“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know Himself— so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth and themselves.”
-St. John Paul II Preface to Fides et Ratio
Fides et Ratio Reflections
Today we remember St. Maximilian Kolbe, “Saint of Auschwitz” and “Martyr of Charity.” Born in Poland in 1894, he was ordained a priest and later founded the Militia Immaculata, dedicated to bringing the whole world to God, under the mantle of Immaculate Mary.
He was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Auschwitz, where he gave his life on this day in 1941 in substitution for a fellow prisoner who was a married man with children. That man, Franciszek Gajowniczek, attended Kolbe’s canonization by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982.
Fr. Kolbe had a simple, profound formula which he taught the novices of his community: “W + w = S.” Sanctity (S) is the result of our will (w) united with the Will of God (W). Let’s ask for his prayers that we, too, might grow in holiness and dedicate ourselves to being servants of the Lord.
The Collect prayer from today’s Mass:
O God, who filled the Priest and Martyr Saint Maximilian Kolbe
with a burning love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary
and with zeal for souls and love of neighbor,
graciously grant, through his intercession,
that, striving for your glory by eagerly serving others,
we may be conformed, even until death, to Your Son.
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
It's About Time
Freshmen Orientation
Fr. Kyle Metzger welcomes the Class of 2030 and their parents
Shanley High School welcomed Freshmen and new students on Tuesday night of this week with a picnic, orientation presentation by Principal Fr. Kyle Metzger, and Deacon Way message by Activities Director, Mr. Mark Hollcraft.
Thanks to Shanley’s Student Ambassadors and Advisors, Mrs. Melissa Anderson and Mrs. Amanda Miller for the hospitality and welcome, which also included a welcome gift.
Fr. Metzger and Mr. Hollcraft gave clear and compelling overviews of expectations and advice for new Shanley Deacons.
In the photo above, Fr. Metzger’s explanation of “Our Common Pursuit” echoes the Two Wings tradition for Shanley students:
⦁Disciples in pursuit of Jesus Christ
⦁Students in pursuit of the Truth
⦁Athletes and artists in pursuit of virtue
Shanley High School exists for those reasons.
Welcome New Staff
Yesterday we welcomed our new staff members for orientation and training. Attendees introduced themselves and met our Administrative Team members and other key leaders.
They learned about our history, identity, mission, and vision and were invited to embrace and integrate those aspects in their work with our students. A tour of Shanley-Sacred Heart followed.
Curriculum Coordinator and Director of Teacher Development, Mrs. Karissa Flieth, led a session on teaching in a Catholic school and on mentoring. The new teachers met their mentors, lunched, and spent the afternoon together.
Today, new teachers focused on the Nurtured Heart Approach and classroom management. Monday, they will finish with our safety plan and bullying prevention program and finish the last day of new staff professional development with a tech and curriculum session.
Welcome to all new staff!
The Assumption
Tomorrow is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Day falls on a Saturday this year, and in the United States, it is not a Holy day of Obligation.
Nevertheless, a most blessed observance of the Assumption to one and all tomorrow.
St. John Paul II, our Patron and protagonist of the “Two Wings,” wrote this about the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
“Each of us has to look at his or her own life with the eyes of Mary—what He did in her, He did for us, and therefore did it as in us.
“Mary’s words [in the Magnificat] give us a new outlook of life. The outlook of an excellent and persevering faith. A faith which is the light of daily life. Of days sometimes tranquil but often stormy and difficult. A faith which, finally, lightens up the darkness of death of each one of us.
“Let this outlook on life and death be the fruit of the feast of the Assumption.”
President’s Proverb
“Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands.”
– St. Maximilian Kolbe on Marian consecration
Hagstrom’s Attempt at Humor (HAAH!)
Sunday Psalm Sampler
“Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
-Luke 24:44b
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
- Lectionary Readings: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
- Responsorial Refrain: “O God, let all the nations praise You!” (Ps 67:4)
- Chris Brunelle’s YouTube Recording: R&A Psalm 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026, Psalm 67
Psalm 67 is a great Psalm of praise with a universal appeal for all to join in that song.
As such, it reinforces the unity of the Scripture readings this Sunday and their consistent, prophetic proclamation of the universal invitation of salvation to all peoples:
- “foreigners” and “all peoples” (Isaiah 56)
- “all the nations” (Psalm 67)
- “Gentiles” and “God’s mercy on all” (Romans 11)
- the “Canaanite woman” and her remarkable dialogue with Jesus.
This week may we pray with that “big picture perspective”—salvation for all—as we sing, “O God, let all the nations praise You!”
Our President
Mike Hagstrom
Mike Hagstrom was named President of St. John Paul II Catholic Schools and Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Fargo on March 15, 2016, and officially assumed the role on July 1, 2016. In his application for the position, he described his leadership philosophy as one of stewardship, writing:
“My approach would be that of stewardship of the great gift of Catholic Schools. With the help of God’s grace and all our stakeholders, we can be good stewards together, ensuring that our schools not only survive, but thrive. They are designed for human flourishing, forming the whole person, each and every student made in God’s image and likeness, endowed with a transcendent dignity and destiny.”
Before stepping into diocesan leadership, Mike dedicated 31 years to Shanley High School, where he taught Religion and served in a variety of leadership roles. During his time there, he embodied the spirit of St. Bede’s words: “I have always found delight in learning, teaching, and writing.”
Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Systematic Theology from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He and his wife, Shawn, are the proud parents of two Shanley graduates, Therese (’08) and Joseph (’16), and grandparents to James and Oliver.
