A NOTE FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL, JOE VORBACH:
Even as we maintain at our school a strong sense of our traditions -- how we were founded, by whom, and how the charism of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary influences our approach to our mission -- we are also very proud of how dynamic our learning community is and how positively blessed we are by the rich diversity we enjoy. Moments like yesterday's assembly to celebrate African-American history and culture are reminders of those blessings.
Under the direction of Mr. Trent Jones with assistance from Mr. Drew Edmondson and Mrs. Monica Stabile, and driven by the student leadership of Jayla Muse, Bobi Mobutu and Frankie Love, at least 100 students contributed to a wonderful presentation of African-American art, dance, music, culture and spirituality. The talent that resides in our student population is truly amazing and this assembly was a great showcase for it.
View a short video clip from the concert choir's rendering of "Every Time I Feel the Spirit" arranged by William Levi Dawson below or at THIS LINK:
In preparing my brief remarks at the outset of the assembly, I wanted to place the celebration in the context of what we are called to as Catholics and Christians and I brought the students' attention to an excerpt from Pope Benedict's Apostolic Exhortation entitled Verbum Domini and published in September 2010 after the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God. Specifically, I referenced the section entitled "God's Word Transcends Cultural Limits" which says, in part:
We escape the limitations of our experience and we enter into the reality that is truly universal. Entering into communion with the word of God, we enter into the communion of the Church which lives the word of God. ... It means going beyond the limits of the individual cultures into the universality that connects all, unites all, makes us all brothers and sisters. The proclamation of God's work thus always demands, of us in the first place, a new exodus, as we leave behind our own limited standards and imaginations in order to make room for the presence of Christ.
Yesterday's assembly provided that same invitation for us to grow in our capacity to be aware of the presence of Christ in others around us. It was a special and memorable opportunity indeed.
View more photos from the assembly below or at THIS LINK: