Thank you Mrs McGuire

Mrs. Mary McGuire had a tough task coming to St. Columbkille Catholic School on April 2nd while Dr. Blue was in hospice and less than two weeks before she passed away.

She was admirable in her abilty to bring a joyful presense and encourage everyone in the process.

She was able to fill the tasks as principal, encourage our teachers in their work and give another perspective as we plan for the future. She brought energy, faith and two decades experience just when we needed it.

 

Last week she finished her tasks preparing for the new administration. She is relaxing this week and next before she undertakes her next role as Interim President of Skutt Catholic High School. She assures us that, in a year, she really will retire and she has grandchildren ready to hold her to that promise.

Again, thank you!

VBS has begun

 VBS began earlier today, and part of the sessions is art.

During drama, students were NOT pleased to pay taxes to Zacchaeus, as they gained a greater appreciation for what Jesus did.

We had a chance to enjoy a snack today.

The preschool students got a book on Zacchaeus.

Omaha Street Percussion helped us with some music.

You can listen to the "before" below as the students prepare for their concert on Wednesday.

Happy Father's Day!

Today in Mass the following blessing of Fathers will be done:

God our Father,
in your wisdom and love you made all things.
Bless these men,
that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

AMEN

Praying during the Fortnight

Anyone who has been in our chapel knows that the tabernacle looks like this:

But during the Fortnight for Freedom, we would like it to look like this:

To do that, to expose the Eucharist in the Monstrance, we need to make certain there is someone in the chapel every hour between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. starting June 21st. If you can commit an hour to help, please sign up here. If someone is signed up during the hour that woul work for them, know that you can come and pray too.

The end of Summer Formation Classes

This morning was the last of the Summer Religious Formation. Students gathered each morning in the courtyard. One morning we prayed thinking of the statue of St. Columbkille.

Another day Fr. John Norman spoke with us.

We collected items for the Tri-City Pantry.

Music was part of our curriculum.

Deacon Capadano spoke with some of our classes

 about how God has called him to serve.

And we learned a lot in classes.

Today we finish and bring what we learned into the world.

Trying to trick Jesus

This morning the 7th Grade students in Summer Religiouse Formation did a skit for everyone.

The skit was based on some people

 who attempted to trick Jesus.

Within the skit Jesus had some of his disciples

 act out the parable of the Good Samaritan.

It was great to have those students lead

 us in understanding Jesus better.

The Treasure of the Mass

Words fail to describe what a treasure we have in the Mass. But the saints try. Here are the thoughts of Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty, borrowed from the monthly Magnificat prayer devotional:

"The Mass is the very breath of our spiritual life. There we are, face to face with the Lord of Hosts. There we become one with Him. Then, refreshed and strengthened beyond our understanding, we once more can face whatever the day may bring. In the Mass we find bread and wine for the soul. We find Love bending down to us, Love lifting us, ever higher, to Himself, until all things are right and well with us. For we have our being in Him already on this earth. . . .

"All things come together in the Mass, for humanity comes together with God, and in God all things have their being. The Mass is a mighty bridge which brings the entire Church -- living one earth now and those gone on to eternal life -- together in an unbreakable unity. In doing so, it brings us peace, strength and joy. For in the Mass we realize as through a glass darkly, that there is no loss of our Beloved, that we are not alone, that we walk in a goodly company of saints and martyrs. Life changes utterly and begins to make true sense to us when we participate in Mass daily. Our horizons become wider than all the universe, for they span time and eternity. Love grows within our soul until finally its eyes see Christ in all. Slowly, but oh, how surely, our whole person turns to God! Then the spirit of the evangelical counsels -- of poverty, chastity and obedience -- of the Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments becomes simple and clear. We become free. How free cannot be told; it has to be experienced."

-- Servant of God Catherine De Hueck Doherty

Inspired by this Year of Faith we will be posting columns like this from Susan Szalewski about exploring and/or deepening our faith. Watch for it on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Our Bishops are Praying

Above is a picture Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Raleigh diocese tweeted showing the US Bishops gathered and praying together at California's First Mission: San Diego de Alcala.

Here is a picture Bishop Kevin Vann tweeted before sunset last night as it reminded him of the Eucharistic Prayer where it says, "From the rising of the sun to its setting."

As the US Bishops are gether together in prayer and meetings this week. Today Bishop John Wester tweeted, "Am enjoying the Special Assembly of the US bishops here in San Diego. The theme is New Evangelization. Cardinal Collins of Toronto is great. The New Evangelization seeks to reach the 'gathered and the scattered,' giving new life and vitality to our faith. [The] theme today is the Eucharist. Evangelize through good music, good preaching and good welcome. Then, people called to go and live the Mass."

Pray for our bishops as they are gathered together.

Celebrating the End of Construction

On the Feast of St. Columbkille yesterday we celebrated the end of construction for our Source & Summit Campaign.

The Knights grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and we went through two kegs donated by Upstream as we estimate over 700 people were able to join us.

People seemed happy even waiting in line.