Reflection for February 25, 2022:

OLMC Family,

As I sit here reflecting on this week, this year…the last 23 months to be exact, I can’t help but have extreme mixed emotions regarding the events beginning on March 13, 2020 to now.  When all this began, there were so many heated emotions surrounding the shutdown of schools, moves to remote learning, and the overall uncertainty which surrounded the COVID 19 pandemic.  Fear and confusion gripped everyone in many different ways and for our schools, this meant taking everything we knew about education and educating students and seemingly throwing it out the window. 

Learning on the fly became the norm for administrators, teachers and families/students alike.  Change became the expectation and adapting to yesterday’s changes long enough for today’s changes to alter those adaptations became second-hand.  Teachers and administration alike tried as best they could to field questions to which they didn’t have answers to in hopes of comforting families, students, and themselves as they attempted to navigate a very difficult reality.  From the beginning, it was confusion, anger and frustration coming from all angles and sleep...well, forget about that. 

Slowly things began to unify and all of us seemed to accept (as best we could) the hand that was dealt to us both medically and politically.  People “showed up” and they supported one another.  The ideal, regardless of which “side” of the opinion-fence one stood on any matter, that we were “all in this together” was solid.  We had each other’s back.  Most of us thought we had our arms around this thing and that we would see one another through it to the other side when we would all celebrate things being “back to normal”. 

Another year came and went and although the vision of “normal” didn’t become a realization, we slowly grew to be comfortable in this new world.  Many fell into such comfort that they disregarded the unfortunate fact that there are powers which regulate policy well beyond any of us.  Again, frustration grew and so too did apathy.  Even as we made progress it was never fast enough.  I would be lying if I said I didn’t often feel this way myself however, my opinion is irrelevant when it comes to policy.  The responsibility of balancing 255 students, 212 families, and 50 staff members takes precedence over any opinion or personal issue I may have.  I understand this all too well and accept it fully. 

Now, we are preparing to enter into the season of Lent.  For many, this is what the past couple years has felt like. Comparable to wandering in the desert for 40 days without knowing when it will end, when the resurrection will happen.  This season however is different.  We know there is an end in sight regardless of whether or not it fits in our timeline.  We know that we are leaving one “season” and possibly entering into another one.  Yet here we are.  For each of us, each of you, the question is what comes next. 

There has been a great amount of grace and support at times throughout this past season and at other times, none at all.  We have persevered and as we move forward, we will do what we always do, prepare to do it again.  My prayer for this upcoming Lenten season is that, in each of our individual journeys, we draw ourselves closer to God and His will in our lives.  In doing so, perhaps we will enter into an understanding that, COVID aside, as God’s people, we are still all in this together: To support, protect, and assist each other in the process of healing, of growing forward.  Regardless of what the future holds, our mission to be more Christ-like; to grow disciples; to be saints has not changed.  This process, this submission to God’s will is no more easier or difficult now than it was before.  Our choices simply have changed as a whole.  Perhaps this Lent we will examine ourselves hard enough to ask the difficult question if, in our anger, our frustration and apathy, we have simply chose to serve ourselves more than we have chosen to serve God. 

As we watch the world unfold in front of us over the next few weeks, I hope we can come together to support one another more so than tear each other down.  The season is here, the setting is provided however, the choice remains up to us.  God is waiting.

May God keep you and bless you, and grant you His peace.

Mr. Swann – Principal OLMC

 Update February 1^st, 2022:

Good afternoon OLMC Family!  Here we are, February 1^st can you believe it!?!  Only four months left in this school year.  Reflecting on this had me thinking of the past two years plus that this school has gone through and the impact of so many people over the course of that time which helped us remain successful.  I can’t imagine where we would be without our staff and faculty but equally important, without all of you. 

Catholic Schools Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate our faith and our students.  As more and more Catholic schools are closing throughout our country, ours continues to flourish.  As anyone who attended the 11:00 o’clock mass this past Sunday can attest, our school makes a difference; our students make a difference; and YOU make a difference in how successful we can be here at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  Believe me, it is easy to get caught up in negativity and fear; it is understandable to get wrapped up in the defeated attitude that the devil would prefer us to be in.  However, as I stood in mass on Sunday my feelings were affirmed that these negative sentiments cannot survive in an environment which God Himself is leading.  Don’t be confused, that doesn’t mean it is always going to be easy.  If anything, these past two years have proved that.  Likewise, they have proved that God is stronger than whatever we could possibly face. 

On behalf of our school and our children, I want to thank you for all your prayers, your support, and your involvement in our school both current and future.  Our success is predicated on your commitment.  I firmly believe that the success we have enjoyed gives evidence to that commitment.  I look forward to seeing our students continue to thrive and grow and, with your continued prayers, see our school continue to do that same thing. 

Thank you.  May God continue to bless you, your families. 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Pray for us. 

 

Mr. Swann – Principal