Most people who go into the profession of education do so because they love kids. They also share some fundamental beliefs about the human condition. They believe that people can change for the better. They believe in the infinite potential of children. They believe that learning about the past can improve the future. They believe that children who have acquired solid information about how to learn can take us quantum leaps into a better future. Educators are the harbingers of hope and include many of the last "hold outs" of idealism. Sometimes this vision of hope becomes dulled by dispassionate kids, uncooperative parents, and the world gone amuck. Very often educators never know of the good that they do. They never see the fruits of their labor because sometimes the benefits that they have inspired do not come to fruition for many years. Unless they happen to re-unite with former students many years after teaching them, educators often wonder if their labor matters at all. In recent weeks, the educators at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel have had two wonderful occasions to "see" the fruits of their labor of love and, both of those occasions were very, very good!
On April 21, 2010, our high school celebrated our fiftieth anniversary at a dinner celebration with several hundred people in attendance. There were alumni there from most classes including the very first class of 1963. There were current and former faculty members and parents from various eras at the event. There were current and former school and parish leaders, too, and as you can imagine, stories were being swapped for hours on end. The room was filled with chatter and laughter. Most of all, the room was filled with gratitude. As we honored representatives of each group--pastors, teachers, parents, students, Board members--each took their turn to give tribute to what our small school did for them. Those stories resonated an important theme--
Mt. Carmel High School made a difference in so many lives because excellent teachers gave their best to their students who deserved nothing less. Not surprisingly, no one mentioned the bricks and mortar of the place. They mentioned how much being challenged to excellence meant to them, how much being cared for mattered, and how much they learned about self, life, and faith as well as the world. It was and is a wonderful school--a small school that makes a big difference in the lives of people!
The second occasion that showcased how our former students were doing out in the world was Alumni Night at our recent Festival. Friday night of the Festival is always the night that former students gather to share their recent accomplishments,introduce their new heart throbs, and show off their beautiful children. This Festival was a banner year--both in the number of alums attending (over 200!) and their stories. Several recent college grads returned to get a much deserved hug of congratulations--There were teachers, a P.A., several nurses, an engineer and a former high school "technology kid" who works with and helps invent the gadgets at CNN. There were tales of law school, graduate degrees, and life in New York City. In the midst of these stories were the stories of weddings,new babies, and the perennial sentence starter--"Do you remember...?" And the answer from the many current and former faculty there was always, "Of course we do!" The bonds of relationships at a small school are powerful and often span the decades.
I am a firm believer that given time and nurturing, all kids eventually grow up in the sense of reaching maturity and developing the wisdom to make good choices. It is so wonderful to be in a place like Mt. Carmel where seeing this process from beginning to end is a frequent reality. There is no doubt that teaching is a craft, a profession and hard work. It takes long hours and it sometimes breaks your heart. But, it is also true that, though teaching is labor, it is a labor of love. Seeing the fruits of that labor--adults who are people of kindness, integrity, faith, and successful as well--is a joy!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Anniversary Dinner--When is a Dinner MORE than a Meal?
Next Wednesday on April 21, 2010, there will be a dinner celebrating the fifitieth anniversary of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School. The dinner will be held at Martin's East--the site of many a prom--and should provide an opportunity for a gathering of several hundred wonderful people. Many of these people will reconnect with others that they haven't seen in years. Others will renew acquaintances and share information that hasn't been updated since that last soccer game, baseball event, or graduation exercise. There will be former students and faculty and parents of alums as well as current students, parents, and faculty. The people attending will leap over the barriers of time and revel, for one evening at least, in a common theme.
The common thread that binds all of our dinner guests together is that each of them played a part in the history of our school. Many of our guests grew up in the classrooms and corridors of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School learning both important academic information and important lessons about life. Many of our guests are the men and women who provided the inspiration and guidance for that growth of mind and heart to happen. Many of the guests are loving parents who sacrificed so much and worked so hard on fund raisers and tuition challenges in order to provide an opportuntiy for their children. Many of the guests shared the joys of friendships that have lasted through decades. Many of the guests were supported in times of heartache and challenge by the loving community of Carmel and the faith on which that community is built.
It is my great hope that the dinner provides a special "moment" for all who gather to pause and think about what it is that we all share. I know that there will be memories shared of classroom antics, sports events, and individual accomplishments. Beyond that I hope there will be at least one moment when everyone realizes that we share several beliefs that are much more profound. These are some of the beliefs that we celebrate and share--
We share a belief in the importance and value of every child. Knowing that children come in all shapes, sizes, and with assorted gifts of mind and heart, we believe that they ALL deserve our love and attention.
We believe that education provides the stepping stone that indiviuals need to make life better for themselves and their family. Knowing that families struggle to provide for their children, we believe that we need to work together to support those who need assistance.
We believe that when excellent academic programs are combined with faith and a Gospel vision, students are inspired to be the people God intended them to be. Knowing that setting standards of quality and developing a sense of service are necessities for living a Christian life, we hold in high regard the contribution of every student and the development of their character.
We believe that Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has provided a "family" for many young people who have thrived and have reached adulthood with integrity. This year, on our fifitieth anniversary, we celebrate every successful young life our school has touched and every member of our school family who has helped that success to come to fruition.
Even as we celebrate the past, we look to the future. There are students today even more in need of the nurturing community at Mt. Carmel than ever. In these competitive times, post-secondary education is a must for all and our students need to be prepared. In these days of political and economic crisis, integrity is crucial to becoming a leader. In these challenging times, faith in a loving God is foundational as is the belief that we each have a part to play in making this world a better place. Today and in the days to come, more than ever before, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a school and a community that is necessary!
At our anniversary dinner, it is these beliefs as well as the people who share them that will be celebrated. As you can see, our dinner will be a celebration dinner that is, oh so much more than a meal! (If you would like to attend our dinner that is so much more than a meal, call Laura Cummins at 410-686-4972 for ticket information)
The common thread that binds all of our dinner guests together is that each of them played a part in the history of our school. Many of our guests grew up in the classrooms and corridors of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School learning both important academic information and important lessons about life. Many of our guests are the men and women who provided the inspiration and guidance for that growth of mind and heart to happen. Many of the guests are loving parents who sacrificed so much and worked so hard on fund raisers and tuition challenges in order to provide an opportuntiy for their children. Many of the guests shared the joys of friendships that have lasted through decades. Many of the guests were supported in times of heartache and challenge by the loving community of Carmel and the faith on which that community is built.
It is my great hope that the dinner provides a special "moment" for all who gather to pause and think about what it is that we all share. I know that there will be memories shared of classroom antics, sports events, and individual accomplishments. Beyond that I hope there will be at least one moment when everyone realizes that we share several beliefs that are much more profound. These are some of the beliefs that we celebrate and share--
We share a belief in the importance and value of every child. Knowing that children come in all shapes, sizes, and with assorted gifts of mind and heart, we believe that they ALL deserve our love and attention.
We believe that education provides the stepping stone that indiviuals need to make life better for themselves and their family. Knowing that families struggle to provide for their children, we believe that we need to work together to support those who need assistance.
We believe that when excellent academic programs are combined with faith and a Gospel vision, students are inspired to be the people God intended them to be. Knowing that setting standards of quality and developing a sense of service are necessities for living a Christian life, we hold in high regard the contribution of every student and the development of their character.
We believe that Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has provided a "family" for many young people who have thrived and have reached adulthood with integrity. This year, on our fifitieth anniversary, we celebrate every successful young life our school has touched and every member of our school family who has helped that success to come to fruition.
Even as we celebrate the past, we look to the future. There are students today even more in need of the nurturing community at Mt. Carmel than ever. In these competitive times, post-secondary education is a must for all and our students need to be prepared. In these days of political and economic crisis, integrity is crucial to becoming a leader. In these challenging times, faith in a loving God is foundational as is the belief that we each have a part to play in making this world a better place. Today and in the days to come, more than ever before, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a school and a community that is necessary!
At our anniversary dinner, it is these beliefs as well as the people who share them that will be celebrated. As you can see, our dinner will be a celebration dinner that is, oh so much more than a meal! (If you would like to attend our dinner that is so much more than a meal, call Laura Cummins at 410-686-4972 for ticket information)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Alumni: When Does It Ever End?
This past week Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has been inundated with visitors. It has been wonderful to see our alumni come back to visit during the spring break of their colleges. Since 95% of our graduates go on to college, their midsemester break has become a traditional time for them to reconnect. The young women who return look a bit more polished and sophisticated. Young men are broader of shoulder and are often sporting their first ever beard,scruffy though it may be. That is where differences end. All of these recent graduates tell tales of courses they have loved, grade point averages that are respectable, and discuss career options and changes of major with their former teachers and administrators at out school. This past week we heard from a photography major at The Maryland Institute of Art, a political science and international studies major from St. Mary's College, as well as from several students in nursing, physical therapy,health care and related fields. We even got tickets in the mail from one of our alumna from the University of Southern California (a theater major) who is putting on a one woman show in Baltimore in a few weeks. Those of us at the school are elated to have these conversations and interactions. Seeing these graduates move forward with independence and success is one of the gratifications teachers share. I thought several times during these visits that our relationships last long after the final blessing of graduation is over. When do these connections end? I hope that they never do!
From the perspective of those of us who teach at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as long as people remain who have known our former students certainly there are connections. Beyond that,though, there is a connection to the school itself that goes beyond individuals. Whether a former student attended in the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties,or in this new century, the experience of a small, nurturing yet challenging community where there is not only room to grow but an expectation to grow has been constant. In our fifty years of serving young people, the commitment to help them develop God's gifts and achieve success, happiness, and a life of faith has remained a priority. Our school has done her part!
In the past few weeks, in the aftermath of the school consolidation plan, there has been a great deal of noise made by alumni of various schools. It made me wonder if alumni really understand that they, too, have a responsibility to their former school that does not end. I wonder if alumni ever think about those expectations? If they do, is it only in a moment of need or crisis? Is it too often "too little too late?"
I believe that the first expectation of Carmel alumni is that they live their life in a way that reflects the values and information they have learned at Carmel. Are they good parents to their children? Are they leaders in their neighborhoods and communities? Are they using God's gifts in appropriate ways? Can we look at them and be proud of the adults they have become? I would hope that all our grads could answer, "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!"
The expectations go beyond that. Are our alumni advocates for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the community? Do they articulate the news about the great education available at Mt. Carmel? Do they tell the same stories their teachers remember about how learning happens--sometimes the easy way, sometimes the hard way? Do they relate that in that process, they were never abandoned? If our alumni become advocates for our school in the community, they help make our school, small in size, stronger and less vulnerable to the econmic tides of the times. Our alumni need to "talk it up" about all that our small school is willing to provide in education of a young person's mind, and heart, and soul.
And, finally, our alumni need to support our school financially. When letters come asking for help with student scholarshps, Annual Appeals, or building projects, those alumni who have reached some success and security in their own lives need to give back. Being of service and supporting our community is a theme about which every Carmel student has heard. "It is not all about you, it is about our community, and building a better world," is a statement I have been making to kids for decades! Every Carmel alumni should be considering the extent to which they can support our school. As recent events have shown, it is too late to wait until crisis has descended. Now if the acceptable time!( If you haven't sent your Annual Appeal gift, now would be a great time to do so!)
I have come to be a believer that the world improves, if it does at all, a person at a time. Educators have a rare opportunity and responsibility to make that happen on a daily basis. But, help is needed from those who "get it." No one gets the importance of a Gospel based, Catholic education better than those who have benefitted from one. I know that our alums "get it!"
So, to get back round to the beginning-- The relationship between Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and her graduates--recent or not--never ends. It is also true that their relationship and responsibilty to our school never ends either. Live a "good" life, talk the good talk and dig into those pockets to support a wonderful school that supported you!
From the perspective of those of us who teach at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as long as people remain who have known our former students certainly there are connections. Beyond that,though, there is a connection to the school itself that goes beyond individuals. Whether a former student attended in the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties,or in this new century, the experience of a small, nurturing yet challenging community where there is not only room to grow but an expectation to grow has been constant. In our fifty years of serving young people, the commitment to help them develop God's gifts and achieve success, happiness, and a life of faith has remained a priority. Our school has done her part!
In the past few weeks, in the aftermath of the school consolidation plan, there has been a great deal of noise made by alumni of various schools. It made me wonder if alumni really understand that they, too, have a responsibility to their former school that does not end. I wonder if alumni ever think about those expectations? If they do, is it only in a moment of need or crisis? Is it too often "too little too late?"
I believe that the first expectation of Carmel alumni is that they live their life in a way that reflects the values and information they have learned at Carmel. Are they good parents to their children? Are they leaders in their neighborhoods and communities? Are they using God's gifts in appropriate ways? Can we look at them and be proud of the adults they have become? I would hope that all our grads could answer, "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!"
The expectations go beyond that. Are our alumni advocates for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the community? Do they articulate the news about the great education available at Mt. Carmel? Do they tell the same stories their teachers remember about how learning happens--sometimes the easy way, sometimes the hard way? Do they relate that in that process, they were never abandoned? If our alumni become advocates for our school in the community, they help make our school, small in size, stronger and less vulnerable to the econmic tides of the times. Our alumni need to "talk it up" about all that our small school is willing to provide in education of a young person's mind, and heart, and soul.
And, finally, our alumni need to support our school financially. When letters come asking for help with student scholarshps, Annual Appeals, or building projects, those alumni who have reached some success and security in their own lives need to give back. Being of service and supporting our community is a theme about which every Carmel student has heard. "It is not all about you, it is about our community, and building a better world," is a statement I have been making to kids for decades! Every Carmel alumni should be considering the extent to which they can support our school. As recent events have shown, it is too late to wait until crisis has descended. Now if the acceptable time!( If you haven't sent your Annual Appeal gift, now would be a great time to do so!)
I have come to be a believer that the world improves, if it does at all, a person at a time. Educators have a rare opportunity and responsibility to make that happen on a daily basis. But, help is needed from those who "get it." No one gets the importance of a Gospel based, Catholic education better than those who have benefitted from one. I know that our alums "get it!"
So, to get back round to the beginning-- The relationship between Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and her graduates--recent or not--never ends. It is also true that their relationship and responsibilty to our school never ends either. Live a "good" life, talk the good talk and dig into those pockets to support a wonderful school that supported you!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
"Sometimes Ya Don't Know What Ya Got..."
Over the last day or so the first line to the lyrics of an old song has been running through my head. The tune is lost as are the words to the rest of the song. The part I remember is "sometimes ya don't know what ya got 'til it's gone." I have been thinking about how false these words ring in our present school situation.
This morning Archbishop O'Brien announced that thirteen schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will not open next September but will be consolidated with other school communities. Many have suffered from enrollment decreases, the challenges of old buildings (some well over 100 years old!), money problems, and the changing populations in neighborhoods once filled with children. The plan was thoroughly done and based on solid research and projections. It is a valiant attempt to trim the number of schools so that there can be new growth and increased excellence in the schools that remain. The consolidation plan is an attempt to insure that Catholic education in Baltimore will thrive for now and for the future. This was quite a challenge! Given that painful challenge, there is no one involved at any level who does not know clearly and painfully what has been lost.
One of the great blessings of Catholic schools is that they are more than educational institutions. They are families in the best sense of that word. Certainly students learn not only the basics but also skills of leadership, lessons of faith, and the need to work for justice. All of this learning happens because of the relationships that exist within each school. Without sounding like a Pollyanna, I truly believe that where Catholic schools do their job, love abides. Educators love their kids. They love them enough to teach them, challenge them, go to all their games, chaperone their events, show up for advice sessions, retreats, and prayer services. They rejoice at the family celebrations of their students and support those same families when sadness comes to them. There is no end to the connections that bind one to the other--students,parents, teachers, administrators, priests and religious.
What happened today in Baltimore was not a failure of these relationships. In some cases the buildings failed and in many cases the finances failed but in no case was there a lack of love, caring, and dedication--one for the other--in those school families. That is why, though many realized that this day needed to come in one form or another or all could be lost, sadness abounds. I believe that for a time, that sadness must be allowed to happen and be respected.
It is the great hope that the children of these families who are now engulfed in loss,can find their way to a new Catholic school--a new family that will continue to teach, love, and nurture them. It will be in realizing that the Church is bigger than any one place and the spirit of one should permeate all, that will allow many to begin to move forward.
Something wonderful was lost today and everyone in our school communities knows it. Those who remain are obligated out of solidarity and respect to carry on the dedication, tradition, and excellence that have always been the marks of Catholic education. We also carry forward hope which is another mark not only of our schools but of our faith. Pope John Paul II said, 'There is hope for the future and its name is youth." We continue to teach, serve, and nurture our youth in schools of excellence knowing the great sacrifices and traditions that allow us to continue. We pray for those families and school communities who are grieving. We also pray that we always recognize and appreciate the blessings that we have in our school families and relationships--while we have them!
This morning Archbishop O'Brien announced that thirteen schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will not open next September but will be consolidated with other school communities. Many have suffered from enrollment decreases, the challenges of old buildings (some well over 100 years old!), money problems, and the changing populations in neighborhoods once filled with children. The plan was thoroughly done and based on solid research and projections. It is a valiant attempt to trim the number of schools so that there can be new growth and increased excellence in the schools that remain. The consolidation plan is an attempt to insure that Catholic education in Baltimore will thrive for now and for the future. This was quite a challenge! Given that painful challenge, there is no one involved at any level who does not know clearly and painfully what has been lost.
One of the great blessings of Catholic schools is that they are more than educational institutions. They are families in the best sense of that word. Certainly students learn not only the basics but also skills of leadership, lessons of faith, and the need to work for justice. All of this learning happens because of the relationships that exist within each school. Without sounding like a Pollyanna, I truly believe that where Catholic schools do their job, love abides. Educators love their kids. They love them enough to teach them, challenge them, go to all their games, chaperone their events, show up for advice sessions, retreats, and prayer services. They rejoice at the family celebrations of their students and support those same families when sadness comes to them. There is no end to the connections that bind one to the other--students,parents, teachers, administrators, priests and religious.
What happened today in Baltimore was not a failure of these relationships. In some cases the buildings failed and in many cases the finances failed but in no case was there a lack of love, caring, and dedication--one for the other--in those school families. That is why, though many realized that this day needed to come in one form or another or all could be lost, sadness abounds. I believe that for a time, that sadness must be allowed to happen and be respected.
It is the great hope that the children of these families who are now engulfed in loss,can find their way to a new Catholic school--a new family that will continue to teach, love, and nurture them. It will be in realizing that the Church is bigger than any one place and the spirit of one should permeate all, that will allow many to begin to move forward.
Something wonderful was lost today and everyone in our school communities knows it. Those who remain are obligated out of solidarity and respect to carry on the dedication, tradition, and excellence that have always been the marks of Catholic education. We also carry forward hope which is another mark not only of our schools but of our faith. Pope John Paul II said, 'There is hope for the future and its name is youth." We continue to teach, serve, and nurture our youth in schools of excellence knowing the great sacrifices and traditions that allow us to continue. We pray for those families and school communities who are grieving. We also pray that we always recognize and appreciate the blessings that we have in our school families and relationships--while we have them!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
It's Flex Time!
We returned from the blizzard with a week's worth of late starts. In a high school that means that all classes meet but for a shorter amount of time. So, students straggled into school by 9:45 a.m. and met quickly with all their teachers for about a half hour each and then went home. It was the end of the winter sports season and games were squeezed in where they could be and tournaments were modified to meet time constraints. All in all, it was not a perfect week! BUT, it was a week and we did accomplish something and perhaps learned a lesson that will be important in days to come.
In life, we need to learn to be flexible! Though things do not always go the way we plan, wish, or hope, they do move forward. At that point, we either "go with the flow" as some say or we become disgruntled, angry, and frustrated. I think the path of flexibility is the best. So, at school, we flew through that short week and just finished a more "normal" week with only one late start. All the events that were postponed because of weather have been re-scheduled and everyone is looking forward eagerly to them. Things tend to work out!
In a week or so, there will be a huge announcement about the future of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The report is the result of a great deal of research, analysis of current data about our schools, and deep reflection on the vision and mission of the schools as a whole. I am certain the the report will result in the need to change so that we can best meet the needs of our current students and our future students. The plan will generate high emotions and there will be mighty changes that should eventually result in a better, stronger system of schools.
At that point, there will be many educators who will need to not only be flexible, they will need to be energized to move forward and implement the changes (sometimes as unexpected and unpredicatable as several blizzards in one week!) that are called for with dedication, skill, enthusisam and faith. Learning the lessons of flexiblilty in little ways in life sometimes prepares us to handle the bigger changes as well. We need to remember that things tend to work out. It is also important to believe that in matters of faith, mission, and vision, the Holy Spirit does work!
As we continue to deal with this "winter to remember" with flexibility and good spirit, we will also be called upon to deal with the bigger issues of our lives in that same positive way. Things will work out according to "the Plan"--even if the plan is not ours but His!
In life, we need to learn to be flexible! Though things do not always go the way we plan, wish, or hope, they do move forward. At that point, we either "go with the flow" as some say or we become disgruntled, angry, and frustrated. I think the path of flexibility is the best. So, at school, we flew through that short week and just finished a more "normal" week with only one late start. All the events that were postponed because of weather have been re-scheduled and everyone is looking forward eagerly to them. Things tend to work out!
In a week or so, there will be a huge announcement about the future of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The report is the result of a great deal of research, analysis of current data about our schools, and deep reflection on the vision and mission of the schools as a whole. I am certain the the report will result in the need to change so that we can best meet the needs of our current students and our future students. The plan will generate high emotions and there will be mighty changes that should eventually result in a better, stronger system of schools.
At that point, there will be many educators who will need to not only be flexible, they will need to be energized to move forward and implement the changes (sometimes as unexpected and unpredicatable as several blizzards in one week!) that are called for with dedication, skill, enthusisam and faith. Learning the lessons of flexiblilty in little ways in life sometimes prepares us to handle the bigger changes as well. We need to remember that things tend to work out. It is also important to believe that in matters of faith, mission, and vision, the Holy Spirit does work!
As we continue to deal with this "winter to remember" with flexibility and good spirit, we will also be called upon to deal with the bigger issues of our lives in that same positive way. Things will work out according to "the Plan"--even if the plan is not ours but His!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Out of Signt, Out of Mind--Not Even in a Blizzard!
Yesterday at Mt. Carmel High School the excitement level was off the charts! It was Student Appreciation Day of Catholic Schools Week so kids were out of uniform. Baltimore County had decided early on to dismiss two hours early due to the impending snow. To top it off, Mr. Jim, our resident chef, decided to serve wings for lunch--What more could we all ask than the convergence of all these wonderful things!
So, we did enjoy the wings and then we all left early to await the snow. And, as we all know, the storm arrived with great force and now almost twenty-four hours later, it is still snowing!
Since I was snowed in this morning I decided to sort through some papers and straighten up a bit. I rediscovered letters that needed answering and bills that needed to be paid. I also found the Annual Appeal Brochure request that I received a week or so ago. When the brochure arrived, I looked at it rather carefully. It was eye catching and had great photos of students in both our schools. It also made a real plea to alumni and friends to support the schools. These are tough financial times for everyone, but Catholic schools have been especially hard hit because our families have been hard hit. At Mt. Carmel we continue to be firmly committed to providing a loving,faith filled environment where learning for a life time can happen. Our resolve is unwavering. The school, though, like everyone else needs to pay the bills--faculty deserve so much more than they receive, kids deserve the best that new technology has to offer, aging buildings need to be repaired, and then there is always BGE--Last month the high school gas bill alone was $10,000! I am aware of these facts and a million more that make me want to support our schools as much as I can. Yet, when that brochure arrived, I put it on the stack of "take care of this later" items and did not send my gift. That brochure may have been headed for the "out of sight, out of mind" stack had I not had some time this morning to rediscover it. I hope that each of you will rediscover that brochure and make a gift too. Our kids deserve the best and I believe that the education provided at Carmel--where heart, mind, and spirit are attended to each day--is the best! Be generous, my friends! Do not take Carmel for granted!
Now, there is another related issue that has been on my mind as I watched the snow accumulate and bury my car. There is no doubt in my mind that I will not be able to dig out until Monday which means no driving tomorrow and no Mass for me. I think that I am not alone. I know that these last several weekend storms have taken a toll on many people and businesses but I think that they must have taken the greatest toll on our Church. Please do not let your envelopes languish on the "out of sight, out of mind" stack of things to which you have to attend. Snow or not, the work of the Church continues. At Mt. Carmel, as at most churches, the only source of income comes from the generosity of our members. Whether we are present on Sunday or not, the bills need to be paid. Now, in addition to all the regular expenses, I am sure there are several whopping snow removal bills that have been added to the list!
So, I hope you are safe and snug and enjoying the beauty of this snowfall. I also hope that you are aware of the negative impact that can be part of the winter season on those institutions we know, love, and on which we depend. I hope that you have some time to sort things out ,too, and that you are generous to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Both our schools and our Church need the support of all of us!
So, we did enjoy the wings and then we all left early to await the snow. And, as we all know, the storm arrived with great force and now almost twenty-four hours later, it is still snowing!
Since I was snowed in this morning I decided to sort through some papers and straighten up a bit. I rediscovered letters that needed answering and bills that needed to be paid. I also found the Annual Appeal Brochure request that I received a week or so ago. When the brochure arrived, I looked at it rather carefully. It was eye catching and had great photos of students in both our schools. It also made a real plea to alumni and friends to support the schools. These are tough financial times for everyone, but Catholic schools have been especially hard hit because our families have been hard hit. At Mt. Carmel we continue to be firmly committed to providing a loving,faith filled environment where learning for a life time can happen. Our resolve is unwavering. The school, though, like everyone else needs to pay the bills--faculty deserve so much more than they receive, kids deserve the best that new technology has to offer, aging buildings need to be repaired, and then there is always BGE--Last month the high school gas bill alone was $10,000! I am aware of these facts and a million more that make me want to support our schools as much as I can. Yet, when that brochure arrived, I put it on the stack of "take care of this later" items and did not send my gift. That brochure may have been headed for the "out of sight, out of mind" stack had I not had some time this morning to rediscover it. I hope that each of you will rediscover that brochure and make a gift too. Our kids deserve the best and I believe that the education provided at Carmel--where heart, mind, and spirit are attended to each day--is the best! Be generous, my friends! Do not take Carmel for granted!
Now, there is another related issue that has been on my mind as I watched the snow accumulate and bury my car. There is no doubt in my mind that I will not be able to dig out until Monday which means no driving tomorrow and no Mass for me. I think that I am not alone. I know that these last several weekend storms have taken a toll on many people and businesses but I think that they must have taken the greatest toll on our Church. Please do not let your envelopes languish on the "out of sight, out of mind" stack of things to which you have to attend. Snow or not, the work of the Church continues. At Mt. Carmel, as at most churches, the only source of income comes from the generosity of our members. Whether we are present on Sunday or not, the bills need to be paid. Now, in addition to all the regular expenses, I am sure there are several whopping snow removal bills that have been added to the list!
So, I hope you are safe and snug and enjoying the beauty of this snowfall. I also hope that you are aware of the negative impact that can be part of the winter season on those institutions we know, love, and on which we depend. I hope that you have some time to sort things out ,too, and that you are generous to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Both our schools and our Church need the support of all of us!
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