Letter from the Pastor
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June 20, 2021
Happy Father’s Day! As Pope Francis wrote, “Fathers are not born, but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way he becomes a father to that person.”
In the family, there are defined roles that are very important; when a particular role is not fulfilled, there is a deficiency in family life. Many times, through quite heroic measures, that deficiency is overcome in single parent families. Every child needs their mother and a father.
In normal circumstances the man is called upon to live out his gift and role as husband and father. His first love must be for his wife, who also is the mother of his children. The greatest example the father can give to his children is to love their mother. He teaches his children how to love their future spouses; by the way he treats their mother. This love belongs to the very essence of fatherhood.
Studies after studies have shown the absence of the father causes psychological and moral imbalance and notable difficulties in family relationships.
A true and good father is called to ensure the healthy development of his family. A father needs to provide for the family, to be concerned for the education of his children, especially in the Faith. A father needs to teach his boys, how to become a man of virtue, to love in a uniquely manly way. He needs to bring unity and stability in the family. He needs to be the protector of his family, not only in the ways of the world, but also the faith.
In this Year of St. Joseph, there is no greater model of fatherhood, than St. Joseph. From all eternity, St. Joseph was destined to be the husband of the Blessed Virgin, the foster father of Jesus.The Church down through the centuries attributed seven virtues of St. Joseph:- Most Just, without partiality or human respect.
- Most Chaste, according to their married state of life.
- Most Prudent, in knowing God’s will through constant prayer.
- Most Valiant in courageously accepting the cross every moment of the day.
- Most Obedient in seeing every event as part of divine Providence and responding with, “Here I am Lord. I am ready to do Your will.”
- Most Faithful in loving their wives with perfect fidelity, and their children with tireless generosity.
- Manly Courage to protect their wives and children from the plots of the modern Herods who are inspired by the evil spirit to destroy the Christian family in the modern world.
Like good moms, it is difficult to be a good Christian father, but well worth the struggle to know you help to create, along with your wife, a future saint.
“St. Joseph, Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.”
SMS GraduationLast Friday evening, our School held its 65th Graduation Ceremony. 22 of our students were graduated and became alumni of SMS. We congratulate them and their families. 20 of the students will continue with Catholic Education in High School. The majority of this year’s class will attend Albertus Magnus High School. The others are venturing off to that foreign land of “New Jersey”!
This year’s class welcomed 8 students from Sacred Heart in Suffern, which sadly closed last year. We were so happy they came here to experience SMS, albeit for only one year. The graduation was held on the Feast of the Sacred Heart!
Our school opened up in September and operated every day through the pandemic. We owe so much to the dedication, hard work and love of our Principal, Mrs. Maldonado, the faculty, who were was so challenged in teaching this year, our teacher’s aides, our secretaries and especially our maintenance crew who scrubbed and sanitized the classrooms, the bathrooms and hallways several times each day.
What a year! And we survived and prospered through it all.