Lord, Open my eyes to see You by Brunella Carlberg

Lord, Open my eyes to see You.

…To see what I am blind to.

…To see what You want me to see. 

…To Come and See.

…To have the courage to face our sin.

…To have the courage to share Jesus with others; to share our story with others. 

My name is Brunella Carlberg, and when I was asked to give a witness statement, I said yes without hesitation. I am honored to stand before you and tell you my story. 

10 years ago this month, on March 3, my youngest son Peter, at the age of 23, died from a heroin overdose. He suffered from substance use disorder for many years. Besides that, he suffered from daily migraines for most of his younger years. Peter was very active in AA, and even started Heroin Anonymous in the Northwest Suburbs. He was an amazing person and helped so many people. He was a warrior! More than 500 people attended his wake. 

When Peter died, I remember calling Fr. Ryan and asking him through tears, if he thought Peter was in heaven. And of course he said yes, that Peter was sick and Jesus is merciful. I worried about that for a long long time. 

For the next 6 weeks after his death, I read every book I could find on near death experiences because I wanted to know what Peter experienced at the moment of his death. All of the accounts that I read said that they were not afraid to die because of what they experienced, and were even disappointed that they did not die. It comforted me knowing that Peter got to keep going towards the light, which we know is Jesus. But it wasn’t enough. I was still searching for more answers. 

Enter St. Padre Pio. And this is the part that I am so excited about. About 20 years ago, My mother came over to my home very excited, telling me that Padre Pio (1887 – 1968), was going to become a saint, and she handed me the newspaper article with all of the information. I said, “Who?” She looked at me and said, “Brunella….what do you mean you don’t know who Padre Pio is?” I took the newspaper article, made a folder for it and filed it away without reading it. 

For years I was getting a Padre Pio newsletter in my email that I never read but instead, filed away. Six weeks after Peter died, I got another Padre Pio newsletter in my inbox. This time, I opened the email. I was curious. 

What I read was that Padre Pio had the stigmata of Christ on both hands, both feet, and his side which bled for 50 years. When he died, the stigmata disappeared with no trace of a scar. I also read that he heard confessions every day for sometimes 9-10 hours a day. He also had the ability to tell the penitent exactly what they did and when. This drew many hundreds a day to him. 

Among those who traveled to San Giovanni Rotondo to have their confession heard by Padre Pio, was the future Saint, Pope John Paul II. Many prayed to Padre Pio for physical and mental healings and were in fact cured. When Pope John Paul was a young priest, a very good friend of his was seriously ill with throat cancer and the doctors gave her no hope of being healed. He sent a letter to Padre Pio to pray for her, and Padre Pio did. The doctors decided to operate, but she was healed before entering the

operating room. She lived to be 99. Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio on June 6, 2002. I was reading this newsletter at a very late hour, and was really tired and decided I would read more in the morning. But before I closed my laptop, I read the following: 

“Some Saints possessed the gift that is known as “odor of sanctity”. This gift allows somebody to perceive the Saint’s presence in the smell of personal perfumes.” 

“Whenever anyone smells the perfume it is a sign that God bestowed some grace through the intercession of Padre Pio.” 

When I went to bed that night, I cried and said a prayer to Padre Pio. I told him that maybe if I had prayed to him to heal Peter, he would still be alive today, but my biggest fear was that he didn’t make it to heaven. 

I fell asleep, and I woke up at 2:00 in the morning to the smell of perfume. It was as if someone was holding a bouquet of flowers under my nose. It lasted for about 15 minutes. I was confused and wondered what was going on. Then I remembered what I had read about Padre Pio, and I realized that Padre Pio was present at that moment through the scent of flowers that I was smelling. The message I got from God, through Padre Pio was that yes, Peter is in heaven. I fell back asleep with the most peace that I had experienced since before Peter’s death. I had my answer. I woke up several times during the night and did not smell anything, but at 4:00 in the morning, it happened again. I believe that Padre Pio wanted to make sure I got the message. This time, I smiled and closed my eyes and continued to sleep. 

In the morning, I called my mother and told her what happened. I was so happy! We have a family home in northern Italy, and that summer, I had plans to go to Italy with my mother and father. I told her that I felt a strong desire to make a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, in southern Italy where Padre Pio is buried to thank him. 

When we got to Italy, I was told of a couple that went to visit Padre Pio’s tomb every year. My mother and I asked them if it would be ok if we went with them and they happily agreed. In the car, they told us that the very first thing they do when they get there is go to confession. They said that everyone that goes to see Padre Pio goes to confession because that is what he was known for. I looked at my mother with a look of shock on my face, because I had not been to confession in 35 years and that was not why I was going! 

Well, when we got there, we went to confession. I had no idea what I was going to say, but I felt the hand of someone, God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Padre Pio…… guide me straight into that confessional. I had no time to prepare, and I had no idea what I was going to say. Lord, help me to have the courage to face my sins. I started out with Bless me father for I have sinned……and I had to say it really fast because I was afraid I wouldn’t remember what came next. That being said, the next thing I said was, “It has been 35 years since my last confession, these are my sins.” 

I started out telling the priest that Peter had died, and that I prayed to Padre Pio, and I smelled his perfume and that I felt that Padre Pio was calling me to come and thank him, when the priest said,……”wait wait wait! Padre Pio called you here not because of your son, but for you to return to confession.” For the next 10 minutes or so, I cried and cried and cried while he told me of the importance of confession and forgiveness and so many other things. He did all the talking. I did all the listening. And then, he said he had to run because he had to say Mass. He absolved me of ALL my sins, gave me my penance, and I was done.

I RECEIVED THE GOLDEN TICKET! I got the get out of jail card. Whatever you want to call it. This was God’s mercy for me knowing that I didn’t know how to start after all of these years, but I trusted in him. For 3 years after that, I asked many priests during confession, if I was really absolved of all my sins even though I didn’t say a thing. The answer was always yes, that God knew what they were and he absolved me. 

Something changed in me after that confession. I had a solid foundation in my faith, but it grew stronger after Peter died and that experience with Padre Pio. Looking back over those years, I prayed when I needed something. When the kids were grown, I slept in on Sunday mornings instead of going to Mass. I worked hard all week. I needed to sleep in! I was a good person. I prayed the rosary when Peter would relapse, but then when he would come home, I didn’t need to pray anymore. 

My eyes were opened, in that confessional. I looked back at those years, and the things I was doing and not doing, and asked myself, “What were you thinking?” I heard the term Cafeteria Catholic, and realized that was me. I decided what I wanted to do. 

If I had not gone to visit Padre Pio, and gone to confession, I would not be doing the things I am doing today. And I am not doing them because the church says I have to! I want to. I have a deep desire to. Since then, I do go to confession regularly. I don’t miss Mass on Sunday. I am in the choir, the handbell choir, and I go to the Women’s Retreat every year. I loved Bible Study on Saturday mornings. For many years, I went to daily Mass. I am constantly reading books about the saints. I read every book I could about Padre Pio and I am re-reading one right now. I have an unquenchable thirst to read more about them. I don’t do these things because I have to, I do them because I can’t get enough. I do these things because I want to. 

My faith has helped me endure the suffering of losing Peter. I know where he is and that I will see him again. When I receive Communion, I feel the closest to Peter, because I am receiving Jesus, in the Real Presence of the Eucharist, and Peter is right next to him. Pete is happy. I hear his voice all the time saying, “Mom, wait til you see what I see.” 

I have had so many “Padre Pio Moments'' in the last 10 years, but I’ll close with this amazing one. Peter has 2 sons. Noah is now 15, and Bentley is 10. At the time of his death, his oldest son, Noah was 5 and had not been baptized. After Peter’s Mass of the Resurrection, Noah’s mother came to me and said, “This was the most beautiful Mass I have ever been to, and I think it’s time that Noah is baptized. I would like it to be here, and I would like Fr. Ryan to baptize him.” I called Fr Ryan to see if we could have the Baptism on May 11, which is Peter’s birthday. He said he couldn’t because First Communion was taking place on that day. He suggested May 25, and we agreed on that date. What I found out later, reading the life story of Padre Pio, is that Padre Pio’s birthday is May 25, the same day that Noah was Baptized. 

Thank you for listening, 

Brunella Carlberg

Realizing God Loves and Accepts Me by Tom Powers

Hello and good morning/afternoon.  I’m Tom Powers.  I am an usher at the 11:00 mass on Sunday mornings.  Last week Pam Lynch approached me and asked that I give a talk at each mass this weekend sharing my story of when I realized that God loved and accepted me.  I had misgivings.  First, I don’t typically talk about my faith much less share it with the whole congregation.  I think Pam could see that I was hesitant and so she let me know that I could say no if I wasn’t comfortable.  Then she said, “it’s just that Fr. Ryan told me to ask you”. It felt a little like when I was a kid and my mother would “ask” me to help wash the dishes. No, was not on the list of responses.   

Next, I was struck by what I was being asked to share.  I was to share with you my story of when I realized that God loved and accepted me.  Here’s the thing, I didn’t have a great epiphany.  I didn’t have a life changing event that opened my eyes to the realization that God accepts and loves me.  For as long as I can remember, I was sure God accepted me and loved me.  

I have a wonderful family.   Great friends.  Grew up in what I think of as a magical neighborhood.  I had terrific caring teachers both nuns and lay teachers.  The priests in St. Bridget of Kildare parish were straight out of a movie you could watch on a Saturday afternoon played by Bing Crosby or Pat O’Brien.  

While I am sure that I learned about God’s love in school and no doubt, it was part of scripture and homilies at Mass.  I just have no clear specific memory of that.  What I remember, very clearly, were the many simple acts of kindness, concern, care, and love that I experienced daily from the special people in my life.  Because of them - I knew God loved and accepted me.  Besides the love my parents showed me every day. I remember things like: 

My great uncle Gene (my father’s uncle) coming to our house to drop off a bike that he had picked up at a garage sale or found sitting in the trash on someone’s tree lawn and cleaned up and repaired to give to me when I learned to ride a bike.  I remember:

My aunt Claire taking my brothers, sisters and me to a local children’s clothing store called Irwin’s to buy us clothes at the start of the school year.  With seven kids, my parents wouldn’t have been able to that.  I remember:

My mother sending me to buy milk at Lawsons grocery store a few blocks from our home.  The owner, Bob Cornell, would add day-old bread or bananas that had just started to turn brown to the bag….. he knew we could use the help.  

These and a thousand other simple acts of kindness, care, concern, and love from the special people in my life.  

So, I have been blessed.  It is not lost on me that most people are not as blessed as I have been.  I also understand that as a Catholic who has been so fortunate, I have an obligation and a responsibility, to as Pope Paul VI expressed so concisely, “rescue and not sit in judgment, to serve and not to be served”.  So, what can I do to serve and to make others feel loved and accepted?

For me, a big part of the answer came from the example that had been set.  Better than any lesson, speech or sermon; the people who loved me taught me through their example the importance of simple, genuine acts of kindness, care, concern and love.  This is the tenet that guides me and that I strive to incorporate into what I do to fulfill my obligation to serve those who are struggling or have not been as blessed as I have been.

I came across a poem when I was much younger that resonated with me.  I read it often to remind myself what I have learned.  I would like to share a portion with you:

It isn’t the thing you do, dear;

It’s the thing you leave undone, 

Which gives you a bit of heartache 

At the setting of the sun.

The tender word forgotten, 

The letter you did not write,

The flower you might have sent, dear,

Are you haunting ghosts tonight.

The stone you might have lifted

Out of a brother’s way,

The bit of heartsome counsel 

You were hurried too much to say;

The loving touch of the hand, dear,

The gentle and winsome tone, 

That you had no time nor thought for, 

With troubles enough of your own.

The little acts of kindness,

So easily out of mind;

Those chances to be angels

Which everyone may find

You’ve never met my mom.  If you did you would remember.  Because, whoever you are – a child waiting at the school bus stop that she would see on her morning walk ….. A fellow parishioner that she would see heading into Mass….. someone she bumps into in a shop or restaurant  …. If you met my mom, she would make you feel certain that the best thing that happened to her that day was, seeing you!  When she said, hello, she would look you in the eye, take your hand or place her hand on your forearm and hit you with her warm smile, and you would know that you are special, you are loved and accepted.

My wife, Elaine, recently began volunteering at Good Shepherd Hospital.  I was proud of her – of course.  I was also happy for the people she would encounter there.  Because when we are afraid, sick, in pain, grieving, and struggling; I believe that while her beautiful smile won’t fix what is wrong, it may bring a little light, a little warmth to someone on what is not their best day.  

Why am I certain that God loves and accepts me – loves and accepts us?  Because I experience it daily in the actions of good people who have opened their eyes and their hearts to “those chances to be angels”.   

Poem: The Sin of Omission by Margaret E. Sangster

Lord, Open My Eyes to See… the Light of Jesus by Sharon Fredrickson

Good evening! My name is Sharon Fredrickson and I have been asked to share my  story of transfiguration with you. Like many, in my younger years, I stepped away from  the church and focused on achieving the things of this world. Now, the things of this  world aren’t bad, however, when you place them before God, it is putting the cart before  the horse and, overtime, as I achieved goals, I would likely say to myself, in my heart,  ‘So this it?’. To that I decided, it is because you need to set the next goal - the next  raise, the next promotion, the bigger house, etc. None of these fulfilled the emptiness in  my heart. That emptiness became overwhelming, I was in a deep depression and lost.  I remember the day I kneeled down beside my bed, tears streaming down my face, and  asked for God to help me.

Lord, Open my eyes to see the Light of Jesus 

Fortunately, God placed in my life people who, by example and out of casual  conversation, shared with me how God had helped them in their life struggles and the  difference it made for them. This watered a seed that had been planted years ago, by  my mother and father, and had been neglected over time.  

I started to attend the SFdS Women’s Retreat. This gradually watered that seed and  the growth made me want to know more. I started to do research and find out about  how to say the Rosary (although my mother had taught me, it had been years and I  forgot), which led me wanting to learn more about Mary. I read many books on The  Rosary, mysteries of the Rosary and this led me to read the stories of Fatima, Lourdes  and Medjugorje. I started attending Sunday Mass on a regular basis. I even went to  confession - somewhat of a long one for that first time back but I got through it and so  did the priest.  

When COVID hit and St. Francis needed lectors and people to say the Rosary via  Zoom, I raised my hand. But it wasn’t enough, I wanted more. I started the Bible in a  Year and joined bible studies.  

My favorite Rosary is the Luminous Mysteries, in particular, the Wedding at Cana. The  fruit of this mystery is to Jesus through Mary. As I review the past couple of years and  my transformation, I see what God did. He gave me Mary who led me to Jesus. 

 When you love someone, you want to put your best foot forward. Jesus was always  there for me but I didn’t acknowledge him much. Now I wanted to work on my  relationship with Him and I wanted to put my best foot forward.  

I started to see the ways to make a change. I made time to say the Rosary daily. I  made time to go to week day mass, I signed up as a lector when the masses opened up  from COVID shutdown, and read scripture daily. I found if I didn’t do one of those  things, it left me feeling as though I let Jesus and Mary down.  

This led me to see things that need to change, because frankly, when you start  making these changes, certain habits and activities no longer fit in your life. They just  don’t feel comfortable anymore. To curse makes you wince, ‘Wow, did I just say that?’  The TV shows you watch, movies you go to see and books you read no longer are  entertaining.  

As my prayer life became a daily habit, I could see how to let Jesus help me change.  A major area was in my consumption of alcohol. I love wine and I love expensive wines.  I love to sip a nice Irish whiskey on a cold winter night in front of the fireplace. However,  drinking had become a daily habit to help relax from the days struggles. I could hear  Jesus telling me in my heart, ‘This is holding you back. You won’t be the best version of  yourself if you continue to drink.’ I prayed for help and the grace to quit.  

I have had many miracles in my life but there is not enough time to hit them all.  However, this prayer to quit led to one of the miracles in my life. Long story short, I  stood up one night after a couple of drinks and said, ‘No more! I’m done!’. I have not  had a drink in over 9 months and, the miracle is I have no desire to drink. This, in my  mind, is due to the Grace of God. For those of you who have gone through this or know  of someone who drinks, this is not a typical case. I joined AA, as they are known for  their support to stop drinking, and I worked through the 12 Steps. Now I am able to help  others who walked in my shoes.  

I know that my journey is far from complete. However, to Jesus, through Mary, together,  they open my eyes to deepen my understanding of God’s Divinity and all that I am  capable of. I find myself doing things I never thought I would do. I am now working  towards semi-retirement but now look to use my gifts with an organization that helps in  building people's relationship with God. I am now doing the Catechism in a Year. Never  in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would ask for a beautiful edition of The  Catechism of the Catholic as a Christmas gift. But, as the angel Gabriel told Mary, ‘All  things are possible with God!’

Thank you for listening to my story. I hope, in some way, I have watered a seed planted  within you. Around the gathering space and within the church, you’ll find purple hearts  to take home. Start to water your own seed and feel your heart transform. Start simple  - each morning, light the candle and spend 5 minutes with God. Warning: If you have  children, do this prior to the entire house waking up. If your mind wanderers while  praying, no worries, gently lead it back to prayer. If it continues, as God if He can help  you with it. After a couple of weeks, make it 10 minutes of time with God. But I warn  you, it is addictive and you’ll want more.  

Finally, last week, you all received ribbon packets and we have more at the crosses in  the gathering spaces to pick them up. Thank you again and God bless you!

Seeing the Light of Jesus by Karl Heerdegen

I’ve been asked to spend a few minutes openly reflecting on my Faith Journey today – on Seeing the Light of Jesus.  

St. Luke 15:7   “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

That’s good news for me.  Because if sinning and repenting is indeed a pathway to salvation, I should look forward with hope to the end of days.  

To begin, I’m grateful for two things that I had no control over at all

• Being born under the blanket of freedom that exists only in America

• Being baptized into the Catholic Faith when I was just weeks old, 65 years ago

And while I grasped, early on, the responsibility and privilege of participating in the American experience, I didn’t fully participate in the Catholic experience.  I took my faith for granted.  I didn’t deny my faith...I went to Mass on Sundays, prayed on Sundays, thought good of myself for an hour or two once a week...I simply carried the appearance of my faith.  

And except for the Sunday experience, I put my faith aside for the pursuit of more important things.  But those important things, without the everyday foundation of faith, I found, were not only meaningless, I ended up making decisions based on what I thought, what others who were able to influence me thought, what was best at the time.  I trusted myself and others.  I didn’t know God enough to trust Him.  

As a result, some of the decisions I made then lead to my biggest regrets in life now.  I wish I had been introduced to St. James in those days.  In his epistle St James wrote “that those who truly trust God don't settle for merely appearing religious. Instead, they give up trying to control the world with their words and their anger, and they humbly receive the Word that God has planted in them, listen to it, and proceed to do what it says.”

That has become a primary guide in my Faith journey.  If anyone needed humility, it was me.  I still do.  As joyful as it is to be married to the love of your life, and to welcome two sons into the world, I came to understand what humility is and why it’s a great thing.  I came to discover that humility and patience are the same, and that putting others before me strengthens me.  I find Faith in Humility, in Patience.   

The second source for my Faith Journey is, of course, the Bible.  Specifically, the New Testament.  Knowing my attention span, getting through the 39 books of the Old Testament seemed challenging.  

But I figured out that I could start anywhere in the New Testament.  When you’re starving for nourishment, anywhere in the buffet line is a good place to be.  And understanding the New Testament greatly enhances my experience in the Catholic Mass.  Much more so than when I was simply going through my earlier Sunday experience.

The third thing that has come to bolster my faith journey is the Rosary and engagement with the Blessed Mother.  To paraphrase scripture, “I am blessed with work”.  Debbie, my wife of 34 years might say I’m obsessed with work, and she’s probably right.  I needed a place to go for a short while each day and I found it in the Rosary.  How?  Scripture.  In John’s Gospel, he teaches us about the wedding at Cana.  Christ’s first miracle.  

When I read it, I learn about a mother’s influence on her son.  We all know the story:  The host runs out of wine.  Mary knows the solution and encourages her son to take care of the situation.  Jesus responds “what does this have to do with me?  My time has not yet come.”  In essence, Jesus says “Not my problem - I’m not ready for this.”  Mary, like any good mother, basically says “yes, it is, and yes, you are.”  She doesn’t ask again, but simply turns to the waiters and tells them “do whatever he says”.  And a miracle happened.  The spiritual fruit of the Luminous Mysteries tells us that we can gain Jesus through Mary.  

Meditating on the Sacred Mysteries of the Rosary by saying the Hail Mary with such repetition, I am able to feed my Faith on all of the spiritual fruits of the Rosary.  And every time I speak with Mary, I ask for her guidance, the kind that can only come from a mother.  I ask for Humility, Obedience, Perseverance, Receiving the Holy Spirit, Christian Witness, Spiritual Courage, Forgiving Others, Grace, Endurance.  Especially endurance.  As St. Luke taught us, it is by our endurance that we will gain our lives. 

Thank you for these few minutes listening to a bit of my faith journey, and along with Lenten ribbons remaining from last Sunday, please be sure to take a votive candle home to help your eyes see the light of Jesus.

Catholic Schools Week | An Essay by Mary Huels (Jan 14, 2019)

Hello and good morning. My name is Mary Huels  and I am in eighth grade at St Francis de Sales School. I want to start off by saying thank you to everyone here today for letting me speak to you. This is my ninth year attending St Francis de Sales School, and I can honestly say I wouldn’t want it any other way. I am the youngest a for kids and all of my siblings attended St Francis as well, so I have been a part of the parish for my entire life. St Francis has provided me with so many wonderful opportunities over the years and I am beyond grateful.

The first one to talk about the many relationships are formed at St Francis. Although St Francis is a smaller school than most of the local grade schools, that does not inhibit us from creating close relationships.  Really, just the opposite is true. I have made lifelong friends and have been blessed with knowing the same group of kids for nine years. The bonds that we share are unbreakable. We have grown up together and become family. I also have been fortunate enough to form close relationships with many of my teachers, which has helped me stay involved in all of my classes. I know that I can always go to them for help because they truly care about their students.

I believe that Saint Francis prepares us well for high school. I believe I’m well equipped to enter Lake Zurich High School next year. The curriculum and St Francis has not only taught me the value of hard work, but is allowed me to engage in and out of the classroom in various ways. Without the support of that you, the parish, have given our school, these opportunities may not have been available.

The foundation of our education at St Francis is our Catholic faith. I am tremendously grateful for this. St Francis has taught me that God is always with me everywhere I go. I know that he supports me and loves me unconditionally. As many of you know, Father Ryan gives out Three Musketeer candy bars as a reward for answering questions at school Mass. This definitely keep students involved and it is always fun to see the look on the younger kids faces when they get a candy bar. St Francis has done exceptionally well and teaching the Catholic faith by making it fun and interesting using these different teaching techniques.

I have learned so much from the school’s a whole. I’m going to miss St Francis but I know that I will always be welcomed back with open arms. St Francis has become my second home. The school has given me endless opportunities that have helped shape me into who I am and who I will become. Opportunities like these would not be possible without your support. Donation of your time, talent, and supplies has made our school a resourceful, loving, and caring environment. I am forever grateful for all of your support. Thank you!

Catholic Schools Week | An Essay by Ben Swiat (Jan 10, 2019)

Hello my name is Ben Swiat  and I would like to thank all of our parishioners for all of the assistance you give St Francis de Sales School. As a student of St. Francis it means a lot to me seeing how much all of you care and help our school. Because of all of you I have opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, High School level classes, and make really good friends

While attending this school I have made many good friends that were welcoming and kind since the first day I came to St Francis and have continued to do so throughout my entire time here. I believe that a quality like that is obtained through example and what better examples do we have than our volunteers. Our volunteers and teachers have crafted St. Francis students into kind and good people.

The donations that we receive from our parishioners it allow us to have the ability to audition for plays, compete in a speech contest, and even run for Student Council. Because of the donations we receive we are able to express ourselves and have fun acting in our school play. In the speech contest we pick a speech and act it out loud to an audience, we represent and express these speeches to the best of our abilities. With the support from all of you and actually judging the contest we are able to turn it into a formal event or we are able to make a fun, interesting contest for everyone to watch. Student council as a program where you create your own speech and present it in front of your class. After all the candidates have said their speech the entire class votes on a President, Vice President, and an Alternate. These representatives then go to meetings, host events, and even take out the recycling each classroom. These meetings help to develop the students sense of responsibility. All of you help with this by volunteering to help these students or even just donating to these events. And I can’t express how grateful I am.

What’s the support we receive from all of you we are able to have the opportunity to take High School courses like Geometry, Science, and even some English. I’ve been to schools that, for example, only went up to Pre-Algebra in 8th grade well here it seems Francis we are able to go up to Geometry. That’s junior level Mass, that’s just phenomenal that we have that benefit. This Advantage comes from all of the help all of you give the school.

The spiritual agent give us is just astoundingly flattering to me and all of my fellow classmates. We are so fortunate to have an entire community that prays and cares for us. That is just amazing. Also our Parish right next to our most to grow closer to God and learn his teachings and everything he sacrificed for us.

St Francis is an amazing school with a dedicated and supporting community. We are so lucky to have all of you there to catch us when we fall and help us throughout our time here in St Francis. In the end I just want to say thank you. 

Catholic Schools Week | An Essay by Grace Kinsey

Good morning everyone, My name is Grace Kinsey and I will be graduating from Lake Zurich High School this weekend. As I’ve finished up my high school career, I’ve spent a lot of time looking back on not only my high school experience, but my journey at St. Francis as well. While unfortunately there are few teachers still here from my time at St. Francis, I’ve learned so much from each one of them. Of course they taught me the class material. Those shurley books still give me nightmares, and I will never get the South American countries song out of my head. Thank you by the way, Mrs. Chappell. On Monday, Matt and I attended senior Honors night, and it was a pleasure watching St. Francis alumni dominate the stage, winning award after award. Every class period here wasn’t always the most exciting 40 minutes, but it is jaw dropping how many high schoolers don’t know basic grammar and sentence structure. Two weeks ago, I took an AP Literature test, and hearing my fellow classmates frantically asking each other what a prepositional phrase was immediately afterwards made me realize how much of an advantage my education at St. Francis gave me. More than just classroom knowledge, my teachers taught me life skills. Mrs. Butler taught me to always be prepared, Mrs. Chappell taught me that yellow words on a white powerpoint are a definite “no,” and Mrs. Schmitt taught me that it’s easy to see the world through the main character’s viewpoint, but real knowledge comes from learning to see things through another’s perspective. Throughout my last four years at LZHS, I’ve come to realize just how lucky we all are to have a St. Francis de Sales education. You will not ϐind teachers more committed to crafting the best learners, the best leaders, and the best followers of Christ. For those of you lucky enough to be returning next year, I hope you take the time to appreciate how much each of the teachers and the staff here dedicate their time and effort to fostering not only the most educated students, but the most compassionate people. For those of you moving on to high school next year, congratulations, and I wish you the best of luck. You’ve been given such a strong base for your education, and I hope that you continue to strive to build on that foundation in the years to come. Next year, it’s not only the eighth graders who will gain new freedoms, but every student in this church. With these new freedoms come new choices. As a kindergartener, you watch the ϐirst graders, saying “ooooohhhh, that’s a first grader.” Then in fourth grade, you look up and say “ooooohhhh, that’s a fifth grader.” As a seventh grader, you look up and say “ooooohhhh, that’s an eighth grader.” And in eighth grade, you look up and say “ooooohhhh, that’s a high schooler.” Sometimes we can get so focused on looking forward to where we want to be that we forget others are looking up to us as well. As Catholics, we are all blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And as students at St. Francis, we are all taught how to use these gifts to our fullest potential. My ϐinal plea to all of you is that you use your advantages to help others and continue to demonstrate why St. Francis de Sales is a blue ribbon school inside and outside of the classroom.

Lake Zurich Mayor Tom Poynton Memorial Day Speech

Good Morning … and Welcome! to Lake Zurich’s American Legion Post 964’s 100th Annual Memorial Day tribute to our fallen heroes and today’s Memorial Day ceremony. 

First off … How about Josh Thompson and the Lake Zurich High School Marching Band … they are out here every single Memorial Day … rain, sleet, snow, heat. 

Last year it was 95 degrees. It’s a bit more bearable today. Thank You LZHS Band!

I am again honored to be here with you this morning as we reflect upon the “usual” theme of Memorial Day  … “Remember”.  

As the only veteran on the Lake Zurich Village Board …  I Remember.

We celebrate Memorial Day with parades and picnics, and we welcome in the unofficial beginning of summer.    

But … We cannot and we should not forget what this day is really all about.

Remember … the men and women who died while serving our country … and the sacrifices that they and their families have made on behalf of our country.  

As I thought about today and what I would say … that hasn’t already been said about Memorial Day (some things will be included in the Proclamation I will read in a few minutes) … I had a thought about …  “the letter”.

“The letter” … the one that starts with the so very sad phrase, 

“It is with deep regret that I inform you of the death of …”  

and the unfathomable grief and sense of loss suffered by the spouses, parents and families who have received “the letter” … a grief that cannot be relieved.

I began to think about how Memorial Day means more than just honoring and revering our war dead, but also to honor and revere those families who lost their loved ones. 

These people truly know what sacrifice is, 

for it is they who have lost their loved ones, 

it is they who have had to go on and persevere, 

it is they whose lives have completely changed,

It is they who have made, and continue to make, a sacrifice, each and every day, for our nation 

For they did not die in defending our nation’s honor and protecting our freedoms, but their loss is forever felt, and must be, of equal importance. 

We must recognize that. 

In the name of duty and service to our country that cost their loved ones their lives, they are the true, living face of Memorial Day. 

“From our little community, many individuals left in the various services of our country. Why it was ordained that some individuals should not return we don’t know – 

But what we do know is that each soldier answered the call because they believed it was their duty. In their own thoughts nothing less would have satisfied them. 

Each left behind families and loved ones.

We want the families of these men and women to whom we make this remembrance to realize that the citizens of the Village of Lake Zurich honor and respect them for the sacrifice each of them has made. 

Today, we again honor, respect … and remember our fallen soldiers and their loved ones. 

Today we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can continue that our special way of life.

So … Go home, enjoy your hot dogs and potato salad, but make certain to spend a least a bit of time remembering and thanking in your hearts the brave men and women whose sacrifices made all this possible … and all the families who received “the letter”.

Where once our mission was to serve …                                                                    

Today our mission is reflection and remembrance. Your presence here today and that of the people gathering all across America is a tribute to those lost troops and to their Families. REMEMBER, While we are here … and as I mention every year … let’s also take a moment to remember the brave men and women of our Police, Fire, and Rescue departments … our first responders, who gave their lives in the line of duty so that we could be here today. 

On behalf of all the families of the Village of Lake Zurich, I wish to thank all the Veterans and their families, all the local Veterans who could not attend today, and all our local sons and daughters presently serving in the military.  

I extend our sincerest gratitude and thanks for your sacrifices as you make our country a better place for all of us. 

I hope you enjoy the weekend … but I hope you pause to reflect and remember.

Freedom is NOT free!    

Now I would like to ask …

American Legion Post 964  Commander Mike Hudson 

VFW Post 11020 Commander Tony Roberti 

… to please join me. (READ PROCLAMATION)

Thank you all for attending. 

Emmaus House of Hospitality in its 19th year of ministry

For the past few years, we at Emmaus House had the privilege of providing a mass announcement about our ministry.  We are blessed to have the opportunity to do so again.

If you are new to the parish, or simply need a refresher, allow me to provide a brief description of what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters.

Each Sunday night, with a few exceptions, right below us in Father Valker Hall we provide a community dinner and perishable food pantry for those who face difficulties with feeding themselves and their families. The dinners themselves are generously provided by various groups looking for outreach opportunities such as: St Francis ministries, parish groups, civic groups, businesses, area churches and school organizations.

We hand out dairy, meat, bread and produce to our guests in the harvest room following dinner.  This bounty is designed to help our guests make it through the week more comfortably until our dinner the following week.  The food is donated by our generous retail partners in the area, such as Costco, Jewel, Mariano’s, Trader Joe’s just to name a few.  Our volunteers go out to each of these establishments each week to rescue this food that we provide in the harvest room.

In addition to Sunday dinner and food pantry Emmaus House also sponsors other important programs for our guests including: Jeepers Sneakers, which provides back to school shoes for children, Undie Sunday which distributes new underwear and socks for school age children.

Emmaus does other important work in our community. For example, in the past year, we have provided funding to pay rents, mortgages and utilities for people in danger of losing their homes or apartments. This critical funding provides people with much needed time to get back on their feet financially and to stay in their residencies.  These are just a few of the examples of the great things that the Emmaus House does each week.

As always, thank you to all who have volunteered or supported Emmaus House in any way by giving of your time, talents, resources and prayers. We could not do this without everyone’s help and we should be proud of this as parishioners in the Lord’s work.

Each year, we asked for additional support for our mission and the Lord answered our prayers. It is important to note that we are an entirely volunteer-led ministry.  We have no employees of any kind. All of our Board Members and volunteers carve out time from their other family and professional responsibilities to contribute to this ministry.  Each year following mass announcements we are invigorated by new members of Emmaus House who work at our dinners, or rescue food, or serve on our Board or in some amazing cases, do all of the above. We are so grateful for the extra sets of hands, hearts and minds. It is truly a blessing.

We pray that this year will be no different as we are still in need of new volunteers.  The good news is we have a great program set up by our founders. It’s our job to continue what they have put in place. You can help as little as you want or as much as you want. A much needed opportunity is to be Emmaus representative/coordinator for Rock the Block – for a third year Emmaus House will be the recipient of raffle proceeds that we will use to help us fund our important community projects. There are many more short or long term projects. The message is simply this. If you feel that you want to lend a hand, we will find a way for you to help as little or as much as you would like and fits your desires.

If you would like to learn more about Emmaus House and how you could help, I invite you to go to our website through the parish website, or give us a call. We are listed in the bulletin each week and the parish e-newsletter.

Finally, we cannot say it enough, on behalf of the entire Emmaus House, “Thank you Father Ryan for your support of our ministry”. We could not continue to function without your blessing. For the past several years Emmaus House has been the recipient of the raffle proceeds for Rock the Block. We would not be fortunate enough to have that benefit without the partnership and support of Father Ryan.  This is just one example, among countless other times, that Father Ryan looks out for opportunities to further the Emmaus House ministry.

Thank you again Father Ryan and thank you all for your support and for listening to our request for further help.

In memory of Cecilia Solecki, longtime tireless volunteer for Emmaus House and other parish ministries.

A Thank You from the Linares Family

THANK YOU, FATHER RYAN AND SAINT FRANCIS PARISHIONERS!!!

From the bottom of our hearts, we extend our eternal gratitude for your love, support, and meals during our beloved Marcos’ short-lived illness and passing to our Father’s Celestial Kingdom.  We are heartbroken, but we have been able to understand and accept God’s plan because of our faith. Your prayers have carried us gracefully through this painful process. We have once again felt the presence of our parish family of 23 years.

Father Ryan, we will always treasure your visits, Masses, and words of encouragement, along with the unique gift of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, reassuring us that She was and will continue to be with us because of her clear signs of her presence in our journey.

A special thank you to Tricia Hupperich for helping us plan Marcos’ funeral with such love and compassion, and to Bonnie Balster, Mary Manson, other Bereavement Ministers, and Cindy Blank for assisting Tricia with the planning process.

Thank you so much to Father Róger Corrales-Díaz for being the Concelebrant, and to Deacon George Flaherty for being the Deacon of the Mass and for giving Marcos the final blessing at Ascension Cemetery!

We are also very grateful to Mary McCullough, Patricia Stewart, Diane Bryant, and the St. Francis Children’s Choir for providing the beautiful music!  You sounded like angels!!

Thank you so much to the Eucharistic Ministers, our longtime St. Francis friends Teresa and Chuck Bartels, Linda Dodds, Frank Johnstone, and Greta Rusk. Thank you also to the Altar Servers, Adam Galdoni and Nicholas Rodríguez.

Finally, a big thank you to Rose Weismann, Pam Urban, and Maureen Kowalski for organizing the Luncheon and coordinating the meals, as well as to the many volunteers that contributed with food and donations!  We will be forever grateful!!

May God bless ALL of you abundantly!!

Sincerely,

Patricia, Estefan, and Natalia Linares

Yes, Virginia. Miracles Still Happen! | Ray Urban

I have often felt disappointed that I didn’t have a closer personal relationship with our Lord.  I hear other people talk about being closely connected to Jesus on a daily basis. I pray but don’t seem to get a response.  Am I doing something wrong? Why isn’t my prayer life more fruitful? Can’t Jesus give me a sign that He hears me?

In mid-September I had a chest x-ray in a regularly scheduled physical that discovered a nodule in my upper right lung.  A quick series of medical tests resulted in surgery to remove the nodule (no one says the word that begins with the letter “c” but everyone knows that there is a risk of cancer) on October 2nd.  As I lay in recovery and regained consciousness from the anesthesia, the surgeon said all was well, and the nodule was benign.  Praise Be to God!

However, the story takes a strange turn at this point.  Much to the bewilderment of an experienced surgeon, the nodule was identified as a coccidioidomycosis fungus which is commonly called Desert Fever.  It affects about 100,000 people annually living in a dry, desert-like climate – 60% of the cases arise in the greater Phoenix area.  While my surgeon has seen this fungus in Chicagoland, these patients are “snow birds” who spend a considerable amount of time in Arizona during winter.  However, while I travel for business, the last time I visited Arizona was 10 years ago. The spores of the fungus do not travel far in the air and are not contagious from an already-inflected individual.

Because of the mysterious cause of this illness, we agreed I should seek counsel from an infectious disease specialist as a follow up.  Reviewing the paper work, the specialist initially thought that the pathologist mis-diagnosed the nodule and personally did a second analysis of the nodule removed from my lung.  He confirmed Desert Fever. He has seen this fungus in the Midwest but only in patients who are either snow birds or are lab technicians who accidentally expose themselves to the spores and become infected.

So, how did I contract a disease that modern medical science says it is impossible to contract?  The answer came to me at about 1 am in bed: maybe it was the Holy Spirit in action. In answer to my prayers, my family’s prayers, and the prayers of many in the St. Francis community, the Holy Spirit turned a potentially serious cancer into a harmless nodule.  Sound impossible? If God created the universe and can turn ordinary bread/wine into the Body/Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, changing the molecules of this nodule is no big deal. The Holy Spirit, however, has a sense of humor and turned the nodule into a fungus that is scientifically impossible for me to contract!  It’s like the Holy Spirit saying, “you wanted a sign that your prayers are heard and answered, Raymond – well, here it is.”

There is one last part to this story.  I saw my personal physician in Lake Zurich following my meeting with the specialist.  He told me that he had several phone conversations with the surgeon prior to surgery and that the pre-surgery prognosis was not optimistic.  After the exam, he left the room but returned about 30 seconds later. Standing at the door, he said “I don’t know if you are a religious man, but you are very lucky and have just been given a second life.  God must have something very important for you to do.” My doctor is Jewish and a good friend.

The whole saga of my illness has been very instructive.  It taught me that prayers do matter. Also, there are miracles happening around us every day, but we need to open our hearts and minds to their existence.  It also taught me that it is not possible for us to know God’s plan for us. We just need to trust Him, listen to the seeds He plants in our souls (even at 1 am in the morning), and treat every day as a gift that should be shared with others.  Amen?

Again, my most heart-felt thanks to everyone who kept me in their prayers.  A special thanks to Father Ryan who, with Deacon John, anointed me in the sacristy prior to surgery.  And, of course, to my very special wife, Pam, who was at my side – physically and spiritually – throughout the ordeal. THANK YOU!

May God bless you all,

Ray

Catholic Schools Week | St. Francis de Sales: Best School Ever! | An Essay by Daniel Barker (Jan 18, 2018)

St. Francis de Sales is a fantastic school full of wonderful people. It has an excellent education, many fun activities, as well as being accepting and helpful to all people. I used to wonder why my parents sent me to St. Francis instead of a public school, but after being here for nine years, I know why. I have had many unforgettable experiences and am extremely lucky to have attended the school for nine whole years.

St. Francis has an extremely good education and helps whoever attends the school to become better Catholics. We go to the same classes every day, but learn in different ways throughout the classes. Sometimes we make presentation so we can teach the class ourselves. We also do some projects so we aren't just reading from a textbook all day long. We even work in groups to learn how to solve problems better. These are just some of the examples we learn here at St. Francis de Sales. St. Francis also has great religious education. Every Wednesday the whole school goes to mass where Father Ryan ask questions to help us learn more about our Catholic faith. On the first Friday of the month, we go to First Friday Adoration. Along with going to Church and Adoration, we have religion class every day, where we learn about Jesus and his apostles. The variety of things we learn at St. Francis makes learning enjoyable and makes me want to learn more.

Along with school work, St. Francis has many extracurricular activities. For example, the play and the variety show give kids a chance to perform on stage and showcase their talents for the whole school. There is also various sports to play to stay active and have fun with your friends. Even if you aren't into sports there are still things for you to do. There's a band that performs concerts for the school, and there is many clubs that take place after or before school. The extracurricular activities gives you a break from the school work and a chance to have some fun with your friend. Having basketball or National Junior Honor Society after school gives me something to look forward to even if I'm having a bad day. These activities make St. Francis a great place to have fun and learn at the same time.

Even if you aren't Catholic or come from a different place than us, you are still welcome here and St. Francis. We are accepting to all people and welcome any new students that come here. When we go to mass on Wednesdays, you are still welcome even if you are a different religion. Not only are we accepting to people, but we try to help whoever we can. We make cards for people who are sick or for the veterans of the army. There is  different types of drives like the food drive, and clothing drive that we have to benefit people that are in need of certain things. Around Christmas time we have a tree that is decorated with mittens. The mittens have items that less fortunate people need. People take the mittens, buy the item that's listed on the mitten, and then return it to the church as a wrapped present. The present then go to the people who are in need. Finally, we have the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Every Thursday people who need food can come and get food from our food pantry. The ways that we try to help all people and accept everyone shows that St. Francis is not only a school, it is a community.

Some people may think that the cost is too high to attend St Francis. Although this is a big deal to some people, we will help you throughout your journey. We provide you with help if you are in need of the money. If you think that is just not worth it, it most definitely is. There is experiences here that can be matched in any other school and we want you to experience them with us. So if you think that St. Francis is too much money attend, know that we are here to help you.

St. Francis is a great school that people should attend. If you are in preschool or even an eighth grade, you are still welcome to come here. We have a great education, many fun activities, and are welcoming to all people. No matter what age you are we hope to see you soon at St. Francis de Sales and as father Ryan says “We are all for one and one for all in Jesus Christ.“

Catholic Schools Week | An Essay by Kaylie Freeland (Jan 17, 2018)

This week is Catholic schools week. Catholic schools week is a very fun time for all St. Francis de Sales students. One thing that my school, St. Francis de Sales, does during Catholic schools week is put on a variety show. It is very entertaining. Students get to show off their special talents. Even though Catholic schools week is very fun, it’s time to get down to business. Today I would like to give thanks to our St. Francis de Sales Parish church community.

First, thank you, to anyone who took time out of their day to find it in their kind hearts to donate even just a cent of their money to my school. My school wouldn't be possible without your donations. St. Francis has used your donations for things like Chromebooks and iPads for us students to use. There we can use apps to help us understand what we are learning or to learn something new. For example, there's an app called IXL that we use a lot in Language Arts. This app lets you practice your Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish skills. I think this app is very helpful because it helps me learn new language arts skills. We also use the money to repave the front parking lot. This helped cover a potholes, so it would be safer in the parking lot. Thank you so much for donating money to my school. The students at St. Francis appreciate it very much.

Next, I would like to thank my parents. Thank you so much for sending me to St. Francis de Sales. I love the school so much, I have made so many amazing memories here. All the memory started the moment I walked in. Second grade I came to St. Francis. This was the first school I ever attended where I stayed longer than 2 years. This is because I kept on moving schools and houses. I've attended St. Francis for six years, and I am in eighth grade now. St. Francis is my second home. Thank you Mom and Dad, for sending me to St. Francis.

Finally, I will be telling you why you should send your child or children to St. Francis. Yes, public schools in this area of very good. Yet, Catholic schools have more to offer. First, at St. Francis you can talk about your religion freely. You can talk about God with your classmates. Typically at the end of the day, teachers teach their students a religion class. Also, every Wednesday we go to a school Mass. Usually children in grades one through eight attend Mass. Father Ryan asks questions about our faith during the homily. If you get one right you get a Three Musketeer bar. Next, school is fun. The students get to use technology, whether it's an iPad or a Chromebook. Plus the teachers are very nice and fun. For example, in math, we get to play a fun game called math land. It's a game where there are teams, and each team tries to answer questions right for their team to advance farther on the board. Next, they make the learning atmosphere very comfortable. In addition, St. Francis has many sports programs. Students can sign up for sports that they would like to play. They even play games and tournaments against many other Catholic schools. Finally you don't have to be Catholic to go to St Francis St Francis accepts everyone, no matter their religion. We have many students that aren't Catholic. For example, when they go up for communion at Mass, they get a blessing instead of communion. These are only a few reasons why you should send your child or children to St. Francis.

In conclusion, thank you so much St. Francis parish and parents for everything that you do for our school. I strongly suggest you to send your child to St. Francis. Tha is one decision that you will not regret. Thank you, everyone, for every single thing that you do for St. Francis de Sales Catholic school. It is very much appreciated.

Catholic Schools Week | Reflecting and Moving Forward | An Essay by Spiros Pissios (Jan 22, 2018)

My journey at St. Francis de Sales began on August 25th, 2006. I walked into my first day of preschool and never would I have expected to have such a great experience. This school is a place where I met my friends and grew closer to God for the next 11 years of my life. St. Francis de Sales has been my second home for 11 years and counting. Well being at St. Francis, I am learning beyond what’s essential. Besides learning the core subjects, teachers teach students how to treat others, how to blossom into the person he or she wants to be, and how to become a well-rounded individual. I value my educational experience at St. Francis de Sales because of the safe environment, religious opportunities, and high school preparation.

When I enter the doors of the school, I have this sense of security. It's the same feeling I get when I'm at home with my family. I feel this because of how every teacher and staff member treats each student with respect and kindness. They do whatever they can to make students feel safe and stay safe in the environment. For many of the children, the sense of security is good so they can focus on the class work. St. Francis also is a good place for students to learn more about their religion.

Attending St. Francis de Sales allows me to go to religion class every day for 45 minutes. It's a special time of the day to learn more about faith and how to stay closer to God. While in religion class, students can understand what it truly means to be Catholic. In religion we talked about the history of our church and how many early followers had to persevere to keep the church going throughout the years. Religion class is also a good time to reflect on what we can do to better ourselves and the people around us. Being reminded every day on how we should treat each other the same way we want to be treated.  It's good for every grade level to understand how to treat others with respect and kindness. St. Francis de Sales school not only prepares us spiritually, but also prepares us academically for the next chapter in our life, High School.

Our school is known to be great for high school preparation. Just recently, I shadowed at a Catholic High School. During my stay, the student I was shadowing was taking a test that same day. I took the test and later found out I received the third best score in the class. As the day continued, I felt like I was almost “re-learning”  what I have at St. Francis. This truly shows how well St. Francis prepares their students for the next level. Every year I see past students come back whether it's after graduation are on a day off, and personally thank teachers they've had in the past for helping them start on the right track. I know one day I'll be back doing the same.

Some people who are deciding if they want to send a child or children to St. Francis may be stunned by the tuition fee. It is definitely an investment. I say investment because you invest your money and time into your child's current and future success. I don't think I can ever repay what my parents invested in me between school, sports, and extracurricular activities, and for that I am very thankful.

When I come to the school, I can still remember being in three-year-old preschool with my friends who are still among me today. It's crazy thinking about all of the accomplishments in the last 11 years of my life. The friendships I've made, the knowledge I've gained, and how every action I have made has led me to the person I am today. Without everyone and everything in my life, the person I am today would be absent. When I think of my life, believe it or not, most of it is at Saint Francis de Sales because that's where I grew up. You gave me my morals, dreams, and education. Writing this has made me realize that it is time for me to start the next chapter in my life, but you never forget where it all began. As the Book of Matthew says in verse 16 chapter 18, “ on this rock I will build my church,”  for me, St. Francis is the rock of which I will build my life.

Catholic Schools Week | St Francis de Sales School: A Journey | An Essay by Meredith Modelski (January 17, 2018)

St. Francis de Sales School has shaped me into the person I am today, and there are many reasons why I value my educational experience at the school. It is very easy to take privileges for granted, but when I stop to think about the opportunities St. Francis de Sales School has granted me and so many other children, I learned to appreciate my educational experience even more. If a student attends St. Francis de Sales School, he or she will get a valuable education, will become prepared for high school, and will gain beneficial social skills and relationships.

One of the most important necessities people often overlooked is a valuable education. Sure, all of us here have received some sort of education, but have the things you learned in school helped you to better yourself in the future? Hopefully, your answer is yes, but at St. Francis, you won’t even need to hope; it is guaranteed that the information a student learns will help them later on in life. Not only do the children at St Francis de Sales become well-rounded students from the diverse classes, but they will also learn at a pace that is right for them. With multiple levels of each class, students can understand and grasp information at a rate that suits his or her learning capabilities.

Keeping up good grades is highly praised at St. Francis de Sales School. Since many students are taught to value the importance of keeping their grades up in elementary and middle school, they will be prepared to do the same in high school and in their years beyond. During my years at St. Francis, I have learned the benefits that come with carrying about the work, time, and effort being put into school. Because of St. Francis’ praise and encouragement to maintain commendable grade averages, I know that I will be determined to do just as well, if not better in my high school years, and years beyond.  One positive thing about the grading scale provided at St. Francis de Sales School is that it is more stringent compared to other schools, so the students that attend SFS are likely to easily succeed when they are presented with a more lenient grading scale in the future.

Along with education provided at SFS, the social skills and relationships that I’ve developed during my time at the school has had a positive effect on my life. Since the children at St. Francis de Sales School range in ages from 3 to 14, I’ve learned to socialize with many different children of all ages. The sports and clubs offered at SFS have helped me make so many friends during my experience here. I am involved in many school activities, but one that has really shaped me as a person are the musicals. I always had a goal to be in the musicals ever since I was very young at St Francis. Little did I know that I would end up creating so many friendships that would last forever just by being more involved. I developed a strong interest in singing, acting, and in general, entertaining just from being in the school musicals; they are always something to look forward to after the school day. Being in the oldest grade of the school automatically makes the 8th graders role models for the rest of the school students. This helps us to set a good example for the younger grades and to learn to be more aware of our actions.  Since all children are welcome at St. Francis de Sales School, the students here are taught to be kind and accepting towards each other. Something that brings nearly every student closer together is the faith-based education. If you send your child to St. Francis, they will develop a closer relationship with God. Not all schools offer religious education, but St. Francis de Sales School can help any student grow closer to his or her faith. When I came to St. Francis in first grade, I didn’t know much about my own religion. Now as an eighth grader, I have a much better understanding of my religion, and I have grown closer to God throughout my journey at St Francis.

Some people believe there are too many sacrifices families must be willing to take they are sending the children to St. Francis de Sales, but there are many more positive effects and benefits overall. Money is often a big concern, but the overall decision is worth it in the end and will benefit the student greatly in the future. I know that my parents feel they made the right decision when they sent me here, and I feel that the benefits of the great education outweighed any negative concerns. Another worry among incoming students at St. Francis maybe that they will have to wear uniforms. Coming from a school that didn’t have uniforms, at first I wasn’t all that excited myself. I can now confidently say that uniforms actually have had a positive effect on my life at school. Uniforms reduce the amount of time it takes for students to get ready in the morning, and they can eliminate judgment that comes with comparing clothing.

Overall, by sending your child to St. Francis de Sales School, they will receive a valuable education, they will become prepared for high school, they will gain valuable relationships and social skills. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to learn and grow here for the past 8 years. It has taught me that I can accomplish my dreams and goals if I put my mind to it. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” St. Francis has taught me to believe in the beauty of my own dreams that I can accomplish anything. Children will thrive with St. Francis de Sales’ positive environment that will benefit them for their entire life.  I know I have, and all of the lessons I’ve learned here at St. Francis will stay with me forever.

A Blue Ribbon Thank You! A Speech given by Principal Kyle Schmitt

St Francis de Sales School Principal, Kyle Schmitt, spoke at all masses the weekend of November 24th & 25th to reflect on the Blue Ribbon Award. Below is his speech.

The occasion for my remarks today are to give thanksgiving. As some of you may have heard, or seen from the new banners flying on the parish buildings or in the narthex, our school has won its second Blue Ribbon Award. We won the award in 2007 and now again in 2018. I am here today to share with you what that means exactly.

I want to start with some facts. There are approximately 130,000 total public and private schools in the United States. Of those 130,000, 349 schools received the Blue Ribbon Award this year. That equates to 0.2% of the schools in the United States. 300 of those schools were public, and 49 were private. Right now, we are among the 49 best private schools in the country. That is what this award means and that is what we are claiming and celebrating today.

The Blue Ribbon Award program began in 1982 and since it’s inception over the last 26 years less than 9000 schools have received the distinction at some point which is ~14% of the 130,000 schools. Please note that a school is only eligible to apply once every five years. Of the 9000 schools that have received the award, less than 10% of schools have received it more than once. As a two-time award winning school we are part of that very select group.

Theresa Grom, our assistant principal, and I had the honor and privilege of traveling to Washington DC last week to accept the award at the ceremony. But it is the entire parish community that has won this award. We all had a hand in this achievement. God deserves the first praise. All the glory and honor are ultimately his and his alone. Our primary reason for existing as a Catholic school is to bring our students to know, love, and serve God the father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit. That is our mission.

Without the support of Father Ryan and you, the parish, our school would not have won this award. Fr. Ryan’s unwavering commitment and support are inspirational. It takes a sizable investment of financial resources to build and maintain the program of academic excellence we have at St. Francis de Sales. Tuition, paid by families, covers a bit more than half of the total cost of education per student. Fundraising contributes a modest amount as well. The remainder of the investment, which represents about a third of the total cost per pupil, is provided by Fr. Ryan to the school on behalf of the parish. The parish investment allows us to not only keep our doors open, but to remain affordable to all families that seek a Catholic education, and to invest in achieving excellence in our programs.     

And of course we would not be a school of excellence without our wonderful students and parents, our dedicated faculty and staff, and our many generous volunteers, donors, and other special friends - many of whom were able to join us two Wednesdays ago in a celebration party.

So thank you for having me here to share this news with you and thank you for your support of our successes. After mass, I will be at a table in the gathering space if you’d like to stop by, ask questions about the award, chat about your alumni story, or buy Christmas Cards designed by our art club students.