Our Spiritual Theme
Our Spiritual Theme: We Walk by Faith
This year, all diocesan schools will study Matthew 14: 22-33 and the lessons therein. This passage recounts when Jesus walked on water to his disciples in rough seas, when Peter was called out of the boat to walk to him, but fell out of fear, and when the disciples declared, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” There is much to learn about our God and the power of faith in this passage, and we pray that our focus on this theme will inspire our students to truly live their lives as a "walk of faith."
Each month, we will focus on a different gift of the Holy Spirit, who enables and strengthens our faith:
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.
We ask families to join us in the study of this theme, and welcome you to adopt our theme prayer for the year, the Act of Faith:
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches.
Amen.
Spiritual Reflection by Dr. De Angelo, Superintendent of Schools
Remember in elementary school when you were expected to identify verb tenses – simple, progressive, perfect, and even perfect progressive? Without providing a complicated grammar lesson, let’s stay with the simple tenses – past, present, and future.
Look at our theme for this school year – We Walk by Faith. In what simple tense is the verb?
Hopefully, you successfully identified it as present tense. So what does this all mean? We Walk by Faith says that our faith walk is an active process underway right now. It’s neither completed, regardless of where we are in age, wisdom, family or work life, nor are we in some stage preparing for our big or best life. We are right where we belong in our faith walk with its opportunities and joys as well as its challenges and sorrows.
What is the Lord calling us to do? Very simply, “Come.” Keep walking with him and trust in him. That’s what faith is – not knowing what’s ahead but believing it will be what it should because the Lord loves us. And he will never abandon us. So let’s keep moving forward as this new school year begins. Let us live up to the name we acknowledge ourselves to be – Christian, believers in Jesus Christ and follower in his walk.
Welcome, Ms. Sosa!
We have a final update related to staffing for this year! As announced earlier this summer, we are working with Huntington Learning Center, which previously provided Reading Support services for SAS, to staff the Advanced Math courses for middle school and Math Support lessons for K-5th graders. The teacher assigned to these tasks is Ms. Isabella Sosa.
Ms. Sosa is a dedicated educator with a background in both classroom teaching and program development. A proud Fordham University graduate, she spent seven years teaching elementary students in New York City before transitioning to a role as Assistant Director at Huntington Learning Center here in Delaware. There, she developed innovative programs, tutored students across all grade levels, and provided SAT preparation. Outside of her professional life, Isabella enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her three cats.
Please offer her a warm welcome to this larger role in our community!
Student Life Notes
Middle School Orientation Workshop: August 27
An orientation meeting and workshop is scheduled for students in grades 6-8 on the morning of August 27 to help set the tone for the year and prepare students for what they can expect in the world of middle school. This will take place as a normal part of the school day, and is intended for students alone.
Topics will include classwork and homework procedures and expectations, use of school technology, school schedule rotations, school culture and spirituality, and other middle-school specific information. This is designed to help students take ownership of their leaning experience and build student skills which they will need upon entry to high school! Important related information will be shared with parents following this session.
Diocesan Events to Note:
CYO Joseph A. McNesby, Jr. Golf Outing (Wednesday, September 18) - The 32nd Annual CYO Joseph A. McNesby, Jr. Golf Outing will be held at Deerfield Golf Club in Newark. Proceeds support youth and athletic programs that benefit the young people within our diocese and community. More information on contributing to this event by becoming a sponsor, donor, and/or registering to golf can be found online.
As you know, volunteers play an essential role in programming and events. Please contact Jen Watson in the CYM Office if you are interested in volunteering. We would be most grateful for any time you could spend with us, even if it is a couple of hours covering contests or games on the course.
Diocesan Eucharistic Congress (Saturday, October 5) – Register now for a Spiritual Journey! Join Bishop Koenig and our diocesan family on October 5, 2024, at the Ocean City Convention Center for the Eucharistic Congress, "The Eucharist: The Source and Summit." This day-long event will deepen our faith and strengthen our community through worship, reflection, and celebration. Don't miss this powerful opportunity to reconnect with the core of our Catholic identity! Register at https://www.cdow.org/EucharisticCongress/
