“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
50,000-some people attended the beatification Mass of Blessed Fulton Sheen (d. 1979) in St. Louis, Missouri, yesterday.
As I noted last week, the Good News preached by the popular, engaging, and effective Catholic evangelist-Bishop continues to resonate through the decades because as J.R.R. Tolkien observed, “There is no tale ever told that men more wish were true.”
The intrepid Bishop Robert Barron counts Archbishop Sheen as one of his great influences, in fact, his “motto and inspiration,” in the work of evangelization as he said in his homily at evening prayer the night before the beatification:
A Friend of Jesus Christ – Bishop Barron’s Vespers Homily for the Beatification of Fulton Sheen
You can also see the full Mass of Beatification here:
The Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen LIVE
Blessed Fulton Sheen: “Pray for us.”
It's About Time
Homecoming Eucharistic Procession
Now “Blessed” Fulton Sheen advocated for a weekly holy hour for the faithful. Students and staff at Shanley-Sacred Heart got a healthy head start on that this week with the annual Homecoming Eucharistic Procession and Benediction on Tuesday this week.
Accompanied by soaring chant by the cantors and delightful melody by the band, our Chaplain Fr. William Slattery and his brother priests gathered students room by room and processed around the school building before concluding prayers and ceremonies in the Mary Garden courtyard.
What a beautiful image of our lives as pilgrims accompanied by our Eucharistic Lord—“Deacons on the Way.” Thanks be to God, and thanks to all who planned and led this year’s event!
2026 Homecoming Court
On Monday, Shanley students kicked off Homecoming Week with the annul Coronation ceremony, which featured the royalty pictured above. Front row: King Michael Hollcraft and Queen Hailey Miranda. Back row (l to r): Nolan Snyder, Jason McAllister, Max Hofer, Mark Wanner, Gianna Noah, Bridget Maguire, Elle Johnson, Elle Bernhardt. Congrats, all!
Recall the significance of the court’s selection by their senior classmates and the King and Queen’s selection by the entire student body, for the criteria since 2013 focus on what came to be known as “The Deacon Way.”
The ballot’s instructions ask these questions: “Which of the following best represent Shanley High School and its tradition of excellence? Which are true Deacons in their mindset of service and self-giving? Which treat others with kindness, compassion, and respect?”
Deacon Day
Planting Trees at Reforest the Red
Shanley High School held its 28th Annual Deacon Day of service on Wednesday this week—a beloved and venerable Homecoming Week tradition.
Students and staff members worked at a variety of service sites in the community, including elementary schools, parishes, parks, and non-profits. The students were sent out fittingly the day after our annual Eucharistic procession, prayer, song, and Benediction, for as Emeritus Pope Benedict noted in his first encyclical, “A Eucharist which does not pass over into the concrete practice of love is intrinsically fragmented.”
All our JPII Catholic Schools have that great opportunity and responsibility to align faith, learning, and service and Deacon Day is just one of the prime examples.
Thanks to all students and staff members for kindling the flame of our core values in the many ways you will serve those in need this year!
President’s Proverb
“Grace is everywhere.”
– last words of the dying priest in Diary of a Country Priest by George Bernanos
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
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
- Lectionary Readings: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-9
- Responsorial Refrain: “Remember Your mercies, O Lord.” (Ps 25:6a)
- Chris Brunelle’s YouTube Recording: R&A Psalm 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026, Psalm 25
When asked what the three greatest virtues were, St. Bernard of Clairvaux is reported to have said, “humility, humility, humility.”
Psalm 25 would be a perfect companion to that answer.
The Psalmist humbly asks the Lord to guide, to teach, and to make His ways known. He makes this plea while humbly confessing his own sins and frailties. The Psalmist trusts that the Lord’s compassion, love, kindness, goodness, and mercy will triumph over his sinfulness, “for You are God my savior” (Ps 25:5b).
This week, fully aware of our own need for the Savior, let us also humbly turn to Him as we sing, “Remember Your mercies, O Lord.”
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.
