with how our academic calendar fittingly extends from the liturgical calendar. For exampl...
Dear Families,
Coming up with something meaningful to say in this letter is easier some weeks than others. In bemoaning this to the sixth grade class, they took it upon themselves to help me with this week’s theme. Naturally, they wanted the focus to be Christmas and one suggested the following quote from the Gospel of St. Luke:
The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
As always, ki...
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Dear Families,
Advent and Christmas always elicit quite a range of sentiments. This is due in large part to the intersection of our own individual lives with the message of Christmas. Human nature is such that we often compare our own experience with the experience and stories of others. I think to myself, "What would I do if I was Joseph?" or, "How could such a simple birth result in the slaughtering of thousands of young boys?" That last question might catch you off guard, but shortly after Christmas the Church recognizes the feast of the Holy Innocents, since according to history, Herod co...
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Like any athletic competition, academics is performed to score and win. The points, however, appear as grades-- A, B, C, D, F which then turn into numbers. Students want to score, and teachers and parents want them to win--to do well.
However, in athletics and in academics, not everyone wins. Not everyone earns A's and B's. Average grades may reflect lack of effort, discipline, or studiousness but not always. A grade measures effort, mastery, and ability, but often effort alone does not suffice to earn the best, highest grade. There is nothing dishonorable about an average grade when the stud...
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Dear Families,
Earlier this week, I was reading some excerpts from Pope Francis’s Angelus address on the first Sunday of Advent. He said that in Advent “we are called to enlarge the horizons of our hearts, to be surprised by the life that is presented each day with its newness.” It is easy to see why Advent, as we prepare for the birth of the Christ Child, is conducive to appreciating the preciousness and possibilities of life.
At Mount Royal, several annual events are held in celebration of the season of Advent. Students will put out their shoes for a visit from St. Nicholas on December 6...
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Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that the first week of Advent is just around the corner. The end of ordinary time always presents a valuable juxtaposition, as the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe marks the culmination of the liturgical calendar. The new year begins with a preparatory season in which we anticipate the first arrival of God in our midst in His Incarnate Son. Yet, we also carry with us the awareness that Christ as King means his rule is everlasting, and although it has not reached fulfillment, we await that second coming wherein creation will be completely r...
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