Sunday, June 12, 2016

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 12, 2016

School is out, and our children are now enjoying a well-deserved summer vacation. Yet we are already getting ready for the next school year. Of course the biggest step in that process is the hiring of a new principal in light of Mrs. Escovitz’ retirement at the end of this past year. By way of introduction to our new principal, I would like to share with you the text of a letter I recently sent to the school families:

I know that you shared with me in the sadness of the news that we were losing our school principal. Janet Escovitz has done such a fine job of leading our school for the past seven years, and we were sorry to see her go. Yet I also knew that she deserves to enjoy her retirement, and I trusted that the Holy Spirit would guide our search to find a suitable successor as principal. Today, it is my great joy to introduce our new principal to the St. Malachy School family.

Beginning with the 2016-17 school year, our new principal will be Mrs. Catherine Militzer. Mrs. Militzer is a veteran teacher and administrator in our diocese. She was a teacher in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and at St. Margaret of Scotland School in Greentree before being named Vice Principal at St. Margaret in 1999. In 2003 she was named principal at St. Margaret, a position she has held through this current school year. Mrs. Militzer comes highly recommended, not only for her skill as an administrator, but also for her deep personal faith and her deep care for the children entrusted to her care. She is a passionate educator who will bring great dedication to our school and will help us continue to grow.

By diocesan policy, each candidate for the principal’s position was required to submit a brief summary of his or her “Catholic Philosophy of Education.” Mrs. Militzer’s philosophy paper stated, in part, “A good Catholic School is Christ Centered. In order to prepare our students to spread God’s love, they must experience it in their everyday life. It should be a visible part of their day through the example of the adults working with them. The school community must foster spiritual growth and trust in God.” In conjunction with those who volunteered to serve on our search committee, I know that St. Malachy will continue to be that Christ Centered school which truly will foster that spiritual growth and trust in God. Please join with me in welcoming Mrs. Catherine Militzer as our new principal, and please pray for her success as she undertakes this new endeavor.

On a different note, please be aware that I will be away from the parish this coming week, from Sunday afternoon through Friday. I will be making my annual retreat at my alma mater, Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

And finally, on yet another note, next Sunday is our annual Mission Cooperative Appeal. A representative of the Christian Brothers will be speaking at all Masses next weekend, and there will be a second collection to benefit their work.
                                                                                                   Father H