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He is Risen! Alleluia! In the 50 days after Easter, until Pentecost and the descent of the Holy Spirit, we are immersed in the Easter Season, a time of great joy, hope, and promise.

A home in our neighborhood was listed for sale this past weekend, so my husband and I decided to take a peek during the Open House. The owners, who had purchased the house new nearly 40 years ago, had completed some remarkable upgrades, doing away with the 80’s style appointments and opting for a more modern feel. Change can be a good thing, and we certainly see that demonstrated in the frequent style shifts in clothing, cars, furniture, and hair over the years.

For my eldest grandchild’s 12th birthday, I purchased a weekly subscription to a junior news magazine in hopes that it would introduce him to a broader understanding of the world around him. The magazine includes articles on sports, science, and nature, as well as current events, which will hopefully act as a catalyst to inspire daily conversations and help him learn how to form his own opinions and point of view.

“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old they will not swerve from it,” (Proverbs 22:6) is a well-known passage from the Wisdom Books in the Old Testament that offer insight and advice. This particular verse emphasizes the role of parents in guiding the formation of their children.

We are thrilled to share that our St. Michael's School won the Regional Academic Junior High Decathlon Championship held at St. Augustine High School on March 7. Competing against 36 other teams in the Diocese, our students fought hard in every event and demonstrated incredible determination, focus, and teamwork throughout the competition.

Four score and three years ago, American Psychologist Abraham Maslow published his motivational theory describing a hierarchy of needs. At the most basic level, human beings require their Psychological needs to be met: air, water, food, and shelter, for example. The second level is Safety, specifically security, employment, and health.

The central focus of the Mass is, of course, the Eucharistic, where we gratefully receive the presence of Christ and all of the graces He bestows on us as we go about our work and play. Scripture readings provide important teachings and lessons, and the priest’s homily helps us understand the relevance in today’s world. One homily, given a number of years ago by a visiting priest still resonates strongly in my memory, not because of the theological content, but because of the

My first two posts in the new year addressed some recommendations on Resolutions, not only for you, but for your children and grandchildren. My first suggestion centered on the importance of music, and the second on gardening. Catholic Schools Week and the Crusader Benefit posts interrupted my cycle, so today I conclude with my final bit of advice: Teach Financial Literacy.

Last Friday, we welcomed our grandparents to join us for breakfast, classroom visits, and Mass. It is one of my favorite events of the year because we witness not only the connections among our families and our faith, but also the deep and enduring importance of relationships. The gym was filled to overflowing with more than 300 grandparents from near and far, introducing themselves and sharing with one another their stories.

Over the summer, my husband and I traveled to Minnesota for his 50th (public) high school reunion. Of the approximately 50 attendees, a third of the group, including my husband, had matriculated from the local Catholic elementary school -- St. Joseph’s.

As I shared with you in last week’s memo, the new year provides for us the opportunity to begin anew (Nunc Coepi) by resolving to make some improvements, not only our own day-to-day routines, but also by making a concerted effort to elicit some positive changes for our children and grandchildren. I was pleased to receive responses from several of you affirming the value of music – both playing and listening -- as a means to foster intellectual as well as emotional development

The start of the new year also marks the end of the regular NFL football season, and while San Diegans do not have a home team to root for, we fondly remember the days when the Chargers called “Amerca’s Finest City” their base. So, when Philip Rivers temporarily came out of retirement as signal caller in three of the last four Indianapolis Colts games, I watched him with delight.