At this mid-September point, let us keep the educators and families we serve in our thoughts. As these weeks of the new academic year turn into months, I trust that the strength of our school communities will provide the support we need. I can attest to the long days encountering all of us, and also the need for us to tend to the spiritual social-emotional needs of the young entrusted to our care. Yesterday my family went outdoors for the first time in days and our 20 minute walk with our dog felt like a blissful eternity. Over the weekend I also read this quote aloud to my wife from the book I recently re-read:
“To be teacher or parent is to be a special instrument of God’s grace in learners’ lives. Ultimately, to educate is God’s own work.” -Thomas Groome, Educating for Life
I hope that each of us finds our place in God’s work throughout these turbulent times. May God make each of us a channel of God’s peace. I found the child’s voice in this rendition of The Prayer of Saint Francis to be an inspiration, and I pray to the intercession of the patron of my city for the healing that God’s creation needs at this time.
We hold brothers and sisters who suffer from storms and droughts intensified by climate change.
We hold all species that suffer.
We hold world leaders delegated to make decisions for life.
We pray that the web of life may be mended through courageous actions to limit carbon emissions.
We pray for right actions for adaptation and mitigation to help our already suffering earth community.
We pray that love and wisdom might inspire my actions and our actions as communities. . .
so that we may, with integrity, look into the eyes of brothers and sisters and all beings and truthfully
say, we are doing our part to care for them and the future of the children.
May love transform us and our world with new steps toward life.
Blessings on your week ahead and special prayers for all those battling illness, wildfires, hurricanes or injustice.
ARTICLES
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NYTimes: The Pandemic Is a ‘Mental Health Crisis’ for Parents
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Keeping the Faith 