Is There Something in the Water?
SHE SAID YES! AGAIN!
Ok, ok...what are we doing here? Is there something in the water? Is it the way we brew coffee in the teacher's lounge?
Last night, after Eucharistic adoration at nearby St. Helena's parish, Casey O'Donnell, beloved teacher of English and theology, got engaged to the esteemed (and fortunate) John Gillenkirk.
Our intrepid school photographers can't be everywhere, so we didn't capture the moment this time. But the photo above is Casey this morning, leaning against our faculty lounge credenza (the counter and chest of drawers where we make our apparently very special brew of coffee). Can you see the glow, not only radiating from her face, but on that left hand?
John and Casey built that credenza for us last summer. It's not the last thing they'll build together. And it's a tangible monument to all the love and energy, holiness and goodness that Casey has poured into this school.
Thank you, Miss O'Donnell, and congratulations, John and Casey!
One other thing: the photo below is Casey and Miss Laura Lindmeier three weeks ago. They were at the Vatican during Holy Week, and for Pope Francis's final blessing on Easter Sunday in St. Peter's square. For the second year in a row, Casey chaperoned our senior class Rome pilgrimage. Back in the fall, she also created and led our first student retreat, by the sea (remember that?). She's also one of the faculty mentors for Martin Saints' student government, our council of House prefects. All that, as well as practical things like building a cupboard in the teacher's lounge and excellence in the classroom. These are the kind of things we have in mind when we say thank you, Miss O'Donnell.
In fact, as it happens, today is National Teacher Appreciation Day. Right at this moment, Mrs. Melissa Tomko (remember her) from our Parents Association is down the hall, laying out a gorgeous lunch for the whole faculty team. Thank you, MSC parents. Thank you, MSC faculty and staff.
This is how we do it. This is how we build a new school from scratch. It's actually not a secret ingredient in the water or the coffee. It's teamwork building on God's grace. It's brilliant, dedicated teachers who bring their whole selves to their vocation, in partnership with families culturally, academically, financially, practically, and spiritually. All for the sake of the students and the renewal the Church. Thanks be to God for his invitation to do this beautiful work together. Amen!
