My Dear Friends,

As I’m sure you felt it, Easter was just a little bit different this year. I personally grieved the loss of some of the things which make us uniquely Catholic. The tradition, mystery, magic, and sorrow of the Triduum, followed by the great joy of Easter and bringing back the ALLELUIA! We yearn for these familiar yet special traditions once a year. On Easter morning, my family and I dressed in our Sunday best and watched Fr. Mike’s beautiful Easter Mass, and then shared a delicious dinner of my mom’s scalloped potatoes and ham recipe later that day. Though not the same, it was beautiful, simple, and intimate.

Through these times of challenge, we learn that it’s ok to acknowledge that things are missing, that we long for a time when beloved traditions with our friends, extended family, and community can continue. It is okay that we are grieving, that we are emotional. Just as Jesus did, in our humanity, we wrestle with our feelings of being challenged to find hope and we may even cry to God to remove this trial. I invite you to honor those feelings, give yourself the grace to feel sad and validate the struggle. Then, as Jesus did, we march on knowing that God is always with us. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (John 19:30) By processing any grief, we have the space to come back to who we are. Our Catholic Identity reminds us that we are an Easter people. We are called to be a light for the world – to not hold our light under a bushel basket. We know that because of the darkness of Good Friday, we have Easter morning, full of light.

Catholic Identity is so integral to our school, something we hold so dear. The way it weaves itself into the fabric of our school community in large, formal ways, such as Friday School Liturgies and daily prayer, but also through smaller, often overlooked ways – how our students treat each other with kindness and tenderness, and think about the well-being of those in our community and across the globe.

Our students continue their Religion instruction through distance learning, with lessons, songs, prayers, and Bible readings. It’s wonderful to hear their faith come through in their online discussion boards or Zoom calls!

As families, we can:
 Watch and actively participate in Mass weekly
 Pray regularly – at the start of the day, at meals, and before bed
 Make masks for our healthcare workers
 Make pictures and small, homemade gifts for each other to lift spirits
 Make cards or write letters for those who may be lonely or struggling
 Love on each other

Together, let us be the light of Christ in the world. Just like the tomb, the church is empty, but we have been mobilized!

Happy Easter! He is risen! Alleluia!

Holly