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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
October 10, 2017 | The Valley Catholic
Archbishop Mitty Celebrates Mass of the Holy Spirit
Last month, the Archbishop Mitty
High School (AMHS) community gath-
ered together to celebrate the Mass of
the Holy Spirit. The Mass focused on
Luke’s Gospel story of the Good Samar-
itan and the ways in which students
and staff can live in solidarity with the
marginalized in their community.
This was the first year in which
the event was held in the new Schott
Family Commons, with the altar at the
base of the Sobrato Building. Senior
Yabi Grum gave the student refl ection
and talked about how her experience
as a fi rst-generation African American
immigrant allowed her to identify
with the injured Jewish man who was
helped by the Good Samaritan. Grum, a
child of Ethiopian immigrants, shared
her family’s personal experiences with
discrimination and name calling.
“Challenge yourself,” she said. “Do
not accept social injustice because it
seems easier. When you see people
crying out for help, do not turn a blind
eye. Be bold and courageous. Choose
to love.”
Grum explained that during Jesus’
time, it would not have been socially
acceptable for a Samaritan to help a
Jewish neighbor in despair. She went
on to talk about how the devaluing of
people based on race or social status
continues today when people are ste-
reotyped and refugees seeking asylum
are turned away.
“These examples make it clear that
we have created a separation within our
society,” she said. “Rather than uniting
and lifting each other up, like the Good
Deacon Steve Herrera distributes Communion
during a Mass of the Holy Spirit at Archbishop
Mitty High School.
Samaritan does, we can tear each other
down and choose to build walls.”
She also mentioned Principal Tim
Brosnan’s recent letter to the school
community about the termination
of DACA. Mr. Brosnan cited how the
United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops, the California Catholic Con-
ference, and Bishop McGrath have
issued statements condemning this
action, and urged the AMHS commu-
nity, as a Catholic school, to stand in
solidarity with these individuals and
organizations.
Highlighting the liturgical theme
song of the school year, “Evidence,”
by Citizen Way, Grum asked her class-
mates to make evident their love for the
marginalized in their communities,
despite diff erences in race, gender, or
social class. Her poignant refl ection in-
spired the school community to make
God visible.
Holy Family School’s Little Bears
Some say they are the cutest, yet they
are defi nitely the littlest in our Holy
Family School Community; we like to
refer to them as our littlest bears because
they are our PRESCHOOLERS!
With the change of shirt color from
yellow to red, our three - to fi ve-year-old
preschoolers defi nitely stand out. Our
school did not feel complete until they
arrived, as they began their fi rst day of
school after Labor Day.
One-by-one, our preschoolers trick-
led in with their parents, some eager
to run off and play and some hesitant
as they were still getting familiar with
their new environment. As the goal of
preschool is to provide a well- rounded
program, our wonderful teachers are
able to provide just that with the ample
activities planned each day.
The preschool teachers guide the
students in their emotional, intellectual,
physical, and spiritual development.
Students participate in table activities
such as play doh, sorting, and fi nger
painting, to name few, which help with
problem solving and collaboration.
Through various times of the day, they
practice their faith through prayer and
learn about Jesus. A large part of their
weekly engagement includes music, art,
a visit to the school library, Physical Edu-
cation and Occupational Therapy with
our occ