It has been a great year at Holy Name.  The students have maintained good behavior, good grades, and a positive spirit.  We look forward to the Spring and all the optimism and joy this season brings.  As always, time does fly, and we consistently remind our students and each other to reflect with prayer and give thanks to God for all of life’s blessings.

I hope that you and yours have a happy, healthy, safe, and blessed February Vacation!

We have been extremely pleased at Holy Name with the number of interviews for acceptance and shadow experiences that have been recently scheduled.  There is a great deal of enthusiasm about our school, and I appreciate all that our community has done to spread the word about the Good Works ocurring everyday at our wonderful school.  Many interested families have indicated that they have arrived at Holy Name via the guidance and advice of current and past Holy Name families.  I thank all for the positive words they share with the greater community!

I would also like to commend our current students who either tour families or guide prospective students on their shadow days.  Without fail, I hear about how friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable our student ambassadors are.  It is evident that our students take great pride in their school and enthusiastically share this with others.  Please continue to speak well of Holy Name; the support of our families and friends makes Holy Name What a 21st Century Catholic School Should Be.

We are asking students to sell ad space in the Spring Musical Program. We have instructed them to visit businesses, places of work, places of worship, family, and friends in order to solicit support of Holy Name through these advertisements. Ads can cost as little as ten dollars for a Best Wishes line advertisement. Prizes and incentives will be awarded to student salespersons throughout the drive. Although we use the Spring Musical Program as a basis for this drive, it is important to recognize that funds raised are directed not only to the theater but also to the other extra curricular groups.

I would encourage all members of the Holy Name community to be supportive of the students as they undertake this endeavor. It is essential that students recognize the sacrifice that parents, faculty, and staff make in order to for them to attend this wonderful Catholic school; it is also important that they do their part to support the community. This is an opportunity for them to do so. May God Bless You and Yours. Enjoy this weekend. Go Pats!

Next month’s Advisory Board Question also involves uniforms and will be sent by Dr. Audette next week. The question seeks suggestions concerning the concept of selling uniform items such as shirts, sweaters, and skirts through the bookstore. To make this switch would involve a great deal of thought regarding the process, and we would only pursue such an avenue if we had the support of parents. Please respond to this thoughtfully and carefully, so that if we do make this transition, we minimize any pitfalls.

At the same time, we are working to increase the availability of Holy Name spirit wear through the bookstore. We have had conversations with various suppliers to find a way to use on-line resources, including our web site and pay pal button, to make it easier for parents and other community members to purchase a greater variety of spirit wear items. We are attempting to establish relationships with vendors that would allow for us to offer some items by order only so that we do not run the risk of maintaining an extraordinary and idle inventory. Again, any positive sugestions in this realm are greatly appreciated and can be sent in response to the Question of the Month.

I hope that all enjoy what is left of this winter; please take the time to cherish each day and give thanks to God for each blessing that comes your way.

We were fortunate this year to be able to hire a production company to videotape both performances and also film interviews with members of the group. Over the next month, this company will be editing this raw footage and producing and duplicating a DVD that highlights the work of SMASH at Holy Name. We will be distributing these DVD’s to Catholic and public elementary schools as well as CCD classes throughout the Diocese. We hope that these DVD’s will be shown often as we spread the Good Works of Holy Name High School.

We will also be sending out a representation of SMASH to select schools to perform live for younger students. Unfortunately, we can not satisfy the incrceasingly large demand for this group as we are hesitant to send the students out too often; their first responsibility as students is to their academics. We are, as always, extremely proud of our student body as they live out the Mission of Holy Name High School: to study and apply the Gospel values and moral principles of Jesus Christ.

There are usually so many exciting events going on at Holy Name: Christmas Concerts, basketball games featuring the current number one boys and girls teams, preparation for the Spring Musical; it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the day to day interaction of our outstanding faculty and staff and our wonderful student body is what makes Holy Name such a joy.  As I walk the hallways every day, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be part of such a fine educational community where members behave appropriately and treat each other with the greatest respect. 

As we head into this new year refreshed and reenergized, we also rededicate ourselves to providing Christian role models and witnesses to our most valueable resource, the students graciously sent to our school.  May you receive all of God’s Mercies and Blessings in this coming year!

We salute the hard work and preparation done by Mrs. Nancy Ackerman and Mr. Stephen Thompson as well and the band and chorus officers, sections leaders, and all performers.  We are indeed fortunate to have such talent in our school community.

For me, these concerts set the mood for the Christmas Holiday.  During these concerts, we can find peace in the clamor and chaos that unfortunately have become part of this season as merchants and advertisers try to outdo one another.  We are blessed to be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our savior, in song and in prayer as we come together.  These concerts give us time to reflect and join together in meditation.

In this meditation, we will pray for the Davies family who mourn the worldly loss of Jon, their son, brother, and father.  We pray that their faith and memories of Jon sustain them as we celebrate not only the birth of Jesus but also the rebirth to God’s hands that Jon now and we all one day will realize.

It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of Jon Davies, Holy Name Class of 1986, who was delivered to God on Thursday morning.  The prayers of our students, faculty, staff, families, and friends are offered in the hope that Jon’s family, friends, and fellow firefighters can find comfort in their faith and in their memories of Jon.

Of all the new additions to the school this year, I would have to rank this new approach to Campus Ministry near the top.  I am extremely proud of how our students and faculty have responded, engaging in activities as varied as landscaping the campus to making rosary beads for the troops to founding Holy Name chapters of Big Brother/Big Sister, Habitat for Humanity, and Be Like Brit.  I am especially proud that students, knowing that they are not required to participate, have all found some ministry initiative to connect with and have participated fully and enthusiastically. 

This committment to ministry is a shining example of what makes this school special.  To be able to rely on the kind and giving nature of our students and faculty as well as the student body’s ability to meet expectations of responsibility and behavior makes Holy Name a great place where wonderful things happen every day.  As we continue in this season of Advent, let us pray for the continued good works and well being of the Holy Name community! 

Next week is a short school week; however, we will have a number of very special events taking place.  On Tuesday, at 9:oo, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Mass with Bishop Reuger.  At this Mass, our Auxiliary Bishop will install fifteen Holy Name seniors as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.  We invite all members of the Holy Name community to join us at Mass.

On Tuesday after lunch, we will return to the auditorium to listen to Chris Herren, a former professional athlete who has reformed after some difficult and challanging times.  Mr. Herren’s message of transformation will be framed in the context of  faith and family, and our students will leave on Tuesday with an understanding of and thanks for these most important of God’s gifts in their lives.

On Thanksgiving Day, our football team will play Wachusett at ten o’clock at Worcester State College.  Alumni are encouraged to come early and take advantage of a hospitality table serving cofee and donuts.  We hope for nice weather and wish both teams and all players the best of luck.  We wish you and yours a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!