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In this week of both great sorrow, as we saw in our national news, and great joy, as we shared the excitement of our children’s Congé, I am reminded, yet again, of the hope that is the essence of our faith. The following is an excerpt from an article written by the Rev. James Martin, S.J., a Jesuit priest, author and contributing editor at America, the national Catholic magazine.

. . . . We do not have a God who does not understand suffering. Everyone on that first Good Friday in Jerusalem knew suffering: Jesus’ disciples, who had expected a joyful victory but received a miserable failure; and his family and friends who had followed him to the great city in happiness, but were met with sadness. Like the people in Boston, who had prepared for joy, they must have been at a loss to take in all the misery. Here was the person we loved, the one we knew well, for whom we had such hopes, cut down. In this familiar setting that is such a part of our lives—Jerusalem, Boston—violence, maiming and death. It doesn’t make sense. Finally, Jesus himself—God on the Cross—was miserably treated. A victim of senseless violence as sure as those on Boylston Street were.

Why bring this up? Because Jesus is not someone who does not understand pain! Jesus is with us in our suffering, not only because he loves us but because he suffered. 

But suffering is never the last word. There is always the possibility of new life. How will this happen? It may be difficult to see now, as it was impossible for the disciples on Good Friday to see, but the God who has suffered is ready to help us, and always holding out the promise of something new, something that will help us move beyond the blood and tears.  

That was true in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago and it is true in Boston today.  

I would add, it is true in West, Texas, it is true in Sandy Hook, Conn., and, it is true in sorrows and struggles of each of our own lives.

May hope be the lens through which we interpret all our joys and our sorrows,

Maureen Glavin, rscj

Last night’s parent presentation by Tina Meier of the Megan Meier Foundation was absolutely spectacular! I think you know her story. The Meiers were flung into the national spotlight when their daughter Megan, after having endured both bullying and cyber-bullying, took her life at the age of 13.

Mrs. Meier was an amazing, energetic presenter with a full spectrum of information, not just about her own experience as a mom, but about bullying and cyber-bullying in general in our world.

Today, during the school day, she spoke with our oldest students. I am sure that you will hear more about that in the future, especially given her focus on helping students problem-solve and make changes in their environment.

As I reflect on this challenging and heart-wrenching topic, I keep coming back to my desire and hope that we at this Academy are COUNTER-cultural in how we relate to ourselves and others.

1.      We want to be so counter-cultural in this regard that every child who walks into the Academy experiences and knows themselves as cared about by their teachers―which does not mean that we don’t redirect and engage and challenge intellectually. It means that we communicate in every way that each child is valuable, precious and loved.

2.      We want to be so counter-cultural in this regard that every child (though they are still figuring out how to be in healthy relationships) GETS that every other child in this school DESERVES to be treated reverently, and ACTS accordingly.

3.      We want to be so counter-cultural in this regard that every child believes that they are INHERENTLY loved and lovable because they were created by LOVE’S VERY SELF. I want them to believe this because in my mind it really is the foundation for NOT using an exterior locus for affirmation (whether that exterior locus is what one has, who one hangs with, what one wears or what one achieves).

4.      We want to be so counter-cultural that the ADULT community models that counter-cultural belief of self-worth, self-reverence and reverence of the other.

5.      We want to be so counter-cultural that we are KNOWN in the St. Louis community as THE SCHOOL which lives its name: A SCHOOL WHICH ACTS as if it is God’s Heart!

To make this wish come true, we all must work together, grow together and BE TOGETHER what we want to create in our children.

Let’s do it.

United in that Heart of our God who calls us all to reflect that Heart in all that we do and say,

 —Maureen Glavin, rscj