Letter from President of Schools

Dear Parents,

We have experienced a difficult and confusing few weeks in our community. I thank all of you for your prayers and concern for the health and success of our community. While I know that many of us are still processing recent events, I believe we are starting down a promising path toward healing. In the midst of our challenges, there are many signs of hope and reminders of the incredible blessings we experience as a community at this time of year. To name just a few that have occurred this week, we celebrated the induction of our newest members of the National Honor Society at the High School; our second graders attended Eucharistic adoration in preparation to make their First Communion starting this past weekend; and the Parish hosted a beautiful retreat last Friday for our eighth graders who will be confirmed in a few short weeks. God is so good.

Another blessing is that the events of the past few weeks have provided opportunities for reflection, learning, and improvement. To that end, Father Mark and I met with the entire faculty of Shrine Schools, with the purpose of listening to their perspectives and concerns and communicating to them the Parish’s appreciation of all that they do for their students and this community. I have also asked the Archdiocese to commence a review of recent events so that we will gain their independent perspective on how we can best handle sensitive situations going forward. I will involve the Unified School Board in this process and continue to welcome your input, as always.

As we chart a path forward with eyes fixed on Christ, I think we need go back to the fundamental questions. Why do our Schools exist? What purpose do they serve? In short and at their core, Shrine’s Schools exist to form missionary disciples who joyfully share the message of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ’s Church to all the world, making a meaningful contribution to the culture. To be clear: Our schools have and will continue to teach the Truth in all its fullness. We do so with compassion and understanding, but also with a spirit of confidence that these Truths are the key to human happiness and flourishing.

In conclusion, know of my intense prayer, and the prayers of all the Shrine priests, for healing, reconciliation, and rebirth. The Easter season is one in which we are reminded of the gift of peace, which the resurrected Christ bestowed upon the disciples. May God envelop us in that abiding peace. And as we journey toward Pentecost in a few short weeks, please join me in praying, “Come Holy Spirit, renew the face of the Earth!”

In Christ,

Fr. Joe Horn