Date: 8 January 2015
Weekly Memorandum No. 2016 – 1.2
TO: AdZUHS Community
FROM: Father Principal
1. Principal’s Message:
Here’s an Ignatian Annual Examento help us reflect on the Past Year:
As you may know, the Examen is a prayer of awareness that St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, taught in his Spiritual Exercises. It provides an opportunity for peaceful daily reflection, inviting us to “find God in all things.”
The Examen consists of a few introspective prompts for you to follow or adapt to your own spirit. Before you begin, identify some major markers of your year to orient yourself to the time period. Pause and take a slow, deep breath or two; become aware that you are in the presence of the Lord.
As I review the past 12 months, from a year ago through to the present moment:
What am I especially grateful for this year?
An event that took place?
Courage that I mustered?
Love and support I received?
I ask for the light to know God and to know myself as God sees me.
Where have I felt true joy this year?
What troubled me this year?
What has challenged me?
Where and when did I find an opportunity for renewal and pause?
Have I noticed God’s presence in any of this?
In light of my review, what is my response to the God of my life?
As I look ahead, to the coming months what comes to mind?
With what spirit do I want to enter the next few months? The next year?
I ask for God’s presence and grace, for this spirit, as I enter the new year.
Amen.
Source: Jesuits.org
2. Faculty Updates:
a. Mrs. Esther Q. Mondidowill be on leave from January 4, 2016 to April 15, 2016due to her delicate pregnancy. In her absence, Ms. Kimberly C. Cataguehas been hired as a substitute teacher; she will also be the acting class moderator of Gr. 7 Chabanel. Ms. Catague is a BSE Major in English Graduate of Ateneo de Zamboanga University last March 2015. Let us welcome her to the high school community.
b. Fr. Pen Abuan SJ will be in Manila on January 14-16 (Thursday – Saturday) to attend the 2016 K to 12 Summit on Senior High School and the General Education organized by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), National Basic Education Commission (NBEC) and the National Tertiary Education Commission (NTEC).
3. Activities and Events for January 11 – 16, 2016
a. January 11, Mon. * 7AM: Monday Assembly
Sponsors: Young Ateneans’ Science Educators (YASEd) and Young Ateneans Society of Environmentalists (YASEn) Moderators: Mr. Jeffrey DC. Barrera, Mr. Friend Hayzer S. Gregorio, and Ms. Sheryl Anne T. Basa
b. January 12, Tue. * Study Holiday for Students
* Whole Day Session on ADZU Strategic Planning
* 8AM General Faculty Meeting with Father President (AVR 1)
* Group Strategic Conversations
Session 1 (AM): Where are we coming from? In the past three years, (SY 2013 – 2016), how has AdZU performed in its strategic thrusts (institutional excellence, engaged citizenship, and integrated formation)?
Session 2 (PM): What is happening in our external context? What critical and relevant factors in the “world,” “environment,” or “context” of AdZU will affect us (both positively and negatively) in the next five years? Which of these would you consider as negative challenges (threats, constraints, obstacles, hindrances, potential problems that will impede our mission) and positive challenges (opportunities, driving forces, “good problems” that will help our mission.
c. January 13, Wed. * Day 1: 3rd Quarter Exams
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Science and Technology
9:05 AM – 10:05 AM Christian Life Education (CLE)
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Filipino
d. January 14, Thu. * Day 2: 3rd Quarter Exams
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Social Studies
9:05 AM – 10:05 AM English
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM MAPEH /TLE
e. January 15, Fri. * Day 3: 3rd Quarter Exams
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Mathematics
9:05 AM – 10:05 AM TLE
* PM: Continuation of Group Strategic Conversation
Session 3: What is our Capability to Respond to the Challenges? What is our assessment of our INTERNAL environment or realities in AdZU? What aspect of the AdZU institution or organization would you consider as strengths and advantages (especially as compared to similar institutions as AdZU like other schools or universities)? What would you consider as weaknesses, limitations, areas of improvement
f. January 16, Sat. * AM: Group Strategic Conversation Final Conversation
Session 4: What Values or Principles are Important to us? What would you consider as the most important values or principles that should govern and guide our life, work, and relationships in AdZU?
4. Teach Us To Pray: Joy and Prayer
James Martin SJ
“I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” That’s Jesus in the Gospel of John (15:11). Do we believe in him?
Joy runs like a bright thread through the Old and New Testaments. Abraham and Sarah laugh for joy at the improbable birth of their son Isaac. The very first word of the very first psalm is “happy.” Jesus speaks of joy, the disciples experience joy at the resurrection, and St. Paul lists joy as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. So why do we have a hard time including joy in our prayer?
Perhaps because we sometimes forget that Jesus of Nazareth was joyful, delighting in the company of children, enjoying himself at wedding parties, and visiting friends like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He is not just the “Man of Sorrows” but the “Man of Joys.”
So the next time you pray, why not make a list of the things that bring you joy? That list could include something funny that your children or grandchildren, or nieces or nephews, said to you. Or things that consistently cause joy, like the good humor of a close friend. Or the deep-down knowledge that Christ is risen and that he has promised to be with you always. Make a “joy inventory,” and then share that with God in prayer. Think of God listening to you and being joyful with you in turn.
Smile with God, and imagine God smiling with you. And let your joy be complete.
James Martin is a Jesuit priest and author of Between Heaven and Mirth, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, and My Life with the Saints.
