Brigid Cody, the first student to be enrolled in Stella Maris Academy. Thank you, Brendan and Bernadette Cody, for being the first to take the plunge in faith!
Ten months ago, Star of the Sea parish hired Dr. Gavin Colvert as Head of School for the proposed new Stella Maris Academy, San Francisco’s first Catholic Classical Academy in many decades. In the day, every Catholic school was a Classical Academy, in the sense that all of them taught the classics in a fully integrated, Catholic manner. Gradually, over 80 years, many Catholic schools followed the path of public schools in “de-integrating” their curricula, and in de-emphasizing the eternal truths held by the Catholic Church. Star of the Sea had attempted to re-integrate our existing school but met with fierce opposition, such that enrollment dropped so low as to close the school two years ago. But we would rise from the ashes. We had funding, we had buildings, we had the support of the Archdiocese, and now we had a Headmaster. The only thing we didn’t have was students. Eminently qualified, Gavin took the job with great enthusiasm, but soon came to terms with the immense challenges, including a pandemic that was driving many of San Francisco’s remaining families out of the city. “This is a loaves and fishes operation,” he mused one day. We needed a minimum of 25 enrollments by May 15, but truly God would have to multiply the families and the students.
Last Friday, the Gospel at daily Mass was the loaves and the fishes. “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted….” Because Jesus “gave thanks” for the five barley loaves and two fish as a gift, instead of doubting that so little could ever feed so many, His all-provident Father multiplied them. On Friday, just before I vested for Mass to read that Gospel, Gavin texted me. “We are now at 28 students, three more than the minimum needed to open the school. Deo Gratias!” I put down my phone, entered the sanctuary, and offered the supreme act of thanksgiving which we call, from the Greek, the Holy Eucharist. God had, once again, provided.
We had put the school in God’s hands, working very hard with what little we had, and He has provided. I also thank Our Lady, for whom the school is named, and St. Joseph, to whom we prayed a 33-day novena from February 15 to March 19. We will continue to beg God’s mercy and pray to the saints for help, because my new goal is 40 students. If it please God, I ask that the school get off to a strong start, even beyond the minimum needed to survive. But … we will rejoice in whatever God is pleased to give us. It will always be a “loaves and fishes” operation.
Last Friday, the Gospel at daily Mass was the loaves and the fishes. “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted….” Because Jesus “gave thanks” for the five barley loaves and two fish as a gift, instead of doubting that so little could ever feed so many, His all-provident Father multiplied them. On Friday, just before I vested for Mass to read that Gospel, Gavin texted me. “We are now at 28 students, three more than the minimum needed to open the school. Deo Gratias!” I put down my phone, entered the sanctuary, and offered the supreme act of thanksgiving which we call, from the Greek, the Holy Eucharist. God had, once again, provided.
We had put the school in God’s hands, working very hard with what little we had, and He has provided. I also thank Our Lady, for whom the school is named, and St. Joseph, to whom we prayed a 33-day novena from February 15 to March 19. We will continue to beg God’s mercy and pray to the saints for help, because my new goal is 40 students. If it please God, I ask that the school get off to a strong start, even beyond the minimum needed to survive. But … we will rejoice in whatever God is pleased to give us. It will always be a “loaves and fishes” operation.
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