January 29, 2012
Dear Friends in Christ,
                Today begins Catholic Schools Week throughout the Archdiocese and throughout the entire country.  Here locally we are going to celebrate in thanksgiving to God for the blessings of Saint Anthony-Saint Joseph School for these past 86 years.  We have much to celebrate.  I want to take this opportunity to say a special word of thanks to our principal of the past 12 years, Mrs. Kathleen Dilts.  She is truly a wonderful gift to our parish, our students, our parents and our teachers.  She is a selfless woman of faith who is never afraid to “talk shop” and give witness to the faith that animates all that she does.  She has worked tirelessly and with great devotion these past twelve years to create a school that not only prepares our children for the world that is fast approaching but also by fashioning them in their Catholic faith in so many simple and yet effective ways.  Just one example.  If you are ever in school in the morning for morning prayers or in the afternoon for closing prayers it is immediately evident that the prayers are prayed and merely said.  That is true no matter if it is a student leading or Mrs. Dilts or anyone else on staff.  This school is a place of prayer and faith and I want all to know that I could not have asked for more from anyone in a leadership position.
                Our teaching staff has a genuine care one for another.  There isn’t bickering and comparisons and score-keeping.  There is only care and dedication and sacrifice.  I know this to be true because I am in the school at all different times and you can hear it and see it every day.  They have a genuine care for each other and a love for your children.  They help each other and they are always willing to go the extra mile.  It is with great sadness and a truly heavy heart that our beloved school will be closing its doors this June.  Please pray for all these special women that they find not only a new teaching position but just the right one, suitable for their talents and experience.
                Finally a salute to our students.  We have good kids here.  They have their moments but they are uniformly good kids.  And they care about each other.  Small does not necessarily mean deficient.  Sometimes, as is the case here, small means opportunity; in the sense of allowing some who would simply be overlooked in a larger environment to stand out and shine here and now.  Wherever our students go they acquit themselves very well and they measure up against any other graduates from school in our area be they public, private or parochial.  I know that they will now take to their new school these attributes and enrich all they encounter there.  In the end God will be praised and many more will be served.  But for the glory of these past 86 years, a hearty Thanks be to God!
Peace,
Msgr. McHenry