Re-Opening Catholic Schools This Fall

Kris, Michaela,
Alex, and Sophia

This week's guest blogger is Kristine Crews. She is a St. Ann parent, soccer mom, and researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She directs a Residency in Clinical Pharmacogenomics at St. Jude and teaches student pharmacists at University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. She serves on the Diocesan Transition Task Force. She has been asked to give us all an explanation of the work being performed by the Task Force regarding re-opening Catholic Schools this fall.

We are all in this together! As the 2019-20 school year comes to a close-- one we won’t forget anytime soon-- the Catholic Diocese of Memphis is looking ahead to what the return to campus in Fall 2020 will look like. As a St. Ann parent and a healthcare professional, I’ve been asked to serve on the Diocesan Transition Task Force, which is chaired by Teddi Niedzweidz, principal of St. Louis Catholic School. This task force will advise Catholic Schools on safe practices for reopening campuses in Fall 2020.

St. Ann is a school like no other. Jimmy and I send our daughter Sophia to St. Ann for the strong and nurturing community and for teachers who care for each child as a whole. I am a product of K-12 Catholic education in my hometown of Chalfont, PA. Without a doubt, my strong Catholic school education propelled me to my STEM career and formed me into a well-rounded adult. It’s the education Jimmy and I sought for our three children - Sophia, a rising 7^th grader at St. Ann; Michaela, a rising 10^th grader at St. Benedict; and Alex, a soon-to-be senior at Christian Brothers High School.

Kris and the empty halls
at St. Jude

As the diocesan task force make plans through the summer for the start of the new school year, we will keep in mind these important goals: educating our kids, continuing to provide a strong faith community in which they can grow, and keeping COVID-19 off the St. Ann campus.

No one can predict the future of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all much smarter and more experienced, however, in safety measures in our own homes and in our community than we were 2 months ago. The pandemic came upon us in Shelby County and across the country so quickly this past March. We had to adapt instantly and change the way we taught our kids. We have more time to plan for the fall return to school. The task force recognizes that we essentially need 3 separate plans for return to school depending on the level of COVID-19 transmission in August:

1.    If there remains a high level of transmission in the community: start the school year with distance learning if schools need to remain closed.

2.    For a moderate level of transmission in the community: return to school with social distancing restrictions in place.

3.    For a minimum level of transmission in the community: schools will open; some precautions may need to stay in place.

Sophia on the 1st day of 6th grade

The task force is focusing on Situation 2 above and will advise on what plans need to be in place to return to school in the case of a moderate level of transmission in the community. Those of us who are essential workers and have physically gone to work over the past few weeks have seen our places of business morph into something nearly unrecognizable from how they operated in other times.

It’s likely that St. Ann will open for the 2020-21 school year looking and running very differently than it did last fall. Over the summer, Mr. Aur and his dedicated faculty and staff will be doing previously unheard-of activities, like measuring classrooms and common spaces throughout the school to know the occupancy limits of each space for social distancing requirements. St. Ann will set up a screening protocol for students as they enter school each morning in the fall. We’ll have a renewed focus on cleaning and disinfecting the school at night. We’ll plan for hand hygiene breaks throughout the school day. We’ll look at traffic patterns to limit mixing of students as they move through the school. And we’ll consider accommodations that will be needed for vulnerable students, faculty, and staff members so that the school environment is safe for all of us. Again, we don’t know yet what precautions will need to be in place but be assured we’ll work through the summer break to have our beloved school ready to teach these kids.

What can you do this summer? 

·      Keep informed by checking for updates to evidence-based guidance on the CDC and Shelby County websites. 

·      Experts recommend helping your child stay socially connected with friends digitally for the time being. Resist the urge to start back sleepovers and Jumping World parties just yet. What we do now to stem the transmission of the coronavirus in the community will help us be in good shape to open schools in the fall.

·      If someone at higher risk for COVID-19 will be providing childcare (an older adult, such as a grandparent or someone with a chronic medical condition), limit your children’s contact with other people.

·      If your children ride bikes or play outside with neighborhood friends, reinforce 6-foot distancing from anyone who is not in your own household and keep them playing outside.

Have a great summer and see you next year!

~Kris

I would like to thank Kris Crews for saying "Yes" to serving on the Diocesan Transition Task Force. Her work along with all the other members of the task force is crucial to the planning efforts of re-opening Catholic Schools this fall. This task force is giving all school leaders a roadmap on how best to prepare with student safety at the forefront. Thank you for giving of your time and talent to helping all the children, both in Catholic Schools and St. Jude. You are making a positive difference in the world.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

Previous Blogs:

Dr. Joseph Gulino: https://didieraur.blogspot.com/2020/05/just-keep-doing-what-you-are-doing_9.html

Liz Wehmeyer: https://didieraur.blogspot.com/2020/05/why-st-ann-by-liz-wehmeyer.html

Just Keep Doing What You Are Doing

Dr. Joseph Gulino

This week's guest blogger is Dr. Joseph Gulino. Dr. Gulino has spent several weeks over the past two years working with the St. Ann educators with a focus on gifted students and learning. You can learn more about Dr. Gulino by visiting the Gulino Group website. https://www.thegulinogroup.org/  I'll let Dr. Gulino take over from here.

“Just keep doing what you are doing,” music to the ears of an educator who has just been observed by a supervisor. Also, music to the supervisor who loves to watch excellent educators at their craft. These were words I was fortunate to utter to educators at St. Ann Catholic School in October. I stated those words more times at St. Ann than at any other school I have had the opportunity to observe educators. I have been at St. Ann working with the faculty approximately three weeks, May and August of 2018, and October of 2019. The first two visits were to make presentations and identify resources re: ‘How to help all students achieve,’ ‘Resources to challenge all students think critically and creatively,’ and ‘What all educators need to know about trauma, their students, and education.’

I was asked by Mr. Aur on the third visit to observe each educator and give them feedback re: the implementation of resources they had chosen the previous year. I am the former Director of Education Clinical Experiences and Master Degree program at Central Methodist College, Fayette, MO 1994-99. Working with educators and helping them become better at their craft was my favorite position in my education career.

What I Observed working with the Educators

Important behaviors of great educators that are most important to me:

Educators were deeply committed to developing relationships with their students. I could feel it, see it in their demeanor, hear it in the works they used working with students, and observe it in the reactions of the students.

Words to describe further would be caring, kind, and most importantly patient as St. Ann is serving many students with special needs and life situations, and patience is a virtue needed greatly and observed often.

The way we feel sometimes
during this pandemic.

Logically what follows is their keen knowledge of their students: the needs for all (the group/class), and the particular needs of each student. This was observed watching them work with their classes, and more importantly hearing/seeing their conversations with peers re: particular students sharing strategies and getting feedback from each other in faculty room or private settings.

Being a former principal and college professor and now consultant, I was particularly impressed with their dedication to being educators, not just teachers.  Educators do not hold down a job and JUST go to work at 7:30, get off at 3:30, play with kids all day, and have their summers off. Educators are professional. They act like professionals and love what they do more than anything else. They are always on the lookout and desire to learn more about their craft, not having more time away from their students. Whole group discussions regarding my presentation material and then later one-on-one discussions with St. Ann educators were very impressive and showed me the desire to learn, and knowledge gained. I look forward to future visits to see how all grow even further.

Lastly, the time engaged in learning was outstanding.  There was little to no, down, “get started on homework,” or wasted, time. There are only so many minutes in a school day and every one of them is important, and these educators use as many minutes as possible for learning.

Being at St. Ann for so many days also gave me a great feel for the school as whole, and I feel I should share that with you as well.

Principles of
Fearless Leadership

St. Ann Catholic School

Important characteristics of a great school important to me, what I observed as a whole:

Great schools smell good. You can tell when you enter a building by what you smell and pass judgement mentally. The cleaning staff does an excellent job of preparing the school in this area. I always liked the cafeteria to be close to the front door, so the smell of good food could be experienced by all who entered.

St. Ann is a safe, civil, and healthy environment for students to learn. Walking the halls and popping into classrooms, it is very obvious that students feel respected and connected with the faculty and staff. 

There is a clear understanding that this is a Catholic School with strong common beliefs and values. That Catholicity is openly observable as well as shared with all who come into contact with the school, its staff, and communications that come from the school or its staff.

I observed that the educators I worked with believe that all students can learn and meet high standards. Students are challenged, and guided, to be the best they can be; and those who come to the school with special needs or life situations are given the resources and help they need.

Your principal, Mr. Aur, is an outstanding leader. He is a visionary, creative, and very proactive. He knows what is needed in many situations and is very open and asks others what is needed. He also knows how to get the help needed to obtain those needs. He brings in quality staff members and then turns them loose to be the best they can be for the students, parents, and St. Ann community of faith. Professional development of the staff is important to him and he sets it up properly with continued work with professional individuals over time to strengthen trust and relationships, not just one shot one-time in-service experiences.

Possibly the strongest area I noted in the St. Ann staff after their care for students is their high level of collaboration. I observed selfless teamwork across all grades and subject areas. Another big bonus to St. Ann is the high degree of parent and community member participation in the daily school operation.

In closing, I hope you take from these observations that this professional feels/knows that St. Ann School is a special school in a special time and should be appreciated, taken care of, supported, shared, and allowed to continue to grow. The children/students are in great hands and many will be achieving great things because of the foundation they are receiving here. I look very forward to my next visit to share more with the educators and grow myself though their reflections back to me.

God Bless,

Joseph Gulino

Support St. Ann Catholic School

Thank you Dr. Gulino for your insights. You have been a tremendous help to the educators and students at St. Ann. We greatly appreciate the time you have taken to make St. Ann and even better Catholic School. We hope to see you around in 2020-21.

God bless you,
Didier Aur, Principal
St. Ann Catholic School

Read our previous blog: https://didieraur.blogspot.com/2020/05/why-st-ann-by-liz-wehmeyer.html

"Why St. Ann?" by Liz Wehmeyer

Liz, Olivia, and JT

This week's guest blogger is Liz Wehmeyer. Liz is an elementary school teacher with Bartlett City School and a mother of two students at St. Ann. J.T. is in 6th grade and Olivia is in PK4. Liz is also an Apple Certified Teacher, Webmaster, Social Media Coordinator, and 2nd grade teacher at Altruria who over the past two years has trained our teachers in using the iPad in the classroom. We now have about eleven teachers and one principal who are Apple Certified Teachers. Here is Liz's answer to "Why St. Ann?"

When Mr. Aur asked me to write a blog entry discussing my thoughts about St. Ann, I felt immediately overwhelmed. How could I possibly fit all the amazing things I witness in one blog entry? Where do I even begin? He suggested I just start writing and let my thoughts fill the page. So, I guess I will start at the beginning.

Mrs. Harty visits Olivia at home

When you teach at an awesome school less than a mile away from St. Ann, you get hit with the “Why don’t you bring your kids to school with you?” question pretty regularly. My standard answer is, “We are Catholic, and St. Ann is our parish.” That gets most people to accept the answer, but some press on. We always hear, “Can’t they just go to Sunday school or PRE?” I guess they could, but honestly, it’s the people and the relationships at St. Ann that are pretty high up on the list of reasons why we continue to sign our kids up year after year.

JT was only supposed to go to St. Ann for preK and then to school with me for elementary. Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Sexton changed that plan pretty quickly for us. I attended Catholic Schools growing up in New York and Ohio, and these two amazing women quickly reminded me how important a Catholic education really is. The St. Ann teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteers help shape my children’s lives, moral compass, and religious base that help us navigate through this crazy life. They get to capitalize on those teachable moments and bring God and prayer into every aspect of life. 

JT and Online Learning

Over the years, we have watched change, growth, and innovation blossom at our school. Father Ernie and Mr. Aur have outlined a clear course to a strong future for St. Ann School and a bright future for our kids as learners. I have had the privilege to work with the students of St. Ann for the past two summers at Camp Invention. Y’all, these kids are thinkers! These teachers are teaching these kids to think outside the box and really break the mold. I was amazed with the thinking, planning, and experimenting that took place in the Innovation Lab.

Now that I have covered the “Why St. Ann”, let me switch gears and tell you what I have witnessed in the adventure that is remote learning. The COVID-19 pandemic launched into our worlds pretty quickly. St. Ann teachers and administration left their spring breaks early to come to school and learn in about 48 hours how to continue teaching without being at school, how to create a blog, post to a blog, record lessons, use new tools, and make a plan to be ready to start Monday. The fact that every teacher had a blog and assignments ready to roll for first thing Monday morning was nothing short of a miracle. I checked in with teachers and Mr. Aur to see what I could do to help. Not one teacher had a bad attitude. They were all working together and helping each other do what needed to be done to make sure our kids didn’t miss one day of instruction. How incredible is that!

The St. Ann family has truly come together to make this quarantine a strangely beautiful time where every person is doing their part to keep the learning going. Parents and grandparents are helping explain lessons at home and helping kids get assignments submitted, teachers are planning amazing and engaging lessons, our kids are being provided with meaningful feedback on work and making stronger connections with teachers.

JT on the first day of school

I know it is easy as parents for us to feel overwhelmed (me, included!) and sometimes feel frustrated hawking the online grade book to see what remote grading even looks like or wondering when the next assignment will finally be posted. I hope that we all remember that the teachers are working harder than ever in a way none of us were trained for in our college studies. Thinking of creative ways to deliver lessons, posting online, meeting virtually, and then waiting on a steady stream of work being emailed in a variety of formats to organize, grade, and provide feedback. We have asked so much of the St. Ann teachers, and they keep showing up with a smile and a new lesson for our kids. I am in total awe with the magnitude of excellence in this remote learning adventure. 

Shout outs!

• From day one of the quarantine, Ms. Ostrowski asked every 6th grader to pray a rosary every day.
• Ms. Angotti’s remote PE class is fun and hilarious. I have watched JT do yoga with his class and play basketball with socks while racing against his buddies through Google Hangouts. 
• Mrs. Wendenon’s shadow art project looks amazing, and I totally want to try it. 
• Mrs. Langford easily doubles her time on Google Meets to make sure every student is really mastering the skills. (And they better be showing their work!)
• Mrs. Harty is having Google Hangouts with her class and even did remote calendar time with the kids. And when one kid is really sad because she can’t be in Mrs. Harty’s real classroom, she totally drove to our house for a safe, social distanced visit to cheer up my Olivia. 
• Mr. Gage has assigned the coolest, real world assignments for the middle school kids. They have corrected celebrities social media, created memes, and written creative stories. 
• Mr. Cooper has the kids singing and also critiquing music from around the world.
• Mr. Maranise shared a beautiful Easter meditation for the 8th graders because we can’t attend mass
• Ms. Ostrowski sends the most thoughtful emails giving her feedback on assignments. I LOVE listening to her religion and social studies class. Her enthusiasm in contagious, and she loves our kids.
• Mrs. Metaxas has such variety in her lessons, and her animated tree project is awesome. 
• Mr. Green got every middle school student set up with a working email address in a matter of days so kids and teachers can communicate daily.
• Ms. Ghio’s blog has been incredible since JT was in 3rd grade (and probably before!), but she still is finding new and innovative ways to teach.
• Ms. Sellers’ blog is filled with pictures of our littlest learners completing remote learning projects.
• Ms. Lola has got our kids creating beautiful artwork and pushing them to get creative in every project. 
• Mrs. Griffith answers every email and hangout message even when the emails are blank and the hangout messages from 6th graders are asking if it’s legal to pick up birds or just to tell her they are hungry. (God bless these middle school teachers. For real.)

Online with Mrs. Harty

I know this is just a sampling of amazing things happening from PK3 to 8th grade at St. Ann. I love seeing my Facebook feed filled with pictures from these learning adventures. We will all get through this together, and because of the amazing leader and teachers at St. Ann, our kids will be smarter, ready for the next grade level, and will have a stronger connection to their faith. 

Stay strong, hold the course, we’re all in this together!

Liz Wehmeyer

Thank you Liz for sharing. We appreciate your kind words. You help to make St. Ann a better school. You have been there for me and all the teachers. We cannot thank you enough for your constant smile and positive words.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

From St. Ann to New Jersey: A Nurse's Story

Nurse Christy Matlock

I want to continue with this series of guest bloggers. I asked Christy Matlock if she would be willing to be a St. Ann guest blogger. Christy has been serving as our school nurse and has revamped and totally reorganized the school clinic. She also stocked it with everything needed in a school clinic. It is like a night and day difference in the clinic this year. Christy is on the frontlines of this COVID-19 battle. I'll let Christy share her story with you.

Most of y’all know me. I had the privilege of being your school nurse this year. Our daughter, Scarlett, started school at St. Ann in Pre-K 3 with Ms. Sellers and Mrs. Bannister. My husband, Coach Blake, coached flag football and basketball. I've been in Memphis most of my life. Born in Ohio but left as a baby to come here. We have grown to love this school and the people in it so much already.

I am a Registered Nurse and worked at Methodist North and St. Francis Hospital on Park until the outbreak of COVID-19. With surgeries cancelled and census low at the hospitals here, I joined up with a travel nurse agency and traveled up to New Jersey to help the nurses up here. I'm working at a hospital called CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, NJ, which is about 45 miles from New York City. 

It was not an easy decision to make. It was a decision based on love for my family and love for my career. I’ve been in New Jersey a little over 2 weeks now, and what I see makes my heart tired. I see nurses who have been bravely fighting this battle for over a month, almost 2 month. I see ever changing policies on balancing patient care and the need to protect the staff members. I see the looming threat of diminishing supplies of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and the hospital administration doing their best to retain it and secure more. I see patients, so many patients, sick as I have ever seen them, alone with only us to comfort them. I have never taken care of patients this way, and I hope I never have to again.

I'm ok so far. We are running out of gowns here though. Using the same gown unless it becomes terribly soiled for every patient for entire shift, and they are trying to figure out how to extend the use longer. I asked the hospital today about trying to find some washable waterproof material and see about making everyone 2 or 3 gowns a piece that way at the end of each shift they can be laundered and decontaminated and ready for use next shift. If you know anyone that sews and thinks this is a mission they want to try, I would pay them to make me a couple to see if this will work for us! I'm not sure how much longer we will have gowns at all. I brought one rain suit with me in case we ran out. I may have to break it out soon! 

Matlock Family and
Fr. Favazza

Please pray for these patients and their families. Please pray for ALL frontline workers, including those who work in grocery stores and restaurants. Please pray for healing from this terrible virus.

God willing, I will see you all this fall. I miss my St Ann family. My contract is over July 11th, and I will be on my way home. I miss my babies and husband so much!!! Please stay safe out here y’all. Do the social distancing and wash your hands frequently!! 

Much Love,

Nurse Christy

Thank you Christy, for your service, not being afraid to face this pandemic on the frontlines, and for being a hero. You will be in our prayers as you continue to do God's work on earth.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

Dr. Laura Battle- This Week's Guest Blogger

Laura and the Battle Boys

This week's guest blogger is Laura Battle. I met Laura back in 2013 when we worked together at Resurrection Catholic School. I have always highly regarded Laura as an educator, St. Ann mom,  and friend. I learned much about St. Ann back then from the many stories Laura shared about her boys, their teachers, and the school. I wanted to get Laura's take on the work taking place at St. Ann because Laura does view things with a critical eye. We need that critical eye to make sure we are doing the work well. So, here's Laura's take on the last five weeks of work by the St. Ann educators.

When Mr. Aur asked me to write about my experiences with St. Ann during this pandemic, I immediately said yes.  If you know me, you understand how risky that could be.  If you ask for my opinion, I will give it - the good and the bad.  I can honestly say that I have never been more proud to be a St. Ann parent than I am right now.

Reid, Brett, and Drew Battle

I have had one or more Battle boy at St. Ann for the last 15 years.  Many of you know me; we have laughed, cheered, cried, and supported each other and our children throughout the years.  We have spent years together in the gym or on the sidelines, car pools, and early morning pick ups to help each other out.  And Lord help us, the sleepovers!  We have built something at St. Ann to be proud of.  I can’t believe I only have 3 more years at the school!

The closing of the schools happened so suddenly.  No one expected it to happen so soon.  It was the Thursday of spring break week.  By Monday, my boys and I had heard from their teachers, had a chance to go to the school to get the supplies that they needed, and my boys were working.  There was not one minute of lost time in instruction.  Take a minute to understand how amazing that is! These teachers were on their vacations.  They came back to work, worked out a plan, and put it in to action.  There was no delay, no putting it off until they were more comfortable.  They embraced this new way of teaching and jumped right in.  They did this in 3 days!

Drew: Online Learning

There was a learning curve for everyone of course.  After that first day, I realized that we needed a daily schedule to help us stay on track and to provide some sort of normalcy.  By the time they starting their online learning through videoconferencing the second week of distance learning, things were so much smoother here at home.  Like many of you, I am working full time from home.  I appreciate the fact that the teachers have stayed on top of everything and are helping my boys stay on track and working with them. 

Brett: Online Learning

As much as I would love to say that I can do it all, it has been wonderful to still be able to rely on the teachers and staff of St. Ann to make sure my boys are still learning and doing what they are supposed to be doing.  It would be impossible for me to work from home if I had to take on their education also.  We are a family at St. Ann and we work well together.  It is such an amazing feeling to know that the teachers and I can still work as a team to educate my boys and that I can still rely on them to be there for my boys when I am working.  If something wasn’t working, they fixed it.  For example, for the middle school students, since they have several teachers, they need to check several teacher blogs.  To make sure assignments do not get missed and to help students and parents keep up, a weekly list of assignments is now sent out. 

Let’s look at this time line again.  On Thursday of spring break, schools were closed.  Over that weekend, we were allowed in the school to get what they needed.  By Monday, each teacher had a blog up with work posted for the students.  By the next week, my boys were having online classes with their teachers.  I am sure all of you join me in thanking everyone at St. Ann for getting out of their comfort zones and working together to do what is best for their students.     

Laura Battle, MSSW, Ed.D

Mom of:

Reid SAS ‘17

Brett SAS ‘20,

Drew SAS ’23

Thank you Laura for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the time you have taken to serve as a St. Ann guest blogger.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

Previous Blog: https://didieraur.blogspot.com/2020/04/holy-week-and-easter-during-time-of.html

Holy Week and Easter During a Time of Pandemic: A Spiritual Meditation

Painting by Ethan Nichols

St. Ann Class of 2022

Every so often, I ask a student or colleague to be a guest writer for my blog. Today, I received this spiritual meditation from Anthony Maranise. Mr. Maranise is the 8th grade religion/confirmation teacher at St. Ann. With Mr. Maranise's permission, I am sharing his spiritual meditation not only because I love what he has to say but also because what he has to say is so appropriate for this time we are going through. This spiritual meditation is definitely worth reading. Without further ado, here is his meditation.

Holy Week & Easter During a Time of Pandemic: A Spiritual Meditation

By Anthony Maranise, Obl.S.B.

We tend to view the happenings around us through a “me-centered” prism. Some examples help: That four-engine long train is going to make me late for work!; That Dow plunge cost me so much yesterday!; perhaps even, Social distance is making me stir-crazy! How relevant that last one, right?

This year, Holy Week and Easter are a bit different for us all. We are living the most hallowed of liturgical seasons amidst one of recent history’s most difficult, challenging, and uncertain seasons — that of a viral pandemic. ‘Social distancing’, then, is a term to which many of us have become accustomed. As an infection mitigation effort, it refers to the necessity to physically withdraw from close contact with one another. These efforts are not cruel, but selfless as through them, we can help to ‘slow the spread’ of illness and keep safer those with compromised immune systems and the elderly for whom illness can be more costly.

Painting by Zoe Geronimo

St. Ann Class of 2020

Be that as it may, how are we supposed to live Holy Week without being able to gather in our churches for worship? To celebrate Easter’s exceeding joys without being able to be close to our families and friends? It is truly a different kind of Holy Week this year, and it will be a different kind of Easter as well.

Let’s shift from that typical “me-centered” prism for a moment. Consider this, instead:
Both voluntarily and involuntarily, the object of our imitation and devotion in this holiest of time of the year — Jesus, Himself — experienced and knew ‘social distance.’

In two salient instances during what Religion scholars have revealed to be the timeline of historical events which make up the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) of Holy Week, Jesus either ‘socially distanced’ or was ‘socially distant’ from those He loved.

1. After His Last Supper, Jesus went with His Apostles into a nearby garden known as Gethsemane. He asks the Apostles to settle there for a bit, to pray, and to keep watch with Him. Though together at first, all the synoptic Gospels report that Jesus withdraws Himself from them for a while to be alone in prayer by Himself. He ‘socially distances’ Himself and experiences His agonia (literally, ‘a struggle towards victory;’ ‘severe emotional anguish’), only to emerge strengthened in will, spirit, and mission.
2. Hours later, after Jesus is arrested, mocked, condemned, shamed, brutally scourged, and made to carry His own instrument of torture — all willingly, for the sake of our redemption — He is nailed to the Cross. The base of His Cross is placed in a hole in the ground and filled in with rock-pebbles to support its vertical position. Here, in this second instance, when Jesus is lifted high up above the onlookers in the crowd, we see Him made ‘socially distant’, indeed, physically separated from those various others who were usually so physically close to Him.
   

Painting by Caydence Davis
St. Ann Class of 2020

In this different kind of Holy Week, this different kind of Easter, we can be sure that though we face our own sorts of ‘emotional anguish’ precipitated by being ‘socially distant’ from those we love, we do so, not out of a “me-centeredness”, but out of an expression of care and concern for the well-being of those we love — to keep them safe. We do this inspired by Jesus’ first instance of ‘social distancing’ in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Though ever fully Divine and God, we so often forget that Jesus, while on earth, was fully human as well. Like any human facing a major injustice and forthcoming unimaginable suffering, He ‘needed a moment’ to collect and compose Himself. He needed spiritual and emotional strengthening which God, the Father provided Him in earnest. He emerged from that agonia even stronger. From our own ‘social distancing’, so also shall we, if only we seek, as Jesus did, strength from God.

Anthony Maranise

Finally, our being ‘socially distant’ need not necessitate ‘spiritual distance’ in us. We should continue to look to Jesus in this Holy Week, as we have in all Holy Weeks past, as we should in all Holy Weeks to come, and always. We should look upon His Cross, but look into the ‘distance’ beyond it even more intently because Jesus’ own history ends not in His being ‘socially distant’ on that Cross. He rises! He rises from death and above it. He vanquishes it, conquers it, overcomes it, and returns from His ‘social distance’ to be once again reunited with and among those He loves!

The beauty is that includes us, even today. His Resurrection imbued into all of us who love Him and believe in Him a share in that strength He obtained through His ‘agonia’. Moreover, He has given us assurance that because He first endured the worst sorts of ‘social distance’ in pain, rejection, sorrow, shame, and death — but overcame it — so also shall we; and, all these things are so because of the events that took place on and are the reason for the Friday we call “Good.”


Thank you Anthony Maranise for sharing your spiritual meditation. You can learn more about Mr. Maranise on his website: https://amaranis.wixsite.com/amjm

God bless you,
Didier Aur, Principal
St. Ann Catholic School