Skip to main content

Musings on the First Few Days: a reflection from an OLSH teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic


As part of a series during OLSH’s closure for the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the OLSH community have been invited to share reflections on their experiences. Today's reflection comes from theology teacher Mrs. Nancy Jarocki.

I have been musing all day about my students. I miss them! There have been plenty of emails back and forth about school work. That’s a good thing but I miss the banter before and after class and even some of the more crazy things they say and do. I have been grading current events for seniors and, as you can imagine, most of them had something to do with the coronavirus. The students were so honest in their reflections about how frightened they are of all of this. The panic buying makes them wonder if they should be concerned about the food chain, they know enough to realize that prom is probably off the table and are wondering if graduation may be too. Some of them have personal health worries or worry about their parents who are healthcare workers or their older family members. In spite of all of this so many of them have a steadfast faith and are praying diligently. I am impressed that they know and understand that the natural and supernatural worlds are intertwined. They often made the statement that they wonder what good will come of all of this in the end and they are convinced that good will come, if one has the eyes to see it.


This is a time of solidarity especially within our families, a time when we can resurrect old traditions or make new ones. If you don’t have a tradition of praying as a family it might be a good time to start one! It can be a little intimidating if you haven’t ever done it ,or haven’t done it in a while, but let your OLSH student take the lead – they know how – and you will be impressed I am sure.  A novena for the end of the COVID- 19 epidemic started today and you can join in at https://www.praymorenovenas.com/pandemic-novena. There are lots of helps out there – the rosary is on EWTN daily and online whenever you have 15 minutes. The folks at Magnificat and Living with Christ (just google them) are offering free access to their online prayer booklets and you can find Holy Mass online anytime. If that sounds like a lot maybe just bless your kids with the sign of the cross when you say goodnight. That can go a long way in making them feel safe knowing that you believe God is with them. I can’t wait to get back and see the students and my colleagues but, in the meantime, know that I am keeping all of the OLSH family in my prayers.

About the Author

Nancy Jarocki teaches Theology IV and Honors Theology IV to seniors at OLSH and is a member of the Ministry Team. She has been on the faculty at OLSH since 2004 and once also served as Campus Minister. Her three daughters are all alumnae of OLSH and she and her husband, Mark, plan to join OLSH students on the mission trip to Frenchville, PA this summer.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Tips from Teachers: Starting the new school year off on the right foot!

Now that we are a week into the new school year and students have figured out the basics (how to get into their locker, where their homeroom is, and the quickest way to the cafeteria at lunchtime), it’s a great time to think about ways to make the new year a successful one. A new school year is a great time for a fresh approach to attitudes about school work or even interacting with others. Organization is key! For some students, the range of courses, teachers, and expectations in high school can be overwhelming. Staying organized with a planner is key to keeping track of projects and due dates. Using a paper calendar can be helpful, as the act of writing something down actually helps you remember what you wrote! For others, transferring assignments to an online calendar is helpful since you can set reminders to alert you when a due date is approaching. Be the kind kid Whether it’s the simple act of saying hello as you pass people in the halls, inviting someone to sit with yo...

How to get the most out of attending virtual Mass

I hope all of you are getting by in these trying times. It is not easy for any of us right now, but if we all take it one day at a time, we will get through this. What I would like to do in this reflection is offer some suggestions as to how you can get the most out of watching mass on television or the computer while you are unable to attend mass in person. It goes without saying that there is nothing like attending mass at your local church. To be present at the holy sacrifice and receive the Blessed Sacrament in Holy Communion is the greatest thing we can do while we are on this earth. Also, a great benefit of attending mass in person is receiving the priest’s blessing at the end of mass. But right now, all of this is not possible for you. Therefore, while it is not required that you watch mass on television or online, I highly recommend that you do so. While the same graces that you would receive at mass are unavailable, there are still many other graces to be received...

What does it mean when a school is a sponsored ministry? (and why that’s so special)

When schools or other organizations (ministries) are sponsored by a religious order, they carry out the mission and good work of that order. Often the order provides the ministry with some level of financial support, staff members, and other operational support, and guides the mission and values of the ministry. As a sponsored ministry of the Felician Sisters, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School carries out the mission of the Felician Sisters of North America. Sisters live on the school’s campus and their Chapel is a shared space. There are many benefits of being a sponsored ministry of the Felician Sisters; howeverr several rise to the top. The opportunity to interact with some really amazing women. A staple of the OLSH Open House experience is a greeting from Sr. M. Alexander Klawinski. The petite octogenarian (and honorary OLSH alumna) can be found near the registration table or with the business office staff (she served on the Finance Committee of the OLSH Board until re...