3 minute read
Principal's Message
Every senior class at Holy Family has felt the nervousness and excitement of walking into the building for the first time, the stress of final exams, and the enticing smell of fresh baked cookies wafting through the building. Unique to the Class of 2021 is the excitement of the expansion of the school, the challenges of going to school in a noisy construction zone, the thrill and novelty of new facilities and then of course the global pandemic. The obstacles posed by the pandemic have become a given of our lives, yet it needs to be stated that you have experienced loss. The loss of performing to a packed house, hearing the roar of the crowd in a stadium, sharing a smile with a friend, or experiencing the Eucharist together as a community. But amidst the loss we also see what you have gained. As Catholic educators we hope to produce graduates possessed of the virtues of chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility. We know it isn’t enough to know what these virtues are and be able to recite them - you must also have the conviction and integrity to live them out. Catholic theologian C.S. Lewis said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” We may think we possess virtues, but we don’t really know if we believe with conviction until those virtues are put to the test. There are many who feel themselves kind until their neighbor gives them cause to gossip, many who believe themselves charitable until they experience the temptation of material things and many who see themselves as humble until they first see their name in lights. In our classrooms we can test your knowledge of the virtues, but only the world can test your adherence to them. And to pass that test requires courage. Whatever you have lost over the last year you have surely gained the knowledge that you do have courage. It took courage to walk through those doors on August 17th. It took courage and it took a leap of faith. When the national narrative was that it was folly to believe that this could be done, it took strength and conviction to take a rational look at the facts and swim against the tide. But that is what Catholics have always done - we are the original counter-culture. Given the choice between what is True, Good, and Beautiful and what is the popular choice or conventional wisdom, we have always made the harder, but more rewarding choice. Your courage will serve you well in the next phase of your life when your peers and your teachers will often not share the world view of our community. When the Truth is on your side do not be afraid to voice it, do not wither in the face of adversity, but rather proclaim the world as it actually is and do not fear the consequences for as St. Augustine said “The Truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose and it will defend itself.” Our paths began together four years ago and today those roads diverge. I hope from time to time you will return to visit us and I hope you know that the school could not have surmounted the challenges of the last year without you. You have made your mark on this place and on our hearts and we will always be grateful to the class of 2021! Pax Christi,
