Devotions: Who or What brings you closer to Christ?
Note to Faculty #3
Dear Faculty and Staff:
Over the last month, I have sent you a few emails, but I will send them to you more frequently to cover a few points under such headings as, “In the Classroom” and “Beyond the Classroom.” I am still developing these themes, so be patient. Let me know if you have any suggestions, as my goal is for these emails to be a tool for you.
In the Classroom
I have been visiting classes and sometimes just stopping by to say hello. I will continue to visit classes, so please do not hesitate to let me know what is a good time to stop by. Two items to note: as the school year gets going, our vision as teachers sometimes becomes myopic, only focusing on what is happening in our classroom. With this in mind, I ask that you consider a couple of questions:
(1) Are we sticking to our daily classroom routines?
(2) How is grading going, are we updating grades once a week in FACTS?
We know that students academically thrive with routine, but so do we. Differentiated instruction is like multitasking, we can only do so much at one time. If we stick to our routines, we can better focus on the lessons and differentiated our approach to our students. The saying, “KISS,” Keep It Simple Stupid, applies here. Our routines give our classrooms an ordered foundation that allows us to shine with our students.
I am learning that since grades are always live online, Holy Rosary does not send out Progress Reports. The approach that I have toward our “standard operating procedure” is we should have grades updated at least weekly, and if a student is not doing well, whether academically or behaviorally, the teacher should contact the parents regularly. In my note to parents next week, I will be recognizing that we are about midway through the quarter and that it would be a good time to review their child’s overall progress in classes and connect with teachers about suggestions for growth in and outside of the classroom.
Beyond the Classroom
As we prepare for our Patronal feast day on October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, I have been reflecting on the Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM). Since arriving at Holy Rosary, I have been contemplating my devotion to the BVM. On a personal note, I have to practice over and over to build a habit or a devotion. One may aspire toward virtue, but consistently practicing it will form the habit of virtue, not just the first aspiration or desire to be virtuous. Devotions are similar for me. When I was young, my mother spoke of St. Anthony of Padua as a strong saint, close to Christ. As a result, I was enamored with him, even before I knew we should ask for his intercession for lost things. Later as an adult, I still had an affinity for St. Anthony, but still lacked any real devotion. It was not until a student handed me a pious novel about the “end times,” Pierced by the Sword, by Bud MacFarlane, Jr. that I can say I developed a true devotion. It was when reading this novel that I was moved to know more about St. Anthony and begin devotion. Besides studying about him, I began praying, asking for his intercession and assistance in more than lost items, but also for protection and to assist me in getting closer to Christ.
Our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is in the end similar. We ask for her intercession to bring us closer to her Son, and because she is Jesus’ mother, we understand that of all people, of all the saints, a son will listen to his mother. From the beginning of the founding of Ozark Catholic Academy, I laid the foundation for the community to be grounded in the Eucharist and in Our Lady. Built into the school calendar was an all-school Mass for all feasts commemorating the BVM. We had the students wear their dress uniforms. My intention was if we were going to be a school centered on the Eucharist, then we should strongly ask Our Lady to bring us as a community closer to her son. From the beginning we had days dedicated to praying an all-school rosary and a Marian procession in May. When you look over the liturgical calendar you will be amazed at how many celebrations there are for Our Lady, for many different reasons. From September 8 to September 15, the Church celebrates three Marian feasts, The Nativity of Our Lady, The Most Holy Name of Mary, and Our Lady of Sorrows1.
Have you wondered why the Church celebrates or honors Mary so often? As we prepare for our patronal feast day, I suggest researching those three Marian feasts and perhaps even choosing a particular devotion to the BVM. As faculty it would be great for us to have conversations about Mary and Marian feast days. Today we ask the Holy Name of Mary…Pray for Us.
Note two of the feasts fall on a Sunday this year, so the Church does not celebrate them liturgically.