Proud to be Catholic!

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, thank you for all answered prayers. In Jesus' name. Amen.
A friend of mine sent me the following email.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller - a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman:

"Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that

we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and your head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States.

Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

Please pass this on to every Catholic on your e-mail list
And those that are not!        

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Best.Team. Ever.

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, thank you for the family and friends you've brought into my life. I am truly blessed. Prayers for all who have asked me to pray for them, and for a special intention. Lord, we ask you to draw us ever nearer to you. We thank you Lord, for all answered prayers. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

I don't believe in coincidences.

So when I was asked for the second time in two years to change grade levels, I knew God had something wonderful in store for me, and He did. (*see previous blog for teaching fifth graders)
I'm glad I didn't realize at the time I was about to meet and make some fabulous friends, as well as work with, highly professional individuals. I think if I had known, I would have taken the situation for granted.
The six of us, four women, and two men, blend personalities beautifully. All of the women married, save one; of the men, one is engaged.

It is a luxury to have 'the boys' in our lineup, because the students need a good mixture of men and women teachers; besides the obvious fact that there are not many male teachers in elementary schools, more's the pity.
We have similar senses of humor, which has helped in many stressful situations.
Our positive interaction feeds on itself and grows exponentially.
Whenever there is an opportunity for all of us to have lunch, dinner, or social time, to coalesce, we do; although things really solidified between us when we took the students to camp in December. We stayed up until at least 11p each night, which is not a norm time for most teachers; we played games, talked, and of course took care of our students.

I stayed up because I didn't want to be the first one to go to bed, lol. The four women stayed in a room with four beds; two bunk beds on either side of the room. I had one of the top bunks.
Random conversation in the morning:
(after everyone has said their good mornings and it's still dark)
Me: Wow, what a name for a camp; Hostendorfer (name has been changed on purpose).
Top bunk, other side of room: That is my mom's maiden name!
Voice from the bottom bunk, opposite of mine: Then it's the most beautiful moniker she's ever heard!
Me: Yes it is!
And so the banter for the day began...

It was about three in the morning and I had to go to the restroom. I knew I didn't want to wake anyone, but wasn't sure how quiet I could be, especially climbing up and down the stairs of the bed.

I made it to the restroom, okay; making my way back to the bed, not so successful.
I couldn't find the steps!
Geez, I was thinking, I don't want to wake everyone when I step on my colleague's head and she screams!
Finally, after a little more fumbling around, I clamored back into bed.
As expected, I was teased about this the next morning.

The boys had a room to themselves. There was a common area in the cabin where we'd end up after a long day of hiking, canoeing, or making smore's at a campfire.
It's such an amazing feeling thinking we'll be a part of our student's memories. I hope they remember having fun, learning about themselves, and growing a greater self-esteem.

We've complained, worried, and discussed our student's strengths and weaknesses at length throughout the past year.
We have a high degree of empathy and sympathy amongst us, for the foibles of our students, because we all have that 'one student,' or several, whom we've done our best to reach, and change for the better, wondering if we're making a difference.

"June one," as the party is being coined, is the last hoorah I'll have with this team, because of a couple of things happening: I will either find a school counseling job and leave the building entirely; or I will be teaching fourth graders next year, at the same school, but not with this dynamic group.
I'm sad about both options, but happy I've met these friends. May God bless us as we continue meeting for a long, long time.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa