Category: School Life & Culture

I have spent a lot of time this summer thinking about what inspires me — particularly what truly inspires me about Episcopal Schools. I thought about my call to teach and to serve in education.... Read More »

I’m always a bit bemused when non-educators talk about school folk having the “summer off.” Sometimes it’s said with enviable longing (“how I wish I got the summer off!”) — and sometimes with a critical disdain (“They get the summer off. That’s barely working!”). The image conjured is one of teachers across the land lounging in chaises — fruity drink and junky summer novel in hand. Read More »

The one and only connection I have to St. Matthias is that, every Tuesday, I preside over three short liturgies in St. Matthias Chapel on the campus of a local school. Those three liturgies are the... Read More »

In the year 2000, a man named Red Wassenich called in to a local Austin radio show on a Saturday morning to make a pledge. When he was asked by the person who received the donation why he was... Read More »

When I retired last July after 35 years in school chaplaincy, I was determined to spend at least the first six months “getting good and bored!” I was successful for the first three months and then, it seems, God had other plans for me. I cautiously accepted two out of three invitations I received to become involved in community once again: helping to facilitate a marvelous initiative in peer learning among a group of wise and gifted veteran school chaplains scattered across the nation, and chairing the Commission on Ministry in my diocese. My closest friends smile indulgently when I tell them how busy my life is once again, almost as if they knew I wouldn’t make it six months! Read More »

Throughout the 7th grade world religions class, we had been talking about the power of hope found in all religions. In our final discussion on the power of hope found in the Hindu tradition of Diwali, the students were asked to share a story of how they experienced hope. Read More »

Where I live there is a traffic light at a busy intersection. A “No Turn on Red” sign is posted. The sign looms large. In addition to that sign, there are two smaller signs, which qualify... Read More »

We frequently use the metaphor of “journey” to describe life or the trajectory of our faith. The visual that comes to my mind when I think of a journey is a map, showing an icon of a... Read More »

A quick look at the Spiritual Life page on our school’s website will give one an idea about life at St. Catherine’s School. Even though one of our divisional chapels takes place daily, I... Read More »

I happen to live in one of the few places in our country where Epiphany is really celebrated. Here in south Louisiana, January 6th begins the Carnival season, which means that even if you don’t... Read More »