Bishop Ireton Announces Salesian Quote for the 2020-2021 School Year
Traditionally each summer, a group of Bishop Ireton students attends a weeklong Salesian Leadership Program held in Michigan. The program emphasizes the practice of Salesian virtues while developing practical leadership skills, communication and service to God and others. Due to Covid-19 restrictions this year, the program was held online with presentations on prayer, Salesian spirituality, and small group sharing.
There were over 120 participants from 12 different schools all over the country. The following BI seniors participated in the online program, and will serve in various capacities as Salesian Leaders in the 2020-2021 school year: Jack Ambery, Bethania Anteneh, David Burdick, Caroline Czarnecki, Nicholas Hamer, Savannah Hensley, Christopher Johnson, Madeleine Klunder, Reagan Lungren, Christopher Ntumba, Alexandra Quaadman, Josemari Roque and Dagny Scannell. These students, along with BI adult leaders, have already met several times this summer to discuss ways to bring the fruits and blessings of the summer program back to Bishop Ireton, especially by deepening our friendship with God through personal and communal prayer, developing the virtues on campus through service and joyful presence, and improving interpersonal relationships within our community.
After prayer and thoughtful discussion, our students chose the school quote from the spiritual masterpiece, Introduction to the Devout Life, by St. Francis de Sales: “Even though everything turns and changes around us, our hearts must remain unchanging and ever looking, striving and aspiring toward God.” As we reflect on the challenges of the past several months and look forward to a new academic year, let us renew our trust in God, whose love for us remains unchanging, and who continues to call us to advance always in peace and hope.
Against a backdrop of Bishop Ireton red and gold, the two hands, symbolizing all of God's people, meet in the center of the frame. The heart is punctuated with a cross, a reminder of the sacrificial love of Jesus and his call to love one another. Although the changes of this passing world--symbolized by the constant motion of the circles in the background--may create confusion and fear, God's love for us never changes, nor should our hearts give up the search for God and unity with others.
The 2020-2021 Salesian Leaders meet (safely!) after Mass for lunch