Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

My First Full Day In The School Will Be Tomorrow

6/30/2019

It seems like it has taken a long time to get here, but I can finally start digging into things on a full time basis now. Thankfully, I found "The Path to Success."

My training last week in Boston was fantastic. Educational leaders from Catholic schools all across the country (36 states were represented) gathered to learn how to improve our efforts in regard to the mission and advancement of Catholic education. This included two components--enrollment management and financial viability.

We have a solid foundation upon which to build at St. Albert. I am grateful for all of the sacrifices that people made in the past to get us where we are. The future is indeed bright for this amazing institution. I am excited to be part of the next chapter of growth as we pursue excellence with renewed energy and hope.

Part of my first full week on campus will be centered on the funeral of a long-time loyal supporter of St. Albert Catholic Schools. While I did not have the opportunity to get to know Jan Hughes personally, it will be my honor to join family and friends as they grieve her passing and celebrate her life. I have heard many wonderful things about her. That is what makes a community like St. Albert Catholic Schools so special. We are family. We celebrate together. We mourn together. We laugh together. We cry together.

Please join me in praying for the Hughes family. May they find comfort and peace through the love and kindness of family and friends during their time of sorrow.

"Eternal rest grant unto Jan O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen."

How Do You Spend Friday Night In A New Town?

6/30/2019

We were doing a little sight-seeing Friday evening and decided to stop at Bass Pro Shops. It is a very impressive store compared to the one in St. Charles, Missouri which I have frequented in the past. It has been a while since I have been to the one in Springfield, Missouri, but this one certainly seems to compare quite closely.

What do you do for fun while you are Bass Pro Shops? We decided to check out our shooting skills.

It turns out that none of us are sharpshooters, but we had fun trying. All three of us scored 140. Most of the targets are still in good shape.

It is hard to believe that it is the last day of June. I hope you are enjoying these days of summer.

Gymnasiums, Fields, Music Room, Theater--Wow!

6/29/2019

It takes a lot of work and money to maintain sporting fields, gymnasiums, performing art centers, music equipment and facilities, libraries, cafeterias, and a whole lot more. Offer a prayer of gratitude for what we have, and a prayer of blessing to all those who make these things possible.

(Yes, I know we would like to have a track and some other things down the road. Enhancements to the fine arts and performing arts would be a welcome gift as well. We will work toward those goals as we move along.)

My thanks to everyone who supports all of our extra-curricular activities with your generosity of time, talent, and treasure toward these endeavors!

In Gratitude For Extra-Curricular Activities

6/28/2019

It is not just the formal classroom experience that shapes a young person. It is wide-range of things that create a conducive atmosphere for growth and development. Many thanks to our teachers and staff who support these extra-curricular endeavors. Thanks also to all of the volunteers who make these things possible as well. We could not do it without you.

Pray For All Of The Alumni Today

6/27/2019

The future of St. Albert Catholic Schools will be greatly impacted by the support of the alumni. We are blessed to have such faithful supporters of the endeavors at St. Albert. Please offer a prayer of gratitude for all that the alumni have done in the past to get us where we are today. Pray also that we will continue to flourish well into the future.

St. Albert Alumni and Friends--thank you for your kindness and generosity!

Middle School and High School Gets The Focus Today

6/26/2019

The parking lot was empty when I took this photo, but the activity in this building during the school year is extensive. Being an adolescent and teenager in modern society can be quite the challenge. Please pray for the teachers and staff who care for this group. Help us be an institution which provides a solid foundation for these young people to flourish into adulthood.

Today We Pray For The Elementary School

6/25/2019

The young formative years are extremely important. Please pray for our elementary school teachers and support staff. May they instill a desire for learning in the hearts and minds of all the children that come into our midst.

Catholic school teachers go above and beyond the call of duty in assuming additional duties and responsibilities. Their dedication and commitment to the ministry of teaching is phenomenal. For those of you with students in the school, please pray for your child's teacher by name.

Cradle to College--Today We Pray for the Youngest

6/24/2019

We are blessed to have an amazing child care center. Back in May when I visited the school, I had the privilege of meeting the wonderful woman who made this facility possible. I assured her that this institution which bears her daughter's name would always symbolize excellence. That is a promise I intend to keep.

I ask for your prayers today for the director of this program and all of the staff members. May each child who comes through these doors be nurtured with an abundance of love, kindness, and respect!

First Official Day Is Today

6/23/2019

As I walked onto campus earlier this week, I was greeted with the above sign. I could not help but chuckle at the reality of the Vacation Bible School sign. Life is wild, and God is good. I would have never imagined such a change in my life six months ago, and yet, here we are. Today marks my official first day as executive director of St. Albert Catholic Schools. The twists and turns of life are definitely surprising at times.

Why is my new job beginning on a Sunday? I am beginning my new role by going to training on Catholic School Institutional Development. The conference I am attending begins today so this is my official start date. It is my hope to gain new insights into fundraising and helping St. Albert Catholic Schools be financially viable well into the future. Please pray for the 351 Catholic school leaders from across the country who will be attending this conference. May we be effective leaders and good stewards of what God has entrusted to our care.

I am going to write blogs posts for much of this week before I leave for the conference. Each day I will be asking you to pray for specific aspects of St. Albert Catholic Schools. I want to wrap the institution in a solid blanket of prayer so that the good work we do bears abundant fruit in the power of the Holy Spirit. Your participation in that prayer would be greatly appreciated.

Today, I ask you to specifically pray for the leadership of the school. Offer a prayer of gratitude for those who have served in the past to help us get to where we are. Offer a prayer for those coming into new roles that we may fulfill our duties effectively and with the utmost of integrity. Pray for all of the teachers and support staff. Pray that we find highly qualified applicants for the remaining vacant positions.

As we celebrate The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ today, may each of us be renewed in our faith and love in the Eucharist!

Whether you are walking through a jungle or a school hallway, life is wild and God is good!

Would You Lay Down Your Life As A Witness To Jesus?

6/22/2019

This weekend we celebrate "The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ" (Corpus Christi). If your faith has wavered in regard to the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, I invite you to read slowly and prayerfully chapter 6 of John's Gospel. Even if your faith in the Eucharist is strong, I encourage you to read this chapter as well.

"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" (John 6:60)

Many walked away from Jesus at that point. What is our response today?