Inter Nos
Transcription
Inter Nos
Inter Nos To the Truth through faith and reason Holy Family Academy Our 11th year of forming and educating students in the Classical Roman Catholic Tradition! Visit us at: www.holyfamilyacademy.org Spring 2011 In This Issue A Founder’s Reflections by Lucille Fortin “…If you knew the gift of God…John 4:10 When prospective families attend a Holy Family Academy Open House, they listen to the story of the founding of Holy Family Academy. They hear how the dream for classical education in the Roman Catholic tradition became a reality, not in 1999 as the founders had originally planned, but in God’s perfect timing -- in September of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. What might be the significance of this? ing will embrace the fruits of holiness which have matured in the life of all those many men and women who in every generation and every period of history have fully welcomed the gift of Redemption. Nevertheless, the joy of every Jubilee is above all a joy based upon the forgiveness of sins, the joy of conversion.” I believe that Holy Family Academy is a very blessed place because it is a gift directly from God to his people at this particular time in the history of the Church -- a time of abundant grace. In addition, number 58 states: “The future of the world and the Church belongs to the younger generation, to those who, born in this century, will reach maturity in the next, the first century of the new millennium. Christ expects great things from young people, as he did from the young man who asked him: “What good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” In the Apostolic Letter, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, (Pope John Paul II), Number 32 states: “A Jubilee is always an occasion of special grace, “a day blessed by the Lord.” As has already been noted, it is thus a time of joy. The Jubilee of the Year 2000 is meant to be a great prayer of praise and thanksgiving, especially for the gift of the Incarnation of the Son of God and of the Redemption which he accomplished. In the Jubilee Year Christians will stand with the renewed wonder of faith before the love of the Father, who gave his son, “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). With a profound sense of commitment, they will likewise express their gratitude for the gift of the Church, established by Christ as “a kind of sacrament or sign of intimate union with God, and of the unity of all mankind. Their thanksgiv- God uses the lowly to confound the powerful, and He accomplishes his will through those who seek to do his will. Yet God plans are not usually fully revealed at the beginning of something great. His plans “unfold” little by little, as my former spiritual director often reminded me. It is in the “unfolding” of God’s plans that we grow in holiness as we allow him to use us as his instruments of grace. If I have learned one thing in the past thirteen years, it is that God does not call the qualified, but rather he “qualifies the called”. It is a humbling experience to be in that position. Literally, with no credentials, connections, or money, Holy Family Academy was formed and opened, and within six years it had received its first 6-year accreditation from the National Association of Private, Catholic, and Independent Schools, and in addition, was named one of the top 50 schools in the United A Founder’s Reflections By Lucille Fortin P1 Academy Life P2 Scholarship Winner Maria Girard P3 Spelling Bee Winner Sarah Lemieux (2015) P3 Senior Debates By Michael Kelleher P4 The Affirmative Case By Rachel Roblee (2011) P4 The Negative Case By Brittany Keefe (2011) P4 Mustard Seed Planted on 49 Ashland Street By Mark Gillis P6 Professor Regis Martin From Franciscan Univ. in Steubenville Speaking at HFA Benefit Dinner P8 States of America. As a founder, I can assure you that these things were not even in my imagination six years earlier! All of the founders of HFA were simply parents who were concerned for the salvation of their children’s souls, and who were looking for an education that would teach the Catholic Faith in all of its beauty and entirety. Holy Family Academy was born out of a movement of the Holy Spirit and the hopes and prayers of the people of God. Right from the beginning, everything was done to ensure that the students who attended HFA would be surrounded by teachers who were first strong witnesses of the Catholic Faith as well as qualified educators. From the first year that the school opened, all Board members and Faculty members would publicly profess their allegiance and take an oath of fidelity to the Catholic Church. A classical curriculum using primary sources was adopted, as was the Socratic Method of teaching, so that HFA students would be taught how to think, reason, articuFounder’s Reflection ….Continued on page 3) Inter Nos Page 2 Grades 7-12 participate in the Annual Catechism Bee. It helps to keep the students sharp and have a little fun as well. Mr. Kelleher talking to soccer team before a game. They won the NHSPAL (NH Small Private School Athletic League} Soccer Trophy this past Fall. Snow is not a deterrent. It becomes the “playing field for “snow football”. The HFA soccer team, The Griffins, certainly does not lack for support as shown by this throng of encouragers! Go Griffins! Veronica Carmody in Public Speaking Senior Physics Class with Mrs. Perrella. 7th grade Latin A class with Miss Cross. Spring 2011 Page 3 impact on the lives of hundreds of students and families! late, and convince others about what they had learned in their Let us ask God to continue blessing Holy Family Academy classes. Latin, as the language of the Catholic Church, would with his grace, and let us be truly grateful for the awesome gift be the language of choice at the Academy, and the integration of his school. God bless you! of faith and reason would be at the core of all that was taught. Give praise for his mighty deeds, The academic awards given us and the progress that the Praise him for his great majesty. Psalm 150:2 Academy was making in all areas, were only the outward manifestations of the real work that happens every day inside of Holy Family Academy is pleased the school – which is the salvation of souls. Jesus Christ has alto announce that Maria Girard, a ways been at the center of life at Holy Family Academy. You senior at the Academy, has been can see it in the faces of our faculty and students when they receive Jesus in the Eucharist. The prayer life of the school selected as a recipient of the 2011community is rich and vibrant, and the sacred music that is 2012 Comcast Leaders and sung is beautiful and joyful. The spiritual formation of every Achievers Scholarship. This student’s character is as important as their intellectual foraward, funded through the Commation. In the scriptures it is said that “by their fruit you cast Foundation, recognizes high shall know them”. As one of the “seed planters and gardeners” school seniors from Comcast comof this school, I have watched a small tree grow and blossom, and bear good and abundant fruit in the lives of our faculty munities for commitment to community service, academic and students. Some of our faculty members have gone into achievement, and demonstrated leadership. The recipient religious life and into the seminary. The fact that our gradu- will receive a one-time grant of $1,000. ates have attended colleges and universities all over the United States and beyond is a wonderful thing! However, what gives me the greatest joy is to see well-educated and convicted young Catholics going out into the world as witnesses for Christ and his Church. As Pope John Paul II stated in his Apostolic Letter, “Christ expects great things from young people. They too will have their own difficulties and challenges, but they will know that Jesus will always be with them, leading and teaching them as they give their lives to him. Holy Family Academy has not only been a “school” to our students, it has been a “home away from home” and their path to holiness. When our graduates return “home” for a visit they are eager to tell me how they have appreciated the excellent education that they received at Holy Family Academy, and that they are grateful for that gift. I give praise and glory to God that in its brief Winner of the 2011 Scripps Spelling Bee for Holy Family Academy is existence Holy Family Academy has had such a remarkable Sarah Lemieux (2015). Runner up is Alex Levesque (2015). Sarah will Founder’s Reflection …. (Continued from page 1) go on to participate in the city wide contest. Yes, I want to help Holy Family Academy to continue its’ work of forming and educating young men and women who will make a difference in our world! Here is my tax-deductible gift: Name: _____________________________________________________________ E-mail ____________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________________ ST: _______ Amount of Gift: _______________ One time: ________ Please send monthly envelopes: ____________ Zip: _____________ Phone:_______________________ Number of Installments: ________ Page 4 Inter Nos Senior Debates Our Constitution in all its prestige and longevity has been described as “a mosaic of compromises.” Certainly, you get a sense of this when reading By Michael Kelleher through the Constitutional Convention. At moments, the plurality of opinions and fierce disagreement threatened to bring discussion to a halt. But our Founding Fathers persevered, and we can be thankful that they did. What is more, you can appreciate the process of deliberation they practiced with such great care that brought into being the Constitution and our form of government. One might argue that debate and deliberation is at the heart of republican democracy. In light of this, every Friday for the past two trimesters, the seniors in American Civilization have been engaged in formal debates. There are twelve students in the class, who are divided into six teams of two, and each Friday two teams face off in a battle of the intellect. The question for the debate is known in advance, and the round has a prescribed format. The speeches that follow concern: whether a government should value individual rights over national sovereignty in decisions of domestic policy. You will notice that one team takes the Affirmative position; in other words, they agree with the resolution, therefore arguing that the government should value individual rights over national sovereignty. The other team, the Negative, is tasked with arguing that the government should value national sovereignty over individual rights. In the course of the round, both teams present opening statements. The Affirmative speaker goes first. After each speech, there is brief time for cross-examination, where a member of the opposing team addresses questions to the speaker. The debate round concludes with a series of rebuttal arguments, which are prepared extemporaneously, from both sides. Debate forces students to listen closely, to take careful notes, and to formulate arguments quickly but effectively all within the pressure of a timed round. And, of course, they must exercise fortitude and overcome that most prevalent of all fears: the fear of public speaking. These seniors have met the challenge head on. Even those who are more reticent and reluctant to talk in class shine in the context of debate. It has been my delight and privilege to see how the students have improved over the course of time and developed skills that they will take with them to college and beyond. A Negative Case An Affirmative Case Brittany Keefe Rachel Roblee We, the negative team, are resolved that a government should value it’s own national sovereignty over the individual rights of the people in decisions of domestic policy. We, the affirmative team, are resolved that a government should value individual rights over its own national sovereignty in decisions of domestic policy. I. Definitions First, it is necessary to define some key terms. a. b. I. Domestic policy: refers to the laws, regulations, or programs established by a government within the nation’s borders. Domestic policies focus on enacting proper rules according to the needs and problems of the citizens. (As opposed to foreign policy which deals with the nation’s interaction in world politics.) Rights of individuals: are the basic freedoms which man possesses due to his being made in the image and likeness of God. The Catechism acknowledges that man has “fundamental rights that flow from the dignity intrinsic of his person” (CCC, 1944) and that this dignity is “rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God” (CCC, 1700). We will specifically be referring to the rights of life, II. liberty, equality, and possessions, as John Locke mentions, Introduction The government is who we enlist to take care of us properly and defend our rights as a common group of individuals. Just as Christ defends the Church, so also is the government supposed to defend her people. Thus, by giving up our rights to the government we expect her to take care of them. Thus, by putting national sovereignty first there is no threat (necessarily) to our rights because they are already supposed to be protected, and this is the design and end of government. Therefore, national sovereignty should be valued first and foremost over individual rights because it guards the common good of all people not just one specific individual or group of individuals. Value Premise The value premise that we are upholding is the common good, Affirmative….(Continued on page 5) Negative...(Continued on page 5) Spring 2011 Negative...(Continued from page 4) Affirmative...(Continued from page 4) c. which are rights which “no one ought to harm” (Locke, p.79). Governmental sovereignty: is a government’s supreme control over a territory. II. Value Premise The value premise that the affirmative team seeks to uphold is human dignity, which is the value every individual has on account of his being made in God’s image and likeness. All men are endowed with the faculties of free will and reason, and thus deserve a certain respect for their being. III. Contentions a. b. c. Page 5 in other words the good of the whole, the general welfare of society. III. Contentions a. FIRST, when people first hear that national sovereignty should be valued over all, they believe that this means the government will automatically infringe on the rights of the people rather then respect them. This is false. When individuals are part of a society under a government, they hand over to the government their right [to protect – i.e. enforce – their own individual good], and it becomes the right of the government can seek to protect the good of the people as a whole. Rather then one man for himself, there is a whole government fighting for each man and his rights. Locke writes in The Second Treatise of Civil Government that “the end of law [or of government, in this case] is not to abolish or restrain but to preserve and enlarge freedom; for in all states of created being capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.” That is to say that without law man will not have freedom. This is particularly true in light of Original Sin. After the Fall, law was required for man so that they had a guide to follow, which is why people need to be under a law and government. But, at the same time, this government also needs to be able to retain all of its power in order that it might stay in power and thereby effective protect the common good and rights of the people. If the government was to put individual rights first in all its decisions, then eventually the government might be overthrown by the people. b. SECOND, after Hurricane Katrina (2005), the city of New Orleans was in a state of chaos. There was no law enforcement to keep the peace, and people went crazy. There were robberies, sexual assaults, looting, etc. There was no stable government in the affected region. But once the National Guard, other rescue personal and law enforcement reached the scene, the crisis was able to be resolved – as much as possible. A government that values individual rights above anything else could eventually end up being just exactly like that. In a state of total chaos and disruption. FIRST, Since the purpose of government is for the common good, the most important good to uphold must be man’s dignity, for this is most primary of his nature. John Locke calls this dignity man’s “state of nature” since all men, as creatures of the same God endowed with the same faculties, are naturally born into this dignity. SECOND, From his dignity, man possesses inherent rights which must be the focus of every government. With dignity as a common attribute, it follows that man is equal and independent within the community and that due to this fact, as John Locke recognizes, “no one ought to harm another man in his life, health, liberty or possessions; men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise maker” (Locke, p.79). Policies should focus solely on the rights of the individuals first, since these directly correspond to the dignity of the human person. In fact, the Catechism says that, “Social justice can be obtained only in respecting the transcendent dignity of man. The person represents the ultimate end of society, which is ordered to him” (CCC, 1929). And further, “Respect for the human person entails respect for the rights that flow from his dignity as a creature. These rights are prior to society and must be recognized by it. They are the basis of the moral legitimacy of every authority: by flouting them or refusing to recognize them in its positive legislation, a society undermines its own moral legitimacy” (CCC, 1930). FINALLY, If a government were to focus on its own success and flourishing before the rights of the people, this would completely contradict the purpose of government itself. John Locke states that the purpose of government is IV. Conclusion “the right of making laws with penalties of death and of In conclusion, a government that strictly values individual employing the force of the community in the execution of rights over national sovereignty will enter into a state of chasuch laws, and the defense of the commonwealth from foros. The people will be able to get away with doing nearly anyeign injury and all this only for the public good” (Locke, thing they desire because it will always fall under some sort p.79). To focus on the good of the government before the of individual right. But if the government values national good of the people contradicts the reason a government exists. Men give up their wills to an authority to avoid insovereignty first then it retains the power to put a stop to justice and turmoil among the community, or as John something that may be within a person’s individual rights but Locke calls it “a state of war” (p.80). Injustice or “the state not good for the general public. The government still retains of war” happens when one man transgresses another or the rights of the people and actually entitles them to more forces without right upon a man’s person. Locke states that freedom. But the government also still has the right to stop an “civil government is a remedy” for the problem of injustice individual from infringing on someone else’s rights. Thus, among men, indicating that its sole purpose is to ensure that man’s dignity is not harmed by those who violate the law of national sovereignty should be valued more importantly, benature. The dignity of each individual that makes up the cause it is for the common good of all the people. civil body of the government clearly takes precedence over Affirmative...(Continued on page 7) Page 6 Inter Nos Mustard Seed Planted on 49 Ashland Street Holy Family Academy and the Renewal of Catholic Culture By Mark Gillis Christianity and the Beatles: Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I'll be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now…. Lennon’s remarks caused an international furor. When asked to Imagine the high adventure of collaboratexplain his meaning, Lennon argued that at in England the Beatles ing with St. Peter, St. Paul, and the early were Christian community to evangelize an“having more influence on kids and things than cient Rome, Athens, or Alexandria. The anything else, including Jesus… we meant more trials and travails of these first-generation to kids than Jesus did, or religion at that time. I evangelists are the stuff of Hollywood. St. Paul, for example, comwasn't knocking it or putting it down. I was just piled an autobiographical list of his sufferings that reads like the saying it as a fact and it's true.” plot summary of a Harrison Ford movie: Lennon’s post-Christian world-view was further evidenced by Five times I have received at the hands of the his song “Imagine,” now a pseudo-religious anthem for promoters Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have of a secular, Godless, world peace. been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day As offensive and arrogant as Lennon’s remarks were, they did I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in offer a distorted echo of the Church’s observation that modern danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger culture is becoming disturbingly secular. Examples abound of from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danChristianity being expunged from public life, and many children are ger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at growing up without basic religious instruction. Consider the findsea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardings of an international marketing study conducted in 1995, thirty ship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger years after the close of Vatican II, for the fast food giant McDonand thirst, often without food, in cold and expoald’s. The Sponsorship Research International survey of 7000 peosure. ple “found that 88 percent could identify the golden arches and that 54 percent could identify the Christian cross.” (Plain Dealer, August St. Paul’s heroics typify those of the 26, 1995). Apostles and the early Christians who gradu“Since a consumer culture exists that ally converted the Roman Empire and planted How is the Church to evangelize a world that is wants to prevent us from living in the seeds of Christendom—the medieval Euaccordance with the Creator’s plan, in some ways post-Christian? ropean culture permeated by a Catholic world we must have the courage to create Pope Benedict, not surprisingly, directs us back view. to the Gospel and reminds us that “the parable islands, oases, and then great Pope Benedict XVI teaches that today’s stretches of land of Catholic culture of the grain of mustard seed is always valapostles must evangelize like the first Chris- where the Creator’s design is lived id” (see Mark 4:31-32). In his address on the tians, because the Catholic culture of past out.” Jubilee of Catechists in 2000, the Holy Father centuries has largely disappeared. On June Q&A session Benedict XVI had with young (then Cardinal Ratzinger) cautioned against, 28th, 2010—the Feast of Saints Peter and people of the Latium region April 6, 2006 “the temptation of immediately finding the Paul—the Holy Father created a Vatican ofgreat success, in finding large numbers. But this fice dedicated to “renewed evangelization,” is not God's way.” He continued: explaining that some regions have not heard the Good News, and Large things always begin from the small seed… many countries that were once Catholic have become deeply secuThe beginning of a new species is invisible and larized. In Europe, countries such as Spain, France, and Italy have cannot be found by scientific research. The Catholic churches of “ancient foundation” but have become so sources are hidden—they are too small. In other secularized that they are experiencing an “eclipse of the sense of words: The large realities begin in humility God.” The Holy Father explained that to evangelize “means to dare, Statistical studies support Pope Benedict’s diagnosis that secuonce again and with the humility of the small grain, to leave up to larism has become the dominant world view—even among people God the when and how it will grow.” The truth of the mustard who identify themselves as Catholic. Many surveys report declining seed parable is evidenced by the first Christians who slowly conMass attendance, decreasing belief in the Real Presence, and inverted Rome and the medieval monasteries that created Christencreasing rates of divorce, abortion advocacy, and contraceptive dom. practices. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) was prophetic Apostolates such as Holy Family Academy perfectly correin noting the secularization of the modern world and urging all Catholics to heed their baptismal call to call to holiness and evange- spond to the parable of the mustard seed: humble beginnings, unlikely, but daring, apostles; and growth according to God’s timetalization. (Gaudium et Spes; Lumen Gentium) ble. The Academy is a little pocket of Catholic culture just as the In 1966, a year after Vatican II ended, a secular prophet triummedieval monasteries were, striving to cultivate a new generation of phantly declared that Christianity was all but dead. During an interapostles. Surely, we are taking part in a great adventure. view at his home, John Lennon made the following claims about Spring 2011 Page 7 Affirmative….(Continued from page 5) the power of the government itself. Thus, the rights that flow from this dignity should be valued above governmental sovereignty. IV. Conclusions To exemplify our contentions, we call to mind the resistance of the American colonists towards the British Government when the Parliament imposed certain regulations that infringed upon the colonists’ rights. This is a perfect example of how a government did not acknowledge the rights of the people and instead focused on preserving its own sovereignty. One of the first injustices the British parliament carried out involved a trade competition between England and other countries. Colonists in America were manufacturing products to trade with other countries in the name of England, but the English began to fear that the Colonial industry would grow stronger than England. Thus, the English enforced a tax on molasses and sugar in 1733 and enacted other regulations involving trading interests. As one historian observes, “it was not so much the interests of the colonists that guided England in her colonial policy as her jealous fear of their possible interference with her own […] The policy throughout was to keep the colonies entirely dependent upon and subordinate to England. They were to exist to foster the trade and industry of the mother country in order that she might acquire national wealth and power”. Miss Turner teaching 8th grade Latin B class. England was abusing the dignity and rights of the colonists for the preservation of her own sovereignty. While the colonists labored and toiled, the English not only took advantage of the fruits of their work, but further, applied a tax on imports so that the colonists should never advance beyond the power of their motherland. England’s desperate need to uphold its own sovereignty in foreign trade among other nations involved taking advantage of the colonists and offending their dignity. And her need to keep the American people under her rule led her to infringe upon the colonists rights by imposing unjust taxes. Mrs. Roblee teaching grade 11 Algebra II class. As you can see, this example highlights the fact that when the rights of the people are not the main goal of a government’s policies and when a government looks to her own sovereignty first, the dignity of the human person tends to be overlooked. Thus it is most primary that in decisions of domestic policy, a government should value human rights over governmental sovereignty. 9th grade in Mr. Kelleher’s Greek History class. Grade 10—Euclid Geometry with Miss Cross 9th grade in Miss Rennie’s Classical Literature class. Dr. Martin, professor of theology at Franciscan University, received his STD (magna cum laude, June 1988) from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome. Cordially invites you to a Special Evening with noted author and speaker … Regis Martin Who will speak on “LIBERAL EDUCATION AS IF TRUTH MATTERED” Annual Dinner to benefit Holy Family Academy Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 6:00 pm The Derryfield Restaurant, Derryfield Country Club 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, NH The evening will include a cocktail hour, a delicious dinner, stimulating talk and a book signing. Tickets are $100.00 per person and may be obtained by calling the Academy Office at 603-644-7247 or by visiting the Bookstore at Ste. Marie, 281 Cartier Street, Manchester, NH. Tables of 10 are available. Please join us for this fun and inspiring evening! From 1984-1988, Dr. Martin taught at number of institutions in Rome pursuant to his graduate studies, including the University of Dallas (Rome campus), the Vincent Palloti Institute for Lay Leadership, the Thomas More Institute of Liberal Arts, and the Legionaires of Christ. Prior to his years in Rome, Dr. Martin served as an instructor at Gannon University (Erie, PA) in theology and liberal studies. At Gannon he completed his studies for a MA in Religious Education at its Catechetical Institute, where he wrote his thesis on the theological dimensions of the art of Flannery O'Connor. Dr. Martin has written widely for the Catholic press (Communio, National Catholic Register, Fidelity, St. Anthony's Messenger, Center Journal, Catholic Answers, New Oxford Review, Crisis, and the Wanderer) and has also contributed a number of pieces over the years to the National Review, a journal of secular opinion. His books include The Last Things, Garlands of Grace, Unmasking the Devil: Strategies of Sin and Redemption in the World of Flannery O'Connor, and What Is the Church? Confessions of a Cradle Catholic. Dr. Martin and his wife Roseanne live in Wintersville, Ohio, with their 10 children. Holy Family Academy 49 Ashland Street Manchester, NH 03104 www.holyfamilyacademy.org Named one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the United States in 2006 by the Acton Institute! Named one of the top 25 Catholic high schools in the United States for Academic Excellence in 2007 by the Acton Institute!