Let Your Light Shine Before Others

Fr. Ernie usually ends his homilies by giving his parishioners an assignment. I see these assignments as a challenge for us to live Matthew 5:16. "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glorify to your Father who is in heaven."

At Mass last evening, Fr. Ernie talked about the need for hope and salvation, and how Rev. Billy Graham said those are two things we all need. We need to live our lives in such a way that we have hope in a salvation that there is more in store for us after our time here on Earth. Because of God's love for us, we received and continue to receive the gift of salvation through Jesus in the Eucharist. Life has little purpose and meaning if we do not have hope in salvation for eternal life.

Fr. Ernie then challenged us to live our Christianity. We are to model that hope in the way we live our lives, and that modeling is to begin the moment we leave Mass and encounter the world.

During his homily, I thought about the way I live my Christianity, and how I need to do a better job of living my faith. Those thoughts quickly turned to the many ways I see people living their faith through the school day. In my role at St. Ann, I am constantly on the move throughout the school doing my best to support the students, teachers, staff, volunteers, and parents. I try to not spend much time at my desk. Instead, I have the privilege of seeing "light shine before others" constantly.

During Mass, I whispered to my wife to please remind me that my next blog would be on how I see people live their Christianity every day. So, here is a list of thirty ways I see people living their faith at St. Ann Catholic School.

I see people living their Christianity when:

• May Young and George Dhuy volunteer every morning to work the carpool line no matter the weather condition. They greet each student and family with a helping hand and a smile.
• Jane Gillespie and Linda Garvey-Meisler are waiting at the classroom door at the end of the day to work with the Knowledge Bowl team.
• Kris Miller tells her 4th grade students the story during religion class about her conversion to Catholicism.
• Tricia Cooper's Kindergarteners sing Christian hymns as they do their seat work.
• Selina Trouy in a very motherly and loving way helps a student who is not feeling well or sternly yet compassionately deals with a student sent to the office for a much needed time out.
• I walk into the library and see Jim and MaryAnn Hall, Trena Kilp, Marilou Smith, Linda Sones, Jean Bedwell, Nancy Howland, and Marla Ferguson helping the students and teachers during library time.
• Annmarie Ghio organizes the monthly Rosary, St. Faustina Youth Society, and Eucharistic Ministers in promoting Catholic faith and charism.
• Angela de Jong goes the extra mile to organize the Band Trip, school play, Knowledge Bowl competition, and Pajama Drive for Catholic Charities.
• The Burns kids are piling out of their car with backpacks flying, a smile on their faces, and being fired up about school.
• Joner Tadrous and Amaya Bolton are walking together to their next class always laughing and full of life.
• The PK students are lined-up and greet me with a "Good Morning Mr. Aur."
• Savannah Bannister is the first student to enter the office each morning to turn on the lights and say good morning.
• Rocco Jimenez helps his little sister, Ivy, get out of their van and into the school building upon arrival.
• I get a high-five from the Petteys triplets.
• The middle schoolers escort the PK students to school Mass. Or, is it the PKers escorting the middle schoolers to school Mass?
• The Knights of Columbus put on extra fundraisers to help St. Ann families with much needed tuition assistance.
• Tony Mulrooney volunteers to help renovate the library, install security cameras, and build the set for the school play. Tony has many talents.
• Everyone in the carpool line gets a hug from Mahealani Siaulaiga.
• The 8th graders go to Ave Maria to spend time with the residents.
• My students sing in the youth choir on Sunday mornings.
• The school choir sings at the school Mass.
• The Knowledge Bowl team prays before each round of competition.
• 1st and 2nd graders answer Fr. Ernie's questions at Mass.
• So many of our 5th-8th graders are Altar Servers.
• Mariela Granados kneels to receive Communion.
• Stacey Griffith and Billy Gage serve as Godparents for an 8th grader being Baptized in preparation for First Communion and Confirmation.
• Teachers are in prayer before Mass.
• Enrique Montiel gives of his time, treasure, and talent to repair the kitchen equipment when needed.
• Abe Abuelouf and Anthony Maranise step in to team teach 8th grade Religion/Confirmation class.
• Parents sacrifice to be able to give their children a Catholic education. And, it is a sacrifice; a very worthwhile and important sacrifice.

St. Ann is a great Catholic School. Our students, families, and staff live their Christian faith daily. I see it in many more ways than these thirty ways. Every day I see it more and more. God continually blesses us in so many ways. It is up to all of us to thank him by letting our light shine and live our Christian faith.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

Previous Blog: https://didieraur.blogspot.com/2020/02/another-great-catholic-schools-week.html