Friday, May 29, 2020

Dear La Salle Academy Community,

This week, due to Covid-19, our seniors had their last day of class as high school students virtually. In our local area, we are seeing improvement in the fight against Covid-19, but it is a long road still. In the midst of things continuously changing around us, we came together on Wednesday evening to hold our first virtual school event with our La Salle Academy Sports Awards Ceremony. It was terrific and brought together over 100 Lasallians to celebrate our students. This event reminded me, once again, of the community we have at La Salle.

However, this week has also brought about incredible pain as we are witnessing racial injustice across our country. This troubles me on so many levels. If we were in school, we would be addressing this with our students. We would be praying about it in our morning and afternoon announcements. We would be discussing it in classes. Students would be speaking to one another and their teachers and counselors. With circumstances preventing us from being physically together, this injustice must be addressed in other ways, and thus this message.

As a Catholic and Lasallian school, we stand together against all forms of racism, violence, intolerance, hate and bigotry. When atrocities occur, we must unite to condemn such violence and support the victims. We must speak out against racial injustice and hate. We follow the Gospel that is at the center of all we do and are reminded of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)

Please join me in praying for all of the victims of injustice, and for a healing of the chasm that continues to permeate our society. We must do better. We must educate our young people to be leaders of tomorrow that will affect this change, and we must lead by that example now.

For our students, please know that your counselors, teachers, and administrators are all here for you. Please do not feel alone. We are a community, and we are here for one another.

Live, Jesus, in our hearts…. Forever!

Sincerely,

Kerry Conroy
Principal