News & Notes: March 30, 2010

March 30, 2010

Dear Parents,

God’s peace!

This week we enter the most solemn of times. We walk with Christ through his passion and resurrection as the Church invites us to share in these moments through our presence at Holy Week services. These services are not mere reminders of Christ’s outpouring of love and forgiveness, but rather opportunities for us to enter into Christ’s own experience.

This past week we were blessed to be invited to become a part of our Middle School’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Perhaps at first consideration this play and Holy Week might seem to be unrelated; however, the play was truly an experience of grace. Each night revealed not only the talent of our young people, the dedication of so many parents and friends of St. Rita School, but most importantly, an incredible story of forgiveness. The story of Joseph anticipates the last few days of Christ’s life: elation, betrayal, forgiveness, joy.

I would like to spend a few moments reflecting on the lessons our children have shared with us through this production. I’d like to particularly focus on one particular performance.

On one particular night this past week… everyone was prepared…energized…and ready to perform. The house lights dimmed…the singing began… all was well. As myriad voices filled the room and dancers circled the stage, the piano went dead. Our music director puzzled at the void and those on stage began to look from person to person wondering what to do. Suddenly, after a few moments, the plug to the piano was found to be the source of concern. One of the students saw the problem and quietly returned the plug to its place… and the play continued. For most, this happening went almost unnoticed. For me, however, it was an experience that carried with it a profound life lesson.

When this unexpected experience happened, the first reaction our children had was to simply figure out what needed to be accomplished and to return to the demands of the play. No blame was assigned to anyone… no fingers were pointed…no anger was displayed… the response was simply to find the source of the problem and fix it. I wondered…”Am I like this?” What is my first reaction to things that are a bit askew? Do I work to find solution or do I waste energy in blaming? I would well imagine that if our children chose to blame and spend time figuring out who the culprit was (if any!) that the play’s positive impact would have been lost. Is this not what happens in life?

A similar experience occurred just moments later at intermission. The audience was called in for the second act…and suddenly when the lights were cued…the light board was dark. All the programmed cues had been erased and would have to be entered again. No one flinched…the handwritten prompts were pulled out and were re-entered into the system. Intermission was a bit long that night, but most people were already captivated by the story and its spirit. That was enough to grant those working to make things right the patience and faith to believe all would be up and running again. No blame was assigned; time was not wasted on why…energy was put into making it work…another life lesson.

Each day we are greeted with lessons to be learned as well as challenges to test what we have learned. We are also offered a choice to see and learn, or to ignore the lessons offered and remain in a pool of blame and negativity. The first brings life and the second saps life from us.

As Easter approaches I invite you to attend the liturgies of Holy Week. Each liturgy reveals to us the profound gift of love that has been shared with us through Christ. In Christ’s life, death and resurrection we see our own life-experiences and we draw hope from knowing that in all, Christ is present and enters into our lives with no blame, but with a promise that life to the full is ours.

May each of us be blessed with the grace to see in the moments of our lives, profound lessons which will bring us closer to a life filled with peace, hope and joy.

In the name of all our faculty and staff, may you be blessed with all that is good, true and beautiful this Easter! Be assured that we hold each of you in our prayer.

In prayer,

Sr. Maureen

P.S. By the time you read this newsletter I will be helping to put up the second wall of a 12 x 15 home in Reynosa, Mexico. I will be blessed to be with some 200+ Catholic High School students and parents from the St. Louis, MO area building some 12+ homes for people who live in the greatest of poverty. What we receive from these brothers and sisters, however, is beyond measure. Their deep joy, their willingness to share with us and with each other, their rich spirit of gratitude is overwhelming. Two homes will be built in the name of the families of St. Rita School. Last year’s Lenten project was to provide funds for these homes, and as usual, you and your children responded so generously. I believe that where one of us is… we all are…so I truly build in your name.

This is my fifth trip to Reynosa. I ask for your prayers for the safety and success of this mission. I have witnessed incredible conversions in the hearts of the young people and the adults who have been a part of this experience… it will truly be a Holy Week.

In my absence Sue Villani will be responding to any concerns or requests. I will not have email access and phone contact will be limited… I will be accepting all prayers, however!