What a year!

Written by Paul Donovan

I don’t think anyone who was a part of the Loyola Community will ever forget the 2006-2007 school year. As I write this column I find myself wondering how many of us will remember it as a great year and how many will remember it as the worst year we’ve ever had?

Well there were clearly many trials for us to face – Mr. Fitzpatrick’s death as the year began, the death of Mme. Brassard’s husband in Colombia as well as many tragedies in the families of so many who are associated with us, and of course the death of our beloved Fr. Maclean. This does not sound like a year to remember, it sounds like a year we would like to forget! Yet with all of this happening around us, I can’t help but feel that this year was absolutely filled with God’s grace and blessing. I have never experienced the strength of our community as I did this year. I saw people grow in love and fellowship, I saw students rise so beautifully and with such great maturity to face the difficulties that befell us. These events challenged us to grow and respond with hope to overcome the natural inclination to despair – what a year! In Romans 8, St. Paul writes, “For to those who love God everything works out for good… For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers … nothing can come between us and the love of Christ.” As long as we remain open to that love nothing can bring us to despair.

While this may be fine for the big events in our lives, what does it say about the day to day trials and difficulties that we face? For me, my son’s presence at the school brings the answer home. Like so many of you, I faced this year with all the day to day joys and frustrations of having a son attend Loyola. But what strikes me most is how much we need to rely on love. Love for our children, love for our students and for our teachers and most especially the love of God. When things seem to be at their darkest, that is when love has the chance to truly shine. When we struggle and fight with our kids or are frustrated with teachers, parents or principalsJ, trust in love. When we allow ourselves to face the darkness and difficulty with humility and trust in the love of God and others, the most difficult of situations becomes a chance to grow. I discovered that this community of Loyola - its friends, teachers, parents and students know how to love! As long as we are willing and able to find the humility to trust that love and the love of God, “everything works out for good.”
Have a great summer!