We can do hard things!

 

We can do hard things!

Tuesday, Septermber 8 2020, we will be beginning the new era of Catholic school management in Cleveland!  Partnership Schools began operating St. Thomas Aquinas and Archbishop Lyke schools in an agreement with the Diocese of Cleveland that began on July 1.  We have spent the time between then and today getting the buildings ready!  Through the leadership of Dominic Ozanne and Ozanne Construction (a true family affair!), and over $300,000 of investment including many gifts in kind of labor and materials...we are ready!

Recently Partnership Schools hosted a Zoom retreat with nearly 200 staffulty attending.  I snapped the accompanying picture in the principal's office at St. Thomas Aquinas.  "We can do hard things" was one of the themes of the retreat!

The Multiplier Effect

Saint Ignatius loved actions that led to others taking up the cause as well.  The two pictures here are an example of how that retreat has begun to filter down to the classrooms already!  The four themes are displayed here for all to see...these are words for everyone of all ages:  We can do hard things; celebrate success; we can help each other; and together we are better!

 

As Tuesday approaches, I walked into all the classrooms of both schools.  Newly painted, desks all appropriately distanced with 3 foot shields on each one, rooms decorated by the teachers are just so cool!  I talked with many teachers who are truly excited to see their students (they have not been together in a classroom for six months).  There is fear and trepidation as there always is at the beginning of the school year.  One of my old teacher friends from Chicago, Jay Lalley, would always ask this question to me when we first walked back into school after summer (usually about two weeks before the kids), "Have the dreams begun?"  Most teachers know what that means...the dreams that you woke up late for the first day, or your students didn't show up, or your class was up for grabs the moment you walked in...et cetera, et cetera!  Of course the virus has added to those pre-school year jitters in a big way!  Nonetheless, we are commited to our mission of providing a loving community where students will learn along with us!  Pray for us!

This exudes elementary school vibes!

If you notice all these pictures are missing kids!  That will change next Tuesday!  Keep us in your minds and prayers as we begin in a new way!

God is oozing from these walls!

Today's Gospel and other readings may seem a bit harsh and is often cited as the foundation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Yet, there are a few hidden gems today!  First, all the commandments and law can be summed up in this saying:  "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  Love is the fulfillment of the law.  The Gospel ends with a well known passage:  "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."  I have personally always felt that God can be found in prayer and scripture, in community (today's reading), and in breaking bread with strangers (Road to Emmaus).  It is through relationships of love that God has a chance to work.  In all three of those ways of feeling God's presence there is always a lurking fear.  Fear is always there to paralyze us.  Think of the fear you may have felt when you told someone for the first time that you loved them.  Would they reject me?  Laugh at me? Or run away?  With prayer, there is the fear that I may actually hear what God is calling all me to do!  Imagine the fear of the encounter with the stranger?  So hear we go this Tuesday!  Fear is lurking as usual but we are better together!

As I walked the halls of St. Thomas Aquinas and Archbishop Lyke these past few days.  As I met the teachers, staff and some families...as I saw the care with which each classroom was decorated...as I talked with teachers who felt the strength of community...as I saw people meet with families to give them materials for next week...as I saw families enrolling (we are up 15%!!)...I can honestly say that I felt God oozing from these walls...visualizing all the children that have passed through this entrance and will pass through this entrace...what we are doing is truly Christ's enterprise!  Let the church say amen!