Claim The Mystery; Celebrate The Grace!

In this one-hundred fifty-fourth year of doing Catholic education / formation in this school setting, the leadership of Oldenburg Academy taps the deep well-springs of nourishing waters of God's providence in our thirst for the pastoral guidance and direction of the gift that is the 2005-2006 academic year. As the international Catholic Community completes a special Year of the Eucharist, begun by our former pastor and shepherd, Pope John Paul II, during the World Eucharistic Congress at Guadalajara, Mexico in October of 2004, every Catholic Christian is invited to celebrate the great gift and mystery of the Holy Eucharist. In this extraordinary year has come an opportunity for all us to appreciate the special means of communion with our Savior, to receive Him faithfully and in so doing, to reflect on so rich a gift and its meaning for ourselves, for our parish community, and really for the whole Church.

With rich opportunities like this year of Eucharistic grace initiated last fall and ending with a World Synod of bishops at the Vatican next month, our school community steps into her own lively pastoral "dance" using our directional theme: "Claim The Mystery; Celebrate The Grace!" Claiming God as the Ultimate Mystery, the deep provident Spirit enables us to open our doors in forward momentum for yet another year. We celebrate the Grace, the free favor and profound blessing calling us to the shared life in the community of faith where our school citizens dwell in the here, the now, and prepare for the hereafter!

Accompanied by the Eucharistic Gift - Jesus, we take confidence from an influential spiritual mentor, St. Peter Julian Eymard who reminds us, "In one day, the Eucharist will make you produce more for the glory of God than a whole lifetime without it!"

Forward in grace and peace! Amen!