Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This week our Catholic grade school opens its doors for students for the tenth time. For the first time, we won’t have any students in our school who will remember when St. Maria Goretti Catholic School started, as the first kindergarten class graduated last spring. We built a school and a parish hall first, because from the very beginning of our Parish family, Catholic schools were important to us. We sacrificed. We volunteered. We sweat. We laughed. And at times we cried. We rejoice this week as the fruit of our labors AND God’s blessings, opens for another school year. Our Catholic school is still the major apostolate of this Parish family. And we have been successful! The standardized test scores are some of the highest in the state and the accomplishments have been many, in just a few, short years. Most importantly, the Faith has been passed on. And our young people have been given a firm foundation to live out their Catholic Faith.

I once again would like to publicly thank Miss Rebecca Neidlinger, our principal, for her outstanding leadership and commitment to making our school the best that it can be. Miss Neidlinger is ALWAYS honest, fair, trustworthy, professional, and a wonderful example of the Catholic Christian life. I am so proud that she leads our school with grace and Catholic values, and that she constantly striving to make our school the best that it can be. Thank you, Miss Neidlinger! Have a great 2005-06 school year!

I would also like to thank our superb faculty for all of their generous efforts to make our school the best that it can be. To teach in a Catholic school demands lots of sacrifices from our teachers. It is no secret that any one of our teachers could go to a government-funded, public school and make a lot more money and have far less responsibilities. Our teachers are here because this is more than just a job; it is a vocation! They are daily watching the Kingdom of God become a reality right in front of their eyes in our children. I am very grateful to each one of you. We welcome four new teachers to our faculty this year. It is good to have you with us. May all of us keep each one of these folks in our prayer this year, as they do their important work. The school apostolate belongs to the whole Parish. We need to all be praying for it.

Because we run an extremely successful Catholic school, more people than ever want to get their children into it. This is a good thing. It is a sign of the good things that are going on. The hard part about this, is that we do not have room for all of the Parish children who would like to attend St. Maria Goretti Catholic School. This has created the reality of the Waiting List. This is not a good thing. Our goal remains to try to provide a Catholic education for every student who’s parents desire it for them. We must continue to work towards this goal at all times. Our school was designed to be expanded from its current two classes per grade level, to three classes per grade level, which then does max out the building. In time, and with great care and responsibility, we will be able to gradually make the expansion. Many things have to be taken into account. This Parish has many needs and responsibilities right now. A balance is needed. Patience is called for. And we all have to stay committed to working towards ALL of our goals. We’ll get there. It’s just going to take some time and a lot more work and sacrifice from all of us.

I am so looking forward to this week! I have always said that St. Maria Goretti just seems so much more alive when school is in session. I can’t wait for the students to come back. I used to say that things are too quiet when they are gone. And yet, there’s been nothing quiet about this summer. There’s a lot going on. We thank God for all of it!

Don’t forget that the Pre-Catechumenate of the RCIA has begun. Now is the time for all of us to be asking family and friends about considering joining the Catholic Church. The Pre-Catechumenate sessions meet at 7:00 PM on Monday evenings in the Parish Narthex. Who could you invite?

Have a great week! Tomorrow IS the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Because it falls on Monday this year, IT IS NOT A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION.

In Christ,
Fr. Kevin

If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!