Dear SSJ Catholic Community,
As you read this, SSJ Catholic School will have been back in session for a week and a half. As we begin another school year, we continue to focus on following the mission of SSJ Church, the Diocese of Orange, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Most importantly, we remain committed to making the good of each student our highest priority as we help them grow throughout their spiritual, academic, and personal journeys at SSJ.
As I read through this week’s Gospel a couple of times, two parts really struck me and left me with several questions.
First, what was Jesus thinking as He began telling His disciples that He would suffer, be crucified, and rise again? Was He thinking about the joy of the Resurrection that would come three days later? Was He afraid of the suffering He knew was ahead? Was there part of Him that wished His disciples could somehow help Him avoid what was coming? Or, knowing how the story would end, was it difficult not to reveal everything to them?
Second, Jesus tells His disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
What does it really mean for each of us to take up our cross? Does that happen once in our lives, or do we encounter different crosses throughout our journey? Are some crosses heavier than others? Does the weight of those crosses feel different depending on where we are in our relationship with God?
I often wonder whether we will ever receive all the answers to questions like these. Maybe some answers will only come much later. Or perhaps the answers become clearer as we continue to pray, learn, serve others, and strengthen our relationship with God.
In many ways, these questions remind me of what happens every day at SSJ Catholic School.
Our students come to us with questions—lots of them! As administrators, teachers, and staff members, part of our responsibility is helping students search for answers. But an equally important part of Catholic education is inspiring them to ask new questions. We want our students to be curious. We want them to wonder, investigate, challenge themselves, and seek a deeper understanding of the world God has created.
Those questions are an important part of their growth throughout their years at SSJ, just as the questions we ask about our faith are an important part of our own spiritual formation. We may not always have the answers immediately, but there is tremendous value in continuing to seek them.
Please keep the entire SSJ Catholic School community in your prayers as we begin the 180-school-day journey ahead. Pray for our students, our families, our faculty and staff, and all those who will help make this year special.
And if you are so inclined, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at [email protected] with your thoughts on any of the questions above. What do you think Jesus may have been thinking as He prepared His disciples for what was to come? What does “taking up your cross” mean in your own life? Or, simply, what have you learned during your own spiritual journey that could help me continue to grow as a Catholic school administrator?
I certainly do not have all the answers—and maybe that is part of the journey.
Sincerely,
Mr. Brett Minter
Principal