One of my fondest memories upon being hired three years ago was a trip to the CSJ Center in Los Angeles for an orientation with Bonnie and Michael McKeown, one of our board members.

The session consisted of an introduction of many of the Provincial leaders and a history lesson on the CSJ’s.  I’m not sure that I’d call it a dynamic day, but it felt like I was being welcomed into a home.  It is probably a result of my Catholic upbringing, during a time when nuns played a huge role in my elementary days, but I felt such a respect and admiration toward these women who have dedicated their lives to their faith and belief in the teachings of Jesus….and that mission!  The focus on serving others and doing so in such unique and daring ways….how do you not fall in love with that?

I had the great fortune of following up that experience with the national conference in San Diego in November of that year.  Sister Joanne did an amazing job of sharing that history again, and I was able to connect with other Principals and CSJ leaders from around the country, and the breakout sessions and affinity meetings were so amazing-I could feel that tangible connection with others.  And the students we interacted with-they were Carondelet girls.  That CSJ thing was so evident in the students of OLP.

And I have seen that over the past two years.  I wish I could bring everyone back to these conferences.  You would be amazed at how we are all on the same page, that we all speak the same language, that we all have a deep and abiding belief in this amazing mission, in these amazing women.  I have said numerous times that our mission is the single most important thing we do as CSJ educators, and this conference reinforces that so often, and so deeply.

I hope you have a chance to glance at some of what I included in my Schoology folder on the intranet course.  It isn’t a lot, but it does provide some links and information on the other high schools around the country that believe what we believe, that are doing the work of our CSJ’s, that our guiding and educating young women with the same goals and hopes that we strive to provide.

I want to do a better job of conveying that connection, of conveying that what we do carries forward the amazing vision and dreams of the CSJ’s.  If you all could have heard Sister Angie talk and heard her common sense and empathy and understanding….she represents all that is wonderful about these Sister’s and what they do, not just in the world of education, but in all their outreach programs in serving the dear neighbor.

We are hosting the conference next year and I want to figure out a way to have everyone be involved so that you can connect and understand that we are not an isolated institution, but are instead a cog in a much bigger wheel that rolls out the charism of all of the CSJ leaders across the country….it is such a cool thing!