Yesterday was the final day of the year for teachers. The students finished their exams on Thursday and we came in yesterday to clean-up, check grades, have a final meeting, and enjoy a BBQ with Mr. Mailloux's '72 amazing steak. It was also the last day for five members of our community who are moving on:
Ms. Kudrick of our math department is retiring after 40 years
Mrs. Magoun of our modern language department is retiring after 19 years
Mr. Nelson of our English department is retiring after 12 years (40 plus as a teacher)
Mrs. Hollingsworth of our athletic department is taking a job as a nurse. She was with us for 9 years
Ms. Girard of our theology department is leaving to pursue her vocation after 4 years at Trinity
I am going to take some time off eventually but we do have some trips planned this summer. Mr. Sheehan '79 and I are also taking some students on a day trip on Monday. This blog might be a little quiet after Monday but please do check in. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read about our work in Campus Ministry. As I often tell people, it's a labor of love and I can't believe I actually get paid to do what I do.
Happy summer!
June 15, 2013
6th Grade goodbye
This past Thursday I was privileged to be invited back to Saint Christopher School in Nashua for the 6th grade luncheon. Each year on the day before "graduation" (Saint Christopher's only goes to 6th grade like most elementary schools in the diocese) they have a lunch in the church hall for the kids and their parents. They also pass out various awards.
Father Richard Kelley, the pastor of Saint Christopher's Parish and a very good friend of Trinity High School, was unable to attend so I was asked to say grace. I took the opportunity to also congratulate the parents on raising some amazing children. We were then all treated to a nice lunch and then the awards were distributed. They asked me to help pass out the Christian service awards which I was happy to do.
I am so grateful to the 6th grade teachers, Ms. Wefers and Mrs. Edmonds for inviting me and for continuing the wonderful relationship between Trinity High School and Saint Christopher's School. That night I happened to be at the mall in Nashua and I ran into one of the boys from the class. He actually recognized me at first and we had a nice chat. They are wonderful kids. Best of luck Class of 2013!
June 12, 2013
6th Grade Retreat
I was honored to be invited to speak to the 6th graders at Saint Christopher School in Nashua yesterday. They were having a mini-retreat and one of the 6th grade teachers, Ms. Wefers, asked if I could speak to them about service. I spoke to the students last year and this year on their Vocation Day so I have come to know them well. They are a fun group of kids and I love visiting them.
We began by reading the gospel passage from Matthew 25 where Jesus instructs His disciples to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and visit the sick and imprisoned. I explained how these (plus bury the dead) have become known as the Corporal Works of Mercy and how we are all expected to do these for when we do so, we do them for Him.
I cut out pieces of paper with the works of mercy on them and the kids broke up into seven groups based on which one they had. They had to come up with 5 ways they as 12 year olds could carry out the work of mercy.
They then reported back their ideas to the full group. I reminded them that they don't have to wait until they are older to do amazing things and to things for others, they can do them now. We concluded our time by praying the Prayer of Saint Francis from a prayer card I gave to each of them.
We ended the retreat with pizza and brownies. I sat with some of the kids and loved chatted with them, they are so much fun.
I look forward to going back to Vocation Day in October!
We began by reading the gospel passage from Matthew 25 where Jesus instructs His disciples to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and visit the sick and imprisoned. I explained how these (plus bury the dead) have become known as the Corporal Works of Mercy and how we are all expected to do these for when we do so, we do them for Him.
I cut out pieces of paper with the works of mercy on them and the kids broke up into seven groups based on which one they had. They had to come up with 5 ways they as 12 year olds could carry out the work of mercy.
They then reported back their ideas to the full group. I reminded them that they don't have to wait until they are older to do amazing things and to things for others, they can do them now. We concluded our time by praying the Prayer of Saint Francis from a prayer card I gave to each of them.
We ended the retreat with pizza and brownies. I sat with some of the kids and loved chatted with them, they are so much fun.
I look forward to going back to Vocation Day in October!
Habemus statua
And they're off
This past Monday and Tuesday we said our final goodbyes to the Class of 2013. On Monday we had our Baccalaureate Mass at Saint Anselm Abbey Church and last night was our Commencement at Saint Anselm Sullivan Arena.
The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Francis Christian, the auxiliary bishop of Manchester (he and Bishop Libasci rotate saying the Baccalaureate Masses at the four Catholic high schools each year). We were blessed to have four concelebrants - Msgr. Charles DesRuisseaux, Fathers Richard Dion, John Fortin, OSB, and Richard Kelley. In his homily Bishop Christian urged the students to live a life of meaning and to keep in mind that we are simply passing through. Our choir was beautiful as always and added so much solemnity to the Mass. Following the Mass, two students - Angelita Connell '13 and Patrick Taillon '13 - offered reflections. They both had a common theme, Angelita never wanted to come to Trinity and Patrick wanted to transfer on two occasions. But thanks to so many teachers, they came to love the community and the opportunities that presented themselves.
Following the reflections, the choir sang a song of blessing as each student received and lit candles. After the blessing the students processed out of the church with the candles, symbolizing that as they leave us they are to go into the world and be the light of Christ.
We always begin our commencement with a sort of receiving line. The faculty line up and the students process in and are greeted individually by each teacher. It actually began about 20 years ago because a former principal was worried the students would be carrying in beach balls or other items and he did this as a way for the teachers to see that the kids didn't have any contraband on their person! Luckily it evolved quickly into an opportunity for all of us to say goodbye and good luck one last time. I was privileged to offer an opening prayer. I brought with me the processional cross we use at our Masses to help introduce my prayer. The right arm of Jesus broke off about a year ago and even after we fixed it, it fell off again. Around the same time I heard a talk from the superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Memphis, TN who said she was reluctant to take on the job and asked Jesus to wrap His arms around her and help her. Shortly thereafter she came across two crucifixes, both of which had no arms. She took that as a message from Jesus that He was not going to wrap His arms around her, she had to be His arms. I decided then to not put the arm back on our crucifix as a reminder to all of us that we too are to be Christ's arms. After telling this story I prayed the following prayer by Mother Theresa:
Father Richard Dion concluded the commencement with a benediction and offered a final blessing to the newest alumni of Trinity High School.
Best of luck to the Class of 2013! Please stay in touch.
The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Francis Christian, the auxiliary bishop of Manchester (he and Bishop Libasci rotate saying the Baccalaureate Masses at the four Catholic high schools each year). We were blessed to have four concelebrants - Msgr. Charles DesRuisseaux, Fathers Richard Dion, John Fortin, OSB, and Richard Kelley. In his homily Bishop Christian urged the students to live a life of meaning and to keep in mind that we are simply passing through. Our choir was beautiful as always and added so much solemnity to the Mass. Following the Mass, two students - Angelita Connell '13 and Patrick Taillon '13 - offered reflections. They both had a common theme, Angelita never wanted to come to Trinity and Patrick wanted to transfer on two occasions. But thanks to so many teachers, they came to love the community and the opportunities that presented themselves.
Following the reflections, the choir sang a song of blessing as each student received and lit candles. After the blessing the students processed out of the church with the candles, symbolizing that as they leave us they are to go into the world and be the light of Christ.
We always begin our commencement with a sort of receiving line. The faculty line up and the students process in and are greeted individually by each teacher. It actually began about 20 years ago because a former principal was worried the students would be carrying in beach balls or other items and he did this as a way for the teachers to see that the kids didn't have any contraband on their person! Luckily it evolved quickly into an opportunity for all of us to say goodbye and good luck one last time. I was privileged to offer an opening prayer. I brought with me the processional cross we use at our Masses to help introduce my prayer. The right arm of Jesus broke off about a year ago and even after we fixed it, it fell off again. Around the same time I heard a talk from the superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Memphis, TN who said she was reluctant to take on the job and asked Jesus to wrap His arms around her and help her. Shortly thereafter she came across two crucifixes, both of which had no arms. She took that as a message from Jesus that He was not going to wrap His arms around her, she had to be His arms. I decided then to not put the arm back on our crucifix as a reminder to all of us that we too are to be Christ's arms. After telling this story I prayed the following prayer by Mother Theresa:
- Make us worthy Lord to serve our fellow men throughout the world,
- who live and die in poverty and hunger.
- Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread
- and by our understanding love give peace and joy.
- Lord, make me a channel of thy peace.
- That where there is hatred I may bring love,
- That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness,
- That where there is discord, I may bring harmony,
- That where there is error I may bring truth,
- That where there is doubt I may bring faith,
- That where there is despair I may bring hope,
- That where there are shadows I may bring light,
- That where there is sadness I may bring joy.
- Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted,
- To understand than to be understood,
- To love than to be loved.
- For it is by forgetting self that one finds.
- It is by forgiving that one is forgiven,
- it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
- Amen.
Father Richard Dion concluded the commencement with a benediction and offered a final blessing to the newest alumni of Trinity High School.
Best of luck to the Class of 2013! Please stay in touch.
June 8, 2013
Theology Fair X
Last night was Trinity High School's 10th annual Theology Fair. Each year in January, the freshmen receive a scripture passage and are tasked with creating a giant 3-D project of that passage by June. I taught freshmen theology at Trinity for three years and always loved working with the kids on the Theology Fair project. They all worked so incredibly hard and produce work that I would never have been
capable of when I was 14/15 years old.
Ms. Girard and Ms. Zolkos did an amazing job preparing the students for this year's fair and the gym was packed all evening. What impresses me year after year is how the students are able to explain their story so well. It's one thing to make a nice project, it's another to be able to discuss it with so much poise and confidence.
At the end of the fair, Ms. Girard and Ms. Zolkos recognized some students for their work and they came on stage to receive a gift. Ms. Zolkos and I then thanked Ms. Girard for her hard work over the years and for her stewardship of the Theology Fair over the past four years. We also wished her the best as she prepares to move to Nashville to enter religious life.
Great job all around!
Ms. Girard and Ms. Zolkos did an amazing job preparing the students for this year's fair and the gym was packed all evening. What impresses me year after year is how the students are able to explain their story so well. It's one thing to make a nice project, it's another to be able to discuss it with so much poise and confidence.
At the end of the fair, Ms. Girard and Ms. Zolkos recognized some students for their work and they came on stage to receive a gift. Ms. Zolkos and I then thanked Ms. Girard for her hard work over the years and for her stewardship of the Theology Fair over the past four years. We also wished her the best as she prepares to move to Nashville to enter religious life.
Great job all around!
June 7, 2013
The Most Sacred Heart
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| The Sacred Heart statue outside our chapel |
It's harder to open our hearts and let God love us than to love God in return. But the only way to really love God is to love others, especially the poor. God is an expert in the science of tenderness and we should allow ourselves to be loved by Him.
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