St.

Augustine Academy
130 South Wells Road Ventura California 93004 805-672-0411 Fax 805-672-2365 e-mail StAugAcad@juno.com www.SaintAugustineAcademy.com

February 28, 2014 Dear families

Board of Governors President Thomas Q. Ellis Secretary Robert R. Orellana, Esq. Treasurer Michael C. Collins Members Abel Montiel Jeff Schuberg Michael F. McLean, Ph.D. Louise Warnert

St. Hilary

Headmaster Michael J. Van Hecke, M.Ed. Vice President of Development J. Peter Slaga Board of Advisors Hon. Jeremiah Denton Former U.S. Senator Mr. Nicholas J. Healy, Jr. President Ave Maria University Dr. Ronald P. McArthur Co-founder Thomas Aquinas College Mr. Roy S. Rohter, S.F.O. Co-founder St. Augustine Academy Fr. Michael Scanlan, T.O.R. Chancellor Franciscan University Mr. James Stenson Educator and Author

Fr. Donlan again gave us a Spirit-inspired insight into Scripture on Tuesday. He started by clarifying the picture presented in the Epistle: God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Here is the scene - the apostles, the first pillars of the Church were arguing about who was the greatest. I am the rock! But I am the beloved! Well I am in charge of the money! Jesus chastises them and asks them to seek humility. My spirit is to become a servant of all. Be humble and simple, like the child. This immediately refreshed in my mind and heart what I witnessed on Saturday over 700 people, 8 priests, a bishop, twenty-five altar boys and a choir of fifty voices packing into a Church in downtown Milwaukee on a biting cold day to honor and pray for a child. My nephew was just a normal kid he never was one to try to be cool, he was not stuffy in his piety, he was just a normal young fella who loved the Lord and did his will. He studied when he needed to, played when he could, laughed always, and treasured his opportunities to participate in drama productions. He was not rich. He was not famous. And yet, look at the crowds he drew! It was inspiring and refreshing God showed, by this outpouring of presence from all kinds of people from all walks of life (children to bishops, non-Catholics to fervent faith-filled college kids who drove through the night from Virginia) how he graces the humble. Fr. Donlan went on to talk about the importance of this humility this child-like quality we must retain/attain. Specifically, with regards to the upcoming penitential season of Lent. Then he suggested something that most of us never have employed, or even thought of, as we prepare for Lent. Ask the Holy Spirit! Ask him for light to see where you should improve. You will receive it, you will also have the grace to do it, and even receive a strong desire to do it. Many of us plan and prepare for New Year resolutions, or Advent or Lenten promises, but do we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in this decision? It is the job of the Holy Spirit to counsel us, so he will Father guaranteed it! Father went on to remind us that there are three areas in which the Church guides us to find our Lenten sacrifices: Prayer, Self-denial, and Almsgiving (reaching out to others, being charitable.) We can do something in any one of these, or all three. Whichever we do, let us just do what we do well.hopefully such that our Lenten activity makes a permanent effect on our life, that it changes the way we walk in the footsteps of the Lord. In no small way, Father encouraged us to really consider picking that kind of activity which will change our lives, in one way, permanently, through the habit acquired through our Lenten practice. Charity was high on the list this expanded understanding of almsgiving. As the morning reading for Thursday taught, Let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. [1 Peter 4:8-9] So, I ask us all, especially all the students, to deeply consider if the Holy Spirit is prompting you to add this to your Lenten promises to love one another. I have heard periodic reports of teasing, or meanness, or exclusion happening among some of the students. The handbook reminds us the kindness is a mark of a St. Augustine Academy student. Let us, this lent, make a collective promise, as a campus, to step away from the proud desires of our heart wherein we put others down in order to lift ourselves up. In turn, we commit ourselves to loving each other, to being kind and welcoming, so others may say of us, as was said of the early Christians, see how they love one another. In this, we will draw others to Christ, and put ourselves in the footsteps of his sure path to sanctity and eternal happiness.

Life Centers Dinner/Dance & Auction on March 29th at the Las Posas Country Club. For questions or information visit the website at http://www.vclifecenters.com/events.html

Basketball
High School Games at Ventura High School Tuttle Gym on Poli Street. HIGH SHOOL PLAYOFFS! H.S. Boys JV 3-2-14 @ 8:00 AM H.S. Boys Varsity 3-2-14 @ 9:00 AM Middle School Games at SAA or at the school listed all games at 3:30 PM. M.S. Boys MON., Mar 3rd v. Our Lady of the Assumption @ HOME M.S. Girls Tues., Mar 4th @ Our Lady of the Assumption

Fat Tuesday Student council is hosting an ice cream party at lunch on Fat Tuesday. Please help expand the celebration by bringing a dessert, snack or plastic utensils, cups, etc. Also, students (K-12) are welcome to wear other colored shirts and/or accessories with their uniform pants or skirt. (Please refer to page 19 regarding shirts, eg., modest, no bands or alcohol ads, etc.) Monastic Day Coming next Friday, this day is a unique opportunity for the students to experience a few hours of education in a very important element of the Church the monastic life. We will introduce the students to bite-sized elements of the monastic life, and teach them about some of the major orders and spiritualities of the Church. The half-day will close with the all-school Mass and early dismissal.

Mock Trial On Tuesday night, I had the great pleasure of watching our teams compete in the court roomthey were superb! I was genuinely amazed that our kids came so far in their abilities in so short a time. A special kudos, with deep gratitude are due to our Coach, Mr. Dave Shaneyfelt. Here is his note to the team: My goodness, what a performance you gave over the past two
nights! And you didnt need to hear that from me you got to hear it first-hand from the judges and scoring attorneys! Folks, now you know what youre capable of we scrimmaged against two of the (top teams) and held our own wonderfully well Camarillo and St. Bonaventure. And none of the teams we competed against qualified ahead of us. (We went against Newbury Park Black, Royal and Oaks Christina Gold.) We have every reason in the world to be extraordinarily proud. Again, Congratulations!! Mr. S CALENDAR EVENTS Mar 4th Fat Tuesday No Mass. Also, Mr. Van Heckes favorite military day(March FORTH!) Mar. 5th Ash Wednesday, Mass and Ashes. Mar 7th First Friday Early Dismissal Monastic Day Student Council Bowling Rec Day End of 3rd Quarter th Mar 9 Daylight Savings Spring forward! Mar 13th National Latin Exam grades 8-12 Mar 14th Report Cards Mar 16th-18th Mr. Van Hecke on WASC/WCEA Accreditation Visit Pasadena. Mar 19th -20th Parent-Teacher Conferences. PRAYERS We continue to keep all our friends and family in our prayers. For the repose of the soul of the Collins grandmother who passed away this week, and the soul of Charlie Van Hecke, and for consolation for the families. Please continue to pray for Mr. Vargas, for Mrs. Warnerts father, Mrs. Collins father, Mrs. OKanes sister, Joan, and for Mrs. Lyons daughter, Diana. We pray for the souls of all those friends and family who have passed away. For three special intentions. We pray for all our school families, their needs and those of their friends and relatives. We pray for our Pope, our Archbishop, all of our priests and religious, and, for each other.