Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy
Excerpts from our 2004 & 2005 News Letters RETURN TO LATEST NEWS
Comments from Our Dear Benefactors
“Your newsletter reminds me of the precious 2 years I spent in parochial school, St. Mary of the Lake, White Bear Lake, MN, 1939-1941. THAT was a Catholic education! The real enemy of WWII was The Russian Bear That Walked Like a Man, to the mind of the Church. Materialism has morphed into modernism. You are a sign of hope.” A Benefactor from Laurel Park, NC
“Thank you for the newsletter. We enjoy reading about your activities. Knowing that your students are getting a real education is heartening. God’s blessings on your enterprise.” A Benefactor from Chicago, IL
“….Kudos to you! God bless you for going against the crowd, swimming upstream. I know the results will be well worth your determination to raise truly holy Roman Catholics in this age of imposters: Catholics in name only.” A Benefactor from Burgettstown, PA
“I wish this were a bigger amount. You are doing such a good job in not only bringing a good solid learning atmosphere to your children, but also giving then a firm foundation in their Catholic doctrine….” A Benefactor from Parkville, MD
“Glad to hear that you got the land. A little extra this month to pay for the cost of one square foot!” A Benefactor from Saco, ME
May 2005 To our benefactors
I looked around the table at the highschool students who had just finished reading Oedipus Rex aloud, each one taking a part in the play. Clearly, the experience had met Aristotle’s standard for tragedy: pity and terror, and awe. There was a long moment of silence. “You’re still King of Thebes,” I finally said. “Your land is still infected; your people continue to suffer. What do you do now?”
“Sacrifice,” said one young man. “Dead right,” said I. “That’s what the next play is about. We begin Oedipus at Colonnus next week. So what’s the theme of the play you just finished?” “Is it about the terrible evil every human being is capable of?” asked another student. “Did Sophocles see that human nature was fallen?” “It’s paternity, identity and destiny,” said another, “—again! Why does that theme keep turning up?”
“Do you want to argue,” I asked, “or is it about both?”
“Both.”
“How can Oedipus be responsible for what he did? He didn’t have all the facts.”
“Nobody ever has all the facts.” I’ve never prayed harder in my life than I have in this, our first year of a full high-school curriculum. If you’ve been praying, too, thank you. It’s working. These students are engaging serious subjects, and engaging them well. They’re getting their chemistry and geometry problems in on time. They’ve learned to sing their first real madrigal, and a nearly polyphonic Mass. A few days ago, one of them passed our bookkeeper and me in the hall.
“That young lady,” said the tough, no-nonsense bookkeeper, “is going to do something great for God.” Keeping them on the straight and narrow, our teenagers have the diocesan priests who teach their religion classes and give frequent guest lectures— orthodox young men, smart and serious and funny, who hold the students to a high intellectual and moral standard. Another asset for them is the innocence of the youngest students. I believe we’ve chosen well in keeping the whole school together. The little ones want to do well to impress the “big kids”; the older ones are gentle and careful for the sake of the little ones. For all their sakes, we are trusting that soon this wonderful school we love so much will have a wonderful building of its own. Please pray for the person the Lord intends to be the patron of that building. Does that sound presumptuous? You wouldn’t think so, if you’d seen what I’ve seen: the lives converted, the families set upon a more holy path, the students of all ages and backgrounds growing in the life of the mind and the day-to-day living of the Faith, all as a direct result of this apostolate. I think of students with wonderful potential, though, who would turn into splendid soldiers for Christ, but whose parents won’t compel them to attend a poor little school in a scary neighborhood with no sports fields, hardly any library and no real, modern science lab. Those students are slipping past us, risking their faith and morals in public schools, while we alternate between marvelous dreams and the harsh reality of making payroll. If all you generous people who have helped us in these years of struggle can see your way to helping again, now, soon we’ll be able to begin that building on our beautiful land in the country.
In any case, please pray for us; and know that you are in the daily prayers of our students and faculty.
Sincerely in Dmno,
Elizabeth Altham
New Brochure 2-2-2005
Fall 2004 To Our Benefactors
I should report to you that your contributions are not wasted. When I read a note that says, "I don't have much, but here tenth of my Social Security check," I remember that I had better do the best job I can, to deserve that trust, and not squander a penny.
Although the Kindergarten will not be required to make the Sign of the Cross in Latin until the second semester, they're already doing it voluntarily. They've also memorized the Angelus in English. This is a very ambitious class. I love having an excuse to walk in on them, because they have so much energy and enthusiasm. They know most of their letter sounds already, and they can read real words with them ‑ one bit of evidence among many others that Miss Ericksen is settling in well to her second year with our beginners. There is no substitute for gifted teaching in the Kindergarten. The parents appreciate Miss Ericksen as much as the students do: one of them recently installed her storm windows, and refused to be paid. As does penny‑pinching, parent labor helps to make your contributions go farther.
The fifth and sixth grades are clearly benefiting from their new teacher, Mr. Nelson. It's a boy‑heavy classroom, and it's doing those medium‑sized boys a world of good to have a serious young man directing their studies every day. They recently enacted a story from the War for Independence, "A Strategem in Warfare,'' from one of the Catholic National Readers, with great seriousness and great noise. Mr. Nelson does also insist upon utter silence during work time, and gets it; he is also compelling their complete attention to math and Latin. He has earned my profound admiration and gratitude by taking the junior and senior high for physical education; there have been some splendid softball games lately. Mrs. Nick, our new principal, played in one of them; afterwards, a senior‑high girl who is very picky about competence in athletics approached her to say that she was very good.
A couple of weeks ago, Fr. John Earl, a dedicated young diocesan priest, visited the junior high. In a conversation about the Scriptures, and the need for authoritative interpretation, he mentioned the famous text about the camel getting through the eye of the needle.
"That's a rather worrisome passage for wealthy people," he observed. "Can anyone explain it?" A seventh‑grader raised her hand.
"There was a gate in the wall around Jerusalem," she said, "called the Eye of the Needle. It was just barely wide enough for a skinny camel to walk through."
Being a generous soul, Fr. Earl allowed her to see that he was impressed.
"You know about that gate! It certainly confuses most people."
The junior high is studying American history this year, and finding it lively. In an informal poll, one of their top heroes so far is Count Louis de Frontenac, first Governor General of New France, who impressed the Indians with his woodcraft, performed a war dance for them, sent Marquette and Jolliet on their travels and famously said, "The only business of New France is the conversion of the Indian and the conversion of the beaver" (meaning the fur trade). He is tied for first with Robert Chevalier de LaSalle, whose refusal to knuckle under to adversity the students call "awesome." A close second is Hernan Cortes, partly for his intrepid conquest of the evil Aztec Empire, and partly for his wise dispositions afterwards in New Spain. It is wonderful how these students are visualizing and personalizing history. They've reached the age of formulating moral judgments about history, which makes it vivid for them.
The senior high is reading Herodotus and Homer. Just a few days ago, Darius of Persia changed his mind about conquering Scythia on account of the standard Scythian tactics of retreating, evading and disappearing. One of the students remembered that Kutuzov had engineered the defense of Russia against Napoleon in exactly the same way; they all concluded that Kutuzov must have read his Herodotus.
A diocesan monsignor up the road from us is preparing to offer his first Mass in the traditional rite since the promulgation of the new one, and we've been told he is especially devoted to Mozart's setting of Ave Verum Corpus, so the junior and senior high began work on it last week, in order to sing it for him. After only one practice, it sounded quite good. They are asking to be allowed to learn to sing high Mass responses. This is, of course, an ambition worthy of encouragement, although the teachers are wondering how to fit ten hours into a seven‑hour day. Last week, they were working on a soprano‑alto‑bass setting of the old hymn to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, O Esca Viatorum. A new senior‑high student asked what the words meant.
"Oh, food of travelers. The Eucharist is our waybread, as in Tolkien."
Her face lit up.
All of These fragments put together don't convey the best part: the clear certainty that we're helping these students to root themselves deeply in the love of Christ and his Church, and to acquire the knowledge and skills they'll need in order to become leaders for Him. Please know that the students and teachers pray daily for your intentions. It is only because of your faithful support that we can continue our mission. ~
Sincerely in Dmno,
Elizabeth Altham
Update on OLSHA's future School Home
More than sixteen acres of woodland and fields on the outskirts of Rockford is the place we will someday call home for the students and staff of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy. You need only to step onto the property, and your imagination runs wild with plans of a modest school building that can comfortably house 150 students, a gym, outdoor playing fields for wholesome recreation and team sports (some day!), but most importantly, a chapel built to give glory to Him who has given us so much. Our students will be able one day to assist at the traditional Mass on a daily basis, pray the Stations of the Cross that will be built along the property line and pray for the unborn at the cemetery of the unborn that will be constructed as a reminder of the holocaust that is abortion.
We could not have come this far had it not been for two special benefactors who helped us to secure the mortgage and you, who have sacrificed so much so that we could offer a place of spiritual and intellectual refuge for our students and their families. God is calling us all to do what we can to restore all things in Christ. We need you to continue to offer your financial sacrifices to this cause. There is much to be done. Your tax-deductible donations to the Mary Catherine Building Fund will make the hopes and dreams we have for Our Lady’s school a reality. Please support our efforts as generously as you can!
God bless you.
A Special Evening
Eileen Chambers, Bob Dornan and Lou Bageanis
Friday, February 4, 2005, was the date of our second annual Priest Appreciation Banquet, held in honor of the good and dedicated priests of the Catholic Church, and in particular, those priests who have given of themselves in order to be holy examples to the students and staff of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy. We are so grateful for their dedication and support of this apostolate. Mr. Dornan has been a stalwart champion of the unborn and unabashedly loyal to his faith, his family and his country. Nearly 300 people enjoyed our Second Annual Priest Appreciation Dinner on February 4, 2005. We were inspired by Mr. Bob Dornan to fight the good fight and to never give up. Our good priests, Monsignors and Bishop in attendance were able to enjoy an evening of friendship, lively conversation and wonderful food.
A letter from the President
When Good Men Do Nothing
This is the toughest article I’ve ever had to write, because I’ve been disturbed by the deaths of Terri Schiavo and the Pope. Please forgive the rough tone. I’ve been thinking hard about what happens when good men do nothing.
OLSHA is at a crossroad. We have great students, parents, teachers and priests; we even have sixteen acres to build our new home on: we are abundantly blessed. However, the inescapable fact is that few of our families can afford to pay what their children’s education actually costs. We need $125,000 each year from you, even though we don’t waste a nickel and we pay our teachers far less than they could earn elsewhere.
It is so brutally clear just now, what happens when good men do nothing. Bishops and priests, laymen and legislators—and you and I—stood by while a woman was openly, publicly murdered: a splendid victory for the culture of death. This school is the best way I know to change that: to raise leaders who will conquer the culture of death by their fidelity and courage.
Many people went far out of their way, and rightly so, and waited in line for hours, to pay their respects at the Holy Father’s bier. But what would this man, who stood up to Hitler and held fast despite Stalin, have said about the public spectacle of Terri Schiavo’s murder? About the Americans who cheered on her murderers the way the crowd cheered for Barrabas? I dread the day I’ll have to account to Christ for any innocent life I could have saved. I pray one day before that I’ll become less a man of words and more a man of action. I pray our school will be able to continue to prepare young Catholics to be men and women of action. And I pray you will help as much as you can—and perhaps even a little more.
Lou G. Bageanis
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy
3218 11th Street, Rockford, IL 61109
☺General Fund ☺ Building Fund
□$2,500 □$1,500 □$1,000 □$500
□$250 □$100 □$50 Other: $______
OLSHA Academy is a nonprofit 501 corporation. All donations are tax deductible. Please make your check payable to OLSHA Academy. Mail to: 3218 11th Street, Rockford, IL 61109. Thank you and God bless you!!
Click mail box to contact us by E-mail.
From a Beloved Priest
A father who used to be an opponent of the school recently said, “You have to prepare the students to understand and to defeat all the seductive lies the world will throw at them.” I believe (and so does he, now that he’s better acquainted with it) that this school is doing just that. The most insidious lies at the moment are Modernism, materialism and indifferentism; and the students at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart are learning exactly what those lies are, and exactly how they are contrary to objective truth and to reason. They are learning the thinking Faith.
I have visited this school every year for six years now. It began as a safe place for little children to learn their catechism, their prayers and English and arithmetic, in a richly Catholic atmosphere.
It is still that, but it has also grown into a place where adolescents can engage the great questions of the ages and the great minds of antiquity and Christendom, a place where they are challenged to exercise their intelligence to maintain traditional doctrine and morality, still in that richly Catholic culture.
Seven years ago I said, “Priests who have schools die young.” It seems I have one, but the teachers and board are willing to do the sacrificing; all I have to do is visit and pray for them–and ask your prayers and your support for their most worthy apostolate.
Sincerely in Christ the King,
Rev. Brian A. T. Bovee, Rector
Oratory of Saint Mary, Rockford
For Large Photos above Double Click
We were privileged to have the Pilgrim Virgin statue visit our school during the second week of October. We pray the children, staff and visitors gained great graces from spending time with Our Lady.
A Journey of a Soldier for Christ
By Miss Mary Ann Ericksen,
Kindergarten Teacher at OLSHA
The following is an excerpt of a weekly informational sheet that goes home to the kindergarten parents in order to keep them abreast of all the important things going on in their child’s busy week.
Welcome to Kindergarten!
You are in for a treat!
This year the theme will be that of Soldiers for Christ. The instant you walked into my classroom, you became a soldier with me, Miss Ericksen, for your leader. Being a soldier requires discipline; you must listen to your leader. It requires obedience and work, but carries with it honor and the joy of victory.
This year, for Jesus, we will conquer counting, the alphabet and the written word, among other foes in our class. We will also conquer bad habits and faults. I trust you are ready and will have a wonderful year.
Kindergarten Classroom Rules
In the classroom, we will not scream, fight, yell or be disrespectful. We will not interrupt each other, and will raise our hands before speaking. We will be courteous and polite, keeping in mind that we love God above all things, and everyone else for His sake.
Comments from Our Dear Benefactors
Keep the faith and let your kids know being a Roman Catholic is worth all the struggle!
Fr. Marty Heinz, Holy Angels Catholic Church, Aurora, Illinois
As a young Catholic who did not have the advantage of access to the traditional rite in my childhood, I am very encouraged by the emergence of schools such as this. May God bless you and your apostolate.
Francis X. Altiere, Phoenixville, PA
Welcome, Mr. Steve Nelson
We are pleased to introduce you to our new fifth and sixth grade
teacher, Mr. Steve Nelson. Steve comes from a
vibrantly
orthodox Catholic family, with ten siblings. He
graduated with a B.A. in liberal studies from Magdalen College in Warner, New Hampshire. He has proven to be a great asset to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy in his short tenure
here, not only by setting a wonderful example for the students, but also by being a cheerful, hard-working team member. We pray that Steve has a long and fruitful career with us. Welcome aboard!
Welcome, Mrs. Geralyn Coutts
From a new Teacher
Praise be to God! It is a tremendous grace for me to be assigned to the first and second grades at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy, beginning at the start of Lent. These first weeks have been a time of growth for me.
Before coming here, I was an educator in the Beloit school system for nine years. I have a Master’s degree in education from Beloit College. I am married to James E. Coutts, and we have three children —Preston, 21; Megan, 19; and Ian, 17. We are parishioners at St. Peter Church in South Beloit.
I am very, very glad to be here. With Gods gracious help and your prayers, our little ones will surely accomplish many good things in union with His holy will.
Praise be to God!
Geralyn Coutts
Above OLSHA Academy shown this Fall of 2004.
Go to Photo Gallery for Full Page Photo.
Read "A Letter from the President"
Sacrificing the Good for the Perfect
By Louis Bageanis
or below under Classical Education
Single Click to enlarge Prayer
Prayer for Priests above.