Dear STM Family,
As our school year wraps up and our seniors receive their diplomas marking the official end of their high school careers, and we all adjust to the next phase of life, let's reflect back on some of the great lessons our time at STM has given us.
We have a brilliant, resilient faculty and staff whose witness of Christ comes through their classrooms in the form of knowledge, study, love, and service. Over 80 faculty & staff members serve Campus Ministry in big and small ways throughout the year. Shine your light; Never Quit; Be a Life-long Learner; Use your Gifts to Serve others; Lead others to Jesus.
We have a joy-filled, hard working, friendly custodial staff who never seek praise or attention but are constantly serving our STM family. Our custodial staff keeps our facility at its best. But the amazing thing is they do the same for our students. It is often we see a custodian reaching out to a student to remind them of their beauty and worth, to lift a student's spirits, to share the love of Christ, and to encourage that young person to be their best. Be your Best; Never forget your Dignity & Worth in Christ; Encourage Others; Sharing Christ can happen anytime anywhere.
Our Administration accepts responsibility everyday, in the best of times and in the most challenging times, to lead us and position us in the very best environment to become seekers of truth, individuals of character, and God's servant first. They believe deeply in our students. They sacrifice for our students in ways our students may never know, selflessly and tirelessly serving so the student receives the very best education possible with the very best Catholic formation possible. Accept Responsibility to Lead Well; See the best in people and help them see it too; There will be hard times but God is Faithful so remain Faithful; Love is to Sacrifice for the Other, and this is the call of our Faith.
In this closing Campus Ministry reflection, I hope our STM family can remember: some of life's most important lessons are the ones that do not come packaged as 'a lesson'. We have to have our 'Eyes Wide Open' to see what God is teaching us. Our custodian singing aloud 'Amazing Grace' while cleaning the toilets is a critical lesson; our administrators working overtime behind the scenes to lead us through new protocols and procedures during a pandemic is a critical lesson; our teachers taking a weekend away from their families to volunteer at a retreat for our students faith life is a critical lesson; parents working two jobs to send their child to this amazing school is a critical lesson; coaches who passionately push athletes beyond their limitations to realize new possibilities is a critical lesson. Life is an endless classroom where our Lord meets us, leads us, teaches us, loves us, and calls us beyond our limitations into his amazing grace & mercy. If we have 'Eyes Wide Open' we will see.
Seniors, you are well prepared for what lies ahead if you cling to the one that goes before you and prepares the way, Jesus. Blessings and grace to our STM family.