A Catholic Tradition of Academic Excellence Since 1853 Volume 6, Issue 7 March 2015 Reflection March Gospel Value: Compassion As individuals, we are tempted by indifference. Flooded with news reports and troubling images of human suffering, we often feel our complete inability to help. What can we do to avoid being caught up in this spiral of distress and powerlessness? First, we can pray in communion with the Church on earth and in heaven. Let us not underestimate the power of so many voices united in prayer! The 24 Hours for the Lord initiative, which I hope will be observed on 13-14 March throughout the Church, also at the diocesan level, is meant to be a sign of this need for prayer. Second, we can help by acts of charity, reaching out to both those near and far through the Church’s many charitable organizations. Lent is a favorable time for showing this concern for others by small yet concrete signs of our belonging to the one human family. Third, the suffering of others is a call to conversion, since their need reminds me of the uncertainty of my own life and my dependence on God and my brothers and sisters. If we humbly implore Taken from: www.vatican.va God’s grace and accept our own limitations, we will trust in the infinite possibilities which God’s love holds out to us. We will also be able to resist the diabolical temptation of thinking that by our own efforts we can save the world and ourselves. As a way of overcoming indifference and our pretensions to self-sufficiency, I would invite everyone to live this Lent as an opportunity for engaging in what Benedict XVI called a formation of the heart (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 31). A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart. Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to the tempter but open to God. A heart which lets itself be pierced by the Spirit so as to bring love along the roads that lead to our brothers and sisters. And, ultimately, a poor heart, one which realizes its own poverty and gives itself freely for others. During this Lent, then, brothers and sisters, let us all ask the Lord: “Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum”: Make our hearts like yours (Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). In this way we will receive a heart which is firm and merciful, attentive and generous, a heart which is not closed, indifferent or prey to the globalization of indifference. Reflexión Valor Evangélico de Marzo: Compasión Como individuos tenemos la tentación de la indiferencia. Estamos saturados de noticias e imágenes tremendas que nos narran el sufrimiento humano y, al mismo tiempo, sentimos toda nuestra incapacidad para intervenir. ¿Qué podemos hacer para no dejarnos absorber por esta espiral de horror y de impotencia? En primer lugar, podemos orar en comunión con la Iglesia terrenal y celestial. No olvidemos la fuerza de la oración de tantas personas. La iniciativa 24 horas para el Señor, que deseo que se celebre en toda la Iglesia —también a nivel diocesano—, en los días 13 y 14 de marzo, es expresión de esta necesidad de la oración. En segundo lugar, podemos ayudar con gestos de caridad, llegando tanto a las personas cercanas como a las lejanas, gracias a los numerosos organismos de caridad de la Iglesia. La Cuaresma es un tiempo propicio para mostrar interés por el otro, con un signo concreto, aunque sea pequeño, de nuestra participación en la misma humanidad. Y, en tercer lugar, el sufrimiento del otro constituye un llamado a la conversión, porque la necesidad del hermano me recuerda la fragilidad de mi vida, mi dependencia de Dios y de los hermanos. Si pedimos Tomado de: www.vatican.va humildemente la gracia de Dios y aceptamos los límites de nuestras posibilidades, confiaremos en las infinitas posibilidades que nos reserva el amor de Dios. Y podremos resistir a la tentación diabólica que nos hace creer que nosotros solos podemos salvar al mundo y a nosotros mismos. Para superar la indiferencia y nuestras pretensiones de omnipotencia, quiero pedir a todos que este tiempo de Cuaresma se viva como un camino de formación del corazón, como dijo Benedicto XVI (Ct. enc. Deus caritas est, 31). Tener un corazón misericordioso no significa tener un corazón débil. Quien desea ser misericordioso necesita un corazón fuerte, firme, cerrado al tentador, pero abierto a Dios. Un corazón que se deje impregnar por el Espíritu y guiar por los caminos del amor que nos llevan a los hermanos y hermanas. En definitiva, un corazón pobre, que conoce sus propias pobrezas y lo da todo por el otro. Por esto, queridos hermanos y hermanas, deseo orar con ustedes a Cristo en esta Cuaresma: “Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum”: “Haz nuestro corazón semejante al tuyo” (Súplica de las Letanías al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús). De ese modo tendremos un corazón fuerte y misericordioso, vigilante y generoso, que no se deje encerrar en sí mismo y no caiga en el vértigo de la globalización de la indiferencia. Praised be the Incarnate Word. Now and forevermore, Amen. Thank You! Spelling Bee Parent Meetings We would like to take this time to thank teachers, staff, students and parents for their hard work in making this year’s “A Little Bit of Mexico” a great success. Special recognition goes to choreographer Eder Almanza Zaragoza and to the parent volunteers. IWA students participated in the BANSA Spelling Bee held at First Baptist on February 10th. Seventh grader Eduardo Garza placed third. IWA Spelling Bee Champ Roxanna Ortiz will compete in the regional spelling bee this Saturday. Important parent meetings will be held this week for those who have not registered your children for next school year. A meeting in English will be held on Thursday, March 5th at 6 p.m. in the gym. A meeting in Spanish will be held Friday, March 6th at 9 a.m. after the parent breakfast. Please make plans to attend. Hands Across the Border Book Fair School Buses This year’s China Poblana and Charro, Risa Ortiz and Johan Paredes, represented IWA at the “Hands Across the Border” ceremony. It is a celebration of the friendship between the sister cities of Brownsville and Matamoros. Local dignitaries and Mr. Amigo 2014, Juan Osorio, were present. IWA now has two 14-seater buses from our sister school IWA in Corpus Christi. Thanks to our alumni, friends of IWA and Incarnate Word Sisters for their generous donations which made this possible. The IWA library will host its spring book fair from April 27— May 8th. The theme is Book Fair Under the Sea: Dive into Reading. Several activities will be held in conjunction with the book fair. Please encourage your children to participate and support our library! March 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 5th Grade 6 PTO Breakfast 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Mass 9 a.m. Mass Principal’s Meeting 100 Day Celebration 9—11 a.m. Science Fair SJA 8th Grade only Vocation Day Parent Meeting (English) 6 p.m.– Gym Parent Meeting (Spanish)- 9 a.m. Early Dismissal 1 p.m. Faculty Meeting 1:30 p.m. Chalk Art—IWA and Guadalupe Regional 3:30—4:30 p.m IWA