Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family News | 21 February 2021
Proclaim the Promise!
TRUTH
For three hundred and seventy-seven days,
Noah, his family, and all God’s creatures sheltered in place
while the flood made the Earth a watery grave,
a clean slate for God’s Creation 2.0.
But what if, just what if…
over the course of that year
what God was remaking
was not outside but inside the ark itself?—
drawing humanity into closed quarters
forced to unplug, unwind, slow down,
rubbing shoulder to shoulder with every mortal creature
until rough edges were softened and smoothed,
senses refined to laser-like focus
to see the world and relationships anew
to hear more clearly voices once muted
and feel another’s sorrow more sharply as one’s own.
The truth of God’s covenant with Noah was this:
The world may change by flood or fire,
be ravaged by virus, corruption, and rage.
Yet God’s Spirit in you will find new ways
of being and growing, of loving and living,
reshaped by God’s grace, created in God’s image
to proclaim the promise that unites us together
in God’s love that never dies.
See God’s covenant… with you and your descendants.
See God’s covenant… with you and the land.
See God’s covenant… with you and the ones like you,
who speak like you and think like you,
who act like you and love like you.
See God’s covenant… with you and the ones you do not understand.
See God’s covenant… with you and the stranger
and with the ones whose names you know.
See God’s covenant… with you and the ones who see you—the real you—
and love you still, and love you even more.
See God’s covenant… with you and the ones whom the world despises,
and the ones you are trying desperately to love.
See God’s covenant… with you and all you love,
with you and all who show you love,
with you and all who renew the world each day
with their love.
Rejoice in God’s promise that has saved us all!
COVENANT
From out of the ark, like Noah, we embark
upon a world completely changed.
Yet the watery tomb of baptismal grace
makes of us a new human race,
heirs of God’s covenant, ready to embrace
the Spirit of Christ through whom we dare say:
Never again… shall the Earth and its creatures be destroyed.
Never again… shall we take one another for granted.
Never again… shall we stay silent when the oppressed cry out for justice.
Never again… shall we despair of God’s abounding mercy.
For our faith calls us to care for the Earth, our common home;
our faith knits our joys and sorrows together;
our faith compels us to speak with boldness;
and our faith in Christ makes all things possible.
HOPE
Do you not notice? Do you not see?
Not only the bow but also the clouds
are signs of God and harbingers of hope,
like a dove released to never return.
Flood and ark, cloud and bow,
darkness and light, death and life.
The signs of hope are all about us
if only we see with eyes of faith.
So do not wait for the bow to appear,
but swiftly act when clouds fill the skies.
For that too means God is near,
and a world reborn about to arise.
This is the sign: When disaster strikes, the helpers appear.
This is the sign: When walls are built, the children rise up.
This is the sign: When there is nowhere else to turn, a hand reaches out to lead the way.
This is the sign: When daylight fades and darkness abounds, a lamp is lit to remind us all
that we are never ever alone.
Two by two did God command that all creation enter the ark.
And one year later by God’s good grace did this small remnant replenish the world.
For God did not promise that life would be easy,
free from worry, storm, or fear.
But God’s covenant was simply this:
I will be with you ‘til the end of time,
in the one by your side,
the one whom you love,
the one who walks with you, before, and behind—
The People of God, born of an ark,
an arc of justice that bends beyond sight,
a people reborn of water and spirit,
of love beyond reason,
of undying light.
Copyright © 2020, Diana Macalintal.
Dear St. Clare School Families,
Welcome back to school after a week of “specials” - the start of Lunar New Year, Valentines Day, Ash Wednesday, Presidents Day and a week away from school. We hope that your time away was spent in self-care, including safe and healthy practices so that we can return safely to our school community.
The prayer above was written by Diana Macalintal, former Director of Liturgy and Worship in the Diocese of San Jose. Diana was commissioned by the Los Angeles Religious Education Conference (hosted by Archbishop Gomez and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles) to write the prayer to open the Conference this weekend, in its COVID version: with virtual live and on-demand sessions from Bishop Barron, Bishop McElroy, Fr. James Martin, Fr. Greg Boyle and even Pope Francis! I’ve had the pleasure of attending the LA Congress a few times when it was held at the Anaheim Convention Center, and this year, many of our teachers are “attending” virtually. Memorable sessions included ones offered by Sr. Helen Prejean, Sr. Joyce Rupp, Sarah Hart and Liam Lawton, as well as multicultural liturgies and prayer services. It’s quite the event with presenters and attendees from all over the world! If you are interested, registration is still open as on-demand sessions will be available through March 21, 2021.
This week marks the end of the second trimester of this most unusual school year. I congratulate you and your students and express gratitude to you and to our teachers for working together to care for one another even through difficulties and challenges. As data has shown us, our students are thriving and succeeding academically and emotionally. It is such a joy to see them together in-person, making the most of the time they have with one another. It is a testament to your efforts and the efforts of our teachers that we are able to safely offer in-person learning as well as a robust distance learning program. Thank you for partnering together!
We also congratulate and thank the parent leaders who continue to engage the community in the most positive ways. Thank you to all of you who worked together towards a successful few weeks before break and who continue to work together to bring even more events in the next few weeks and months: Lenten drive, Book Fair, Jog-a-Thon and many others! This community has truly been amazing throughout the last thirteen months, giving each other grace and being the example of Christ to one another. Thank you.
LENTEN DRIVE: .one.love.march.2021 Campaign
Last year, our school started the ONE LOVE CAMPAIGN for Human Development. This year, our School Advisory Committee for Mission and Catholic Identity is proud to introduce one.love.march.2021 in response to the Lenten call for transformation.
Goal
St. Clare School calls its community to put on Christ and act as he did, recognizing God in all of our brothers and sisters - with all of their tragedies and struggles, hopes and aspirations, strengths and weaknesses. Our faith calls us to act, to ensure that all people can live with dignity and change the world, share values and fight for justice.
Objective
During the Season of Lent, we present the St. Clare community with opportunities to act out their faith in relation to human dignity and human development.
Theme
This year, in addition to helping all brothers and sisters, we’d like to focus on advocating the dignity of women. Working with Casa de Clara and Heritage Home (through Cityteam Ministries), we hope to bring insight to women’s struggles with issues like domestic violence, pregnancy and addiction, and how organizations such as Casa de Clara and Heritage Home provide women and children with a clean, safe place to stay, hospitality services such as hot showers, food distribution, and life skills classes.
We hope you will join us in our efforts to break the cycle of poverty, violence and inequity that plague many women in our community. Stay tuned to learn more. Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram) @stclareschoolsantaclara.
END OF THE TRIMESTER
Please continue to communicate with your child’s teacher(s) and help your child develop skills in self-advocacy in order to finish strong and transition into a successful last trimester of 2020-2021. Continue to protect at least 30 minutes a night to read together (in the same room) to develop important literacy skills for future success. Your teachers are working hard to prepare a report of progress that will be useful for your child’s path forward. Together, we can provide the support our students need in order to achieve success. Our hope is that we can meet our learners where they are at in order to realize their full potential.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
Stay tuned for more information regarding the virtual Scholastic Book Fair, Jog-A-Thon.
If your student is returning to in-person learning this week, kindly read the post sent on Friday.
May this Lenten season afford us moments of quiet reflection, even through turbulent times.
May Noah’s example of trust, perseverance and hope remain with us during our journey towards lasting transformation.
May God be with you always.
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
Hidden Talent Art
Hidden Talent Art program is now online and offers a variety of times throughout the week. We are offering St. Clare students one free art class. Email us directly at
mailto:info@HiddenTalentArtStudio.com if you are interested in a free class.
St. Clare celebrates the Year of the Ox. Happy New Year!
Happy Valentines Day, St. Clare!
Important Dates Reminder
- 2/22 School Resumes
- 2/25 Cup With The Principal | 6:00 P.M.
- 2/26 Weekly School Mass | 9:30 A.M.
- 2/26 End of the Second Trimester
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Our Beloved St. Clare
Photo by Ed Carlo Garcia www.edcarlogarcia.com
St. Clare School
Email: office@stclareschool.org
Website: https://www.stclare.school
Location: 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408 246-6797
Facebook: facebook.com/stclareschoolsantaclara