News & Notes: June 15, 2010

Dear Parents,

God’s peace!

It is difficult to believe that another academic year is over. Graduations and celebrations that mark the passage of educational accomplishments have been observed, and already the new school year is being anticipated. Before the school year ends; however, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each of you in the name of all of us at St. Rita School. Whether you will return to us at the start of the new school year…whether your last or only child has graduated…whether you will be moving to a new town or a new school…we remain most grateful to you for sharing your most precious of gifts with us…your children. It is our prayer that your children have grown in wisdom and grace, and are well prepared to move on in their educational journeys.

As the summer begins I would encourage you to find a few quiet moments to anticipate the weeks ahead in an effort to savor all they might hold for you and your family. So often we move through our days without plan or without pause and we find that at summer’s end we are disappointed with not having lived each day fully. Perhaps we can build a few of the following suggestions into our days this summer…

Pray… Summer is a wonderful time to rejoice in the creation that God has given us. We spend more time outside engaging in activities that are renewing in body and soul, and they are often celebrated in the midst of God’s wondrous world. This is the season for praise…it is a time to truly glory in flower, sun and all that is good. Rabbi Lawrence Kushner states,

Holy gates are everywhere…Culture and organized religion conspire to trick us into

believing that entrances to holiness are only at predictable times and prearranged

places…Entrances to holiness are everywhere and all the time.

Summer is a time to renew our commitment to Sunday worship, and perhaps experience community in new ways as we visit other parish communities in our travels.

Read… Although for most, there are no true “lazy days of summer”… but there is often more opportunity to find a good book that brings new insight into life’s living. Although summer is often a time to fly through lighter novels, I would challenge you to find a book that you can truly sink your soul into. There are many out there… perhaps you might choose to return to a classic that you read years ago. (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; Open the Door/A Journey to the True Self by Joyce Rupp, The Power of Half/One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back, by Kevin and Hanna Salwen; The Anatomy of Peace by Arbinger, My Life With The Saints, by James Martin, SJ; The Seven Storey Mountain, by Thomas Merton)

Play… So often we take ourselves too very seriously… we act as if we were in complete charge of our lives and when something does not go in the direction we play…we become agitated, upset and often angered. Perhaps we need to laugh a bit more… do something that has no real purpose except to enjoy the moment… take an afternoon off and do something out of the ordinary with your children… pack up a lunch or early dinner and drive to nowhere in particular for a picnic… A friend of mine gave each of her children an opportunity to plan a day for the family based on a given budget. Each member of the family would explore places in their own area that would engage their family in some way. One planned a day that began with breakfast in an old nearby town. She even went as far as getting a menu so she could list those things the family could order to stay within her budget. They then took a long ride to a park where they feasted on a picnic lunch and enjoyed swimming in the lake. Later in the afternoon they grabbed a bite to eat at a diner and then drove to the last drive-in movie theater in the state where they feasted on popcorn and soda that was brought from home. Life is made up of moments… memories are made from moments that catch us by surprise… Summer is a wonderful time to celebrate moments and make memories.

I also want to extend heartfelt thanks to Miss Maureen Christian, Mrs. Susan Hummel and Ms. Christine Rogers who have given of themselves so generously to our school community. Each of them has cared for and encouraged your children. We assure them of our prayerful support as they begin new chapters in their lives.

As the school year comes to a close and as summer begins in earnest, be assured that prayer continues for each of you and your families. May God bless you with peace…may your summer be a safe one…and may you find renewal in prayer, reading and play!

In prayer and gratitude,

Sr. Maureen