● Mr. Brian Tran who took photos of the football game throughout the season.
● Mr. Rudy Aguilar who took photos of the cross country meets throughout the season.
● Ms. Kelly Choi and Mr. and Mrs. Dale Rincon for hosting students over the weekend.
● Mr. and Mrs. Ed Pickett for driving a carpool.
General announcements to Parents
The Fall Sports Award Ceremony takes place Sunday, November 21st at 7:00 p.m. for students who participated in football or cross country. Families are encouraged to attend.
Admission Matters
Monday, Nov. 15th: St. Bonaventure (1:50 p.m.) and St. Cornelius (7:00 p.m.)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)–Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA)
Our WCEA/WASC visitation is scheduled for March 20-23. During that time the visiting committee will want to meet with all the faculty, members of the school’s Board of Directors, and many students and parents. The tentative plan is for the committee to meet with the parents on Sunday evening, March 20, at 7:00 PM. Mark your calendars now. More information to come.
This week’s photos: Serving disabled adults; PE class hike
Parent/Student Handbook: Chapter 4, Section 18
Parent/Student Handbook: Chapter 4, Section 18
Section 18: Items Students May Not Have at Any Time
In addition to those things for which students could be dismissed, students may not have the following items at any time on campus: chewing gum, fireworks, refrigerators, ovens, televisions (or any similar video machines), replica or toy weapons, and cabalistic symbols. The headmaster is the final interpreter of what students may or may have at any time on campus.
Etiquette Point of the Week
A gentleman does not borrow items from friends without good reason. Being prepared to handle one’s own necessities is always preferable to borrowing from others, however, when absolutely necessary, a gentleman always returns borrowed items in good condition and as promptly as possible. How To Raise A Gentleman, Kay West; Brooks Brothers Press
Student Birthdays
In addition to those things for which students could be dismissed, students may not have the following items at any time on campus: chewing gum, fireworks, refrigerators, ovens, televisions (or any similar video machines), replica or toy weapons, and cabalistic symbols. The headmaster is the final interpreter of what students may or may have at any time on campus.
Etiquette Point of the Week
A gentleman does not borrow items from friends without good reason. Being prepared to handle one’s own necessities is always preferable to borrowing from others, however, when absolutely necessary, a gentleman always returns borrowed items in good condition and as promptly as possible. How To Raise A Gentleman, Kay West; Brooks Brothers Press
Student Birthdays
None this week
Homily preached by Fr. Victor Szczurek, O. Praem.
Among other things, Fr. Victor is the Assistant Headmaster and teaches Latin.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief. I will vomit the lukewarm out of my mouth.
These three passages all taken from today’s Epistle form a sort of decrescendo, as it were—from the best possible state of one’s spiritual life down to the worst possible state. Love, fear, rejection.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. Our Lord lovingly knocked at the door of Zachaeus’ soul with an initial grace, an invitation. Zachaeus willingly opened the door and welcomed Him; Christ forgave him all his sins, dined with him, and Zachaeus now sits at the eternal banquet in heaven. Love.
If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief. Our Lord wants so badly to save us, that He doesn’t give up on us so easily (and thank heavens for that). Even if we do not accept His initial invitation, His first knock, He not only keeps knocking, He even breaks into our lives, jimmies the lock we fasten onto our hearts. Like a thief greedy for his desired treasure, Christ will try just about anything to capture our souls. He blinded St. Paul, nearly killed St. Norbert with a bolt of lightening, allowed St. Mary Magdalene to come before a firing squad of stone throwers, and has ever since used everything from cancer to car accidents to bring about the conversion of lost souls—whatever it takes. It’s as if our Blessed Lord says to us, “So, you don’t want to open the door to Me when I knock. Alright, I’ll break it off its hinges.” Fear.
But what if even then a person still does not welcome Christ? I will vomit the lukewarm out of my mouth. Rejection. “God, who made us without our consent, will not save us without our consent” said St. Augustine. Even God has only so much patience. He gives us a lifetime to turn to Him. When the time of mercy is over and a soul still has not allowed Him to enter, all He can do is manifest His justice. How sad it will be—to put it mildly—how utterly sad it will be to see the damned going off to their eternal punishment, knowing that not only did Christ knock at their door during their life here on earth, but even tried every last trick He knew to get them to open the door of their hearts to Him, but they would not.
It’s safe to say that most, if not all of us here in this Church, have opened the door to Christ at least to one degree or another. It’s also safe to say that He would probably like us to help Him knock on a few doors today, or even help Him break in, so to speak, to a few lost souls. Let us show our gratitude to Christ for His mercy towards us by praying and offering up sacrifices and acts of charity for those who keep slamming the door on Him, so that they too will finally let Him into their lives, and that He might someday reign in the hearts of us all. Amen.
Among other things, Fr. Victor is the Assistant Headmaster and teaches Latin.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief. I will vomit the lukewarm out of my mouth.
These three passages all taken from today’s Epistle form a sort of decrescendo, as it were—from the best possible state of one’s spiritual life down to the worst possible state. Love, fear, rejection.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. Our Lord lovingly knocked at the door of Zachaeus’ soul with an initial grace, an invitation. Zachaeus willingly opened the door and welcomed Him; Christ forgave him all his sins, dined with him, and Zachaeus now sits at the eternal banquet in heaven. Love.
If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief. Our Lord wants so badly to save us, that He doesn’t give up on us so easily (and thank heavens for that). Even if we do not accept His initial invitation, His first knock, He not only keeps knocking, He even breaks into our lives, jimmies the lock we fasten onto our hearts. Like a thief greedy for his desired treasure, Christ will try just about anything to capture our souls. He blinded St. Paul, nearly killed St. Norbert with a bolt of lightening, allowed St. Mary Magdalene to come before a firing squad of stone throwers, and has ever since used everything from cancer to car accidents to bring about the conversion of lost souls—whatever it takes. It’s as if our Blessed Lord says to us, “So, you don’t want to open the door to Me when I knock. Alright, I’ll break it off its hinges.” Fear.
But what if even then a person still does not welcome Christ? I will vomit the lukewarm out of my mouth. Rejection. “God, who made us without our consent, will not save us without our consent” said St. Augustine. Even God has only so much patience. He gives us a lifetime to turn to Him. When the time of mercy is over and a soul still has not allowed Him to enter, all He can do is manifest His justice. How sad it will be—to put it mildly—how utterly sad it will be to see the damned going off to their eternal punishment, knowing that not only did Christ knock at their door during their life here on earth, but even tried every last trick He knew to get them to open the door of their hearts to Him, but they would not.
It’s safe to say that most, if not all of us here in this Church, have opened the door to Christ at least to one degree or another. It’s also safe to say that He would probably like us to help Him knock on a few doors today, or even help Him break in, so to speak, to a few lost souls. Let us show our gratitude to Christ for His mercy towards us by praying and offering up sacrifices and acts of charity for those who keep slamming the door on Him, so that they too will finally let Him into their lives, and that He might someday reign in the hearts of us all. Amen.
In publishing this homily, we hope to share a portion of the spiritual treasure by which the students are enriched every day. However, this homily may not be reproduced by the parents or friends of St. Michael’s without written permission of the author.
Prayer Requests
● Mr. Thomas Markel, father of our school nurse, who has been battling failing health.
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.
● Repose of the soul of alumnus Brent Johnson ‘75
● Mr. Thomas Markel, father of our school nurse, who has been battling failing health.
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.
● Repose of the soul of alumnus Brent Johnson ‘75
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