Life and Growth
Dear Mater Dei Community,
With the negative double-digit temps, it's hard to believe spring is just around the corner. As we anticipate warmer weather and melting snow, we can look forward to the life and growth that comes along with spring. In this month's newsletter we'll share about student life, life in the womb, and life in our local Church, all of which are experiencing growth at this time, despite the frigid temperatures. We are so grateful for these gifts within our Mater Dei community. May God bless you.
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Ad Jesum Per Mariam
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Day-to-day at Mater Dei
Our classical curriculum at Mater Dei Apostolate introduces students to the great literary works of Christendom and the pre-Christian masterpieces that influenced and inspired Catholic Europe. In our 10th grade Literature course, students just finished studying The Divine Comedy by Dante. They are now working together in groups to prepare a presentation on a specific section assigned to them from Paradise, the third book of this epic poem. Our 9th grade Literature students are currently studying The Great Dialogues of Plato and will soon begin the Aeneid by Virgil.
We were visited by Sr. Lisa Mauer from the Benedictine Monastery here in Duluth. She gave a talk on vocations and shared the inspiring story of her own calling to religious life. It's not everyday you hear about a religious sister who also coaches a college football team! After her presentation, Sr. Lisa joined us in our adoration chapel to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, as is our custom to end the day at 3:00.
We were also visited by Bernie, who fit right in with the students.
Service Project
For our January service project we had fun preparing freezer meals for three of our instructors who are expecting. Baby Sullivan is due in May, Baby Bennett is due in March and Baby Cossack is due any day now! It was a wonderful way to celebrate the gift of life within the womb; in contrast to the destruction of life that was perpetuated in January forty-eight years ago with Roe v. Wade. Each family received four freezer meals, a batch of homemade granola and a batch of homemade cookie dough. After the baskets were filled, we gathered into the chapel to pray the rosary for our instructors, their families and their new babies on the way. We are so grateful for our Mater Dei instructors and for the sacred gift of life.
Catholic Education in Duluth
Mater Dei Apostolate was founded in response to a need for Catholic high school education for families in Duluth. It has always been our goal to serve the local Church in whatever way we can, in order to ensure this need is being met most effectively.
We learned last week that our local K-8 diocesan Catholic school, Stella Maris Academy, has announced their decision to open a high school by the fall of 2022 beginning with ninth grade. Details of the announcement may be read here. This expansion opens the possibility for even more families in our community to have access to Catholic high school education and we welcome this news with joy and hope in the Lord. It has always been our hope that the foundation we have laid with our apostolate would be the beginning of beautiful growth within our community in regards to accessible and affordable Catholic high school education.
We are making every effort to explore ways to take the first steps of potential collaboration with SMA moving forward. Whatever that collaboration looks like, we can be sure that all is within God's Providence. His plans are bigger than ours. We remain hopeful and positive as we consider this great potential for growth. With many families considering an exodus from the public school system at this time, Duluth may be well served to have more than one option for Catholic high school based on what type of education model works best for each family.
Please be assured that regardless of decisions to come, we are committed to continuing on with our apostolate, serving our current families (and God willing, many more) through all four years of their high school education. Let’s persevere in prayer and in the good work we are doing! Thank you for your support as we work together toward the common goal of educating our children in the Catholic intellectual tradition through their high school years.
Answered Prayers
We are most grateful for an unexpected and gracious article published in the February edition of the Northern Cross by Betsy Kneepkens, titled Mater Dei Apostolate is an Answer to Prayers. Betsy is the Director of the Office of Marriage, Family and Life, for the Diocese of Duluth. Among other things, her testimony highlights the benefits of having diverse options available for the Catholic high school education of our children, based on the individual needs and preferences of each student and family. Her enthusiastic endorsement of Mater Dei Apostolate comes at a moment seemingly ordained by Divine Providence. Thank you Betsy, for shining a light in the darkness for families considering Catholic high school education for their children. The Northern Cross article may be read by clicking the button below.