Easter, 2011

Easter Homily preached by Frater Brendan Hankins, O. Praem.
Among other things fr. Brendan teaches English.


This Easter I have the good fortune to have a seat just to the right of our Abbot. Last Easter I sat to the right of another abbot and in another church. I sat to the right of the Abbot General of our order in St. Peter’s Basilica. A seat at the Easter Vigil in a section that is typically reserved for cardinals, bishops, and heads of religious orders; rarely occupied by seminarians. It was a remarkable seat and more memorable liturgy.

Just before the vigil begins the lights go out and thousands inside are shrouded in darkness. In St. Peter’s it is an especially moving expression of the significance of the absence of Christ in the Church. Because without Christ, without the light of Christ, the great basilica of St. Peter’s is nothing more than a massive tomb. Built on top of a necropolis, hundreds of dead below in the crypt and lining the aisles along the sides of the church. But once the Holy Father has lit the Paschal candle, and our candles are lit from his, light floods the Church. The tombs are illuminated and united with the larger than life statues of the saints enlightened high above the floor of the Church. In the light of Christ, darkness and death are transformed and the veil separating heaven and earth seems ever so thin. The Church militant and the Church Triumphant, the living and those who have died in Christ assemble to celebrate one common liturgy.

What is it that separates us from those saints whose relics lie beneath the altars of St. Peter’s, throughout the churches of Rome and the world and now reign with Christ. How did they live, better yet how did they die. They lived and died holding fast to the faith that before Christ rose from the dead and, even today without Christ, the world is a tomb. We are a race of men and women born into this world destined for a common fate. That fate is death and is the penalty for sin. With each sin we lay one more stone before the door of our tomb. We bury ourselves a little deeper in false hopes and bind ourselves a little tighter with Satan’s lies. From day to day and week after week life draws to a close. No matter how many medications are prescribed or operations are performed or how far technology advances.

Today, Easter Sunday, the day of the Lord’s resurrection is the day of our salvation. Every Sunday of the year foreshadows and anticipates today’s celebration; every feast, all other Solemnities are culminated in Easter Sunday, the Solemnity of Solemnities, the day of the Lord’s resurrection. And Easter Sunday prefigures the new and eternal day when and where we will reign with Christ forever. For, as Saint Paul writes, if Christ has not been raised from the dead our faith is in vain. For those who do not believe that Christ has been raised from the dead place their faith in a world, and body that are destined for change and corruption.

But with faith in the resurrection of Christ a new sun has risen, a new day has dawned, and the order of the world is shaken. The humble are exalted, the poor are made rich, the devil is cast out, sin is forgiven, fear of suffering has given way to courage, the end is now the beginning and death has become a doorway to life. Before the resurrection the apostles fled to avoid persecution, but after St. Peter returns to Rome to be crucified, St. Paul stretches out his neck to the sword, St. Sebastian goes to Rome because the persecution is fiercest, St. Ignatius of Antioch pleads to be thrown to the lions in the coliseum, a pagan empire becomes Christian, basilicas are built in their honor and millions of pilgrims follow the trail of the martyrs blood from all over the world to venerate them today. Faith in the Lords rising from the dead has the power to change, rather transform the world and it has the power to transform us and how we see the world and live our lives. Christ Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Man, has died, he has risen and he has made all thing new.


During the Easter season the Regina Caeli is prayed in place of the Angelus.

REGINA CAELI
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He Whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia.

V. Has risen as He foretold, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has indeed risen, alleluia.

Let us pray:
O God, You gave joy to the whole world through the resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant, we ask You, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

April 17, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who helped make the week a success
Martha Elmer, Tina Halim, Rina Lim and Seong Hee Park, for sponsoring a Parent Lunch Wednesday for our students and faculty.
Mrs. Roxanna Aguilar, for buying personal pizzas and soda for the baseball team after Tuesday's victory.
The Choi, Porretta, Portka, Saglietto and Schardt families, for hosting students over the weekend.

Parent Talk by Fr. Gabriel Stack, O. Praem.
“Raising a Loving Man of God for Others.”
The focus is on the virtue of justice, rendering to others their due. Join us in the mobile classroom on Sunday, April 17th at 7:00 p.m.

Reminder to parents that students are dismissed from school this Friday, at about 4:00 PM, after the Good Friday Liturgy.

Parent/Student Handbook: Chapter 3, Sections 10 and 11 SECTION 10:

CALCULATING SEMESTER GRADES
Semester grades are calculated from three weighted factors. Each of the two quarter grades weighs 40%. The semester exam itself weighs 20% of the semester grade. SECTION 11:
STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE A SEMESTER GRADE OF “D” OR “F” A student who receives a semester grade of “D” or “F” must make up the work. A passing grade of “C” is a necessary prerequisite for readmission to St. Michael’s Preparatory for the following academic year. In order to achieve this, the student must repeat the course during the summer. This schooling can be taken online, at a local school, or with a competent tutor. To properly evaluate the summer work, the student must submit a summer school transcript and a portfolio of work completed during the summer course. Based upon this information the administration, leaning heavily on the advice of the department chair, records a grade on the transcript which represents the level of work as it compares to St. Michael’s expectations. There are occasions when the school administration will require the student to take a written and/or oral competency exam in order to better evaluate his newly-strengthened academic proficiency. While both the original failing grade and the competency grade are on the transcript, the latter is used to compute the grade point average. The student who earns two or more grades below “C” in the same semester or in combination with the next semester, seriously jeopardizes his ability to return to St. Michael’s.

Academics
Congratulations to the following students on their National Latin Exam awards:
● Joshua Aaker: Summa Cum Laude (Gold certificate and medal)
● Joseph Terlisner: Summa Cum Laude (Gold certificate and medal)
● William Warnisher: Maxima Cum Laude (Silver certificate and medal)
● James Tran: Magna Cum Laude (Certificate)
● Jake Holke: Cum Laude (Certificate)
● Michael Howard: Cum Laude (Certificate)

This Week’s Photos: Deans Fr. Claude and Frater Brendan; Fr. Victor, Latin Student and National Latin Exam winners

Etiquette Point of the Week
A gentleman does not express anger, disappointment, or frustration by throwing, kicking, punching, or breaking something.
How To Raise A Gentleman, Kay West; Brooks Brothers Press

Birthdays
April 24th: Edward Lim and Joseph Porretta
April 30th: Joshua Aaker

Athletics
Congratulations to Mr. Martin and the Pioneers for their tied game Monday and their wins on Tuesday and Thursday. The Pioneer’s overall record is 6-5-1 and their league record is 3-1. They are currently in first place in their league. Come out to a ball game and support our team!
Tuesday, April 19th: Baseball vs. Liberty Christian @ Bretheren Christian; 3:15 p.m.

Homily preached by Fr.Vincent Gilmore, O. Praem
Among other things Fr. Vincent is the Rector at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano
A week from today is Good Friday. Palm Sunday is this Sunday. Lent is coming to a close. We might ask ourselves “How did we do with our Lenten program or promise?” Our efforts at making sacrifices and doing things sets the content and tone of the season. And I suspect most of us could say we could have done better and perhaps we lost some of our initial fervor as Lent progressed. Forty days is a long time. Our effort at making Lent what it is is necessary. However, from God’s point of view our Lenten effort or progress is more like opening a door to God’s activity in our lives. The door opens to the unexpected. The very operations of grace are by their very nature unpredictable. When Mary opened the door to grace with her “Yes” at the annunciation she did not know where it was going to go and how it was going to roll out. She had no idea what was going to happen, but she trusted. She trusted in the goodness of God and opened herself up to God’s plan. A plan much more beautiful than anything she could ever have dreamt of. I think Lent needs to be evaluated not so much on the success or failure of our efforts but rather on how we dealt with the unexpected. We can plan a neat and tidy Lent, but it is in the unexpected and unplanned where the real work of Lent lies. This is where the hand of God’s grace moves. Our efforts open the door to grace, the rest is unpredictable. The real question of Lent is how did we handle the unexpected, especially the crosses, hardships and sufferings? Did we get sick or suffer some bodily pain? Were there conflicts, tensions and misunderstandings in relationships? Were there contradictions, corrections, struggles and failures that were uncomfortable? All of these things and more are what make a fruitful Lent. The unexpected embraced in humility and for what it is and not rejected is real progress. Laying aside our programs for God’s plan is a real sign that grace is at work. “Not my will, but your will be done” is what Jesus said when faced with the greatest contradiction and struggle of His life. The laying down of His will and life as a sacrifice to His Father’s will became the price of our salvation. And so the price of our salvation is the ability to lay down our will and even our life before God’s will, and God’s will is manifested in the unexpected and the unplanned. Over a week ago several people’s lives got a high dose of the unexpected. In a freak sequence of events a JSerra graduate got pushed over a freeway overpass and fell 60 feet to his death. A 24 year old girl was to blame. She now faces 5 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter. An 18 year old boy is not supposed to die this way. The 24 year old did not plan to kill the boy and spend 5 years of her life in prison. The parents of the boy did not expect to lose their only son. But God certainly permitted the sequence of events that led up to the boy’s death – all unplanned and unexpected – nonetheless a part of God’s will and therefore what is best for the salvation of all involved. The boy already sees why the unexpected happened. It will perhaps take a life time for his parents, the girl and others involved to see the hand of God in the unexpected and tragic. For us who profess to be of the household of faith and profess belief in the will of God, we have to expect the unexpected. Our plans, necessary as they are, should always be tentative and flexible, waiting for the definitive and best plan to come from the hand of God. As we approach and move through another Holy Week, may we appreciate more and draw strength from Jesus’ fundamental attitude as He approached all the events that led to His death. “Not my will but your will be done.” We should endeavor to make His approach our approach as we face the many unexpected events of our lives that originate from the hand of God. Have we had a good Lent? The answer is in the unexpected: “Not my will but your will be done.”
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. Jodie Meschuk for a safe and healthy pregnancy
● Imminent deployment of Lieutenant Col. Peter Hebert, father of junior John Hebert. Mrs. Jaqueline Carroll, mother of alumnus John Carroll ‘77, who is close to death.
● 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 Henry Gernaey
● For the repose of the soul of Mary Ryan, sister-in-law of Mrs. Gloria Ryan.

April 10, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who helped make the week a success
● Mrs. Joan Dimen for providing a meal for our baseball players after Tuesday’s game in San Diego.
● The Rincon and Schardt families for hosting students over the weekend

Etiquette Point of the Week
A gentleman does not make fun of another person’s political affiliation, policies, or candidates.
How To Raise A Gentleman, Kay West; Brooks Brothers Press

Athletics
Monday: Baseball @ San Diego Jewish Academy; 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Baseball vs. TVT @ STM; 3:15 p.m.
Thursday: Baseball vs. Eastside Christian @ Amerige Park; 3:15 p.m.

Homily preached by Fr. Gabriel Stack, O.Praem.
Among other things, Fr. Gabriel is the Headmaster of the school.
Ever since Adam and Eve, God has spoken to his chosen people. As we know, shortly after Adam and Eve, God chose patriarchs, prophets, judges, and kings to speak in his name to his people. In the final time, He spoke to us through His son, Jesus Christ. For all the speaking that God has done, his chosen people haven’t listened very well. This is why God is upset with the people in the first reading and why Jesus is upset with the people in the gospel. For, speaking and listening are distinct actions – even in the same person. Those who listened well, lived well. They have become saints. Those who did not listen well, did not live well. They are sinners. Examples from both ends of the sanctity spectrum. Here is the point well-made: a 7th century Christian, Sahdona, reflecting on the gospel passage we heard this morning, said: All the wisdom of life is hidden in the Scriptures. In them, we are able to gain knowledge of God and of his creative activity, of his wonderful governance and providence…It is in the Scriptures that we learned how to travel on the road of virtue, for in them all the deeds of the just life are delineated….[W]ithout the light of the Scriptures we are unable to see God, who is light, or his justice, which is filled with light. Sahdona believed so ardently in the power of God’s word that he gave up his life for it. Sahdona was martyred in his native Syria. Here is the counter point: Last week I noticed a student, who pulled out of his blazer pocket a small book during the time of the homily. I was impressed by his devotion until I noticed the book’s title. When I spoke to the student after Mass, he admitted that he began reading the book instead of listening to the homily. Then he went on to explain that he didn't read very much of the book at all. Instead, he fell asleep. I wish that this lack of listening ended at least with one’s teenage years. But it doesn’t. The antiphon for the invitatory this morning was, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your heart.” The youngest person to hear this exhortation was 23. The majority of those who heard the exhortation were more than twice the age of 23. Lent is a liturgical time that is custom-made for us sinners because Lent is God’s ceaseless call to conversion. Ever since the time Adam and Eve left the garden, God has been saying to his people, This commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' But the word of God is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart. All that you have to do is keep it. (Deut 30:10-13; Rm: 10:8)
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
● Jodie Meschuk for a safe and healthy pregnancy
● Marie Morris, sister of Mrs. Ryan, who has been diagnosed with cancer
● Imminent deployment of Lieutenant Col. Peter Hebert, father of junior John Hebert.
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.
● The repose of the soul of Chester Szczurek, paternal grandfather of Fr. Victor

April 3, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who helped make the week a success
● Ms. Sally Lee who arranged that 19 desk chairs were donated to the school.
● Recent participants in the Annual Giving Program: Mr. and Mrs. Alan L. Baer, Mrs. P. Maria Christian, Mr. and Mrs. John Doherty, Mr. and Mrs. David R. Hunsaker, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Julian, Mrs. Mary Frances Kusch, Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Lieggi, Mrs. Mary Muth, Mr. and Mrs. Quang Du Nguyen, Mr. and Mrs. Paul O'Donnell, Mrs. Regina Percival, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Richard, Mr. and Mrs. Aniceto Sandoval, Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Schardt

Parent/Student Handbook:
Chapter 3, Section 8: TESTING AND GRADING
Evaluating student progress is a primary responsibility of the school. It is a task that invites a variety of evaluation methods. The primary purpose of evaluation is to determine the extent to which a student mastered the course standards. This level of achievement is determined through a systematic process. Grades can diagnose, motivate, and/or recognize excellence. Prior to the quarterly and semester examinations a special schedule is issued. Oral exams conclude the first and third quarters. The exam is conducted by the teachers in that discipline area and weights approximately 10% of the quarter grade. Oral exams provide the students the chance of thinking and speaking “under pressure.” This skill is very important in effective communication, logical thinking, and all forms of public speaking. Oral exams also provide another medium through which student progress is effectively assessed. The special Semester Test Schedule comes at the end of the second and fourth quarters. The semester exam is a scheduled 90 minute block of time. The semester exam tests the student’s ability to synthesize large quantities of materials. These examinations comprise 20% of a student’s grade for the semester. All students sit for these important exams. Student grades are monitored weekly. Any student who receives an unsatisfactory grade (C- or below) is placed on the Weekly Progress Report list and remains on the Weekly Progress Report list until a satisfactory grade is maintained for a period of two consecutive weeks. Students placed on the Weekly Progress Report are required to attend supervised study time in the evening. The goal is to alert the student in academic difficulty so that he may improve his study habits and seek help from the available sources on campus. At these times, parental support is an effective means to assist the young man in his renewed academic focus. A student whose achievement is not satisfactory (“C-,” “D,” “F” or has dropped more than one letter grade from the last grading period) receives a Progress Report. Such progress reports are sent collated from the online grading program at approximately the midpoint of every academic quarter. Any student who receives an unsatisfactory Progress Report is placed on the Weekly Progress Report list and remains with a weekly Progress Report until the next formal evaluation period. The goal is to alert the student in academic difficulty so that he may improve his study habits and seek help from the available sources on campus. At these times, parental support is also an effective means to assist their son in his renewed academic focus. Academic grades are certificates of achievement. They are not a system of rewards and punishment for conduct. Grading “on a curve” is not statistically valid in small classrooms. It is neither a customary nor encouraged practice at St. Michael’s.

This Week’s Photos:
Living History, Science Lab, Students Working

Etiquette Point of the Week
In sports, a gentleman does not gloat over a win or sulk over a loss. A gentleman does not cross the line between aggressive play and assault. He does not deliberately harm, push, pull, or elbow another player, despite what he may see on television.
How To Raise A Gentleman, Kay West; Brooks Brothers Press

Athletics
Congratulations to the Pioneers baseball team for their recent wins!
The following games are scheduled this week:
Tuesday- Baseball vs. Flintridge Prep @ Glendale Sports Complex; 3:00 p.m.
Thursday- Baseball vs. Liberty Christian @ STM; 3:15 p.m.

Birthdays This Week:
4/6 Jonathan Tran

Homily preached by Fr. John Henry Hanson, O.Praem.
Among other things, Fr. John Henry teaches Religion and English
The first question that most catechisms open with is: Why are we here? And the answer is usually: To know, love, and serve God. This is what we are trying to do, especially during Lent. Hosea says: “Come, let us return to the Lord … let us strive to know the Lord.” And why? Because “I desire love,” says the Lord. We cannot truly love the Father unless we strive to know Him. If our “piety is like a morning cloud,” it is because we do not know Him well. We must know Him, because we love according to our knowledge; we serve according to our love. We can serve as slaves, but those who live in the household of the faith, the Father’s house, are children. He wants us to serve with love, not with the fear of a slave. The Pharisee is a slave to his pride. He is worshiping a “God” that does not exist except in his own mind. He is talking to himself, to someone who is satisfied with self-righteousness, carrying out commands, but there is no father-son relationship. The publican is a model of filial piety; he sounds almost like the Prodigal Son: He would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but prayed: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” as compared to “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus teaches us something similar to what Hosea tells us today: Let us return, let us strive to know. If we truly knew the Father, would we ever depart from him, even in little ways? The Prodigal Son had no idea what he was leaving behind when he left his father’s house. An important theme of Lent is our return to the Father. Many of the liturgical readings tell us to “return,” because the Father is merciful and wants us to come back. But He has to reassure us of this because we do not know Him, love Him, trust Him enough. “Return to me with all your heart… Return to the LORD, for he is gracious and merciful.” During Lent we strive to know the Father better—to see Him a little more clearly and truly. He says, “It is love that I desire.” It is your love that I desire. We have to learn to take our Father’s desire at face value. Who is the Father to us? Is He the One against whom we sin and to whom we go to ask pardon—maybe thousands of times over the course of a lifetime. One who holds up for us the highest standards that we continually fail to meet? Is He simply the One to whom we are always apologizing? Jesus always teaches us about Him in the most uncomplicated language. Sometimes we don’t know what to make of Him. Surely we fail Him often enough, but He is also the One who invites us to His table again and again and serves us. Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, [the Master] will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them.” Now we are really confused. Mercy confuses us. Jesus tried to make it so simple for us to understand: “Do not be anxious … Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin… O men of little faith! Your heavenly Father knows all that you need.” The lilies of the field grow not by anxiety but by their trust in the providence of the Father. They do not grow by fear and trembling. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Are we onto something here? Are we beginning to understand? This is the image of the Father Jesus wants us to have, and the relationship—the same one for which the Pharisees criticized Him: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” And He does so again and again: He feeds us and clothes us and sets a ring on our finger—the same ring that we had cast off in our moment of infidelity. Put it back on; it still fits; it still means what it always meant: I am yours and you are mine. “Do you still not understand? To see me is to see the Father.” Can we form a true image of the Father in our hearts, one that no anxiety, failure, or pressure can break? Jesus pleads with us to do so: “To see me is to see the Father.” The Father finds His most perfect image in Christ. We must trust in Him who takes back the sinner and restores him again and again—and believe there is joy in heaven when we do return. This is the Father in whom we must believe, hope, and love.
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
● Jodie Meschuk for a safe and healthy pregnancy
● Marie Morris, sister of Mrs. Ryan, who has been diagnosed with cancer
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.