the passing of Leann Smith...

It was just three weeks ago, when I got a call from my Mom up in Chicago. She was crying and trying hard to tell me something. "Patrick, it's your Uncle Ed..." she said. My heart sank. My Uncle Ed was 59 and loved to hike in his hometown of Colorado Springs. He had gotten up early, left the house at 5am, and hit the trail at first light. He reached the summit of Stove-top Mountain around 8:45am and called my Uncle John to tell them that he'd made it. He sat down, at a hershey bar, drank some water, and then headed down the trail. there had been some dew that morning and as he walked across a steep part of the trail, he slipped and fell forwards. He skidded on his face and hands for a few feet and then dropped off a 40' cliff and fell to his death. Family immediately came to Colorado to pay our respects and hold one another from CA, OH, PA, IL, WI, NC, and MT.
There is no such thing as a good time to have someone suddenly taken away. While my own grief was intense, I had my faith in Christ to prop me up. I had a sure knowledge that my Uncle was swept up into the arms of Jesus at the bottom of that rocky cliff. Others in my family were not so sure. Some are even self professed Atheists, and they seemed to have the most trouble of all.
When I first came to KCHS, Leann was a person that I met immediately. She was the person that I received all the tax forms to fill out. She was very gentle and kind to me and answered my many questions about how to fill out my paperwork. She always called out my name as I walked by in the hallway outside her office; she made sure I said Hello daily and thanked me for what I was doing at the school. I know that many of you have had much closer relationships with Leann than myself...
We teach the students at Catholic all kinds of subjects, but the most important things we try to share with everyone is our deep love for Christ who is at the center of our school. All of the millions in college scholarships our students receive each year pale in comparison to just one student entering into heaven that might not have gotten there because of a conversation with a religion teacher, the making of a good confession, or something Fr. Orr said in a homily. Leann was surrounded by people of faith in the offices at KCHS and hen she felt poorly, she reached out to another KCHS friend to ask for help. This is a testament to what we have at Catholic; good friends, good faith, good times, and good memories, all centered on our risen Lord. May the faithful soul of Leann Smith rest in peace, and may we take each moment we have and give thanks for our time here on earth. Deacon patrick

"Constantly nourish, then", he added, "your union with the Lord, in prayer and with the frequent practice of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession. ... Ensure continuous Christian formation for young people and for adults", and distinguish yourselves "for works of charity and for your joint efforts to face the great 'educational challenge' of the new generations".

These words were spoken by our Holy Father yesterday in Turin, Italy. they speak to us as well. "Papa Benedicto" reminds us to avail ourselves of the sacraments of Eucharist and Confession throughout our summer vacation from school. Many of you have come to appreciate confession, during out monthly penance services at KCHS. Remember that your parishes provide that sacrament regularly and often while you are sleeping (Sat. mornings).

Last, take a look back at the quote above... "Ensure continuous Christian formation for young people and for adults..." YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LISTED FIRST!!!! But don't wait for your parents to offer you something to increase you faith. Look at ways you can facilitate your own growth this summer. By all means enjoy yourselves till school starts again, but make this summer count towards heaven. Find ways to increase your faith and then let that faith manifest itself in your thoughts, your words, and your actions. See you in 12 weeks! - dpat

A Random Act of Kindness...

Today, I stood in the hallway of the Commons just before Mass. I was hoping my standing there in my alb, stole and dalmatic would draw some of the students into Mass at 11:40, but alas, they all walked by, looking for their rides, etc... I thought how sad that none of them would want to go to Mass, to share their relief of having taken more final today with God. Then a Sophomore boy walked up to me with a huge smile on his face and shared with me that he'd received a 100% on his Biology final exam. He was eating a Hershey Bar, which is my favorite, and to my surprise, he offered me some. I thanked him but declined as I was about to go into the chapel for Mass. He insisted on sharing it with me and said to just wait till after Mass. He then set it at the feet of Mary's statue, wished me well, and walked out into the sunshine. As I reflect on that little moment, I am overcome with thanksgiving to be in a position to benefit from what to him was a small gift, but to me was huge. The fact is we are surrounded each day with opportunities to work the gospel, but are we in a headspace to do it? We have to be thinking about others in order to even make that jump. The thing of it is, I don't think that boy who shared his chocolate was thinking in theological terms at all, I think he was just happy, and wanted to share his happiness with someone else. The chocolate was accidental; but the beatitude was essential. And so my heart was lifted today by a boy that walked right by the chapel on his way out the door. The chocolate was fantastic and my ride home on the bike will be even better. May God richly bless you today; I thank you for reading these words and hope they bring you encouragement AND chocolate. St. Rita, pray for us!

Slideshow from Graduation...

http://pmrphoto.com/08grad (please copy and paste into your browser window)

Pope Benedict offers advice on Youth... way cool!

Saturday's graduation was a great event, and one that we will all remember for a long time. One of the highlights, other than the seven speeches, was the teacher of the year award. I was thinking about Sister John Catherine's impact on our school this morning before mass, and then just now, I read what the Holy Father had to say about youth in Italy yesterday. The two were definitely connected. Sister John Catherine is youthful, vibrant, and deeply in love with God. She exhibits a "youth of goodness," that the Holy Father describes. We all will miss Sister John Catherine, but I submit to you that it will be the Jesus in her that we will miss. If we can be more like Jesus in all we do at KCHS, then we shall be more like the good sisters that lead us by example each day. Let us then pray for our beloved Dominicans, that the summer refreshes them, that Sister Anna will come back to us safely and on fire from WYD, and that Sister Mary Edith will bless us again next year with her quick smile and easy laugh. We know that Sister John Catherine's future is bright, and that God will continue to bless her in her ministry as she teaches in Nashville next year. Enough of my words... please read the better ones below!

VATICAN CITY, 18 MAY 2008 (VIS) - "You are the youth of Genoa!" he exclaimed in opening his address. "Youth", he told his audience, "real youth, is not a question of years and physical vigour. ... There are, unfortunately, people young in years but old within. ... Being young means having discovered the things that do not pass with the swift passage of the years. If young people discover the real and great values, they never grow old, despite the fact that the body follows its own laws".

"Only people who are good and generous are truly young", he said. "I hope you will remain young; not fashionable, for fashions disappear in the winking of an eye, hurtling by in a frenetic career. Youth, on the other hand, the youth of goodness, remains forever. Indeed, it will be perfect and resplendent in heaven with God".

"Youth still has all its future ahead. ... The future is full of promise. Today however, for many, it is also full of threats, especially the threat of a great void. Hence many people want to hold back time for fear of a future in emptiness". Faced with such a situation, "it is important to choose real promises that open to the future, even by making sacrifices. ... And the first fundamental choice must be God".

The Holy Father invited the young people "to cultivate spiritual life. ... The life of the soul", he explained, "is meeting with Him, the real Face of God, it is silent and persistent prayer, it is sacramental life, it is meditating upon the Gospel, it is spiritual accompaniment, it is cordial membership of the Church and of your ecclesial communities.

"Yet how", he added, "can one love what one does not know? ... Hence the need to delve more deeply into the mystery of Jesus, the truth of His thought that resounds in the Gospel and in the Church's Magisterium. Without a solid formation", he went on, "how will it be possible to explain the faith to your peers, so full of questions about life, about themselves, about Christian faith, and the Church?"

The Holy Father encouraged the young people to announce the Gospel "in the various areas of life, in your parishes, in the most difficult neighbourhoods, in the streets. Announce Christ the Lord, hope of the world. The more man distances himself from God (Who is his Source) the more he loses himself; human coexistence becomes difficult and society crumbles. Remain united to one another, help one another to live and grow in faith and Christian life, in order to become intrepid witness of the Lord".

"If you remain united to Christ and the Church, you can achieve great things. This is the hope I consign to you" he concluded. "Goodbye until we meet again in Sydney!"

Irish End their Baseball Season in a great game...

Everyone that showed up last night for the final game against Gibbs was treated to a beautiful night and a fantastic game that went into the 10th inning. So many people stayed to the very end in one of the longest games we've played... It was a night to remember and a season to be proud of... Our Irish family prayed for the repose ofthe sould of John Brusard before the game got underway; Sister John Catherine offered us a moving prayer to begin the competition.

Papal slideshow from New York City trip...

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http://pmrphoto.com/papa/