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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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Sincere Sympathy

Sincere Sympathy

Dear Academy Family,

In September, I joined our high school faculty and our freshman class at Mary Help of Christians Center for their first retreat as high school students. Led by our 12th grade peer ministers, the theme of the retreat was “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” a timely focus, I think, given the attendees’ transition from middle school to high school. The day was a wonderful opportunity for me to engage with and witness our young ladies growing in their knowledge and relationship with Christ, while getting to know themselves and their peers more deeply.

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Now, well into my second year as president at the Academy of the Holy Names, I can strongly affirm that God’s holy presence and the spirit of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary are alive and pervasive here on our campus. This does not happen by chance; rather, it is the intended outcome of a school where “education in the faith” is a core value. It means creating an atmosphere that invites people to live, develop and express their faith.

We are blessed to have Sister Lisa Perkowski, IHM, leading these efforts, as she has returned to her critically important role as Director of Mission and Ministry. The Christian formation approach that Sister Lisa is utilizing as she looks to maintain and strengthen our campus ministry programming includes a head, heart and hands design that is scaffolded and comprehensive. Knowledge (the head) includes catechetical initiatives that emphasize teachings, doctrines and the traditions of our Catholic faith, presented in religion courses required for all students. This formation also includes a strong experiential dimension (the heart), which allows for personal reflection and deepening one’s relationship with Jesus through retreats, prayer experiences, adoration and liturgy. Lastly, a genuinely Christian approach must also see an application of knowledge, skills and practices (the hands) through youth conferences, justice initiatives and service opportunities.

The head, heart and hands design also recognizes that each student has a different gateway to the formation journey that is as unique as they are. Thus, while one person may find the Eucharist and formal worship their deepest nurturing pathway, another may find God more easily in their relational connections with other people. Others yet may be drawn to service activities. This process of formation allows for diverse ways of encounter that acknowledge different entry points and modes of learning.

Sister Mary Glavin, SNJM, when speaking about education in the faith and living a Christian lifestyle, sums it up best when she notes that, “ultimately, we are teaching students not just to be successful but also to be significant, and to be the best for the world, not just the best in the world. So how do you make your life significant in God and be a meaningful contributor to an interdependent world? It is not accomplished by racing to win; rather, it is about holding hands and getting to the Kingdom of God together.”

As you read this edition of the Accord, please know how grateful I am for all that you do in support of our mission at the Academy of the Holy Names. Together we are partners in sharing with our students the good news of God’s merciful love and how His grace will sustain us throughout our lives.

Sincerely,

Kevin P. Whitney President

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