Full Circle

“The road is not long with good company.”

Turkish Proverb

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. Also important to note were several alumni parents who reconnected with other alumni parents – each of their grandchildren now enrolled at SMS. The bonds established a generation ago are still alive and well today!

Human beings are inherently social, and heavily rely on other people – family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers – to provide them with comfort, affirmation, and purpose. Jesus certainly demonstrated this during His ministry on Earth and we, as His disciples, are called to do the same. Our interactions play an important role in our long-term emotional health, and as with anything worthwhile, it requires a bit of effort. While we might prefer to regularly feast on an In-n-Out Double-Double, animal style, with fries and a milkshake, we know that a diet rich in fat and sugar is not healthy for us, so we work to balance our diet and deny our cravings. Lounging around the house on the weekends might sound ideal, but we have to exercise regularly to ensure our muscles and bones stay strong. And while it might be psychologically satisfying to buy a new car, furniture, or designer clothing, it is essential that we are financially responsible and live within our means. We make choices every day, and our decisions shape our future. So, too, do we make conscious choices about our relationships.

At this time in your lives, families and work consume the bulk of your time, but establishing friendships is also important, as it will reap long-lasting rewards, both physically and mentally. That is why I am encouraging all of you to consider joining us Saturday, February 28, in the Holy Family Center for our annual Crusader Benefit – An Athenian Soiree. Yes, this is a fundraiser to help us generate funding for campus security, but the main focus of this event is community building, sharing our common bonds, and establishing connections and friendships that will span a lifetime. Costumes are not required – just come and enjoy the sumptuous food, stunning decorations, and incredible entertainment. For our newer school parents, especially in the younger grades, your journey as a Crusader family is just starting. As your children are forging lifelong friendships, you, too, have an opportunity to create those valuable connections as well. And who knows, one day, 25 years from now, you may be sitting in the gym at the Grandparents’ Breakfast, full circle, reconnecting with parents you are meeting today!

Please check out the link below and consider purchasing tickets for this amazing event. We are keeping our ticket prices fixed at $85 (or $175 for VIP), so get together with others in your child’s homeroom and join us for a memorable night out! I do hope to see you there.

Deo Gratias, Kathy P.S. Grandparents, if you are in town, you can help us out as well by offering to babysit your grandchildren!

Purchase Tickets Here