Tomorrow our school reopens for the year. Goodbye summer!

The first day of school is always one of excitement and potential! Parents rejoice, and children mourn as school bells ring. Remember that when you work and study, you are using the gifts that God has given you. He doesn’t give gifts without a purpose. Work has inherent dignity, that is often lost on modern man. We can be so focused on immediate gratification, that the long plan of education loses its shine by Labor Day.

A special word of support to our children who return to school this week: I pray for a peaceful year filled with energy and enthusiasm all year! I have been asking the children about returning to school, and it seems that many are excited to return, in-person and see their friends. But, none have expressed being tired of summer vacation…. surprise, surprise.

Did you know that our diocese has two patron saints? St. Thomas More and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton! St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is also one of several patron saints for schools. She was a wife, mother, and founder of a religious order dedicated to education. We know for sure that she can relate to the many pressures faced by modern families having to juggle so many demands! I have a relic of St. EAS, and I will be asking her to bless and intercede for our families and children who are returning to school!

Thanks to Google, I found a lovely article (tinyurl.com/2nhz6s4n) that contained this prayer for her intercession in the new school year:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, you were a teacher who helped your students grow in their love for Jesus every day. Please ask Him to watch over our children as they begin their studies this year, to give their teachers the wisdom, strength and patience they need in their classrooms, and to help us—their parents—to know how to support them as they become the people God wants them to be. Amen.

Thanks for praying that by reading it just now!

pax,

Father John Mosimann