The Summons

"As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him."

-Mark 1:16-20

 

As part of a way to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life, the Catholic Church in America sponsors an annual Vocation Awareness Week. This year, Vocation Awareness Week is this week, January 13 - 19, and the Gospel passage above just happens to be the Gospel reading from the first day of this week focused on promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education. This week of attention to vocations is also aimed at renewing our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. "Come after me" Jesus says, and Simon and Andrew leave their nets behind and follow Him. Similarly, He calls the sons of Zebedee, James and John, and they leave their nets and their dad and the hired men and they follow Jesus.

 

"Come after me," Jesus calls. He is hoping we will follow.

 

The word vocation's Latin root literally means a call or a summons. From a religious standpoint, a vocation formally signifies a persons' call from God to become a priest, brother, deacon or religious sister or nun. In a more generic way, though, it represents the particular plan that God has for each and every individual. Going beyond merely mentioning religious, married or single status, a vocation can be thought of as what God intends for an individual to do with his or her life. It is the specific task that can be done by you and you alone.

 

It's your authentic swing, your purpose, your calling, your meaning, your passion, your reason for living. One's vocation is the song that God places in the heart that can't be other than sung. It is the thing that sets your heart on fire. It gives you life and it is what you'd be willing to give your life doing.

 

Discovering your vocation requires prayer, discernment, study, dialogue, patience and hope. In some cases, like Simon and Saul, this discovery starts with an encounter with Jesus that is both name and life changing. It takes Peter a multitude of conversations, foot-in-mouth moments and failures in order to come to terms with his call. Paul spends time in intense study before he can regain his physical sight and gain his spiritual one.

 

Jesus calls them. He gives them a new name. His gives their lives new purpose, meaning and direction. Together these two men - one a fishermen, the other a soldier - establish the Church and account for the conversion of countless people. Their vocations had a part in the passage of faith that lives on today in those who call themselves Christians.

 

Perhaps your vocation will be responsible for the passage of faith to future generations for many ages to come. Perhaps your vocation will save even one life. Perhaps your vocation will comfort those who are brokenhearted. Perhaps your vocation will break a cycle of violence, abuse or hatred. Perhaps your vocation will set your heart on fire and give your life new purpose, meaning and direction.

 

I have heard it said that God's plan for your life is well beyond even your heart's greatest desire and that doing what He wills for you will bring you more joy than you can even imagine.

 

Getting students to have a sense of vocation is part of the vocation of Catholic educators. Getting students to be able to listen for, recognize and respond to God's voice is what we're supposed to do in Catholic schools. Having a truer sense of our own vocation as Catholic school teachers and believing that our work as Catholic educators is our life's song might actually increase the number of young people answering God's call to priesthood, diaconate or religious life.

 

Actually following Him, regardless of the nets that we have to leave behind or the people in our lives to whom we must bid farewell, is what He commands of us.

 

"Come after me," Jesus calls. It's not a question, it's an order.

 

So, let us Follow Him.       

 

*Please pray for an increase to vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life!*

Finding CHRISTmas

Finding CHRISTmas

Go

Tell it on the mountain

Up on the rooftop

On the busy, city sidewalks

Over the fields, in the meadows

and everywhere

that Jesus Christ is born.

Dash through the snow

Deck the halls

Dance and prance in the frosty air

Are you listening?

Do you hear what I hear?

See what I see?

Do you even know why this jubilee?

I’m telling you why:

Follow yonder star

Shout joyfully

Throw your cares away

Sing in exultation

Bring Him laud

The Lord has come!

Let Earth receive her King!

Fall on your knees and hear the angels singing

From now on our troubles will be far away

For Christ was born on Christmas day.

Let them know it’s Christmas time

It doesn’t show signs of stopping

Joyful and triumphant

Behold Him

Adore Him

Face unafraid the plans that we’ve made

Go out in the storm

Take the road before us

Sing out in chorus:

Joy to the world!

Christmas is here!

Heavenly peace!

Heavenly peace on Earth!

Jesus Christ is born!

Go.

Tell it!

-Michael Zelenka

Christmas This Year

The recent events from Connecticut were absolutely horrific. As Gov. Dannel Malloy stated, "Evil visited this community" that day. In the days since, many questions from concerned parents flooded my inbox, my desk and my conversations. How will ICS keep its students safe? How will any school? The Newtown tragedy has sparked much debate about gun laws, school safety and security and mental health issues.

I will break from my usual neutral stance on politics to say I support stricter regulations on the possession of firearms. I will maintain my position (see "Safe and Sound") on the vitality of safety and security in schools. Every other school in the country outside of Sandy Hook got lucky on December 14, 2012. Sadly, evil could have walked into any of our schools and wreaked the same level of havoc. Even sadder, evil still could visit us. Any of us. And while schools were probably the safest place for kids to be on December 17 (Hillsborough County employed modified lockdowns for all schools and sent patrol cars to each location), our reaction to the events in Newtown must be more than just a shot in the arm. Our reaction must last much longer than 26 acts of kindness and one week of no outside activities. It must change our approach to our children in this country. It must awaken us to the many evils we expose them to each and every day - poor nutrition, neglect, violence, sex, drugs - and inspire us to change.

May the victims of 12/14/12 not have died in vain.

Along these same lines, my father's passing created an enormous hole in both my heart and my life. In so many ways, I have seen God's hand providentially moving me through the grieving process and have come to accept God's will, however difficult, in this situation. My father lived a good life and his life had a beautiful ending. Even though I didn't know him for the first 34 years of his life, I feel as though he died as his best self.

What a way to go out.

But, the pain and shock of his sudden passing have burdened me with wanting the death of my father to change me. The love and closeness I felt to my family during this loss are feelings that I hope will continue. My dad's death caused me to see my dad with new eyes; I hope that this graciousness allows me to be more patient, loving and forgiving. I want to pray more. I want to be stronger. I want to focus more heavily on my family and put less of my being into my career. Normal isn't normal anymore. There is no going back to a life with my father. And if I can't go back, then I want my path going forward to be different, better, truer to who God created me to be.

I want my dad's passing to inspire me to change.  

Tomorrow, Christians around the world will celebrate the moment that God broke through all of the muck and mess of humanity and sanctified it through the Incarnation. God took on human flesh and in doing so blessed our human lives with His divinity. This single moment, when Christ came into the world, changed the course of human events forever. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that all who believe in Him may not die but may have eternal life (John 3:16)." By this same time tomorrow, presents will be opened, services will be attended, good deeds may have even been done, but will we go back to our normalcy on Wednesday? Will we allow the commemoration of Christ's birth to change us? Will we be different, better, truer to who God created us to be?

I pray that this Christmas will put a greater emphasis on the importance of family. I pray that Christmas this year will help us to see those in need and more quickly and frequently run to their aid. I pray that it makes us more patient, more loving, holier and more willing to submit, as Mary did and as I'm trying to, to God's will. I pray that Christmas this year changes us both for the good and for good.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Life.

A Catholic Education

St. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians:

"Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God."

-Philippians 1:4-11

In mid-November, the last time that my dad hugged me, he told me that he was proud of me. These simple words and that simple embrace will stay with me forever. At the time, I had no idea it would be the final time I'd embrace him. I had no idea it would be the last time that I would hear his voice in person.

Our father’s death was sudden. It was unexpected. It was heartbreaking.

But, his passing is not without hope. My dad was a good man - one of the good guys. In a sentence, he always did the right thing. It may not have been easy. He may have at times outwardly complained about it or griped in the middle of it and after it, but he would do it. He was a man of conviction. His faith in Christ Jesus and his love for his Catholic Church was always apparent; over the past few days these characteristics of my dad have radiated ever more brightly. My dad was a good man. We are all confident he is enjoying eternal life.  

As my mom, my siblings and I have reflected on this immense loss in our life, and mourned the days with my dad that will never be, we have all expressed how much we’dlike for one more day with him, one more hour, one more minute. We have also explored the impact that dad has had on our lives. In the end, we arrived at three "ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS" that our dad imparted to each of us. In the world of education, the term “ENDURING UNDERSTANDING” is used to describe the broad brush strokes and overarching themes that contribute to lasting and meaningful wisdom. I offer the following three as a small portion of the legacy of Robert Zelenka:  

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 1: Working hard is a key component to finding success in anything that you do.

My dad was one of the hardest working men I have ever known. He was an ideal employee. I never remember my dad taking a sick day (my dad never really got sick anyways). He was loyal to his bosses and would go the extra mile to fulfill their desires. He was good at what he did - blessed with the gift of gab, my dad was a natural salesman. As a pharmaceutical salesman, he worked hard at developing relationships with doctors that he would visit, restaurants who would cater his product pitches, and anyone with whom he came in contact. He worked hard at his job, but even harder with this family. I don't think that my dad missed a single game in which I played, or my brother Joe played or a concert in which my sister Mary performed. He had an incredible determination - waiting for hours on end for a football practice to end, driving through the night to attend games or make family visits, or sing itsy bitsy spider for 37 straight times at the request of one of his 7 grandchildren. 

I can't say for certain that my dad never told me that working hard was a recipe for success in any area of life. He may have explicitly offered that guidance. His life, though, was a shining example of the fruits of hard work.

Working hard is a key component to finding success in anything that you do.

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 2: Your family should always come before yourself.

It says so much about my dad that my daughter Elizabeth, at age 2, was so excited to come to Ohio because of a chance to visit Nana and Papa (pronounced Pa-pa! in what my mom and dad considered to be the cutest French accent). She absolutely adored her Papa. All of Dad’s grandchildren adored him. The adoration was mutual. 

My Dad was never big on displays of emotion, but he was never short on big displays of love. He was an impossible person for whom to buy gifts because he never wanted anything for himself. His heart's desire was to give gifts. I cannot think of a time growing up that I ever wanted for anything. We were never lavished with our every want, but my Dad always provided for his family. He put my brother and I through Catholic high school. He footed the bill for mine and my sister's collegiate educations - taking out second mortgages, keeping cars until they were both owned and unmovable, sacrificing what I can only assume were countless personal desires so that Mom, Mary, Joe and I would want for nothing. He would arrive at my house during my adult life with gifts for me, my wife and his grandchildren. He would pick up the bill at dinner. According to stories that have surfaced over the past few days as my Mom, Joe, Mary and I have mourned and commemorated our Dad, he would get home from work, quickly change clothes and clean up and then spend the rest of the evening attending to his children as we were growing up. His commitment to his grandchildren as I have already mentioned was even more intense.

He was an amazing dad. He was the world's greatest Grandfather. He was a loyal son, a dedicated brother, a present uncle, and an exemplar God-father. Most importantly, however, he loved my Mother for 40 years with a fierce, protective love. 40 years. There isn't much, let alone marriages, in our current world that lasts as long. On the night before he passed into eternal life he accompanied my Mother to a fabric store so that she could purchase supplies to make something for one of their children or grandchildren. What makes this feat, which was probably repeated hundreds of times throughout the course of their 40 years together, even more amazing is the pride in which he took over my Mom's creations. It was as if he had a hand in whatever Mom was producing.

We ate meals together as a family. We prayed together as a family. We went to Mass together as a family. When my sister, brother and I were old enough we started to celebrate holidays together as a nuclear family. We weren't and aren't perfect; but the love in our family is beautiful. It is one of my Dad's greatest gifts to me, my family, my brother and his family, my sister and hers and our mother. Just like my Father before me, I hope to be an even greater son, brother, husband, father, uncle and whatever else life has in store for me than my Dad was. I have incredibly huge shoes to fill.

Your family should always come before yourself.

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 3: It doesn't benefit me if I gain the whole world but lose my soul - I must be a man of faith in order to honor my family and find success.

My Dad was not wealthy by earthly standards. By those same standards he was probably, at best, moderately successful. He was a beautifully imperfect and flawed man. Yet, my Father was holy. His heart may not have always been aligned with his actions, but as I've said before, he strived to always do the right thing. He prayed. He prayed with his family. He went to confession. He attended Mass and took his family with him. He was involved with his parish in so many various capacities. He prayed the Rosary. He fought to follow the teachings of both Christ and the Catholic Church. He was holy.

In return, he was blessed with a beautiful wife, three amazing children and seven joy-filled grandchildren. He got to spend quality time with all of us in the weeks leading up to this past weekend. He celebrated 40 years of marriage to my Mother. He came to Florida to meet his youngest grandchild. He visited Joe and his family during Thanksgiving. Mary and her family celebrated Dad's 67th birthday with him in his home. On the night before he passed into eternal life he not only went to a fabric store, he both went to Mass and enjoyed a steak dinner with his wife. He passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, in his sleep. Peacefully. Joyously. Holy.

Our Dad was a man of great faith and as a result he honored his family and found true success.  

67 years ago, God started a good work in my Father that continued up until the very moment that he entered into eternal life. That good work continues on, though, in me, my siblings, my mother, our families and all who have been touched by the life of Robert Zelenka.

I will forever cherish those sweet words uttered by my Dad the last time we embraced: "I'm so proud of you."

I bet they were the first ones God said as he welcomed my Dad back home.

We love you, Dad, and we miss you. 

And we are so proud of you. 

In loving memory of my Father, Robert Michael Zelenka

December 1, 1945 - December 8, 2012

Safe and Sound

Since we have the week off for Thanksgiving break, Emily scheduled Elizabeth's two year doctor's appointment so that I could attend. I appreciated the opportunity to be with my family and to accompany my wife on this necessary check-up. Of course, along with the two year old check-up came another round of immunizations and vaccines. Given her developmental stage, this was the first time that she could actually understand the pain of the needle prior to the sight of it. It was also the first time that we figured that Elizabeth could be upset with Mom and Dad afterward if we didn't supply the appropriate and honest amount of prior warning. So, for the past few days we've been telling her about her pending doctor's visit. We've been talking to her about what is going to happen and what to expect, making no bigger of a deal of the shots than the height and weight measurements. We even had Nana and Papa who had been visiting the past two weeks, buy Elizabeth an Elmo goes to the doctor book. We've read it about 15 times in less than a day (her choice, actually, not her crazy dad's!).

While I would like to think that strong parenting and good proactive prompting had anything to do with the outcome: two shots and zero tears, I know that it is due in large part to Elizabeth's character and temperament. She is very analytic, aware, and determined. In fact, she got more upset when the nurse asked her to step on the scale than she did at the sight of the needle. My heart swelled with pride over my strong, brave, intelligent and tough two year old daughter!

Along the same lines, Catherine has impressed me, in less than a month, with her strength and raw power. From the day that she was born she has been raising her head off of my shoulder, off of the bed - all over the place. I am still unused to this kind of movement from a newborn. I have had to adjust my holding practices and on more than one occasion I have had to resort to two hands so as to keep her bobbing head from jerking her right out of my embrace. Catherine is strong; and her strength has challenged my parenting to be able to keep her safe and sound, even from herself.

Safe and sound. That's what I'd like to ensure that my family is forever. Protection only goes so far. I can't keep my girls from growing up and I can't keep them in a bubble, shielding them from any and all harm. Prevention, too, is only a part of the overall recipe. I can't anticipate every danger. I must prepare my daughters for the various evils that will confront them, so that they may be able to handle problems on their own.

As a Catholic educator, my first mission is to ensure the safety and security of all members of our school community but most importantly our students. This must be the first item crossed off on my to-do list so that I can focus on education and evangelization. Students that are physically, emotionally or spiritually unsafe cannot learn and they cannot grow closer to Christ. But, I mustn't consider this preparatory piece of my principalship to be a pre-requisite for my real work to get done. Ensuring that my students are safe and sound is a part of my real work.

Like my approach to my daughters, I must teach the students in my school to be in the world but not of the world. I must take measures to protect them and to prevent as many dangers as possible from befalling them. But, I must prepare them, too. So that after they leave the safe haven that is hopefully Incarnation that they will be ready to face and tackle challenges of this world.

In St. Peter's first letter to the Christians of Asia Minor, he encourages his fellow believers to hold fast (1 Peter 5: 6 - 10), recognizing and resisting the snares of the enemy:

So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.^d7Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.^e8Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour.^f9Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.10The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ [Jesus] will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.^g

As Catholic educators, we must come to understand that the first part of our Mission / Ministry must be to maintain the safety and security of our community members. We must put on the full armor of God, which as St. Paul writes to the Ephesians is the spiritual weaponry needed to fight evil (Ephesians 6: 10 - 17):

Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.11Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.^g12For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.^h13Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.ⁱ14So hold fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,^j15and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.^k16In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one.^l17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.^m

As ministers of Catholic education we are going into a hostile environment every day; the world is full of trouble. We must be vigilant in our approach to keeping kids safe and sound. We must be prepared to fight for their well-being, for their livelihood, for even their lives. We must be willing to stand up to adults who jeopardize their health. We must be willing to see our non-instructional duties like morning drop-off, lunch, recess or passing time as the times throughout our day most in need of God's armor. These times cannot be considered break time. They cannot be used to consult with colleagues. We cannot have the mindset that it's enough to merely react to problems that arise versus actively trying to prevent them.

Be safe guarded not innocent. Innocence is for children - the very people we are called to protect.

If someone were to entrust to me their most prized possession - their car, their house, their computer, etc. - I would do all in my power to ensure its integrity. I would know its location. I would limit the access that others have to this item. I would keep it in under lock and key. I would take other necessary precautions to guarantee that the item was returned in pristine condition.

If we would do it for a watch or a guitar or a baseball card, why would we not do it for a school filled with God's and parents' most prized possessions: children?

Catholic educators must protect their students, prevent situations that could be harmful, and prepare students for dangers that are unanticipated.

But, Catholic educators must not be foolish, thinking that problems only happen other places, to other schools and to other kids. St. Paul and St. Peter are very clear about the approach necessary to endure the many attacks of our enemy. Even Jesus exhorts us to "Stay awake!" multiple times throughout the Gospel.

Vigilant, watchful, preventative, proactive, prepared, active, and willing to fight are all things we must be so that those to whom we minister will always be safe and sound.

Elizabeth (who had been sleeping while I typed this) just called for me.

When duty calls, I respond.

Safe and sound. Safe and sound.

Waiting for Superman...

May God bless America.

I am honored to be a citizen of this great nation. I am privileged to live in a state where my vote for President actually matters. I was filled with an enormous sense of responsibility when it came to casting my vote by mail ballot (due to the birth of my daughter, Catherine Rose on 10/26!). I watched the debates. I researched the amendments and other candidates up for various state and local legislation and offices.

Public officials deserve and receive my respect and gratitude. They are servants of our city, state and country and do so much to allow us to enjoy so many civic services. My right to vote is also something that deserves and receives my respect and gratitude; hence my efforts to make informed decisions and my efforts to ensure that despite a major life event that both my wife and I would still have the opportunity to vote.

My faith would encourage me to be such a dutiful citizen. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans (13:1 - 7):

Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God.^a2Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.3For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil.^b Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it,4for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer.^c5Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience.^d6This is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.7Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.^e

I am indebted to the many soldiers, leaders and citizens of America who have made it possible for me to have a voice in the government of my country.  

And yet, throughout this election season, I became more and more disenchanted about the entire political process.

Being in a swing state, I am disgusted by the amount of ads - television, phone, mail - that have littered my life over the past few days, weeks and months. Not only are they annoyingly misleading and hurtful, they cost money. Lots of money. Millions of dollars worth of money. Money that could be spent helping those without shelter, without food, without clothing. Money that could be spent on something as noble as education. Money that could help to erase our national debt.

Backtrack to the annoyingly misleading aspect of the process. The "fact-finder's" rate of accuracy is probably closely tied to the political slant of the news media used to offer the supposed "truth". Coverage on television tonight, again depending on your network of choice, will offer the states' projected winner well in advance of the polls even closing. Fluctuating percentages over the course of the past few months with one candidate gaining or losing ground make for exciting news stories. After all, networks want us to watch their coverage of election night or the debates or the nightly news (and there are ads to be sold, too!). As my high school English teacher Mr. Francioli once chimed, "All news is inherently subjective."

Finally, it saddens me when these men and women who choose to be public servants lower themselves to bashing one another, smearing mud and attacking the other sides' views as opposed to promoting and defending their own.

We elect images. We are attracted to appearances. We rally behind our Mockingjay, fooling ourselves into thinking that being fiesty, witty, handsome/pretty, condescending, or even rude translates into some semblance of power.

I long for a candidate, at any level, who instead of raising funds to invade my home with advertisements does something with that money worthy of a higher calling. Think of how much good could be done.

I long for a candidate who instead of wallowing in dirt turns the other cheek and refuses to participate in a mud slinging contest. Someone who stands up for what they believe in and defends it, regardless of what the media or campaign advisors would desire or suggest. Think of how refreshing this type of purity would be.

I love our great country and I am proud to pledge my allegiance to its flag every morning with our entire school community.

And even though Superman may never come, I know that regardless of who is in any office, my allegiance is also pledged to my one and only King.

May God bless America.
  

RUN

"Run while you have the light of life, that the darkness of death may not overtake you."

-John 12:35

If you had said to me when I was in high school or college that one day I would consider myself a runner, I would have scoffed and quipped, "Running is something I do to get ready for other sports. I don't run for the sake of running."

Since graduating from college, I have competed in a multitude of races - sprint triathlon, marathon, half-marathon, 15k, 5k and 1mi. I run as exercise. I run for the sake of running. I run to have fun. Yes, my 14 - 22 year old self is hanging his head in shame. A runner? Me? Really?

Really. And I really do enjoy it. After football it was a way to shed excess pounds. As a cost savings measure running really only requires a decent pair of shoes - no other equipment required. From an efficiency standpoint, I can run just about anytime and anywhere.

I became a runner...not a particularly fast or well-endured runner, but a runner nonetheless.

As a principal of an elementary school, I find maintaining my fitness particularly important. Parents and families send their children to our school to help educate and evangelize them. But, what good is an educated mind or an enflamed spirit if our earthly vessel is incapable of completing the work that God has called us to do? Encouraging physical fitness and promoting a healthy lifestyle is a third component in the education for which I feel responsible for delivering.

This responsibility takes on even heftier importance thanks to the "Designed to Move" Report (watch the video above, read the report here, see a condensed version in this article), which claims that for the first time in recorded history children are expected to live 5 fewer years than their parents. Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy foods, instant gratification - the culprits are many. The solutions are simple and schools can and should play a big part in this fight to give our kids those 5 years back.

So, Incarnation Catholic School provides daily recess for all grade levels (PreK to Grade 8). We offer Physical Education classes, again to all grade levels, twice a week. Grades 6 - 8 also have a once per week Health class coupling the physical activity of PE with scientific concepts. These may not seem like rare exceptions to the world of education, but there are a good number of schools, public and private alike, that have decided to cut out these important times for students.

Incarnation Catholic School offers interscholastic sports for students in grades 5-8. We have increased the number of junior varsity teams (Grades 5 and 6) offered by our school over the past two years. This way, even more students are involved in sports and physical activity.

Furthermore, this past school year ICS started a Running Club, called "Sacred Steps" because of its connection to Sacred Scripture (each "Workout" begins with a scripture passage, reflection on that passage and prayer). This club, offered to students in grades 2 - 8 has over 40 members. In a school of just under 300 students, I find this to be a staggeringly high number. There is no requirement outside of parental permission in order to participate, but all we do is run. I have said on more than one occasion during our first 4 workouts that "There are no balls allowed in running club!" Students keep track of their laps on a weekly basis and will receive recognition for milestones that they pass. The school has plans to branch club membership down to the PreK, Kindergarten and First Grade levels as well as invite parent participation.

As Jesus encourages us, "Run while you have the light of life, that the darkness of death may not overtake you." It seems that His words have just as much emphasis on our physical bodies as our spiritual ones. Run (or at least move or exercise) so that the darkness of death may not overtake you.

Run while you have the light of life so that your life may be five years longer.

Are you in?

RUN.