Letter from the Principal

More than 100 years ago, Holy Name School opened its doors to the youth of the community. The mission then and now remains the same – to educate the children entrusted to its care, and instill in them the religious beliefs and values that were, and should be, so cherished in our society.

The Educational Ministry of the Church was truly realized here at Holy Name. The children took their rightful places in society. The school and community gave their most precious gifts, their sons and daughters, to the church to the Church in the form of vocations, and to our country and society as young men and women who gave their lives for democracy. The youth educated here became the very backbone of our nation – the Middle Class.

Things were never easy. There were always sacrifices to be made and crosses to bear. There were always doubts, and yet always hope and individuals’ dreams.

The dreams lived and flourished because the people never gave up. They believed that with God’s help and hard work, all things were possible. They built the churches and the schools with sweat, hard work, and sacrifice. They supported a Catholic school System, and committed themselves to sustaining that system. They recognized the value of a God-centered and value-centered education for their children. They wanted to create and secure a strong religious and civic academic foundation for their children.

Today we find ourselves in a world that is rapidly changing, and we are not always happy about those changes. We find ourselves remembering the “Good Old days”. We are often confused and often lack direction. What better place and what better time for the Education Ministry of the Church? The Church and its agent, Holy Name School, are still dedicated to providing the beacon of hope that we have always held high. We are still fighting the tide, still challenging our youth, and still praying that the Holy Spirit will sustain and guide us on this journey. There is no doubt that we are facing hard times; our numbers are fewer and our finances are strained. These things are part of our reality. Yet, there is another part of that reality – We’re Still Here! We have not abandoned our mission, our doors are still open, and we are still dedicated to educating the youth of this parish and community. While our names and backgrounds have changed over the course of time, our purpose has remained constant. The dreams haven’t changed, only the people living them. I truly believe that we still have a vital mission to fulfill.

Change is inevitable, and adaptation is necessary for survival. We must always be involved in the process of discovering and recreating ourselves. We must search for the best ways we can to continue our ministry and Jesus’ work of salvation. We know what worked in the past is not necessarily the perfect panacea for today. We must be willing to do our best, explore new possibilities, and trust the in the end that God’s Will shall prevail.

In the past there was success because everyone worked together on a common vision and on common goals. Success came from God and from us. We did what we had to do. We prayed for guidance, and trusted in our instincts that things would work out. These attributes are still there waiting to be rediscovered.

Each day a new chapter in our Living History begins. We should be excited about the future, and thankful to our God for guiding our footsteps. We must never loose light of our goals or of one another. We must pledge ourselves to Gospel values and the educational ministry of our church. Together, with God’s help and guidance, let us go forward into a new tomorrow.

Robert Hughes
Principal