Parents,

I was talking with a parent this week and we got off topic and our conversation lead to our past occupations.  As I went through the various "jobs" that I have had in my life, probably like most of you, I realized that my occupational path has meandered around and ended up not where I had originally intended.

As a youth, growing up in rural Johnson County, I had every intention to take over my family's 140 acre cattle farm.  I would wake up early, go out and do my chores, go to school, come home and work with my father until dark and go to bed (sometimes I would do homework!).  That type of schedule helped me to develop a good work ethic that I try to keep today and instill in my own children and our students.

As I went through high school I worked on a local dairy farm which allowed me to gain knowledge in many different trades.  Plumbing, electrician, veterinarian, bookkeeper, mechanic, and many other skills were learned working on the dairy farm.  One skill that was not gained was people skills.  Not much interaction with people occurred milking 85 Holstein dairy cows, but I did lean some "cow" skills.

Our family always participated in 4-H.  We showed cattle and I was usually the one that "halter broke" the cattle to lead and to behave.  The experience of showing cattle; halter breaking, grooming, and clipping (giving them a haircut), enabled me to work around the country for various larger purebred cattle farms and for an 18 year old kid from Nineveh, IN, I was traveling around the country and having a blast, doing what I wanted to family's purebred cattle farm, and she decided it would be a good idea for me to attend college (if I wanted to continue to see her!).  As a 24 year old, uneducated cattle jockey, I thought about it for a few minutes and decided that attending college was a good choice!

I have taught at four high schools as an Agriculture teacher, coached varsity basketball and football, and been an athletic director and assistant principal at two high schools, and had the good fortune to coach college basketball for eight years.

A little less than three years ago, I was ready for yet another change in my professional life.  I applied here at St. Mark Catholic School and was hired in June of 2009.  There was no roadmap for me to follow.  I have approached this part of my life like every other, by working hard, putting hours and surrounding myself with good people.  Our school is not perfect, and I make many mistakes every day, but my father always said, "If you make mistakes, going hard, then those mistakes will help you grow."  And he is correct!

APRIL 27, 2012

ST MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL.... FAITH IN EVERY CHILD

I don't know what tomorrow brings, but I do know how appreciative I am for God putting me in the place at this time of my life.  People that know me well, ask me how long I will be at St. Mark, and I answer them that I am here today, and this all I care about.  With the way life is so fragile, I truly have subscribed to giving God thanks for each day and enjoying that day for what it is.

So my path continues.  It keeps meandering.  I thank God each and every day that He is in my life and that He has put me here, today.  Have a great weekend and we will see you at Mass!!

Thanks and God Bless,

Rusty Albertson
Principal
St. Mark Catholic School.

I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sunrise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.            

Matthew 5:44-45

EVERYONE SAYS FORGIVENESS is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive, as we had during WWII. And then, to mention the subject at all is to be greeted with the howls of anger. It is not that people think this too high and difficult a virtue: it is that they think it hateful and contemptible. “That sort of talk makes me sick,” they say. And half of you already want to ask me, “I wonder how you’d feel about forgiving the Gestapo if you were a Pole or a Jew?”

So do I. I wonder very much. Just as when Christianity tells me that I must not deny my religion even to save myself from death by torture, I wonder very much what I should do when it came to that point. I am not trying to tell you what I could do—I can do precious little—I am telling you what Christianity is. I did not invent it. And there, right in the middle of it, I find “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” There is no slightest suggestion that we are offered forgiveness on any other terms. It is made perfectly clear that if we do not forgive we shall not be forgiven!—-

C. S. Lewis ranks as one of the greatest Christian apologists of the 20th century. He kept a keen eye for deception and muddled thinking. When it came to spiritual matters, he took on not only the outright atheist, but the lukewarm and halfhearted Christian.

FORGIVING FATHER, give me the spirit of forgiveness even when I would rather nurture my wounds than have them healed.

LENTEN MESSAGE FROM THE POPE

“Let us be concerned for each other,to stir a response in love and good works” (Heb 10:24)

The Lenten season offers us once again an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life: charity. This is a favourable time to renew our journey of faith, both as individuals and as a community, with the help of the word of God and the sacraments. This journey is one marked by prayer and sharing, silence and fasting, in anticipation of the joy of Easter.

***

This year I would like to propose a few thoughts in the light of a brief biblical passage drawn from the Letter to the Hebrews:“ Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works”. These words are part of a passage in which the sacred author exhorts us to trust in Jesus Christ as the High Priest who has won us forgiveness and opened up a pathway to God. Embracing Christ bears fruit in a life structured by the three theological virtues: it means approaching the Lord “sincere in heart and filled with faith” (v. 22), keeping firm “in the hope we profess” (v. 23) and ever mindful of living a life of “love and good works” (v. 24) together with our brothers and sisters.

***

Today too, the Lord’s voice summons all of us to be concerned for one another. Even today God asks us to be “guardians” of our brothers and sisters (Gen 4:9), to establish relationships based on mutual consideration and attentiveness to the well-being, theintegral well-being of others. The great commandment of love for one another demands that we acknowledge our responsibility towards those who, like ourselves, are creatures and children of God. Being brothers and sisters in humanity and, in many cases, also in the faith, should help us to recognize in others a true alter ego, infinitely loved by the Lord. If we cultivate this way of seeing others as our brothers and sisters, solidarity, justice, mercy and compassion will naturally well up in our hearts.

***

The good is whatever gives, protects and promotes life, brotherhood and communion. Responsibility towards others thus means desiring and working for the good of others, in the hope that they too will become receptive to goodness and its demands. Concern for others means being aware of their needs.

***

We should never be incapable of “showing mercy” towards those who suffer. Our hearts should never be so wrapped up in our affairs and problems that they fail to hear the cry of the poor. Humbleness of heart and the personal experience of suffering can awaken within us a sense of compassion and empathy. “The upright understands the cause of the weak, the wicked has not the wit to understand it” (Prov 29:7). We can then understand the beatitude of “those who mourn” (Mt 5:5), those who in effect are capable of looking beyond themselves and feeling compassion for the suffering of others. Reaching out to others and opening our hearts to their needs can become an opportunity for salvation and blessedness.

***

Acts of charity towards our brothers and sisters – as expressed by almsgiving, a practice which, together with prayer and fasting, is typical of Lent – is rooted in this common belonging. Christians can also express their membership in the one body which is the Church through concrete concern for the poorest of the poor.

***

In a world which demands of Christians a renewed witness of love and fidelity to the Lord, may all of us feel the urgent need to anticipate one another in charity, service and good works (cf. Heb 6:10). This appeal is particularly pressing in this holy season of preparation for Easter. As I offer my prayerful good wishes for a blessed and fruitful Lenten period, I entrust all of you to the intercession of the Mary Ever Virgin and cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing.

Parents,

Even though most of you have taken down the Christmas tree and put away all of the
decorations, I hope that you are able to carry the renewed sense of Christ in your life and that
you can continue to build upon your experiences from the past few weeks to strengthen your
relationship with Christ.

About a year ago I was approached by a father who has three children enrolled in our school and he
had a piece of paper in his hand that he handed me and said “take a look at this; I think you will
be interested!” I get many things handed to me on the way into school by children and parents. I
get cards, flyers, checks for lunch charges, cookies and other informational items that I usually
stick in my pocket and hope to find later in the day. But this tri-fold, gold piece of paper not
only had some interesting verbiage, but it changed my life in a very positive direction.

The piece of paper had information on the Christ Renews His Parish renewal weekend program (CRHP).
I read over the pamphlet quickly and put it on my desk to be forever lost in a quagmire of papers.
But it kept surfacing to the top and would not go away. I even tried to put it in the recycling
bin, but it showed back up on my desk. After several reminders by this persistent parent, I looked
at the material and decided that I could use some time for myself to renew my relationship with
Christ. My wife had also been “targeted” and we both agreed that even though we had very busy
lives, that this was the time to attend our separate CRHP weekend.

My wife attended the women’s CRHP weekend first and shared very little with me so not to spoil the
weekend for me, but I could tell that it was a very moving experience for her. I won’t spoil the
weekend for you, but I can honestly tell you that having many opportunities to draw closer to God
through his Son, this one was the best experience for me. I arrived Saturday morning very skeptical
and left Sunday afternoon renewed with faith, spirit and hope.

I often tell parents that Catholic education is not for everyone, the same goes for CRHP, but if
you are searching for direction in your faith journey or you want to strengthen your sense of
spiritual direction, then I would suggest that you attend the CRHP weekend. The women’s CRHP
weekend is January 21 & 22nd and the Men’s CRHP weekend is March 3rd and 4th all here at St. Mark
Catholic School. You can get registration forms in the Narthex or in the parish center and it is
free. For more information on registering for the women’s weekend contact Deanne Jackson at
784-4367 and for more information on the men’s weekend you can contact Bob Jones at 889-6155. There
will also be information after Masses on January 14th and 15th.

A reminder to all school families that you will receive your “letters of intent” in the mail next
week for the 2012-2013 school year and because of limited class space for next school year, it is
very important to return your letter of intent and registration fees as soon as possible. Please
note that we are only using the FACTS online for completing FACTS information and we will
not be using paper forms any longer for FACTS. All parents (veteran and new) must register
online with your information for FACTS. You can find the FACTS website to register on our website
soon!

Thanks for your continued support of our school and parish. As we continue to grow in Christ as a
school, we draw from you God’s strength through prayer and support. Have a great weekend and enjoy
this tremendous January weather! See you at Mass and maybe we will see you at the CRHP weekend!.

Thanks and God Bless,
Rusty Albertson