Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The next cycle of treatments is going to cause me to be away from school for several weeks, so this week has included lots of wrap up meetings and contingency planning.
At our Child Service Team meeting all the department heads went around the table to give updates – School, Residential, Clinical, Pastoral Care, High School and Admissions/ Alumni. There are always setbacks and student issues, but together we find ways to meet these challenges. These team members do a great job working together to keep our programs running, if not always smoothly, at least in the right direction.
The health care center on campus takes care of the children’s daily needs, but our students also come down with illnesses that require hospital care from time to time.
Erin, one of our high school students, had surgery today to remove gall stones. When I stopped in to see how she was doing, Erin’s grandmother held up a jar with gall stones the size of shooter marbles. Erin will have to take it easy for a few days but says she feels a lot better already.
Leahanna and Angela are the two junior high girls selected to represent St. Joseph’s at the April donor luncheons in Scranton, PA. To start their preparation, we met in the chapel to get used to speaking in a larger space with a microphone. They talked of their daily routines in the school and homes and shared about their culture and their goals for the future.
The winter sports awards were handed out after school at the rec center. It’s usually obvious who’s going to get the Team Leader/ MVP award, but just as important to me are the awards for Best Attitude and Most Improved.
In life, those are the qualities you need to keep trying to better yourself and find ways to encourage and bring out the best in your teammates.
Our first through third graders are all invited to take part in Pep Club, almost everyone joins. Our youngest students enthusiastically lead cheers and add lots of spirit to the games. After the awards, they showed off the Pep Club medallions they proudly wore around their necks during the year.
First grader Pearl got most improved since she didn’t know any of the cheers at the beginning of the year and has since learned them all. Not too many students get rewarded for being loud and boisterous, but those qualities earned Devon the spirit award, as you could definitely hear his cheers.
The junior high Fisher boys moved into their newly remodeled home ahead of schedule. When I stopped in, they were at the dining room tables, doing their homework. The new floor plan brings much more light into the rooms and brightens up the common areas. They still have some unpacking and settling in to do, but are well on their way to making the house their home.
JMJ / MMM 10 March 2010
Very Dear Father Steve —
Away several weeks, huh! Be assured that you are being held in prayer #1 FOR A COMPLETE CURE .. and #2 that, whatever, GOD WILL SWALLOW YOU UP IN HIS LOVE!
You haven’t time to pray for this one and for that one — BUT — just this moment, one single moment, please ask for marriage healing and reunification for Katie and me (John) .. that’s all. Thanks. JOhn
Father Steve –
You are so loved and valued by so many here on earth…I am confident that God holds you close and will bring you the comfort and care necessary to get you through the necessary treatments. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Thank you for all that you do for the children and the school…take time now to care for yourself and let others care for you as they are able.
God bless you and keep you.
Melanie & family
Many prayers for your upcoming treatments. God Bless you.
Maureen
HEY..!
When you write about your daily experiences with the kids,you take me right back to my teaching days.!
I wish I could have worked under you ! You understand the kids and do such great things with them. Few people really have the gift to love and serve the way that you do..!
Father Steve,you are a blessing to all of the lives you touch.
While you are gone, we will miss you, terribly, so hurry back..!
It’s a tough call..but you can do it…!
We really, really need you..! So..HURRY..!
Hugs..Mia Archer
It’s hard to plan ahead and not be there to make sure things go smoothly, but Fr. Steve, I have no doubt that the SJIS staff is superior and they will continue to make you proud! They have such good hearts.
Take the time you need because we all need you back at St. Joe’s!
BTW, a little baseball, did you see Nomar got to retire today as a Boston Red Sox? I thought that was great!!
Take care my friend,
Marianne
Dear Fr. Steve, Our prayers go with you as you go for the treatments. We will keep you in our prayers. The children & and everyone at St. Joe’s will be with you too. You take care & God Bless You. Angie & Kenny
So encouraging. Thanks!
We, at Crystal Church of the Brethren in Crystal, Michigan, will pray for your complete recovery! We will also remember St. Joe children, staff and house parents in our prayers. Sending you this St. Patrick’s Day Blessing: “Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
I pray for your complete recovery.
Sincerely,
Leon
I pray for your complete recovery.
Sincerely,
Jeannette
Dear Father Steve , I was saddened to read that you were ill and pray for your complete recovery. Your work is much too important to be held back by illness.
In reading about the issues that face the children you care for, suicide struck me as the most horrible as we lost our beloved 17 year old grandson on February 25th of this year. Our family is devastated at this time but I gain comfort that he is with Jesus and he no longer knows the pain that caused him to do what he did.
Praying for you, Nancy
My prayers for your health and strength are with you, Father Steve, as you continue your treatments. Working with the neediest of children, you occupy a special place in God’s heart, right along with them. I admire you for keeping a daily journal of your feelings and questions about your work–it is like praying out loud. May many blessings come your way this month, with the feast of Saint Joseph, your school patron and my favorite saint. Warm wishes for a complete recovery, Catherine
Dear Fr Steve;
I was saddened to hear of your illness. I have faith that God will see you through this trial. I will keep you always in my prayers. Below is a prayer to St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer.
A Prayer to St. Peregrine for One Suffering from Cancer
Dear St. Peregrine, I need your help. I feel so uncertain of my life right now.
This serious illness makes me long for a sign of God’s love.
Help me to imitate your enduring faith when you faced the ugliness of cancer and surgery.
Allow me to trust the Lord the way you did in this moment of distress.
I want to be cured, but right now I ask God for the strength to bear the cross in my life.
I seek the power to proclaim God’s presence in my life despite the hardship,
anguish and fear I now experience.
O Glorious St. Peregrine, be an inspiration to me and petitioner of those needed
graces from our loving Father. Amen
Cancer is limited …
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot shut out memories
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the spirit,
It cannot lessen the power
of the Resurrection
God Bless you!