Hike and Ice Cream Social for Interested Families
Updates from Our Principals
Dear families and friends of Lumen,
I hope that you all had a blessed week and enjoyed the summery weather! If you are gardeners or farmers, this past weekend and Monday’s rain may have been a true blessing to you, and an appropriate one, as May 15 (had it not fallen on a Sunday) would have been the optional memorial of St. Isidore the Farmer. I will confess to not having known much about St. Isidore the Farmer until a few years ago, when a friend mentioned to me his particular devotion to this saint for the way he found sanctification simply by performing well the daily responsibilities of his life as a husband and farmer. As someone who finds maintaining my small backyard vegetable garden an onerous task, I marvel at the work of farmers, who, as John Hennig puts it in this essay on the liturgy of St. Isidore, “by their very trade, imitate the work of God.” Isidore is the only saint given the title of “the Farmer,” and though he was not an intellect, political player, or religious reformer, he was canonized alongside such luminaries as Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, and Philip Neri.
As I learned more about St. Isidore, there are so many edifying anecdotes about his life. He began each day at Mass, even when his employer scolded him for doing so. Though poor, he generously shared his food with anyone who happened to come to his door – and sometimes even with animals. His was a properly-ordered life, centered around service of God first, and then others. Through it all, he participated in what Bishop Aloisius Muench described as “one of the most noblest callings in all the world” and demonstrated what Hennig called the “fundamental virtue of the farmer’s calling” – patience. As we at Lumen Verum strive towards the lofty mission of forming courageous missionary disciples of our Lord, I pray that we never forget the little things – that fulfilling one’s daily duties patiently, no matter how difficult they are, and consecrating each of our tasks to God, no matter how humble they are, are the key to our own sanctification, and can be a powerful evangelical witness to those around us.
St. Isidore is the patron of Madrid, as well as the patron of farmers and of Catholic Rural Life, which offers a series of prayers to St. Isidore for the renewal of agricultural life. His feast may also be a useful opportunity to reflect on Scripture stories relating to virtuous farmers, such as Boaz in the Book of Ruth, or on the parables of Jesus about farming, such as the Parable of the Sower. It is indeed remarkable to note that so many metaphors for our labors in the Christian life as well as metaphors for God’s promised blessings come from farming. As we reflect on his feast, let us pray for all farmers, that God may bless their labors and help us learn from their example of patience and humble hard work. And let us pray too that through St. Isidore’s intercession we may be made more gratefully aware of our dependence on the land that God has given to sustain us!
Have a blessed remainder of your week, and enjoy this week’s Academic Update. Please see below for some very important announcements!
Pax et bonum,
Karen Celano
Greetings in Christ, LVA Families!
I hope you and your families are doing well as we head into a hot May weekend!
Last week, our family traveled to Franciscan University of Steubenville to attend the graduation of our eldest daughter, Francesca. It was a proud moment for our whole family, and one that caused Amy and me to pause and reflect on our first-born’s journey and growth into the beautiful woman of God that she is today. It seems it was just yesterday that we were anxiously awaiting her first steps, holding her in our arms, reading her some of her favorite books, teaching her to tie her shoes, helping her to steer correctly as she learned to ride her first bike, preparing her for First Holy Communion, helping her navigate challenging math problems, teaching her to drive, sending her off to college… the list goes on. “Where did the time go?” we found ourselves asking each other more than a dozen times on the ten-hour trip back home. Those of you with adult children know this feeling all too well. Our time of reflection helped us confirm that the many memories we hold so dearly are truly a treasure to behold, and moments of her life to which we joyfully cling.
As we now focus our attention upon the blessings of our students here at Lumen Verum Academy, and as we come to the close of our first year, I have already begun hearing many teachers and parents asking each other: “Where did the time go?” Before we know it, summer will be here, with the clean slate of many family memories to be made together. By the close of Labor Day weekend, we will undoubtedly find ourselves asking again, “Where did the time go?” In a few short years, and as we witness our students graduate from high school and embark upon their journeys ahead, we will most certainly be asking ourselves, “Where did the time go?” So let us, as parents and families, be present this day… and be ever so mindful of the precious gift of time- and the opportunity to help God in making great saints… living directly under our roof! May we each make the most of this time we are given with our children and family, because as we all know, there is one thing of which we can be assured, it will most assuredly go by quickly.
May the Lord continue to richly bless you and your families as we continue to experience the joy of our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ this Easter Season!
In Christ,
Mr. Dyke
Enrollment is Open!
Click here to begin the application process today!
Let’s Hike!
