Holy Cross Thunderbolt Newsletter

The Examen is a way for us to reflect on a past period of time—this can be done as we reflect over the last year.

Step One: Become aware of God’s presence.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you review the year with wisdom, grace, and faith. Ask for the grace to tear yourself away from your own patterns of thinking and seeing so that you can see your life more as God sees it.

Step Two: Review the year with gratitude.

As you use this perspective to review the year, pay attention to the good gifts from the year ending. Name specifically those that come to memory now, and thank God for them.

Step Three: Pay attention to your emotions.

Think over the year again, and notice your emotional reactions. What memories speak most loudly to you? What events, conversations, relationships, or activities bring up the most emotion now, as you remember them? Ask God to help you with these emotions, whether they are pleasant or disturbing. Ask for help in understanding why you feel as you do. What can you learn about yourself or about your situation as you dwell in your emotional responses?

Step Four: Choose one feature of the year and pray about it.

While you are lingering with your memories and emotions, settle on one feature. Perhaps it is a single event, or maybe it’s a pattern of your own behavior that has come to mind as you reviewed the year. Whatever it is that has emerged, allow it to fuel your prayer. Don’t worry about the many other aspects of the year that you could think about right now; stay with the one thing that has come to you with the most power and pray from those thoughts and emotions.

Step Five: Look toward the new year.

Imagine what challenges and blessings might await you in the new year. Think of important relationships, major (and minor) decisions to be made, skills to learn, habits to build, healing to seek, good work to accomplish. Make a simple list of highlights—matters that you expect to take prominence in your life in the new year. Bring them to God now, and ask for the graces you will need.

End your prayer, thanking God for love and life and possibilities.

On The Calendar

1/6 - Packer Dress Down Day

1/9 - Therapy Dogs Visit HCCS

1/11 - Crazy Coupon Day

1/16- No School

1/23 - Therapy Dogs Visit HCCS

1/29-2/4 - Catholic Schools Week

1/30 - Therapy Dogs Visit HCCS

2/6 - Therapy Dogs Visit HCCS

2/8 - SAC Dress Down Day

2/10- No School

2/15 - Adoration 8:30 AM

Holy Cross Counselor - Ms. Alycia Johnson

Hi All! My name is Ms. Johnson, and I am excited to start my journey at Holy Cross as the school counselor for the remainder of the school year! After moving to Green Bay six years ago, I've spent my time working as an after-school teacher, childcare teacher, and counseling intern. While working, I studied at St. Norbert College and Lakeland University to become a school counselor. Outside of school I enjoy reading books, discovering new coffee shops, practicing yoga, and journaling. Overall, I am thankful and excited for this opportunity to grow with the Holy Cross students, staff, and families this school year.

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