Board of Governors

President Thomas Q. Ellis

Secretary Robert R. Orellana, Esq.

Treasurer Michael C. Collins

Members

Abel Montiel Jeff Schuberg

Michael F. McLean, Ph.D.

Louise Warnert

Headmaster

Michael J. Van Hecke, M.Ed.

Board of Advisors

Mr. John W. Blewett

Wanderer Forum Foundation

Hon. Jeremiah Denton

Former U.S. Senator

Mr. Nicholas J. Healy, Jr.

President

Ave Maria University

Dr. Ronald P. McArthur

Co-founder

Thomas Aquinas College

Mr. Roy S. Rohter, S.F.O.

Founder

St. Augustine Academy

Fr. Michael Scanlan, T.O.R.

Chancellor

Franciscan University

Mr. James Stenson

Educator and Author

St. Augustine Academy 130 South Wells Road Ventura California 93004

805-672-0411 Fax 805-672-2365 e-mail StAugAcad@juno.com www.SaintAugustineAcademy.com

January 11, 2013 St. Theodosius

Dear Families:

Welcome back, everyone. I know it was last Sunday, but since that means we are still in the

Octave of the Feast of the Epiphany, I thought it still alright to share this wonderful

meditation on the Magi. Fr. Robert Barron, whose series “Catholicism” gained international

acclaim last year, offers this beautiful teaching: [Incidentally, I highly recommend the

Catholicism DVD series – we use parts of it here in Theology class. Fr. Baron has some of

the best, most understandable and beautiful explanations of topics like saints, heaven and the

Eucharist.]

"The Epiphany of the Lord -- FIVE LESSONS OF THE MAGI"

ESSAYS IN THEOLOGY By Father Robert Barron

The unforgettable story of the journey of the Magi, as recounted in the Gospel

of Matthew, is an artful summary of the principal dynamics of the spiritual life.

Watching the night sky with scrupulous attention for signs of God's purpose,

the Magi evoke the importance of alertness in the spiritual order. We must keep

our eyes open to see what God is up to. For far too many people, the spiritual

life never gets underway, precisely because they don't pay attention. Once they

saw the star, they moved, despite the length of the journey and the dangers of

the road. Sometimes people know what God wants them to do, but they don't

act, either out of fear or laziness or the influence of bad habits. In their

confident journeying forth, the Magi teach us not to miss the propitious

moment. They teach us to move.

When they entered into Herod's territory, the Magi caught the attention of the

king. And when they spoke to him of the birth of a new King of the Jews,

Herod became frantic and tried to use them in order to destroy the baby. A third

lesson: when you walk the path that God has laid out for you, expect

opposition. We live in a sinful, fallen world, and there will always be forces at

cross purposes to God. Refusing to cooperate with Herod's game, the wise men

came to Bethlehem, found the child, and gave him their precious gifts. When

you come to Christ, don't give him your second best; break open the very best

of yourself and make it a gift for him. Finally, they were warned in a dream not

to go back to Herod and so "they returned to their home country by another

route." As Fulton Sheen commented so magnificently: of course they did; for

no one comes to Christ and goes back the same way he came!”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan 14-18th Food Drive Week

Jan 21st NO SCHOOL

Jan 22nd

ProLife Mass, Special guest; a sister from Sisters of Life, NYC.

CHARITY and PRO LIFE ACTIVITIES

o FOOD DRIVE for Saticoy Food Pantry [See Flyer]

o ROE v WADE 40th Anniversary Prayer Walk Friday, January 25th! Plan now to attend!!

2:45PM Meet on sidewalk at Ventura County Government Center, corner of Telephone Rd. &

Victoria Ave.

3:00PM Begin Walk to planned parenthood, 5400 Ralston Street, Ventura.

Bring your rosaries and signs (NO graphic signs, please) SPREAD the word!!

o West Coast Walk for Life – If you want to go, it is January 26th

in San Francisco.

KUDOS: To seniors who have received acceptance letters to college:

Sam Alviz Cal State Channel Islands (Camarillo)

Dominic Lunde Cal Lutheran (Thousand Oaks)

Carlos McGinity St. John’s University (New York)

Helen Van Hecke Holy Cross College at Notre Dame (Indiana)

Benjamin Warnert John Paul the Great University (San Diego)

WELCOME – BACK!!!! DIRECTORY CHANGE:

Welcome back Hanlon Family HANLON, PETER AND JANE

2206 Firestone Ct.

Oxnard, CA 93036

H: 988-1721

C: 248-2573 (Peter); 248-2574 (Jane)

pehanlon@yahoo.com

Anna – 7th

STUDENT COUNCIL HAPPENINGS –

BUILD-A-BURRITO THURSDAY – Thursday, January 17th

[See Flyer]

MOVIE NIGHT – Moved to February

BASKETBALL SEASON IS HERE! Stay tuned weekly for an update of coming games.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS – Varsity: Ventura High School, Poli Street Gym 10AM

JV: Same Gym, two games, 8 AM and 12 noon.

MIDDLE SCHOOL – Boys: Wednesday, January 16th

v. St. Sebastian HOME 3:30 PM

Girls: Thursday, January 17th

v. St. Sebastian HOME 3:30 PM

Ora Pro Nobis: Let us remember to pray for one another. We pray especially for

Michele Loughman, particularly in thanksgiving for her successful surgery this

week.For Bo and Lele Caviezel’s grandpa, David Browitt. For Fr. Jim, OFM, from

St. Paschals. For a friend of the Slaga family. For the Lunde’s grandmothers,

Barbara Lunde and Mary Artner. For Noah, 5 year old grandson of Kucharski’s.

For Mr. Pat Ramirez, Mr. Joseph Kern, and Kim Levy. Let us pray for the health of

Rosie Grimm, Angel Castillo and Paul Warnert. Prayers for a friend of the school whose mother is

terminally ill. Prayers for the total healing of George Zaki. Finally, remember to pray for our

country, our soldiers, and, for all priests and religious, especially our Archbishop Jose Gomez and

Holy Father, Benedict.

SPECIAL NOTICE ONE:

Mrs. Lyon travels to Rwanda on Sunday for three

weeks, working in an education ministry. We keep

her efforts in our prayers.

SPECIAL NOTICE TWO:

Report Cards in TODAY’S Envelope. Please sign

and return as soon as possible. No formal parent-

teacher conferences this quarter, but you are always

welcome to contact us should you like to meet.