A New School Year Begins

The new school year starts this week and that means that the summer vacation is over. When the vacation started in May, most of us looked at ten weeks as such a long period of time to spend on holidays. It has gone by so fast and it is ended. I guess, that if some of were to have our way, we would opt for some additional weeks.   

Together, we thank God for the blessing which this vacation time was for us. Many families traveled far and near to various places. During this time, people had the opportunity of meeting and spending time with extended family members, relatives, friends and the likes. Perhaps, we also came in contact with less familiar people, things and circumstances. For all these, we give God thanks. 

We give thanks to God for even the not-very-joyful aspects of our vacation experiences. For whatever sicknesses we had at the time, we thank God. We commiserate with anyone among us who was bereaved of any close person during this period. For the deceased we pray for God’s mercy and eternal rest, and for the living, we pray for consolation.

As usual, our parish life experienced a slow-down in tempo during this time. The slow down is not yet completely over. Given the closure of the school, movements around the area became highly limited. Weekends became the only real busy times. Faces kept appearing and disappearing at Masses. The only thing that refused to go on vacation was the heat. Well, if it did, we would have lost our Arizona-ness.   

As we begin another academic and fiscal year, let us consecrate it to God. Jesus taught us to put whatever is of value to us in the hands of the Father, because in his hands, nothing is stolen or destroyed (John 10: 29). Therefore, we commit everyone, everything, time, plan, and activities in our parish and school this year into God’s hands.

Since the productivity of the seed depends on the soil (Matthew 13), God demands our cooperation with his grace to make this year the best. This cooperation means our commitment to doing everything expected of us as a community of faith, teachers, administrators, staff, volunteers, parents, guardians, and students towards the maximum realization of the mission and vision of the school.

Staying together, praying together, working together, and celebrating together, we shall not only continue the good work we have been doing but make a real difference in the way we love, care, educate, and prepare our children for the future. As we relentlessly commit ourselves to doing this, let us have in mind that “It’s not about me; It’s all about Him” Jesus. 

In the name of St Gregory’s parish, I welcome all the old students and their families back, and to the new students and their families, I say a special welcome. We are happy to have them join our faith family.   



© Fr Bona 2026.