Dear St. Mary Families,
One of the habits we hope to cultivate in our students is the ability to recognize life as gift.
This week, our students encounter many different forms of that gift: good books at the Ignatius Book Fair, the memory of those who have gone before us through All Souls, the mercy of God in Confession, and the grace of gathering together at Mass.
Even learning itself is something we receive before it becomes something we achieve.
A beautiful story, a great teacher, a difficult question, a moment of discovery, or the wisdom handed down from generations before us can awaken something in a child that was not there before.
As we prepare for Parent-Teacher Conferences next week, we are also reminded that every child brings particular gifts, strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth. These conversations are an important part of our partnership with families as we seek to understand each child more fully and help them continue to grow.
Our goal is not simply to fill our students with knowledge, but to help them become people capable of recognizing what is true, good, and beautiful—and responding with gratitude.
Scripture for the Journey — Reflect Beauty
“Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above.” — James 1:17
Beauty begins with receiving.
When children learn to notice what is good—a beautiful piece of music, a generous act, a meaningful story, the order of creation, or the love of another person—they begin to recognize that these things ultimately point beyond themselves.
To reflect beauty is first to behold it, receive it with gratitude, and then allow it to shape the way we live.
We hope our students increasingly learn to see the world not merely as something to use, but as something to receive with wonder and stewardship.
Seek Truth. Choose Goodness. Reflect Beauty.
In Christ,
Eric Pfeifer
Principal