Two Wings No. 58

“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

Pope Francis announced last week that Seoul, South Korea will host the next World Youth Day (2027) as indicated in the exuberant flag display above.

At the closing Mass in Lisbon, Portugal, with 1.5 million in attendance, he affirmed the call repeated often by the author of Fides et Ratio: “As young people, you want to change the world and it is good that you want to change the world and work for justice and peace.”

“The Church and the world need you, the young,” advised the Holy Father, “as much as the earth needs rain.”

It’s About Time

St. Clare of Assisi

Today is the Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi, patron saint of television among other things. The Ordo notes that the founder of the “Poor Clares” order “led an austere life, rich in the practice of charity and loving care.” She served as abbess of the convent she founded in Assisi for forty-two years.

Happy Feast Day to all in need of light and clarity (as her name indicates)—and to all those named “Clare”!

Here is the Collect Prayer for today’s Mass:

“O God, Who in Your mercy led Saint Clare to a love of poverty, grant, through her intercession, that following Christ in poverty of spirit, we may merit to contemplate You one day in the heavenly Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.” AMEN.

Welcome New Teachers!

New teachers began their welcome, orientation, and training sessions yesterday. (Other staff members who had not attended the welcome and orientation session previously also attended that.) The new teachers continue training today and next Wednesday—prior to the start of all teachers returning next Thursday. Training includes topics such as teaching in a Catholic school, Nurtured Heart, bullying prevention, technology set-up and support, benefits and payroll procedures, curriculum, etc. It was a delight to meet and welcome the new teachers yesterday and introduce them to our mission, vision, identity, history, and expectations as a school system. Prayers for them, please.

Moving Volunteers

Holy Spirit School classroom renovations and clean-up are wrapping up, and teachers have started moving classroom items, desks, chairs, files, curriculum resources, tech equipment, etc. out of storage containers and the gym.

Thanks to school principal, Mr. Jason Kotrba, for coordinating all the logistics of the homecoming and to all the teacher, student, and parent volunteers for their generous service.

A special shout-out to the fall sports athletes who got some extra exercise in helping yesterday (such as the football players pictured above).

President’s Proverb

“If my critics saw me walking over the Thames, they would say it was because I couldn’t swim.”
–Margaret Thatcher (and paraphrased by Kirk Cousins in the Netflix documentary “Quarterback”)

Hagstrom’s Attempt At Humor (HAAH!)

Sunday Psalm Sampler

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (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: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 85:9-14

Responsorial Refrain: “Lord, let us see Your kindness, and grant us Your salvation.” (85:8)

Chris Brunelle’s YouTube recording: R&A Psalm 19th Sunday Ordinary Time 2023, Psalm 85 – YouTube

A post-exile Psalm (after 538 BC), Psalm 85 celebrates God’s kindness made visible in the return of the exiles and rebuilding of the Temple.

Verses 11-12 beautifully describes the union of heaven and earth in God’s merciful act of liberation and restoration: “Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.”

This vision, of course, is fulfilled in the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus, true God and true Man. He liberates us from sin and death and then restores us to abundant life.

This week may we be open to the graces of the Incarnation and Redemption as we sing, “Lord, let us see Your kindness, and grant us Your salvation.”

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).