An Attitude of Gratitude: What Hermits Have & What The World Needs
Mr. Brendan Towell | Director of Engagement
November is a wonderful and unique time of the year. Fall is in full swing as Halloween decorations begin to come down and are replaced with turkeys and pilgrims. Pumpkin-flavored coffees (and other beverages for those of a certain age) and seasonal-themed treats are in all the shops and on all the shelves. Plans are being made for Thanksgiving dinners where family and friends will gather and enjoy one another’s company. Whether it's the football, the meal, the laughter, or the love - we all have something to be grateful for.
Simultaneously to all of this, the Church also marks this month as special in its own way. November 1st is the Feast of All Saints and November 2nd is the Feast of All Souls. These special days set the tone for the entire month whereby we take time to recall all the holy men and women of history who paved the way for us to have the lives we enjoy today. These men and women were not perfect, but when they were at their best they really tried to be the people God was calling them to be. Perhaps it is a grandparent or parent, a friend or former colleague; perhaps it is a historical figure whom we never met, but whose example is well known to us. Regardless, they all deserve our thanks. November is a wonderful time to offer such thanks, and a thanks, particularly to God.
A saint is someone called to a life of holiness and love - someone who frequently expresses an attitude of gratitude in their everyday lives. Here at St. Augustine Prep, we try very consciously to create an environment and an atmosphere of thanksgiving, respect, and love, which ultimately results in our graduates having an attitude of gratitude. Too often young people (particularly young men) are portrayed as socially aware and conscious of the plight of people around the world. However, too many times those young people do not take action in a positive way to contribute to the solution. They may Tweet about it, they may post on Facebook about it, they may even protest about it, but far too few live the Gospel by expressing empathy for others and gratitude for what they have. Hermits know the difference that positive change can bring to those in need and they know it begins with the right mindset - the right attitude. Whether it is in their Theology classes, weekly school-wide Mass, service projects for their sports teams, or larger drives (like the Thanksgiving food drive and Christmas toy drive), our students don't just “talk the talk,” they also “walk the walk.”
As you are enjoying this time of the year, please be mindful of the fact that, in the heart of South Jersey, there is still a place where families can send their sons to be educated and formed in the Catholic and Augustinian tradition. A community of friends whose young men are instructed, coached, and mentored by a faculty and staff that specialize in their students, and not just subjects. We give thanks to them and for the skills they share and the example they set. We are grateful for our families, our alumni, benefactors, the Augustinian Friars, and all those who make St. Augustine Prep possible. Most importantly, we give thanks to God for all the good things He has done for us.
