2022 Magazine

2022-23 Board of Regents

Shannon Alten, First Vice Chair Stacy Miller Azcarate* Robert S. Basso Jack Boland ’74 Gregory A. Bullian ’76 Mickele Carpenter Fred Craves, PhD* Drew Gordon, Second Vice Chair

Marcia R. Jervis ’61

James Jordan Knopf ’93 Pamela Lyons, Ex Officio Maura Walsh Ochoa Chris Roeder ’89 Kevin Sharps, Chair Anthony Spinale *Emeritus

Production Notes

Staff

Tim Navone, President Chris Valdez, Principal Roxanne Civarello ’06, Director of Communications Lisa Johnston, Communications Assistant Jacqueline Tobe ’01, Director of Advancement Sandy Starkey, Senior Manager, Advancement, Community & Alumni Programs, Assistant to the President Terry Powers, Associate Director of Advancement

The ‘Why’ and ‘How’ is Now

Over the past two years, members of the Marin Catholic Leadership Team went on the journey of rewriting our school’s mission statement, philosophy and motto (see Principal Chris Valdez’s reflection on our new motto). The project was a longtime call from former President Bishop Daly and the Western Catholic Educational Association as a part of our accreditation process. They found that few MC community members could tell you what our mission statement was, and those who tried had ideas that were often not close to the mission itself. Probably why Bishop Daly coined his phrase: “Our job at Marin Catholic is to get you into Heaven … and on the way into a great college.”

One of the beautiful things about rewriting a mission and philosophy is the community that is built among the members who are working together in reflection, prayer and study. We are a better and more faithful school through this process. I also found it was a much more academic process than I would have expected at the outset. We kept coming back to one question to answer: Why do we have Catholic schools?

This central question is something we discuss on a daily basis. Some feel we should be a school first with some theological sprinkles on top. Others feel our theology should not over concern itself with matters of our day and age. So you can imagine the constant struggle in communicating who we truly are as an arm of the Church.

One key goal in our work was to keep our mission to eight words or less, and we accomplished it with: “Lead students to Jesus Christ.” To “lead” was significant in our discernment process. First, it suggests that we are not only guiding our students, but walking alongside them. I have seen this so wonderfully over the years and it is perfectly captured in the photos that appear next to this article. Second, leading suggests a destination, and for Marin Catholic, that destination is Jesus … the Master Teacher and Wonderful Counselor. And don’t we need a Prince of Peace in today’s world? Almost any name Jesus is known for is what our students need today.

With our mission as our “why” and our philosophy as our “how,” we are supported by our motto, Duc in Altum (into the deep), as our flavor, our taste, our charism. We cannot be more excited about our students going “into the deep” in all areas: spiritually, academically, artistically and athletically. I look forward to the richness ahead.

Philosophy Statement

Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, is the source and summit of everything we do. In partnership with parents, we form flourishing men and women of virtue through an excellent academic, artistic, athletic, and spiritual education. At the core of our practice is the student-teacher relationship where our educators model Christian virtue and witness to the Roman Catholic faith. Marin Catholic graduates, rooted in faith and animated by the Sacraments, recognize their call to be saints who bring the light and hope of Christ to the world.

What does Duc In Altum mean and how did you come to choose it as the school’s new motto?

Duc In Altum is Latin and is translated as “put out into deep water.” It is Jesus’ command to the fisherman Peter after an exhausting night of catching nothing on Lake Gennesaret. Though skeptical, Peter responds to Jesus at his word and soon his nets are full of fish, so many that he has to call on friends to help pull up his catch. Peter is of course astounded, humbled, and fearful—a response any of us might have to a divine encounter and miracle. Before Jesus, he confesses that he is not worthy to stand before him to which Jesus says, “Be not afraid. From now on you will be fishers of people.”

Jesus is calling and Peter responds obediently, but he is doing something he does not think is wise, prudent, or hopeful—Peter’s greatness is not his analysis of the situation, but a willingness to follow command from upon high. This supernatural encounter can be confusing to our contemporary sensibilities. Jesus’ command to “put out into deep water” results in an abundant catch which defies reason, logic, tradition, expertise, time management, order, conventional wisdom—all as if to say, our practical ways are useful but limited. Nature is good—and is discernible, readable, understandable—but to really know the truth, we must prepare ourselves for the intrusion of Grace that God imposes.

While our Mission and Philosophy Statements were developed by the Leadership Team, our motto is taken directly from sacred Scripture to serve as a constant reminder that we educate and form in the context of Jesus’ teachings and Church tradition.

What does the motto Duc In Altum tell about the kind of school, the kind of curriculum, and the kind of experience you want for the students of Marin Catholic?

We aim to be a school that goes deeper—deeper into our faith, deeper into our studies, and deeper into a community of people who care for one another. At the heart of the MC experience are these three important ideas:

1. You are dignified and made for greatness. Peter exemplifies our Christian Anthropology, our identity as people, in all its elements: we are beloved children of God born in His likeness and image, first and foremost; we are sinners but through Grace we are redeemable and redeemed; and we have a purpose or telos (“I will make you fishers of men”).

2. You are called. Like Peter, our students are being called to greatness. High school is a time of wonder and discovery and a time of important discernment—to what and to whom am I called to serve? Each day we aim to establish an environment that supports that exploration in the context of Christian virtue.

3. All are interconnected. A Liberal Arts curriculum emphasizes the interconnectedness between the natural, physical, metaphysical and cultural world. It is tempting and maybe easier to see the disciplines as independent and unrelated for students, but an integrated experience is a deeper and more gratifying one. When you see the interconnectedness of math, science, the humanities, Theology, and all the experiences of student life, including sports, social events, retreats, and service your experience is a deepening one. Our hope then is that we graduate students with a firm sense of where they stand in the world, what they are good at, what they value, and to what they are committed.

How is this an improvement on our old motto: Faith, Knowledge, Service?

The former motto captured three important pillars, but instead of being guided by ideas, we are following the model of the disciples, the followers of Jesus, and immersing our community into their great adventure story. What is more exciting and energizing than an adventure? All of the disciples embodied the pillars of faith, knowledge, and service—not all at once and certainly not all the time, but all eventually and ultimately. By immersing our students in this most human of adventures, we are emphasizing all its challenges, all its mystery, all its beauty, and all its immeasurable rewards.

An interview with Principal Chris Valdez on the adoption of MC’s new school motto and how it is already being cast out onto the campus.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW

In late September, we announced a new program here at MC, Duc In Altum Mission Immersion. In the spirit of “casting out into the deep,” DIA Mission Immersion is an extra-curricular program aimed at providing interested students with an immersive local, national or international trip in one of three categories:

1. Cultural/Educational 2. Spiritual Encounter 3. Christian Service

Each spring, during our planned Duc In Altum celebration week, we will publish the DIA Immersion offerings for the following school year, so that students can begin dreaming, planning, and maybe even fundraising for a trip they might want to take. While many of the trips we will offer in DIA Immersion are part of our current offerings, we are now coordinating all trips under the DIA umbrella to ensure authentic and deep mission connections, which are particularly important, as our offerings expand and change.

We look forward to our students taking advantage of these opportunities, not only to embark on a new adventure, but to experience something deeper along the way.

Here are a few examples of trips already in the works:

Cultural/Educational

Spiritual

Christian Service

Vietnam: Participants will spend 9 days in Vietnam immersing themselves in the culture and serving a village community project. Easter Break 2023

Northern Ireland & England: Participants will spend 9 days walking in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, as we adventure across the cliffs of Northern Ireland amongst the “fabled cluster of spires and towers” of Oxford and Cambridge, and into the hallowed space of Westminster Abbey. Summer 2023

Portugal: Students will attend World Youth Day (WYD), a gathering of young people from all over the world, with the Pope. This pilgrimage is a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world. Easter Break 2023

Cooking Mindfully

Finding healing in the way we prepare food

In today’s fast-paced, social media fueled world, depth, reflection and slowing things down can sometimes seem impossible. But to chef and spice guru Trent Blodgett ’10, depth, reflection, and slowing things down is a way of life. In fact, it became his vocation when he started Spice Tribe where he serves as chef, founder, and CEO.

Growing up under the weight of chronic depression, Blodgett’s vision of his future was bleak. Then at age 18, he landed a job as a busboy, which led to a host position at an upscale Spanish-style eatery in San Francisco. The chef noticed Blodgett hanging around the kitchen all the time and offered him a job as a prep cook. He accepted without hesitation.

Awestruck by the aromas and flavors that surrounded him, Blodgett became fascinated with every aspect of cooking—the history of each dish, how taste and smell can trigger memories, and the way different cultures influence each other’s cuisine.

He began traveling as much as he could, visiting far-flung cities and cramming his suitcase full of the spices he discovered there. Back at home he experimented, creating spice blends that reminded him of the sights, smells, and tastes he sampled on streets all over the world.

Food became his medicine and cooking his meditation. It wasn’t a hobby so much as a way of life that helped him heal. Cooking mindfully—being fully in the moment as he prepared his meals—became a practice that literally saved his life.

The difference in his outlook—and his way of eating—was profoundly transformative for Blodgett. As he practiced mindful cooking, he felt more connected both to his own identity and to the ingredients he used—especially the spices he had brought home from his travels.

The spices, he felt, didn’t get the recognition they deserved. No one wanted to go deeper to pay attention to where they were grown or when they were harvested. So Blodgett began building menus around his spice blends as a way to share his travel stories and seasonings with family and friends, and then friends-of-friends, and then perfect strangers.

After reflecting on the Duc in Altum passage, we asked Trent to give us his best spice recipe for fish.

Cooking with Trent

DEEPER UNDERSTANDINGS Take Shape

“My students and I explore our beautiful landscape to carefully source local materials and gain a deeper understanding of the ceramic process. This field work and hands-on research gives us a profound sense of place and connects us to the roots of this land. Clay is earth and is capable of amazing transformations in our very own ceramics studio at MC. It can go from wet clay to dry and become stone through the intense heat of the kiln. These same processes are what formed our very ground and the landscape that surrounds us! Our learning is enriched by digging deeper, by seeing the connections and relationships that exist between all things which God has created and allowing us the gift and freedom to recognize our own ability to create works of art that reflect a deep sense of thoughtful intention and love. Each piece of clay is a meditation on life, the cycles, the journeys, the passages of time, both great and small. It is truly humbling to reflect on the intertwined nature of clay, art, faith and life!”

Mark Jaeger ’97

Photo: Ben Rupers

Clay Immersion

Ever since my first year teaching Ceramics, I’ve led students through a final experience where each student immerses their head completely in a large barrel of clay slip. This experience has become a beloved tradition in my teaching practice and a significant rite of passage for students studying ceramics.

Students exist in the studio throughout the year, working hard to manipulate and impose their will, their ideas on this medium of clay. On the final day, they allow the clay to impose its will on them. By immersing their heads in clay, they submit to the material and make a number of important observations while sitting still in silent reflection. One of the key observations is to be removed from the social construct of the classroom environment. With their heads encased in clay, students cannot immediately see, hear, or feel anything apart from the clay. As they eventually gain the ability to open their eyes, each student recognizes that they have been transformed into living sculptures, entirely new visual forms made new by allowing the clay to completely cover their heads. Another key observation students make is that while they are encased in clay they hear their own heartbeat in an entirely different way, without the visual or auditory distractions of the everyday. They become more and more conscious of their breath and the beating of their own heart.

At the start, as I explain the significance of the experience to the students, I make sure to emphasize the importance of going deeper. As some students carry nerves and anxiety into the moment, I work hard to encourage them to trust the process and submit to the learning experience. I always tell the students, “the deeper you go… the deeper you will go.”

Creating Blind

On the final day of class this year, my students participated in a long-standing tradition here at Marin Catholic: The Blindfolded Throwing Contest! On this final day, students are each blindfolded and given 3 lbs. of clay to see what they can create on the wheel in just 5 minutes. The goal of this exercise is to allow students to experience the materials and the potter’s wheel in an entirely new way. Without the impediment of visual distractions, each student finds a new and deeper connection to the clay and a deeper relationship with the potter’s wheel. Centering clay is not so much about what you see, but much more about what you feel. On this last day, students gain that deeper empathy for the processes they were so willfully focused on throughout the year. It is certainly a fun activity, one filled with joy, but the true value lies in deepening their relationship with the materials, the tools, and themselves in our humble studio.

JessicaWaterman’22tellsaboutherpassionformarinebiologyandhowsheistakingherlovefortheocean deeper…post-graduation.

Doyourememberwhenyourinterestintheoceansparked?

I can remember when I first learned about marine biology. I loved watching animal documentaries and one day, in the 3rd grade, I was watching one about sea turtles. The documentary explained how they lay hundreds of eggs but how only one may make it into adulthood. I was concerned and wondered whoarethepeoplewhotakecareoftheseseaturtles? My parents told me it was marine biologists. And, I said that’swhatIwanttobeoneday.

Whatareyoumostpassionateaboutwhenitcomestotheenvironment?

I am most passionate about preserving the environment. The ocean, especially, is key to everyone surviving and being healthy. Taking Marin Catholic’s marine science course with Mr. Ward was really big for me. I have loved learning about Marine Biology, the many different animals and realizing that it is an immense field. I plan to pursue my knowledge of Marine Biology in the future.

Describeaspecialmomentyouhavehadintheocean.

I have my open water and advanced scuba diving license and am looking to get my next scuba certifications. I have been to the beach many times before scuba diving, yet, it is so different once you go under the water. I am able to experience a different side that not everyone sees. I forget where I am, and I just enjoy the moment. It feels so different. I feel at peace with everything. I cannot hear anything until a boat goes over, and I am reminded about the noise pollution and what the fish are hearing. Everything I do now, I just think, whatkindofeffectisthisgoingtohaveonthesecreaturesoranimals?

Howdidyoudiveintothisinhighschool?

Besides being a part of Marin Catholic’s Bee Club, I also applied to the Marine Mammal Center and started working there during my Junior Year. I have had the opportunity to be a part of the youth crew, which helps care for marine animals. A lot of these animals are brought to the center because of climate change and the water levels that are rising. We have been watching more and more animals come into the center each year. I think it’s almost like mother nature is saying weneedtodosomething.

Howdoyougodeepintotheoceanandtakestepstoprotectit?

I think it is important to remember that everything has an impact on something, even if it’s small. I have worked hard to change my own habits, such as avoiding blast straws and choosing sunscreen that is safer for the ocean. This year, I stopped eating seafood due to all of the different animals that are injured in the bycatch of commercial fishermen. It was really hard, but I continued to ask myself, whatelsediedformetohavethislittlepieceoftuna? It has become very important for me to know exactly where my food comes from and how it is raised. Although these things are hard, once you get in the habit of it, it feels really beneficial, knowing you are helping something beyond yourself.

11 | Marin Catholic Magazine

At Peace in the DEEP

“I think it’s almost like mother nature is saying weneedto dosomething.“

Taking the Risk

Going Deeper with Our English Redesign

By Megan Bridgwater, English Department Chair

What strikes me about Christ’s call to Peter to “go out into deep water” is that Peter didn’t really want to do it. In fact, Jesus’ command comes in the context of Peter’s exhaustion from having worked all night with no success. Jesus gives the order and Peter begs off, trying to convey to Jesus that he’s not looking for advice, he’s looking for rest. “Master,” he says, “we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing.” After the word “nothing” there is a comma and when I imagine this scene, I read that comma as a long pause accompanied by a heavy sigh. In this pregnant pause where the comma is, I think Peter is hoping that Jesus will relent. That he will say, “Gosh, Peter, you doseem tired. Why don’t I wrestle up some fish and you take a break?” But Jesus doesn’t take the hint, and Peter, exhausted but faithful, obeys. And then something strange happens. I don’t mean the reward of suddenly catching a lot of fish. I mean that when Peter catches all those fish, the situation is perilous for him. The net becomes too heavy, it starts to tear with the weight of the fish, and, as Peter strains to handle it, his boat begins to sink. As someone who has felt my own “net” weighing me down and threatening to capsize me in these past couple of years of teaching through a pandemic, I sympathize with Peter here. Why does Jesus respond to Peter’s fatigue by upping the stakes and making the work even more challenging?

Over the past few years, the Marin Catholic English Department has been undertaking a curricular redesign, the audacious goal of which is to provide a program of study that forms our students as not just collegeready readers, writers, and critical thinkers, but calls them higher—to become poets, philosophers, and saints. Charged with this aspirational vision and convinced of our students’ potential and ability to grow more deeply through their study of literature, we got to work. As part of this transformational change, the English teachers, ourselves, went into the depths, to contemplate our deepest core beliefs about the value of studying literature at a Catholic school. The fruit of this contemplative work was the creation of a set of departmental “root beliefs.” I will share just two of them here. The Marin Catholic English Department believes that oursharedhumanexperienceisbestrevealedthroughstoryand that literaturechallenges,transforms,anddelights.Given these beliefs, we asked ourselves: what, then, should our students study and contemplate?

To answer this question, we looked to the model provided by Jesus himself. We thought about the stories that Jesus told. Throughout his ministry, when Jesus really wanted to make a point, he did so through parables. He told stories that made common things strange. He unsettled his listeners, prompting them to consider more deeply what he was trying to help them understand and, in doing so, invited them to allow their own life stories to take a new direction. Jesus’ parables encourage us to seek beauty, truth, and

goodness at all cost and so they became for us the guiding framework through which we began to consider our selection of literary texts. We asked, willreadingthistextcausestudentstonotonlybeabletoattendtothedisciplinaryskillsofEnglish,butcallthemto theadventureofdiscoveringsomethingdeeperaboutGod,themselves,andtheworld?

The result of these considerations is that each of the four years of English at MC are now anchored by a biblical parable that prompts students to greater reflection on our shared human experience and provides them with opportunities to be challenged, transformed, and, we hope, delighted by what they read. Our freshmen read their course texts through the thematic lens of the parable of “The Good Samaritan” and are charged to consider questions about the obligation we have to be just and merciful to our neighbors. Our sophomores, in contemplating the parable of “The Talents” (a challenging text in its own right!) are prompted to reflect on how recognizing their gifts is essential to understanding their calling and purpose in life. This year our juniors will begin studying the parable of “The Sower” as we seek to form them into people who know and seek truth and who are discerning consumers of the various texts they encounter in everyday life. And our seniors reflect on what it means to be truly free as they enter into the redemptive story of “The Prodigal Son.” If a meaningful life is built upon love of God and love of neighbor, then the stories we read ought to inspire us to know better how to do these things. This is one way in which we have “gone deeper” in our English curriculum.

But to bring this back to the fisherman… Going deeper means answering a call to adventure that is both harder and more rewarding than we bargained for. Peter thought he deserved a rest, maybe a little comfort. Instead he got a haul of fish so heavy he was in danger. That experience was probably initially really scary and, ultimately, really rewarding for Peter. He worked harder and got a bigger reward for his efforts. But Luke doesn’t end the story there. The great haul of fish, as it turns out, wasn’t really about fish at all. Jesus didn’t call Peter to the deep to make him the most successful fisherman in Galilee, but rather, to make him a fisherofmen. The real call was for Peter to root himself deeply in Christ himself, so deeply that he would be transformed into the deep foundation on which Christ built his Church, something he could not have anticipated when he humbly, exhaustedly, assented to Jesus’ call.

When we answer a call to adventure, we do not often get the comfort we are seeking; in fact, we are almost immediately met with greater challenges and difficulties. This is what our seniors who are taking the Imaginative Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien Seminar recognize when they read TheFellowshipoftheRing.Bilbo Baggins warns his nephew, Frodo, “It’s a dangerous business, [...] going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” But Frodo steps out anyway because he knows that though there is great risk, there is also great hope in discovering that there is a wider world out there, one in which he has a key role to play. It is our hope that our students are made uncomfortable by what they read with us. We hope to see them struggle and rise up amidst the strain in order that they might be transformed into something greater: poets, philosophers, and saints who follow Peter (and Frodo) in bringing light and hope to the world.

Photo: Haley Skinner

Into the ave

These words are voiced by a character of C.S. Lewis’ novel Perelandra, a story whose central drama takes place on a planet entirely covered by open seas. The phrase from Lewis’ work has often come to mind along my own journey, particularly as I reflect on what it means to follow Christ in the Gospels.

It is interesting to see that of all the possible settings chosen for the formation of his closest disciples, the one ’classroom’ Jesus seems to prefer most is the open waters of the Sea of Galilee. The Scriptures constantly recount how after preaching, feeding, or healing the crowds, Jesus invites the Twelve to get back into the boat, push off from the shore once more, and “cross to the other side.” For those who had encountered the radical newness of life and eternal beauty that Christ radiated and wanted to follow after Him, life meant continually leaving “fixed lands” of familiarity and secure shorelines and adventuring out into the insecurity of the open waters. Jesus’ repeated invitation to this aquatic scene silently communicated that there was something to be discovered of “the riches and the knowledge and the wisdom of God” (Rom 11:33) upon the deep seas that just could not be grasped from the shoreline. Similarly, in my own life I have found that whenever the Lord has desired to communicate some new aspect of His mystery, the depths of His love, and the wisdom of His designs, He most often prepares the heart for His gifts through events and circumstances of life. He whispers once more those words addressed to Peter by the shore of Galilee to “put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4).

Most recently, the Lord’s invitation to “push off from the shore” has come through being ordained a priest. I was blessed to be able to prepare for this moment for the last four years in seminary and in the ten years before that in my life as a Franciscan friar. Years ago, the moment was already being prepared, unbeknownst to me, in the halls of Marin Catholic, as the Lord sowed the seeds of His invitation in my heart through the people and experiences of my high school years. The journey to that day had given me a graced time to contemplate God’s call in my life and the mystery of the priesthood, but like every vocation, the gift and mystery can only really be known through participation. Only by ‘throwing ourselves into the wave’—stepping out into the new waters to which He invites us and trusting ourselves to His good hands—do we discover the treasures hidden in the ocean of His mysterious and loving designs.

While it has only been a few months on the ‘new seas’, I have found it to be true once again that only on the open waters do the true depths of God’s mystery, and mercy begin to be seen. One small experience has highlighted this for me. The first weekend of my new assignment, I was invited to attend a youth conference with several thousand high school students. With the handful of priests in attendance, I was asked to hear confessions. Witnessing the healing work of God’s mercy in the Sacrament has been one of my greatest joys, so I was grateful for the invitation. As I came to the chapel the first morning of the retreat before the youth arrived, I was moved by a sight, simple though it was. The priests were all there, and all of them were going to Confession to one another before the day began. It was a deeply meaningful moment in which the mystery of God’s mercy emerged with new clarity. Here were a group of poor men whom God had chosen to minister His mercy, human beings entrusted with the Lord’s remedies for the hurts of human souls (the Sacraments), men who were themselves just as in need of God’s medicines and healing hand. What a beautiful image of the Church and what a profound Mercy behind it! All of us, struggling to begin again, acknowledging our weaknesses and failings, and asking the Lord for His pardon and peace, that not only restores but transforms our lives. This is God’s wisdom, “a mysterious, hidden wisdom” (1 Cor 2:7) not of this world. It calls us in our weakness to be His witnesses, to invite us in our poverty to be ministers of the inestimable riches of His mercy. All of this so that no human heart would ever believe their own weakness, their own poverty was an obstacle to His love and good plans for their life. Daily life as a priest continues to unfold as an ongoing participation in this great mystery of God’s unfathomable mercy, His power working through weakness, and His treasure hidden in an “earthen vessel” (2 Cor 4:7).

Peter’s ‘yes’ to the Lord’s invitation to “put out into the deep” led him to an experience of radical amazement, certainly for the catch of fish, but perhaps more so in the encounter with a God whose loving gaze saw him and chose him in the midst of his weakness. This would not be the last time the Lord would invite him out onto the open waters; there were more treasures of God’s mysteries to share with him and much more to learn about trust-filled surrender…but all of that would be part of the open sea adventure the Lord had called him to. May God help us recognize His invitation as it comes to us in the various circumstances and seasons of our own lives, when through challenges, transitions, and the need for new beginnings, He quietly whispers once more to the heart, “Duc in altum.”

“He gave me no assurance; no fixed land. Always one must throw oneself into the wave…”

COMMITMENT

TO EACH OTHER

BRINGS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

By Haley Skinner ’17

ITwasa brisk December afternoon when silence fell over the crowd of Wildcat fans at Marin Catholic. As the time ticked down, parents and alums stood with hands clasped and teeth clenched. This was the Wildcats (14-1) third stab at a state title, this year against Central Valley Christian (33-14) in the Division 4-AA state championship game.

The Wildcat football community is no stranger to commitment, especially amidst adversity or the final moments of a game. Coach Mazi Moayed attests that this is a key element of the MC football program and the reason for its continued success. He speaks of how it is the player’s commitment to their fellow players, parents and community that ultimately trickles down to their commitment to the game.

And in those final moments of a December afternoon, it was the Wildcat commitment that showed through. “I couldn’t stop smiling for the next two hours,” linebacker Charlie Knapp commented. “I felt like all of our hard work all year had paid off and it was a feeling of joy I had never felt before.” As students, alums and parents rushed the field to celebrate their victory, senior quarterback Micheal Ingrassia ran straight to find his fellow team in the huddle. “I couldn’t be happier to have these guys as my teammates,” Ingrassia reported to the Marin Independent Journal, “this is a strong brotherhood.”

It is evident that playing football at Marin Catholic is a lot more than just a sport to these players. They are players with a commitment that runs deep. To each other, to the greater MC community, to their faith, and, to the game.

When asking Coach Moayed what he believes gives the MC football program the depth it has, he responded that it is “the commitment and brotherhood that go hand in hand.” Moayed explains the importance of common bonds being developed on and off the field during weekly team masses, commitment card sessions, affirmations, and early morning summer training. He states, “we can win, we can play well on the field- but without the love for each other and without the brotherhood, it’s meaningless. It’s really not worth anything. It’s really the foundation of who we are and what we do.”

MC Football alums, Spencer Petras and Ben Skinner, can testify to the nature of this program. Petras, current quarterback for the Iowa Hawkeyes, believes what sets the MC football program apart is the culture that the coaches have worked hard to develop. This includes bringing back former players as part of the coaching staff that every young player can look up to and emulate.

Skinner adds that this program is a lot more than just a sport, but “a commitment to a certain culture that not only advances your skills athletically, but instills in you certain values, morals and habits that extend beyond the lines of the football field.”

With their newest state title, the MC football program’s fanbase has not ceased to exist between new players and old alums, who still celebrate the depth of their Wildcat brotherhood today.

Photo: Bill Schneider, VarsityPix

Through the Junior Fellowship Program

Soon after making the decision to learn and translate the Ancient Greek language for my Junior Fellowship, I quickly started to second guess my choice. I started to think that this would be too daunting of a task. I envisioned long, grueling hours studying boring foreign letters. I am so happy to say that my initial judgments were dead wrong. I have deeply enjoyed studying such a beautiful language this summer, one that I never would have fully respected had it not been for the opportunity of this Fellowship program. Learning any new language is difficult; and at times you may just want to give up. But, the satisfaction I felt when I accurately pronounced a Greek word, or successfully translated one line of Attic Greek, or understood the text of my book, was enough to make this experience feel wholeheartedly worth it.

I have always known the profound influence that Ancient Greece (more specifically Athens) has had on modern society, especially the United States and the English language, but prior to this project, I did not realize the deepness of Greece’s impact. For instance, the Greek word φῐλῐ́ᾱ means love. This one Greek word has affected the English language greatly. There is also φῐλοσοφῐ́ᾱ meaning love of language. One of the most fun facts to learn in the language was the breakdown of the proper noun, Philadelphia (a Greek word): φῐλῐ́ᾱ meaning love and ᾰ̓δελφός meaning brotherly, implying the definition that many are familiar, that Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love.

Although translating Homeric Greek word by word was daunting, it was immensely rewarding when I finally got to the accurate stem of the word in English and was able to rearrange the translations into a comprehensible sentence. As my translations began to fit into place, I was actually reading a story, a real narrative that I recognized - one that had previously been in an Ancient language and was now something I could easily understand.

Another of the highlights of this Fellowship program was reaching out to a Professor of Ancient Greek & Roman Studies at Berkeley. Not only did I receive a very prompt response from her, but the Professor went above and beyond. She answered me with a lengthy email detailing the strengths and weaknesses of my project and how I could work to improve it. She aided me in selecting which book to translate, offered outside resources to consult, and suggested ways I could make the project more realistic for the course of a summer.

I feel so honored that I was chosen to be a Junior Fellow this summer. I am infinitely indebted to this program for providing me an opportunity to see the beauty in the rich Greek culture and for helping me to develop new research and translation skills. I am grateful that I have learned the basis of reading, writing, and understanding a completely foreign and ancient language.

TRUST Surrender&

ByPeggySemling’84

The unfathomable depth of love a parent feels for their newborn child is not only scary, it’s going “out into the deep” in ways that are hard to put into words. Day 10 of my first son’s life was the moment I could “articulate” the love I felt for that precious gift from Him. I sat on my couch, holding James Tusker Semling, and the tears streamed down my face in abundance. The tears wouldn’t stop, I was so grateful to my heavenly Father for gifting me this bundle of LOVE in the form of a blazing orange-haired, blue-eyed, colicky infant.

While Tusker was an abundantly happy child, I could see him struggling with who he was called to be and how to fit in. School was challenging, as he had an undiagnosed/unofficial learning difference. At times, I could see his confidence slip and slide away. Those moments of adolescent angst felt like losing my child. Where did that happy, confident, Boy Scout leader go? By the time he was a sophomore at the University of Montana, a Forestry and Fire Science major, he was still struggling with some felt inefficiencies, depression, perhaps some anger, and was a bit lost.

I felt suffocated by my inability to parent and “fix” my struggling firstborn, as he was so far away. One time I couldn’t get a hold of him by phone for three weeks. There were lots of desperate calls for help in prayer. He finally picked up the phone on a Monday and said, “Mom, I just can’t get out of bed.” I flew out, assessed the situation, and made him promise to call every Sunday. There were plenty of ugly tears, not like those beautiful tears on day 10. So finally, I went out into the deep.

I have always treasured my faith, and knew deep down, that God’s providence would take care of this. As St. Teresa of Avila says, “Let nothingdisturbyou,letnothingfrightenyou…WhoeverhasGodlacks nothing…Godalonesuffices.” I needed to do two things: surrender and trust. The Rosary became my tool that allowed me to go out into the deep of contemplative prayer. One night, on my knees, again in tears, I completely surrendered. I entrusted Mary with the care of my most beloved possession, my firstborn. I told Mary, I couldn’t parent Tusker anymore, he was too far away and too lost. Nothing I was doing was helping. I asked Mary to be his mother and to protect him. And then I begged her “to send someone to set him on the right path.”

Mary came through like a champ. Three powerful phone calls came from Tusker, all letting me know Mary was working in his life. There was a peace in him that had been missing for years. The healing had begun.

Then, Tusker was called out into the deep. Once he opened himself up to God’s loving embrace, he felt compelled to go deeper. He spent the next two years as a missionary for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal living and working at St. Anthony’s Shelter in the South Bronx for men in recovery. The Franciscans gave him a deepening formation of his faith, and he grew to be the man God was calling him to be. In fact, Tusker dropped his childhood middle name, and goes by his first name now, James.

James is now in the seminary for the Diocese of Helena, Montana and is deeply in love with his Creator. So, it’s back to surrender and trust. How could I not trust Our Lady, after what she has done? James said to me once, “Mom, you don’t need to worry about me anymore, Iaminmyfather’shouse.” Shortly after Jesus told Peter to “go out into the deep,” his next words were the same ones I hear Jesus saying to Tusker now: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”

Back into the Deep

A year ago, I would have never dreamed I would be gifted with being able to sail after school on a daily basis. Sailing has brought me new experiences, friends, skills, and knowledge. Throughout my sailing journey, I have grown spiritually. Being able to sail out in the ocean has made me genuinely appreciate all of God’s creation. I am so thankful God has given me this new passion. When I am sailing I can feel God’s presence, whether it be when I am exhausted from “hiking out” or when I feel the sun’s rays on my face and look out at the beautiful sparkling water.

To be out in the ocean sailing is a feeling of ecstasy that cannot easily be described. The only way to truly understand the rush of adrenaline and joy is to experience it yourself. Plunging head-first into angry whitecaps and huge gusts of wind is terrifying, yet also the most incredible feeling in the world. I feel pure bliss as the boat almost capsizes and tons of water flood in creating a huge, cold, floating bathtub. Muscles sore and aching, I find a deep inner strength within myself to counter the weight of the boat by “hiking out” and holding on to the ropes for dear life. The wind mercilessly whips at my face and body and then finds its way to my sails accelerating me along the water. A rush of glee ripples through my body as the boat cuts through the water and salty spray splatters my face. This wakes me up and makes me work even harder.

There is nothing like sailing past the Golden Gate Bridge, seeing the foggy city, the green hills of Marin while fighting to stay afloat. Even when my whole body is aching and I feel like I might just slip out of the boat, I find myself smiling and laughing through it.

Sailing unlocks beauties hidden from most people. Not many people experience sailing a 15-foot boat with a whale spouting right next to them. Not many people get to experience jumping off a boat in the Bay on a hot afternoon or the pride of getting first place in a regatta. Sailing is like an oasis away from all stresses and worries. It is a break from reality where nothing else matters.

JosephinaPallmann’24isamemberoftheMarinCatholicSailingTeam.

My Vocation.

By Greg Joseph, Theology Teacher

As a public school student, I had the first inklings that teaching may be something I was called to do. Witnessing my teacher and JV football coach, who would walk to school each day along the path of my home, planted in me the seed of possibility. I was attracted to the convenience of walking to work and helping young people as he did. Not exactly a mystical moment, but God can use various means to communicate His plan. (Ed.Note:Gregcurrentlyhasthelongestcommuteonthefaculty!)

This initial desire was never voiced to others. To be honest, I did not think much more of it other than maybe teaching at an inner-city public high school at some point in my life. The true need was there, according to my youthful self. Despite my half-hearted motivation, God was still voicing His intentions. During my sophomore year at Notre Dame, I came across a sign on the South Quad on the first floor of Baden Hall written in that uniform gold and blue. It read AllianceforCatholicEducation(ACE). I passed by this sign every day on my way to classes and in the dining hall, but did not inquire about it for the next year and a half. However, something about it resonated with me. I was drawn to it in a way I could not describe. Eventually, I learned that ACE was a graduate teaching program. Participants would teach for two years at an under-resourced Catholic school somewhere in the South, and live in the community with at least three other teachers on a very modest stipend.

Fast forward to May 2000. Having been accepted into the ACE program, I was assigned to an East Los Angeles fifth-grade self-contained classroom. This was not my dream gig, as I wanted to teach high school. I did not want to teach every subject. Because it was an underresourced school–and I was a young new teacher—I found myself directing school plays, coaching sports, collecting data for school accreditation, and even providing marriage counseling for parents. The romantic view of teaching wore off quickly when it became obvious that I was not so talented and it was not so easy. I really loved the kids and being a part of their lives. Truth be told, they were the only joy I experienced. It was a hard year that forced me to reconsider if I was cut out to teach at any level.

But I looked to teaching again, this time in high school, where I had originally intended. I landed at St. Monica’s Catholic High School where I was encouraged to live and learn about my faith in order to be an authentic witness. I began experiencing a tug towards giving myself even more fully to Jesus and discerned the possibility of becoming a priest. I contacted the vocations director at the time, a gentleman by the name of Fr. Tom Daly, who happened to also be the president of Marin Catholic. He and I met near one of the fountains in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. From there the process to enter the Archdiocese began. As the process unfolded, I had ample time to sit in the Blessed Sacrament chapel and pray for long hours. I knew I was supposed to be back in the Bay Area, but I began to see that becoming a priest was not the path God was calling me to walk. This was hard to accept because I had given everything. I left my wonderful life teaching in Southern California. I lived the evangelical counsels faithfully. I joyfully went everywhere I was sent. I prepared as best I could. Why would God lead me this far only to fall short of my goal? Perhaps I was supposed to return to Catholic school utilizing this formation that I received in religious life.

So I started looking for jobs but did not see anything in Catholic education. With no solid plan in place, I received an email from Fr. Daly. It went something like this: “Hey Greg, send me your resume, there might be a theology job opening at Marin Catholic.” On a Wednesday in February 2011, I sent the resume, interviewed on Thursday, and was teaching on Friday. I did not know where the initial road would lead when I first contemplated being a teacher. God set up a curriculum that was personal, scaffolded, and perfect for me to become a theology teacher. At no point could I have predicted where this was all going. I simply had to trust. All my life experiences (including my background of playing football as a student) have led me to the service of teaching in a Catholic school, this Catholic school. I have come to love MC. This place has become the most stable home I’ve ever had. Never would I have thought that teaching at Marin Catholic would have been my calling. If God had shown me that back in high school, I would have said no thanks. Keep me in the inner city.

The Altum in Duc in Altum is necessary for a variety of reasons, but not least of all for being unknown. Sometimes seeing everything clearly allows our egoistic–and perhaps well intentioned– ignorance to cloud our judgment and openness. Jesus knew better than Peter and the other fishermen. He knew better than Abraham, and, He knew better than me. Thank goodness I never stopped listening to God’s voice.

My Calling.

“God set up a curriculum that was personal, scaffolded, and perfect for me to become a theology teacher. At no point could I have predicted where this was all going. I simply had to trust. “

Photo: Haley Skinner ’17

DEEP SPACE

By Alisa Zhou ’23

As NASA moves closer to successful long-term human exploration missions into space, the need to understand how to sustain life in space has become increasingly more important. One area of particular importance is the study of plants, which are essential to human sustenance. This summer, I collaborated with NASA scientists to study how spaceflight and altered gravity conditions impact the genetic composition and energy mechanisms of plants.

My team and I studied Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant native to Eurasia and Africa in simulated altered gravity levels replicating those of Mars and the Moon. More specifically, we analyzed the impact of different gravity levels on the regulation of ethylene, a hydrocarbon signaling pathways and the electron transport chain in chloroplasts or plastids. Under normal gene expression levels, ethylene is an integrator of plant hormonal pathways that help plants respond to abiotic stresses. However, ethylene becomes downregulated during spaceflight as gravitation levels decline, which is indicated by a loss of efficiency of the ethylene signaling pathway.

The next step in our research will be growing Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in a random positioning machine (a machine that can simulate altered gravity levels) at the NASA Kennedy Space Center. This will be critical to validating our work in understanding the expression of ethylene in chloroplasts. Ultimately, we hope that our work will bring us one step closer to developing an environment in space that can successfully foster the growth of produce for those living long-term in space.

I’m immensely grateful to work with NASA–the scientists, astronauts, and peers. I have learned many valuable technical, academic, and career-related skills. I appreciate the newfound friendships I’ve made and I feel even more inspired to deepen my understanding of this project work and to share my passion for learning and exploring space research with the MC

Owning the Net

In Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 5, Jesus clearly knew where to cast nets in the sea. But on land in Marin, there is only one true King of the Net, and that is Nickawn Namdar.

On his way to Denison College, Namdar capped off perhaps the finest season in Marin history finishing 58-0 in singles play capturing the MCAL Singles title, MCAL Player of the Year, and MarinIndependentJournalPlayer of the Year honors. Last Spring, Marin Catholic enjoyed its first season playing matches at the Bay Club Marin located right next to the football field. This new venue allowed many new spectators to watch Namdar play. With tennis being an off-campus sport, Namdar was a hidden secret to most of the community. But within weeks of playing essentially on campus, things changed quickly. Namdar earned the name “the GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) and garnered much attention on the MC Tennis social media account run by Mac Abele ’24.

Soon students were packing the top deck of the football grandstands that lurk high over the tennis courts to watch Namdar. They provided support and cheers to the otherwise quiet matches by jumping up and down on the aluminum stands. If MC had a Harry Styles last Spring, his name was Nickawn.

Due to the pandemic, Namdar’s tennis journey was a strange one, as it had been two years since the MCAL held a full slate of contests.

“This was my last season, so I really wanted to leave my mark on the County,” says Namdar. “Last season there were no playoffs and no awards, so this was my last season to make a name for myself.”

Of the many virtues Namdar possesses, humility might be his finest. In high school when most young people are posting their achievements online, Namdar kept his tennis prowess to himself. Even some of his close friends were unaware of the success he was having on the court. Namdar is widely appreciated by his fiercest rivals, including one Redwood senior who lost the match and then asked for a photo with Namdar. Before the MCAL finals match, Namdar practiced with his opponent the night before the match.

“We are all good friends when it comes down to it,” says Namdar. “When we are in the match, we battle, but when it is done, we are all really close and are there to support each other.”

Good luck, Nickawn! Continue to make us proud.

My Love of the Beach Runs Deep

By Allysa Mulligan

From a very early age, I was thrilled, inspired, and extremely enthusiastic about the ocean. I have grown up near some of the most exquisite beaches in the United States, including Ocean Beach. My parents would take me every single weekend when I was between the ages of 4 and 11, and through those experiencesI grew a love for the frigid water when it washed up on my toes. But most importantly, my favorite part about it was arriving at the beach and the first look at the water once you drive over the hill. Not only did I enjoy the feeling of the ocean, but I also enjoyed the smell of the saltiness and how it perfumed everything we brought to the beach, including the umbrella and the tarp we would lay on. Once I got older, my passion for photography grew as my dad started to bring his Sony video camera on our beach trips. At times, I would grab a hold of the camera and record him as well. Later in the week, we would go back and watch the videos. One weekend when I was 7, we arrived home all wet and soggy from the saltwater. When watching the videos with my dad, I had the realization that I could take the beauty of the beach home. As I got older, I traveled more, and my passion for photography grew. This included my spring break trips to Hawaii and my snowy Thanksgiving getaways to Banff. The camera that my father gave me for my 14th birthday went everywhere with me. I found the essence and meaning in bringing beautiful things back home.

Why did you choose to take photographs of the ocean?

I have always been drawn to the ocean. It has been a staple part of my life ever since I was young. I grew up at the beach, camping on the beach, and having the Northern California coasts as a second home. Visiting Rodeo, Point Reyes, and Ocean Beach often as a young child got me excited about photographing it.

What did this experience offer/teach you?

Not only did this work get me into some of my dream colleges, but it also allowed me to help others in need. With my images, I made a beach coloring book and donated it to San Rafael schools for elementary kids. Receiving thank you letters from the kids taught me that the beach can inspire people as young as 9 and 10 years old. The beach is a gift, and it is a gift that should be shared with many.

How did this push you to go deeper into your passion for photography and love for the ocean?

Photographing the beach made me excited because I was doing something I really enjoyed. Almost every weekend, I was able to combine all of the things that made me happy; surfing, watching the waves, and photography. Not only did I find joy in it, but I also met a lot of influential people along the way who loved my work and encouraged me to keep pursuing my interests.

Allysa Mulligan Instagram - @mullicaptures

Photo:

Deepening My Faith

By Robert Hadsell ’25

Last year Marin Catholic went through the process of rewriting the school motto and adopted “Duc in Altum,” Latin for “into the deep.” This change comes with a new focus on bringing students deeper into a relationship with God and their academics. Over the past 63 years, Marin Catholic has brought thousands of students “into the deep.” Although I have only been at Marin Catholic for one year, I have already felt its impact on my relationship with God and faith, especially through liturgy, Campus Ministry, and athletic teams.

The Mass, or liturgy, is one of the most important and powerful prayers in the Catholic Church. In it we reflect on the Word of God through scripture readings and receive the Word made flesh, Christ, in the Eucharist. Marin Catholic offers daily morning Mass to any student who wants to attend in the Saint Francis Chapel. Chapel, as it is called, sets the tone for one’s day and allows one to receive Christ as many times a week as one would like. By going to Chapel, I have been able to experience God and grow closer to Him. My faith has increased by knowing that on our school campus, Christ is always present. Additionally, we are given the chance to come together and celebrate the Mass as a whole community once a month. This opportunity displays the incredible beauty of the Mass and how it brings people together. As we pray together, we grow closer to God and to one another.

Moreover, the Campus Ministry Department at Marin Catholic has deepened my faith and has given my classmates and me opportunities to share our faith with others. Being a Campus Ministry leader is one of the staples of the Marin Catholic experience and is known for being able to bring their students deeper into their relationships with God. At the beginning and end of summer break, the Campus Ministry team took the time to plan and lead a retreat to help train the Campus Ministry leaders and to help them reflect on their faith life. Over these two leadership retreats, I have been able to more closely explore how God has worked and will continue to work in my life. It gave me an opportunity to look back over the past year and reflect on the wonderful experiences that God put in my life. In addition, Campus Ministry organizes retreats for each class level. Retreats are an experience that bring everyone closer to God and help form lifelong friendships. I am grateful for the many experiences that the Campus Ministry Department offers Marin Catholic students.

Finally, the Marin Catholic community has helped me to deepen my faith and relationship with God through athletic teams. I am fortunate enough to be able to participate in both a fall and spring sport, Cross Country and Track and Field. All of the athletic teams at Marin Catholic are full of incredible individuals who are always there supporting one another during good and bad moments. Although Cross Country and Track and Field are typically viewed as individual sports, teammates are always on the sidelines cheering and showing support to all that participate. Their applause energizes the team and gives everyone the motivation to do their best. This camaraderie and teamwork reinforces and deepens my faith in God, as I watch teammates support, motivate and celebrate each other’s achievements. Before every meet the team prays together as one. We huddle together in a circle and ask God to bless and protect us as we run the race. We are all nervous and excited for the race to start, but first we calm and center ourselves with prayer, reminding ourselves that we are always in the presence of God. I have been fortunate enough to have led prayer a few times before races and to feel the power of that prayer when we pray as a team. That experience has further opened my eyes to the power of prayer and has allowed me to share my relationship with God with my teammates. Through athletic teams, I have been able to grow in my faith and friendships, and I have been able to deepen my understanding of the beauty of God.

Last year, Marin Catholic helped me to expand my faith and allow me to grow closer to God to a point greater than I ever knew possible. Through receiving the Eucharist, attending retreats in Campus Ministry, and supporting classmates and teammates, I have had the opportunity to go deeper as a Marin Catholic student and I look forward to my own spiritual growth.

Photo: Haley Skinner

cast into the deep

By Tami Kozinski, English Teacher

“Duc in altum et laxate retia vestra in capturam” – “Cast out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4), words resounding across the water; the Latin translation allows us to see that the “duc in altum” is directed singularly at Peter, and Peter pauses, as the decision to obey is laid directly upon him. The command seems ridiculous. Something, though, catches at Peter’s heart, and the subsequent catch of fish is overwhelming, almost overturning the little craft. At the shore, he falls at Christ’s feet, begging Him to “depart from me, a sinful man”—but Christ says, “Do not be afraid. Follow me. From now on you will be catching men.”

Peter’s pause and subsequent shame are natural: Why should I follow these crazy directions? And then, after recognizing that this is God: How can I bear God’s gaze into my soul? Faith allows us to translate these questions into “Nothing is impossible with God” and “I must be humble enough to get out of the way.”

As a teacher, I also hear Christ asking me to “cast into the deep” and to risk His gaze into my soul, once I’ve seen the deep responsibility of bringing young people to Him. Like the fisherman, the teacher lives in the small, present moments: the casting and pulling in, the repair of nets, the clearing of barnacles. To re-cast at God’s call can feel like yet another task after a “whole night’s labor,” but we fish best in the moment at His call as we love each young soul struggling and rejoicing.

Like Peter, I often pause, and even ask Him to depart: this task seems impossible for me. Am I even catching anything? Will one more cast really help?

I then return to God; He reminds me of the sight He gave me of the souls present in each of my students; though sometimes they just look like flopping fish, they are really meant to be beautiful floating lanterns, embodied souls meant to rise to God. I see myself, then, out in that boat; Christ is no longer on the shore, but with me, helping me catch, transform, light, and let go. He also shows me a school community coming together: fellow teachers, administrators, coaches, and staff. We aim to “catch people” out of the deep and let them rise, lit in glory for all to see.

Ad gloria Deum.

Sea Sparkle

By

A reflection of faith: when you face your fears and doubts, and then head into the deep and find something richer than you could imagine.

Madeline Domingo ’19

The Sophia Rizzuti sea sparkleMiddle of the Mediterranean Sea Madeline Domingo ’19 With Sophia Rizzuti ’19

It is remarkable how far the human race has come over just the last few decades. It was not long ago that in order to make a telephone call, one would have to solicit the assistance of an operator via a phone tethered to a wall. Now, with a tap of a finger on a handheld device, loved ones’ voices can be heard overseas. Every day we are getting closer to curing cancer, expanding our lives with new and improved medical care, and solving the mysteries of our own evolution.

Amidst all of these discoveries, however, there is one wonder, one massive question mark that humans will never be able to fully comprehend, solve or control: the power, beauty, and diversity of our oceans.

During the second semester of my junior year, I was fortunate to embark on a study-abroad program called Semester at Sea. When I’ve been asked to explain this program to people who are unfamiliar, I ask them to imagine the popular American television show, Suite Life on Deck. I lived and studied on a cruise ship with 400 peers and traveled to 13 different countries up and around the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Baltic Seas. I studied on the ship while sailing between countries, taking classes that fulfilled my academic requirements, and then was given time to explore each country upon arrival. While I have much to reflect on about my diverse and colorful in-country experiences, I find myself thinking back to the one thing that was consistent in my life over those few months.

Saint Luke writes in Chapter 5 about Peter’s blind trust in Jesus. He tells us that amidst a dry fishing area, Jesus asks Peter to cast out his nets into the deep ocean. Peter, hesitant, reluctantly complies. He is shocked to find his nets overflowing with fish! When the world was in quarantine in the spring of 2020, I found myself thinking about how I wanted to remember my undergraduate years and how I could best prepare myself for a career in diplomacy. I reached out to the study-abroad office at my university and planned two semesters abroad, one in Madrid, Spain, and one Semester at Sea. With amazing support from my parents and encouragement from my friends, I set all fears, anxieties and questions aside and took off not knowing who I was going to meet or the kind of person I would become.

In the spring of 2022, I stood on deck 6 of the Semester at Sea ship, in a small corner tucked away behind the gym, and leaned against the railing. The waves came crashing against the boat, making big and small splashes that sent ocean spray up into the air, only to recede back, again and again. My best friend, Sophia and I would spend time together gazing at the light from the sun cast on the top of the water, something she calls a sea sparkle. Our favorite days were the ones after the rain when the air was crisp and the sunshine somehow felt so much warmer, when the Mediterranean world looked at peace and the waves lapped against the anchored ship. I was led into a weightless state of tranquility, my mind releasing the stresses of the man-made world and I learned to let go. It was in these moments of contentment and meditation that I felt closest to God. I felt called to a deeper understanding of my faith. I was grateful for what I had been given. Now, I was striving to remain in a state of wonder and awe empowering me to listen to the subtle voice of God even in the loudest moments of my life.

The ocean sparked a curiosity in me to learn as much as I could during the final three semesters of my undergraduate career. Seventeen years of education is a gift, one that I know I sometimes take for granted. During my meditative moments staring out to sea, I realized that life is too short to not chase after your dreams, to not be curious about the world and that sometimes an initial friendly effort with a stranger can go a long way. I was reminded of the endless amounts of information that can be reached with just a few clicks of a mouse or the flip of a page. Looking out over the water, I realized a similar kind of beauty and security present within me every single day. Learning not to take for granted the people in my life that consistently show up for me with unconditional love is still a work in progress.

Waking up to the sound of the water, the smell of sea salt, knowing that nothing in my life would be able to stop the ebb and flow of the waves, really put my priorities in check. Immersed within all of these thoughts and inspirations, I reconnected with my faith and with God. The ocean showed up for me, every day, just like Jesus does. The Lord’s beauty captivates anyone with the eyes to see it – a beauty that is so powerful, because of its endless mystery, commitment and strength.

Semester at Sea strengthened my spirit in more ways than I can articulate. I found that it is the small things, the sharp chill of a sea breeze, the Sophia sea sparkle, or the consistent sound of the waves that kept me in check and fed my curious mind. I have come to believe that the wonders and mysteries of the ocean are not meant to be fully understood nor controlled. It is believing in the ocean’s power, beauty and presence that can inspire us in all sorts of ways, just like believing in God. I trust that the ability to let go of the consumerist society we practice and to cast our thoughts into God’s beautiful creation is the only way our minds and spirits will find quiet rest and inspiration. Peter placed his trust in Jesus, letting go of his habits, and reaped the benefits of his decision.

My time living on the water made me believe that I could do the same. I urge incoming college students to strongly consider studying abroad, to not stay in shallow water, and commit to an experience with a lot of questions. Trust in God, in that gut feeling, even when you can’t see the path clearly. You might find yourself staring out across a glittering sea, with a brand new perspective and a new passion for the precious life we all have been gifted.

Deeply Rooted in MC

WhenHehadfinishedspeaking,HesaidtoSimon,“Putoutintodeepwater,andletdownthenetsforacatch.” Luke 5 Verse 4

The depth of Marin Catholic’s reach and influence on current and alumni families is a true testament to the devotion to the school’s mission. MC’s leadership in faith and the development of relationships during the educational years and long after graduation are evidenced by the multi-generational attendance by several families. Among these is the Ratto family.

The Ratto family’s deep-rooted MC story began with the Patriarch of the family, Frank Ratto. Frank was a member of the Class of ’51- Marin Catholic’s second graduating class. Seven of Frank’s (and wife, Dorothy’s) eleven children, two daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren followed. Sissy ’77, started the second generation and the freshman year of Cathi ’84, kicked off an unbroken chain of 25 years of Ratto family members attending MC. This was possible because Derek ’98, who was second generation, was the uncle to Shelby ’00, who was third generation. The 25-year run ended with Troy ’05, but the third generation eventually continued with Richie ’14. Richie started a ten-year span of unbroken family attendance ending, at least for now, with the graduation of Anthony ’21.

How deep and wide is Marin Catholic’s net cast? In the Ratto family alone, there are 18 graduates, over three generations, spanning 70 years. Additionally, three of the four second generation siblings, who chose to go to Terra Linda High School, sent their children to MC. Nevertheless, the depth goes beyond mere attendance. Dorothy, the Matriarch of the family, worked in MC’s cafeteria for six years. Bubba ’90 met his wife Nancy Hansen ’90 while at MC and their three children Mikayla ’16, Sydney ’18, and Anthony ’21 are graduates. Bubba also returned to help coach varsity football.

Moreover, MC’s net stretches even deeper and wider. After the passing of his first wife, Frankie, was watching old Ratto family home movies with his then soon to be wife, Celyn Figone ’77. The video was of Bubba at the age of five riding a horse in MC’s 1976-1977 homecoming parade- the same year Celyn was crowned homecoming queen and the video captured the crowning. This video had been sitting in the Ratto’s home movie collection for 40 years before Frankie and Celyn even met.

The limits of MC’s reach go beyond what can even be known or described. Shelby’s (’00) husband, Sam, went before an interview board for an athletic director position at a prep school in Seattle, WA. During the interview, the board having absolutely no knowledge of Shelby’s connection to Marin Catholic, told Sam that they wanted a director who could develop an athletic program similar to a high school in California called Marin Catholic. Sam got the job.

Marin Catholic’s sense of community and guidance in faith are as rooted in the Ratto’s family history as the Ratto’s are in Marin Catholic’s history. One doesn’t have to be a part of a large family to both affect and be affected by the community of Marin Catholic. One just needs to reach out and help cast a wide net in deep waters.

ThenJesussaidtoSimon,“Don’tbeafraid;fromnowonyouwillbefishersofmen.” Luke 5 Verse 10

With a FOCUS on

ByMosesNunez’14 Servesasfull-timemissionarywithFOCUS (FellowshipofCatholicUniversityStudents)at CAL

To accept Jesus’ call into the deep is no small feat. As I reflect on my own journey, and how God has personally challenged me to ‘put out into the deep,’ I can’t help but marvel at what God has done in my life. As an MC alum, I remember deploying enormous amounts of effort toward my academic success in order to be accepted into an incredibly prestigious university. And then again at UC Santa Barbara, I found myself doing what I’ve always known to do - which was to integrate my intellect, will, and passions - to pursue a prestigious graduate program in Counseling, and eventually open up my very own practice.

But amidst all of that, I recognized that like Peter who toiled all night without God, my nets too were returning empty. I grew weary, at times discouraged, and began to question - is this really the sort of life I want to have? It was then, after college, that the Lord called me to put out into the deep. To sail away from everything known, comfortable, and downright predictable into the unknown, the uncomfortable, and the frighteningly unpredictable. This call to be his missionary was one that would require me to leave behind what I had thought was a successful and happy life and instead, to go out into the deep and follow him. God was calling me to truly surrender and abandon my entire life into his will - everything ranging from my romantic relationships to friendships, to where I would be stationed (as we missionaries can be placed anywhere in the U.S.), to trusting in his providence as I dedicated myself to fully fundraising my salary and ministry expenses, and so much more.

Saying ‘yes’ to this call was not necessarily an easy one, but it was a necessary one. Like Peter, my life has completely changed. I’ve been called to re-cast my nets and to be a fisher of men. For the past few years, I’ve been happily spending all my waking hours working hard for the Lord and his people. I’ve been able to see so many young men and women have such awe-inspiring encounters with God - where they are left wondering, “Why didn’t anyone tell me that this sort of relationship with God, my faith, and community was possible?” Moreover, I’ve discovered that God wants to integrate every facet of my life into his beautiful and wonderful plan.

My dream now is to walk with people, especially in the college setting, towards this dynamic, life-changing experience with God. Remember… take courage, and do not fear his invitation into the deep. The Lord desires to make you into his GREAT saint, and he has a wonderful plan for your life. As St. Irenaeus once said, “the glory of God is man fully alive.”

If you are interested in learning more about my story and the work that I do as a FOCUS missionary, please access our website: https://www.focus.org/ missionaries/moses-nunez-orellana

Service with a Smile

Service is a vital aspect of the Marin Catholic mission encouraging students to participate in the act of giving back to their community while growing deeper in faith. Mia Petrucela ’22 is no stranger to this mission to serve.

During her sophomore year, Mia was introduced to the Ceres project at the Marin Catholic service fair. She explains being drawn by their vision to create a more healthy, just, caring and sustainable world. It was her curiosity and desire to give to her community that ultimately led Mia deeper into her service journey at Ceres.

For the past three years at Ceres, Mia has worked to make organic and medically tailored meals from scratch for people facing serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and congestive heart failure. Not only has Mia greatly exceeded her required 50 hours of service, but she was also recognized with the Lexus volunteer award that celebrates young people who donate their time to do good work in their communities. Mia highlights that a key facet of Ceres’ approach is to support individuals with nutrient-rich meals while also empowering young people by giving them direct, hands-on experience and showing them the difference they can make.

Today, Mia serves as a teen leader at the Ceres community program, orienting and guiding new volunteers on the mission of Ceres. She empowers people to learn the different recipes and tools needed to best serve the community.

When asked about the impact Ceres has had on her, Mia shared that Ceres opened her eyes to food as a form of service, and although a meal might seem simple, these acts require a lot of time, effort, and energy. Dedicating her time to this organization is now a part of her regular routine. “When I walk into Ceres, that’s where I know I belong,” she says. “Once I got there and realized what good work we were doing, I couldn’t just leave that. It became a part of who I am.” Mia goes on to tell that when she hit her 50-hour mark for school, she hardly noticed. Instead, she thought to herself, why would I leave now?

Not only has Ceres allowed Mia to serve others, but it has also taught her valuable personal life skills on being open, collaborating with different people, and learning from mistakes. She talks about the power of unity within the program with people of all ages coming together to achieve the same goal, thinking, “okay we are going to help people get better today.”

Photo: Felicity Crush