January 30, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who helped make the week a success

The Aaker, Martin and Portka families for hosting a student over the weekend

General announcements to Parents
● Sr. Christen Thanh Nguyen, LHC will present a very special talk in Vietnamese for our mothers entitled “The Power of Prayers” at 7:30 p.m. on January 30th in the mobile classroom. Please invite any of your friends or neighbors who might be interested.
● Tuesday, February 1st: Deadline for PSAS Financial Aid Applications
● The Student Led Conference/Parent Meeting currently scheduled for Sunday, February 6th is postponed on account of the Super Bowl. Because of a very full schedule for the next several weeks due to previously scheduled events, students will write out their self-assessments and submit them to the teacher who will submit them to the Headmaster’s Office for sending home.
● There is a parent-sponsored lunch on Wednesday, Feb. 9th to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Parents wishing to help should contact Mrs. Cathy Porretta.
● The following students will receive the sacrament of Confirmation on Friday, February 18th at 11:00 a.m. in the abbey church with Abbot Eugene Hayes officiating as the bishop’s delegate. Please mark your calendar now. All are invited to join us in prayer and in person.

Cristian Rodolfo Aguilar,
Faris Francis Sabah Al-Quaddoomi,
Andrew Peter Bonello,
Joseph Daniel Ngoc Dang,
Travis Donald Elmer,
Joachim Derek Quang Trung Giap,
Yongkyoo Kim,
Spencer Thomas Manson,
John Michael Mikolaycik,
Gregory Joseph Minder,
Bryce Pickett,
Scott Thomas Schardt,
Johann Issac Schoenfeld,
Jonathan Dang Khoa Tran,
Matthew Quang Vu,
Tuyen Minh Vu.

This week’s photos: First Honors Outings; Living History Day at St. Michael’s Prep

Parent/Student Handbook: CHAPTER 12: Emergency Preparedness; Sections 1, 2, and 3
Section 1: Introduction
By definition “emergencies” occur independently of scheduled dates and time. A boarding school, as a 24-hour environment, must be prepared as well as possible for these contingencies day or night. Student leaders and members of the Abbey community work harmoniously for the safety and care of all those living on the hilltop. It is for this reason that all roomleaders are certified annually in adult CPR and first aid.

Section 2: Emergency Information
In any large-scale emergency situation, the school will broadcast news about the student body through KNX radio (1070 am) which transmits throughout Southern California. In any sustained state of emergency, individual families will be up-dated through the online school calendar, school email, student’s individual cell phone, and/or the “emergency contact” listed on the student’s health form.

Section 3: Drills
The main purpose of fire drills is to give training and practice in orderly evacuation of the buildings. Through repeated participation in fire drills, all concerned will be conditioned to remain calm and to act rapidly and in an orderly manner in any emergency that might arise at the school. Fire drills are conducted at the beginning of each school year and then approximately every two months at random times of day and night. Rules:
Immediate action must be taken when the alarm is sounded. Everyone must participate. Students gather with their roomleader by the flag pole area, facing away from the building. Each group must remain in its assigned location until the all-clear signal is sounded to reenter the building. The first person to reach a door leading to the outside is to hold the door until all have passed through. All windows and doors must be closed. Teachers or roomleader take care of the windows. Heating fans and water heaters must be shut down by persons assigned to this task. The headmaster with the dean of students and the assistant dean of students checks to make sure that all areas have been vacated.

Etiquette Point of the Week
If a breadbasket is passed from person to person at any dinner or luncheon, a gentleman takes a roll or a slice of bread from the basket and continues to pass the basket clockwise, or to his left. He does not help himself to more than one piece or “stockpile” rolls or slices of bread, depriving other diners of being able to partake of the bread. A gentleman never allows the bread basket or butter dish to sit in front of his plate without passing them to the guests on his left. A Gentleman at the Table, Bridges and Curtis; Brooks Brothers Press Press

Athletics
Tuesday, Feb 1, 3:00 PM Soccer vs SVC @STM
Thursday, Feb 4, 3:00 PM Soccer vs Fairmont @ Trident Center

Birthdays This Week:

February 6th Tuyen Vu

Homily preached by Fr. Justin Ramos
Among other things, Fr. Justin works in our Development Office

Timothy and Titus appear in the calendar as the direct and immediate fruit of St. Paul’s conversion. In a sense, one might say, today’s feast continues on the momentum of yesterday: Paul’s conversion is an event of notable magnitude, in the history of the apostolic church—on scale with the Baptism of Christ or even the very day of Pentecost. The Lord’s appearance en route to Damascus initiates a new revelation in his plan of salvation; through this vas electionis, this chosen vessel, Christ the Lord inaugurates the massive mission that would graft all nations onto the election of Israel.

So, if Paul’s conversion sets the Gentile mission in motion and thus becomes the channel by which—God pours out his grace [indiscriminately] upon the world, Timothy and Titus are living expressions of that grace. Each man was a beneficiary of the mission, and each man in his own turn became a coworker with Paul in that mission: evangelizing and preaching, organizing and ordaining.
Timothy, whom St. Paul first met at Lystra became, an immediate companion of the Apostle. As St. Paul’s own trust in him grew, Timothy became the Apostle’s favorite (so-to-speak), on-site troubleshooter— to pacify the factions in Corinth and to correct the errant heretics in Ephesus with the pure teaching of sound doctrine.

Titus—the non-circumcised, Gentile Christian—was at the Council of Jerusalem and a go-between in the moments of turmoil—a reconciler, we can imagine, of considerable skill. Later, in Crete, it was his charge to organize and civilize an unstable and endangered, neophyte Church, to refute opponents, and to insist upon fidelity.

These few laborers—Paul, Timothy, Titus, a handful of others—are sent out into the Lord’s vineyard to bring him the harvest at its proper season. So few spread thin across a world so large. In the Gospel of the sower and the seed, Christ himself reveals how embarrassingly abundant is his grace and how easily it can be snuff out by the world, the flesh and the devil. The harvest is—perpetually—completely out of proportion to the work force.

This, of course, is where we, fit in. Like Timothy and Titus we are coworkers in this great mission of preaching and teaching, a mission never finished until the Son of Man will at last send his angels to reap the harvest. Until then, like Timothy and Titus, we are to share and cooperate in the service of the same “sound doctrine” which these saints so nobly defended. “Holding fast to the true message; exhorting with sound doctrine; refuting opponents.”

So my fellow priest-brothers take to heart the words of St. Paul when he says“… stir into flame 
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of [my] hands.
 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice” Make St. Paul’s final testament to Timothy, your own today “Proclaim the word; be persistent, whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.”

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
● Miss Lisa Hulbert who is awaiting her 3rd liver transplant
● Mrs. Nguyet Pham who has cancer. Mrs. Pham is the grandmother of sophomore Tuyen Vu and alumnus Don Khong.
●The grandmother of Bryce Pickett, who has cancer.
● Eldest brother of junior Michael Martin, Sean, who is being deployed to Afghanistan.
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.

● The repose of the soul of Mr. Joseph Kelsey, uncle of alumnus John Oven.

January 23, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who helped make the week a success
● Mr. Rudy Aguilar and Mr. John Terlisner for speaking to perspective parents at Saturday’s Open House
● Mr. and Mrs. Brian Tran for helping with Vietnamese translation services
● The Dimen family for hosting a student over the weekend
● The Porretta, Portka, and Terlisner families for driving carpools

General announcements to Parents

Tuesday, February 1st: Deadline for PSAS Financial Aid Applications

Selected students will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation on Friday, February 18th at 11:00 a.m. in the abbey church with Abbot Eugene Hayes officiating as the bishop’s delegate. Please mark your calendar now. All are invited to join us in prayer and in person.

Sr. Christen Thanh Nguyen, LHC will present a very special talk in Vietnamese for our mothers entitled “The Power of Prayers” at 7:30 p.m. on January 30th in the mobile classroom. Please invite any of your friends or neighbors who might be interested.

The Rome Experience
Brian Schardt
When I dreamed of the day I was to go to Rome I did not imagine that it would change my opinion of tradition and faith. Going and actually seeing many historical churches, sights, structures, and other things that I have read about in history books aided my mind into perceiving life as something which is built upon each other by different generations. Being able to fully experience the Italian life style also helped me into being able to appreciate the difference in cultures.

This was my first time out of the country, so going to another country allowed me to challenge my intellectual customs that I have kept for so long. Like seeing a Church every block, or how the Italians prepare their food, even being able to participate in speaking their language helps me to understand tradition better. I was able to see the four major and three minor basilicas in Rome which, obviously, were the nicest churches I have seen. When you look up at the tall ceilings and see the stunning art work at the top, you experience yourself feeling so small and insignificant subjected by the beautiful art that you have just seen. You then realize that God truly is the creator of this world, and that none of this is possible without his mercy.

Being given a chance to see these magnificent works of art done by the most renowned artists in the world was to me one of the most influential things I have ever done. This Rome trip changed the way I look at art, tradition, and most importantly my faith.

The Rome Experience
James Howard
The morning of Jan. 28th, 2010 found my class of 2012 on the steps of the Norbertine Fathers’ Generalate House in Rome. We had disembarked from a twelve-hour flight but minutes later and we immediately embarked upon the streets of Rome at a quick pace of roughly 10 mph in order to see the sights, etc. It would take months to see all there is to see and we were allotted but ten days. Luckily, we had Fr. Claude Williams, Fr. Gabriel Stack, and Fr. Patrick Foutts along who not only knew where everything was but also the quickest routes around town.

We made good use of our time, rising in the mornings as early as 5:30 and walking until our feet hurt and the sun had set. The first morning, as we were ushered into a church but a stone’s throw from our house we gazed in awe at our first glimpse of ancient Rome; a sarcophagus, pillars, carvings, and more. Next came the Colosseum and from then on we were completely immersed in both ancient as well as contemporary Rome.

Sights, buildings, and names, which had so often appeared in our textbooks for the last three year, suddenly appeared on one street after another, all so familiar to us yet all of a sudden so much more. First an arch, then a name on the arch and so on. Yet as much as we enjoyed the Cupola di San Pietro, the Vatican, the many basilicas, Orvieto, Assisi, and the ruins of ancient Rome, I can honestly say we enjoyed the contemporary Rome almost as much.

Whether it was conversing in Italian (often with others more authentic than ourselves), or the food we ate, the drinks we drank, or even the streets we crossed, the Italian culture completely encased us for those ten days and we absorbed it all to the best of our ability. Much being said and done, the trip was a truly life-time experience and one which all of us were very thankful for and one which I believe none of us will ever forget.

In writing this I must make mention of one highlight of my trip, namely, serving the traditional mass for Fr. Claude in St. Mary Major (one of the four major basilicas). Much being said and done, the trip was a truly life-time experience and one for which all of us were very thankful and one which none of us will ever forget.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)–Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA)

Thank you to all the parents who responded to our WASC survey which was sent out over Christmas Break! This provided important feedback in the self-study process.

This week’s photos: Rome Trip

Parent/Student Handbook: Chapter 10, ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS; Sections 6 and 7

SECTION 6: Orange County Speech League
The Orange County Speech League (OCSL) is a competitive organization for high school students intended to promote skills in the areas of speech and debate. The school’s chapter number in the National Forensic League is A2220. There are many different speech events from which a student competitor may choose: Student Congress, Lincoln-Douglas debate, Original Oratory, etc. Tournament competitions against representatives from other high schools are held at various times throughout the academic year. Any upperclassman or sophomore on the second honor roll may participate, if he can diligently handle the extra work.

SECTION 7: Clubs
Students are encouraged to organize clubs on St. Michael’s campus, as long as they are in accord with the school philosophy and goals as published in this Handbook. All clubs are informal; the size of the school prevents otherwise. Before a club may formally seek members, the organizer(s) must submit to the school administration a written proposal describing club’s purpose, guidelines, membership requirements, and possible faculty moderator. All clubs begin with a probationary period. Participation in a student club is a commendable extra-curricular activity that may be listed on college applications, job resumes, and other places.

Etiquette Point of the Week

When a gentleman takes his seat at a formal dinner or a restaurant, he immediately unfolds his napkin and places it in his lap. In this one case, he does not wait for his host or hostess to lead the way. If a gentleman must leave the table for any reason during dinner, he simply leaves his unfolded napkin on the seat of his chair. A gentleman never leaves a used napkin on the dinner table until the final course has been served and he has finished his meal. A Gentleman at the Table, Bridges and Curtis; Brooks Brothers Press

Athletics

Congratulations to the Pioneer soccer team for Thursday’s 4-3 win. William Warnisher scored the first goal, Josh Aaker scored the second goal which was a penalty kick, and David Suh scored the next two goals.

Wednesday, January 26th: Soccer vs. Avalon @ Avalon; all day field trip
Friday, January 28th: Soccer vs. Capo Valley Christian @ STM; 3:00 p.m.

Homily preached by Fr. Gabriel Stack, O.Praem.
Among other things, Fr. Gabriel is the headmaster of the school.
Leprosy was one of the most feared (and most frequently encountered) diseases in ancient times. The bacterial skin infection started small, almost imperceptibly, but it soon spread. It rotted the victim's extremities (like: fingers, nose, lips...) and gave off a thoroughly disgusting smell. Lepers were prohibited by law from coming within 100 yards of healthy people; this is why they had to shout the warning, "Unclean, unclean!" Lepers were excluded from society and, so, left alone to die a slow, painful, humiliating death.

Lepers were excluded from society, and yet, here was this one in the middle of town. The encounter must have been extraordinary! The leper, prostrate in front of Jesus, Lord, if you wish, you can cure me. Jesus did something extraordinary, really unthinkable. He reached across that abyss between life and death; He touched the leper.

The evangelist, St Mark, writes the simple detail as just one more touching the putrid flesh of this repugnant, evil-smelling outcast. And yet, Jesus does touch him. He makes a point of touching him. Jesus goes beyond what is strictly necessary, because He wants to show us that his love is super-abundant. He doesn't measure out his mercy in graduated cylinder, like a scientist in a controlled experiment; He pours it out like an ocean.

The evangelist is telling us a lot about Jesus. Imagine what that touch must have felt like to the leper? Probably it was the first time in years part of this encounter. But it is something that we should not overlook. Jesus cured the leper by touching him. Think about that for a minute.

Jesus was all-powerful. He didn't have to touch this leper. A word or a wave of his hand would have done the job and been a lot more pleasant that rs that someone who was clean placed a hand upon him in kindness. If one picture is worth a thousand words, one touch must be worth ten thousand to a leper.

Jesus saw beyond the disfigurement of leprosy. He saw the worth of the person - in spite of external deformity and internal decay. In the past just as in the present, Jesus has time for those whom society considers human garbage. Jesus touched that leper for our sake, just as He suffered the scourging at the pillar, the crowning with thorns, the way of the cross, and his crucifixion for our sake.

Jesus longs to forgive us, save us, give us a clean start, as often as we need it, if only we ask Him.

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
● Mrs. Nguyet Pham who has cancer. Mrs. Pham is the grandmother of sophomore Tuyen Vu and alumni Don and Derick Khong.
●The grandmother of Bryce Pickett, who has cancer.
● Eldest brother of junior Michael Martin, Sean, who is being deployed to Afghanistan in order to run a front line surgical unit. Sean Martin is a Major in the Air Force.
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.
● The repose of the soul of Mr. Joseph Kelsey, uncle of alumnus John Oven.

January 16, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who helped make the week a success
● Porretta Family for pool table
● Elmer Family for box of tangerines

General announcements to Parents
Sunday, January 16th : College Financial Aid Workshop for Parents, 7:00 p.m.Tuesday, February 1st: Deadline for PSAS Financial Aid Applications

Selected students will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation on Friday, February 18th at 11:00 a.m. in the abbey church with Abbot Eugene Hayes officiating as the bishop’s delegate. Please mark your calendar now. All all invited to join us in prayer and in person.

Sr. Christen Thanh Nguyen, LHC will present a very special talk in Vietnamese for our mothers entitled “The Power of Prayers” at 7:30 p.m. on January 30th in the mobile classroom. Please invite any of your friends or neighbors who might be interested.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)–Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA)
The school’s Self-study report is now finished. Copies of the report has been sent to the 3 members of the Visiting Committee. The Visiting Committee will visit St. Michael’s March 20-23. During the visit (most likely on March 20) the Visiting Committee will also be speaking to the parents of St. Michael’s. Look here for further information in the coming weeks.

Admission Matters
● Coffee-and-Cake Information Night at the home of John and Kathy Fritz: Monday, Jan 17th @ 7pm

● Entrance Exam/Open House: Saturday, January 22, 2011; 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM; at St. Michael’s; Please call ahead to make reservation. 949 858 0222 (Ext 237)

This week’s photos: Rome Trip

Parent/Student Handbook: Chapter 10: Sections 4 and 5

SECTION 4: AIRLINE RESERVATIONS
Each family handles the plane reservations for trips home during the school year. In order to facilitate this, it is important to know several things. Earliest reasonable departure time for flights from Orange County (John Wayne/Santa Ana) Airport is 3:00 pm. Returning flights should land at Orange County Airport around 5:30 pm and thus allowing sufficient time to arrive at school by the 7:30 pm requirement. The school also has information about private ground carrier(s) who could drive the traveler back to school. There are occasions when students are welcome to leave earlier (e.g. Thanksgiving Weekend) or are required to stay later (e.g. Good Friday). For these occasions departure and return times need special attention. All such special events are clearly listed in the calendar of the school which is here.

SECTION 5: SCHOOL CLOSINGS
In addition to the summer months, the school is closed to all students several times throughout the academic year. The more significant of these times include: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. The family arranges for these holidays. Moreover, several extended weekends fall within the academic year and are marked on the calendar. Families should also use these opportunities to have their sons return home or visit families in the area.

Etiquette Point of the Week
A gentleman does not attempt to cool his food by blowing on it. If he fears singeing his taste buds, he allows his food to cool gradually and undisturbed in its own bowl or on its own plate. A Gentleman at the Table, Bridges and Curtis; Brooks Brothers Press

Athletics
Tuesday, Jan. 18th: Soccer vs Southlands Christian @ STM; 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 20th: Soccer vs TVT @ STM; 3:00 p.m.Friday, Jan. 21st: Soccer vs Capo Valley @ Rancho Capistrano; 3:15 p.m.

Homily preached by Fr. Benedict Solomon, O. Praem.
Among other things, Fr. Benedict teaches freshman and senior religion.

“Simon...pursued him.” In different parts of the Gospels we hear that people from the town or village bring their sick or possessed to Jesus. The lower them in from the roof or carry them. In today’s Gospel it seems that the Apostles had a different role. Not to bring people to Jesus. But to bring Jesus to the people.

They told Jesus about Peter’s mother-in-law, and brought him to her. When everyone was looking for Jesus, St. Peter pursued and told Him, and Jesus went out to the nearby villages. Now why didn’t the people go to Jesus themselves? Because they didn’t know where he was. But the Apostles did.

In the same way priests are supposed to know where to find Jesus. The duty of the priest is not only to bring people to Christ but to bring Christ to people-in their own person and in the sacraments. Jesus sends the disciples out two by two but does not go with them, because He dwells in their hearts. The priest is called to know where to find Jesus by spending time with Him-in the same way that the Apostles knew Jesus so well that they knew where He would be when no one else did. This familiarity with Christ, where Jesus dwells within ones heart and transforms the personality, can only be gained by spending time with Jesus in prayer.

For the priests and religious here it means receiving all the graces which Jesus pours out on us by our faithfulness to the rule and our way of life. To whom more is given, more will be required and we who receive so much, receive it, not only for ourselves, but in order to bring Christ to others. And we will be held accountable.

But all Catholics are called not simply to bring people to Christ, but to bring Christ to other people-by their example.
For the Students, unless you become religious or priests, you will probably, not in any other time in your life have Jesus so close to you as He is here. In no other time in your life will you have confession so available, communion so frequently offered and time to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament every day as you do here. You will be held accountable for this. To whom more is given, more will be expected. God has placed you here so that you can bring Him to others and not just tell others where to go to find Him.

“Rising very early before dawn, he...went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him”. And we should do the same.

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
● Grandmother of Bryce Pickett, who has cancer.
● Those who are in the armed forces.

● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.

January 9, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who helped make the week a success
● Thanks to all the parents who took the time to complete our online survey.
● Thanks to the Saglietto Family and all the parents who provided for the reception which followed the Advent Lessons and Carols concert.

● Thanks to the Lakomy family for a generous donation of paper products

General announcements to Parents
Sunday, January 9th: Students return to school

Sunday, January 16th : College Financial Aid Workshop for Parents, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 1st: Deadline for PSAS Financial Aid Applications

NOTE WELL: A Change in Friday pick-up process
In an ongoing effort to insure the safety of our students and to better enhance our accountability to our parents, the following procedures will be in effect January 10, 2011.

All students shall be picked up from St. Michael’s for the Friday dismissal by 1 PM. In the event that a parent or guardian of a student encounters an emergency situation that delays their arrival to the school, the student may remain at the school until 4 PM and will be supervised by one of the Deans of Students or the confrere assigned to weekender duty. In the event that the parent or guardian is delayed past the 4 PM deadline, an additional charge of one day’s boarding cost will be assessed to the student’s account.

With regard to the actual dismissal on Fridays, the parent will be required to report to the supervising Dean of Students who is monitoring student dismissal and sign their student out. At that point, the student will be released to the parent or guardian. Only those individuals who are registered parents or guardians with the Headmaster’s Office will be allowed to retrieve their students.

For those students who routinely stay over the weekend at St. Michael’s they will be supervised by the confrere assigned to weekend supervision. In the event that a weekend boarding student opts out of their weekend status to stay locally with a St. Michael’s host family, the parents of that student and the hosting parents must email the Headmaster’s Office by 12 PM the Wednesday before, giving mutual permission for the opting out of weekend status for that particular weekend. A student will not be granted opt out status of weekend stay by casually stating to a member of the faculty that they are staying over the weekend at another student’s home. If concurrent permission is not received from the concerned parents via email by the stated deadline, the student will not be released to the host family by the Dean of Students.

Oftentimes, students who live locally and return home each weekend are invited to stay the weekend with another local school family. This arrangement will also require notification to the Headmaster’s office via email by 12 PM the Wednesday before so that the supervising Dean will be aware of the arrangement when releasing the student to the host family.

For those students who routinely transit home by train after Friday dismissal, St. Michael’s will facilitate the transportation of that student to the nearest train station for a nominal transportation fee. However, the student’s parents or guardian must confirm the fact that the student will be traveling home by train for the weekend. The parent or guardian will be required to email the Headmasters Office by 12 pm, Wednesday, of each week to confirm their student will in fact be traveling home. They will also provide the departure time of the train their son will be taking home.

This same procedure shall be followed for those students who will be flying home for the weekend. However, no transportation of the student to the airport will be facilitated by St. Michael’s staff. The concerned parent or guardian shall arrange for a shuttle transport for their student from St. Michael’s to the concerned airport.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)–Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA)

The school’s Self-study report is now finished. Copies of the report will be sent to the three members of the Visiting Committee. The Visiting Committee will visit St. Michael’s March 20-23.

Admission Matters
● Open House: Saturday, January 8, 2011; at 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM; at St. Michael’s
● Entrance Exam/Open House: Saturday, January 22, 2011; 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM; at St. Michael’s; Please call ahead of time to reserve a place: 949 858 0222 (Ext 237)

● Immaculada Radio, with its following affiliates, will be running an ad for our January 22nd entrance exam from November 21 through January 21.

1310 Phoenix, AZ
1050 AM, Bakersfield, CA
1400 AM, Eureka, CA
89.3 FM, Greenville, CA*
1240 AM, Lemoore, CA
1250 AM, Madera, CA
1620 AM, Sacramento, CA
1260 AM, San Francisco, CA
1230 AM, Stockton, CA
100.7 FM, Gallup, NM**
920 AM, Reno, NV
1010 AM, Salt Lake City, UT

* Note: Greenville, CA station includes:
92.7 FM Stateline NV
92.7 FM Susanville, CA
93.3 FM Truckee, CA

** Note: Gallup, NM station includes:
88.7 FM, Portales, NM
88.9 FM, Tucumcari, NM
91.7 FM, Clovis, NM
93.9 FM, Roswell, NM
94.1 FM, Shiprock, NM
95.3 FM, Farmington, NM
98.9 FM, Albuquerque, NM
99.9 FM, Socorro, NM104.5 FM, Santa Fe, NM

This week’s photos: Russian Icon Museum; Speech and Debate; Christmas Lunch

Parent/Student Handbook: Chapter 9: Weekenders, Sections 1, 2, and 3
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
Students relax over the weekends at St. Michael’s and renew themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. While recreation is ample, adequate time for spiritual and academic growth is also provided. Teachers from the abbey community regularly organize outings to meet one or more purposes: participate in wholesome recreation, expand cultural experiences, explore sites of natural beauty, meet ordinary needs for school supplies and snacks, and take advantage of the many recreational points of interest in Southern California.

SECTION 2: WEEKENDER RULES
The policies and practices which give structure and direction to the student body during the weekdays are likewise observed during the weekends. The consequences which result from violating these standards are also the same.
When the uniform is not worn, student wear casual clothes of their own choosing. All the casual inner and outer clothing a student brings to the school should be appropriate for this setting and be logo free.
Students staying for the weekend must check out any money desired for the weekend from the school treasurer on Friday afternoon. The money room is not open on Sunday.

A coin-operated washer and dryer are provided for the use of the students. Clothes which need special care (such as ties, blazers, letterman jackets, dress pants) should be sent to the cleaners regularly.

Students on Study Detention do not participate in weekend outings. Nor do they have Honor Roll privileges even if they are on the Honor Roll.

At the weekly meeting on Sunday, students sign up who intend to stay the following weekend.

SECTION 3: WEEKEND INVITATIONS Weekenders may be invited to spend a weekend with their fellow students. This invitation must be in writing, signed by the inviting parent, and must state all of the following:
The inviting parents will be at home that weekend.
The entire weekend will be spent with the inviting family, and not at someone else’s house, or away from the inviting parents care.
There will be no riding in a car driven by a minor (under 21 years of age) unless the parents of the weekender sign a statement waiving all responsibility of the school in case of accident.
The inviting family will take all responsibility for the behavior, associations, curfew observance, etc. of the invited student.
The student’s Sunday obligation will be guaranteed by the parents taking the students to Mass, not just sending them off to church.
This letter is to be received by the headmaster no later than Sunday night prior to the weekend of the invitation. In addition, the parents of the weekender must have on file at the school a general or particular permission in writing before their son may accept a weekend invitation.

Etiquette Point of the Week
If a gentleman discovers that his napkin has slipped from his lap to the floor, he retrieves it, if he can do so gracefully. If the retrieval of his napkin threatens to disrupt the dinner table, he simply turns to his host or hostess and says, “I’m afraid I’ve dropped my napkin. May I have another?” A Gentleman at the Table, Bridges and Curtis; Brooks Brothers Press

Athletics
Tuesday, January 11th: Soccer vs. SVC @ Rancho Capistrano; 3:15 p.m.
Thursday, January 13th: Soccer vs. Fairmont @ The Trident Center; 3:15 p.m.

Student Birthdays This Month:
1/1 Faris Alquaddoomi
1/10 Andrew Bonello; Spencer Manson

1/14 Alan Le

Homily preached by Fr. Victor Szczurek, O. Praem.
Among other things, Fr. Victor is the Assistant Headmaster and teaches Latin

With the Christmas Season soon coming to a close and with “Ordinary Time” approaching, we may find ourselves once again afflicted with those annual “post-Christmas blues,” and all joy trampled underfoot by the return of our everyday cares, headaches and duties. And so it is fitting that Holy Mother Church should offer us today, through the life and words of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, a little “antidote,” as it were, to help combat that yearly pestilence.

St. Elizabeth, as you may know, was a convert to Catholicism; she was originally Episcopalian. Some time after her husband died she made a trip to Italy, a trip which was to play an important role in her conversion. Upon her return to America, she wrote to her sister-in-law the following words concerning Catholics: “I don’t know how anyone can have any trouble in this world who believes all that these dear souls believe…Why they must be as happy as angels…” The communion of saints—and the whole devotional life which goes with that, especially devotion to the Blessed Mother--, the teaching and direction of the Church’s hierarchy, the 7 sacraments, especially Confession and the Holy Eucharist, all these led this Episcopalian woman to see that anyone who is blessed with such divine gifts must possess a joy which cannot pass away. And so, not long after, St. Elizabeth converted to the true Faith, giving up her almost noble social status, receiving scorn and rebuke from her family and society (which was far from friendly to Catholics at that time), so that she too might possess those divine gifts, the patrimony of Christ’s Church.

St. Thomas mentions as one of the means of curing sadness, indeed the chief means, the meditation on divine things. As Catholics we should meditate not only on the many wonders of God, but on the fact that we actually have them in our possession. The source of all Christmas joy, as well as cause of the many blessings which so impressed St. Elizabeth, is the Word Incarnate; and like the shepherds and the Magi, we possess that same Divine Infant everyday at Holy Mass, such that, as one religious Sister once explained in her own simple way, “Everyday is like Christmas for Catholics, because we have the Mass.” And if that’s true for Catholics in general, how much more true is it for the priest, “in whose hands,” says St. Augustine, “as in the womb of the Virgin, the Son of God is incarnate.” It makes one wonder whether a priest, if he celebrates Mass daily, can ever really even have a “bad day.”

The Gospel tells us that the shepherds, having seen Our Blessed Lord in Bethlehem, returned glorifying and praising God. May St. Elizabeth Ann Seton intercede for us, so that, having adored the Divine Infant, we may return once again to our everyday cares, glorifying and praising God, as joyful as the angels.

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
● Mrs. Maria Cueto, grandmother of Conrad Lakomi ’10 who has an inoperable brain tumor.
● Paul Grimard, uncle of former student Patrick Grimard, who is very ill after a 2nd heart attack.
● Mrs. Cathy Pickett, grandmother of Bryce Pickett who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.
● Mrs. Sandoval who has ongoing health problems.
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.