Two Wings No. 46

“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 about themselves.”
–St. John Paul II Preface to Fides et Ratio

Fides et Ratio Reflections

*“St. John Paul II” by Holy Spirit Little Deacons*

Yesterday was the 103^rd birthday of our school system’s Patron Saint, St. John Paul II. “Karol Wojtyla” was born on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland.

He was profoundly formed by his father and other mentors to seek the Truth by developing both wings of faith and reason within a crucible of personal loss and totalitarian oppression.

Happy birthday, St. John Paul II, and thank you for your witness to Hope and your work to make Jesus Christ—the Way and the Truth and the Life—proclaimed, known, and followed.

St. John Paul II: “Pray for us.”

It’s About Time

St. Isidore the Farmer

Monday, May 15 we remembered St. Isidore the Farmer, Patron Saint of farmers and rural communities. His wife, Maria, is also a saint. He was renowned for the depths of his prayer, the generosity of his charity, and the sanctity he manifested in daily life.

As we plant our gardens, we can invoke St. Isidore and Maria’s prayers.

Sts. Isidore and Maria of Seville: “Pray for us.”

We can also pray the following from the USCCB:

O God,
from the very beginning of time
You commanded the earth to bring forth vegetation
and every fruit of every kind.
You provide the sower with seed and give bread to eat.
Grant, we pray, that this land,
enriched by your bounty and cultivated by human hands,
may be fertile with abundant crops.
Then Your people, enriched by the gifts of Your goodness,
will praise You unceasingly now and for all ages unending.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Michael Donahue Ordination

*Br. Donahue’s Ordination Announcement – Fargo Vocations*

Class of 2012 Shanley graduate and member of the Dominican order, Rev. Br. Michael Donahue, O.P., will be ordained to the priesthood tomorrow, May 20, at the Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (a familiar refuge and place of worship for our March For Life pilgrims over the years).

He will celebrate his first Mass the following day, Sunday, May 21, and he will return to Fargo for a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 28, at Nativity Church.

Congratulations to the soon-to-be “Fr. Donahue” and to his family, teachers, and mentors. Prayers for all.

P.S. Fr. Donahue’s uncle and former Shanley Chaplain, Msgr. Brian Donahue, will celebrate the 40^th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on June 4 in Hankinson, North Dakota!

Graduations

As we end our 2022-2023 school year, we also celebrate our graduates: 70 8^th Graders at Sacred Heart School and 87 5^th Graders: 13 at Holy Spirit School; 34 at Nativity School; and 40 at Trinity School. Seventy-five Shanley High School graduates will receive their diplomas from Bishop Folda at commencement exercises on Wednesday evening (which will be livestreamed at Upcoming Broadcasts | Shanley TV).

Congratulations to all of them for their accomplishments! Best to them at the next level—especially to our Shanley graduates as they commence on the journey of life after being in our schools.

Finally, if your time as a current parent or staff member is coming to an end with this school year, thank you for your part in JPII Catholic Schools over the years. All the very best to you and yours.

President’s Proverb

“The Christian ought to live in the perspective of eternity.”
–St. John Paul II

Hagstrom’s Attempt At Humor (HAAH!)

Sunday Psalm Sampler

The Ascension of the Lord (Year A)

“Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
–Luke 24:44b

Lectionary Readings: The Ascension of the Lord | USCCB

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 47:2-3, 6-9

Responsorial Refrain: “God mounts His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” (Ps 47:6)

Chris Brunelle’s YouTube recording: R&A Psalm for The Ascension of the Lord, 2023 – YouTube

Psalm 47 is most fitting for the triumphant Ascension of Our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. With the union of heaven and earth, the throne imagery, and the sounds of celebration (hands clapping, shouts raised, trumpets blaring), the joy is palpable.

It may seem odd at first glance to know that the Apostles were filled with joy upon Jesus’ departure.

Two great truths, however, lead to that manifestation of joy. First, there is Jesus’ promise to be with them “always, until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20); He makes that promise after the “Great Commission” at the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel. Second, there is His promise to send an “Advocate” in the Last Supper discourses of John’s Gospel: “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).

Imitating the joy of the Apostles at the Ascension of the Lord, we should also recall His promises this week as we sing, “God mounts His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” I

mike.hagstrom@jp2schools.org

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 assumed office on July 1, 2016. When he applied for the position, he wrote that his “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, seeing that our schools not only merely survive, but also thrive. For they are designed for human flourishing, forming as we do the whole person, each and every student, made in God’s image and likeness, endowed with a transcendent dignity and destiny.” Prior to this role, he taught Religion and served in a number of other leadership capacities at Shanley High School for 31 years. There, he embraced St. Bede’s notion that “I have always found delight in learning, teaching, and writing.” Mike earned his B.A. in English and M.A. in Systematic Theology from Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. He and his wife, Shawn, have two children (Therese ’08 and Joseph ’16) and two grandchildren (James and Oliver).