Monday, October 31, 2016

For the Voice of the Unborn | Day 1


We begin a period of nine days in which McGivney students have written prayers in honor of lives lost, those involved in the devastating action of abortion, mothers, fathers, leaders of our country, etc.  We invite you to join us as we pray together as a community in these crucial days leading up to the election.


Will you help us to build a culture of life?
Sign the Father McGivney Catholic High School Pledge HERE.





Thursday, October 27, 2016

Will You Pledge to Defend Life?

Dear Students and Families,

It is our mission at Father McGivney Catholic High School to carry out and express our support for life from conception to natural death. It is also our responsibility to pray for every individual and family involved in the act of abortion. As we are faced with this issue, in addition to many others with the upcoming election, we would like to encourage that we pray together as a community.

Beginning on Monday, October 31st and ending on Tuesday, November 8th, a prayer will be sent each morning to the greater school community dedicated to lives lost, those involved in the devastating action of abortion, mothers, fathers, leaders of the country, etc.  Please join us in praying wherever you are.  The students will include these prayers in our morning announcements.

Additionally, we would like to encourage you to sign the McGivney pledge in support of building a culture of life. You can click HERE to sign the pledge.  A magnet will be made in honor of your support and placed on student lockers around the school.  Students, siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors are all welcome to sign the pledge!  Our goal is to gather 500 signatures!

Your prayers and pledges truly make a difference and are much appreciated.  Let us continue to build our McGivney community as one family in unity, charity, fraternity, and patriotism.

Sincerely,
Student Representatives of Griffins for Life


Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Receiving the Gift

I love gifts.  Actually, I really enjoy crafting unique, personal, and ‘just because’ gifts for friends and family.  I love to give these gifts and to experience the joy and delight of the ones who receive.  It makes me feel good to know that my intention of love was acknowledged, accepted, and treasured.  But, receiving gifts?  I cringe, slightly turn my head, wave my hand in dismissal, and kindly deflect with, “Oh, you don’t have to do that!” or “I don’t need anything!”

I experience so much happiness in giving a gift and watching another receive.  But in failing to receive equally as well, I deny the other an opportunity to experience joy.  I have never considered that my humility might be false, and that my attempt to be considerate is actually a lack of charity.  I personally find it much more difficult to receive than to give.  And with a go-getter personality, I often bypass the difficulty and simply ‘take’ what I want.  Instead of growing the virtue of patience in waiting to receive, I cultivate the mindset that receiving is unnecessary.

But I see the effect receiving has on the giver with my brother and his new daughter.  There is noticeable happiness on his face when she laughs at his attempts to be funny.  I know he cherishes the first moments of the morning to find her awake and smiling in her crib.  And I am certain of his gratitude for the little girl who needs her father when she is sad.  When I am honest and acknowledge the desires of my own heart, there are things in this world I cannot possibly ‘take’ for myself – authentic friendship, a loving relationship, affirmation, security.  Everything I have in this life has been given to me as gift.  And just as I can picture the delighted face of my brother in the company of his daughter, I can imagine an even greater delight from my own Father who longs for me, His daugther, to receive all He desires to give.  Perhaps instead of my typical dismissal or giving a speculative rationale for why I don’t deserve these gifts, I can simply say, “thank you.”