October 16, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who have helped
For hosting students over the weekend: The Hierro Family; the Schardt Family
For providing photos of a school event: Mrs. Amy Cara
For hosting a Cake-and-Coffee Info Night at their home: the Cara Family
For taking pictures at the football game: Mr. Rudy Aguilar

Parent Meeting, Sunday, October 16th; 7:30 p.m.

Agenda: Talk by Fr. Gabriel
The meeting will begin in the student dining room; it will conclude in the abbey church for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the opportunity for confession.


First Quarter Oral Exams
The students will be taking their first quarter oral exams next week, Monday, October 24 thru Friday, October 28.

October High School Information Events
St. Michael’s will be represented at the following high school information events. If you have a child or know someone who has a child who will be entering 9th grade or above next year, we encourage you to attend one of these informative events.

October 17th: St. Mark’s Lutheran, 2323 Las Lomitas Drive, Hacienda Heights; 6:30 p.m.
October 18th: St. Catherine’s Military Academy, 215 N Harbor Blvd., Anaheim; 6:00 p.m.October 23rd: Rush Park Auditorium, 3021 Blume Drive, Los Alamitos; 3:00 p.m.


Parent/Student Handbook: Chapter 3, Section 6
SECTION 6: TECHNOLOGY USE POLICY
The Internet is a powerful learning tool when used properly. All data passing through network resources at St. Michael’s Prep are not private. The I.T. department and/or administrators reserve the right to inspect data and communications across network resources at St. Michael’s. It is within the rights of the school to monitor email or computer usage as it strives to maintain both the virtue and safety of the students, faculty, and staff.

Use of a computer and network system that is shared by many users imposes certain additional obligations. St. Michael’s Preparatory School makes it a violation to recklessly or maliciously interfere with the computer, network resources or data. The school also upholds that misappropriation of data or copyrighted materials may constitute theft.
Internet access is available in the library when there is adult supervision. Academic use of the internet always has precedence to recreational use. Recreational use of the Internet is limited to recreation periods and only for those students not on study detention.

St. Michael’s computer abuse policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff. The use of computers or network systems in no way exempts any member of the school community from the normal requirements of ethical or legal behavior.
Student violations may result in (but not be limited to) suspension of privileges. All on-campus computers are monitored to assure compliance with school policy.

The School works to ensure that students do not access or share Internet material which is inappropriate or offensive and instructs students in the proper and responsible use of the Internet. Yet, due to regular advances in technology and the multiple types of personal electronic devices which receive, store, show, and send data, the School cannot be held liable for the actions of students who deliberately contravene the school’s policies and guidelines.


Sports
Congratulations to our football team, who won their recent game. Their record is now 5-1 for the season.

This Week’s Photos: football; cross country


Weekly Homily by Fr. John Henry Hanson
Among other things, Fr. John Henry is the school’s College Counselor and teaches English.

“You are worth more than many sparrows.” Our Lord insists in the Gospels that God’s care for us is more particular and all-encompassing than we know. In the Sermon on the Mount we hear something similar to what we have just heard today: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” God does not love us in a merely general way, as an anonymous crowd, “trampling one another underfoot,” as the Gospel says. Of the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation, of the “great multitude which no man could number,” He knows the name of each; He numbers them. God is “involved” with us. The Incarnation itself is the ultimate sign of this: The word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

He took the initiative to become involved with men because we do not know how much we need a Savior. St Paul paints a frightening portrait of the human race before the coming of Christ: “We ourselves were once foolish… slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by men and hating one another; but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.” The Lord Jesus took the risk of dwelling in the midst of a violent world as a meek and gentle Redeemer, so that we would get this message: You (fools, slaves, hateful men) can allow me to be born in a stable, persecute me, reject me, kill me, yet will I love you and save you. We often “love” motivated by some expected reward, flattery, convenience, etc., but that is not God’s way. His love is true and so it completely bypasses “the cunning of men, … [human] craftiness in deceitful wiles and lusts” and so loves even in the face of ingratitude and hostility.

Jesus came to us uninvited and in many cases was unwelcome. Why would He come to a place where his own would not receive him? God so loved the world that He gave His only son, but man does not so love God that we will give ourselves to Him unless we have a very firm sense of being loved, of being cared for. And maybe what is more to the point: seeing our need to be loved and cared for by God. St Thomas says that by Christ’s passion, “man knows thereby how much God loves him, and is thereby stirred to love Him in return.” That is really the point. The fact that we are “worth more than a host of sparrows” and loved in such a particular way that even the hairs of our head are accounted for--this fact should stir us to love God and neighbor in all of the small particulars of life.

Sometimes people smirk when they hear about how Catholics have patron saints for just about every area of human life. There are patrons of lost things, of those looking for a future spouse, of childbirth, of television, computers, cars, animals, etc. Every trade and occupation has its own patron. What is behind an attitude of mockery might be the idea that, after all, God is so “big” and we are so “small” and insignificant; how could He care so much about the little things that we barely think twice about? Or why would He concern Himself with blue-collar workers as much as with heads of state?

We have trouble seeing how God can care about these things because we don’t care about them as we should. Our Lord illustrates His teaching frequently by referring to little things and hidden things. He says that we must become like little children to enter His kingdom. Then He refers to seeds, yeast, hidden treasure, a pearl, broken pieces of bread in the multiplication of the loaves--“gather up the fragments that nothing may be lost”--and today, sparrows and the very hairs upon our head. His providence extends to everything; His salvation comes to us in a thousand largely unspectacular, unobtrusive, varied ways.



The patronage of the saints is not the only sign of God’s involvement in every
detail of our lives. Probably most people here are wearing some sacramental--a religious habit, a scapular, a miraculous medal--something that indicates that we belong to the Lord, to the Blessed Mother, to the care of a saint. What does this fact say about us and our lives? Or the fact that we wear these things practically twenty-four hours a day? These symbols, sacramentals—the cross, the rosary, holy medals, scapulars—are all signs that life is not easy. They are signs that we need God’s care and all kinds of heavenly help continuously. “Man’s life is a warfare upon earth,” says Job. And our Lord tells us: “In this world, you will have trouble.” We do not wear medals or the scapular for “fun,” even primarily to evangelize. It is first a sign to ourselves that we stand in need of salvation.



This life is not easy, but the Savior says “My yoke is easy; my burden is light.” When we think of the sparrows, the lilies of the field, and ourselves, we should become fearless in meeting the evils of this present life: “Do not be afraid,” and this is God’s command to us. He has earned the right to command us by loving us.


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 without written permission of the author.

Prayer Requests
● Mrs. Marge DeClue, past parent-league president, who has declining health.
● Mrs. Ethel Wright, grandmother of Fr. Patrick Foutts, who has declining health.
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them
For the repose of the soul of Mr. Chuck Todd, husband of the Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Mrs. Sally Todd