See that you are prepared is the message from Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 12:32-48).  Jesus tells the parable of the master who trusted his servants to be standing ready and trusted to complete their usual tasks while waiting for him to return.  Just as Jesus trusted his disciples to carry on his work when he left, we are trusted to carry on sharing the good news of Gospel, opening the doors of our hearts in our words and actions.

This week we value determination – to make a decision to do something and then follow through with little or no change.  Our students are encouraged to respect themselves and do their best in everything they do, showing determination to be the best they can be by setting and achieving goals, not only in schoolwork but in relationships with others.  We see examples of this in the simple daily interactions of our students when they help each other, cooperate in activities, games and competitions, encourage each other in sports activities and reach out to others in service through activities such as Mini Vinnies to help those less fortunate.  

Tomorrow, August 15, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.  Although defined as an article of faith by Pope Pius XII just over half a century ago, the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven has been accepted from back to the earliest of Christian times.

The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus.   The Feast of the Assumption gives each of us great hope as we contemplate this one facet of the beautiful woman of faith, our Blessed Mother.  Mary moves us by example and prayer to grow in God’s grace, to be receptive to His will, to convert our lives through sacrifice and penance, and seek that everlasting union in the Heavenly Kingdom. 

God bless.

Caroline Fuller