Maureen’s Message: You are Invited 

 Fr. Andrew Strobl, and I recently walked through classrooms together. We invited ourselves into the delight of learning and what we saw was remarkable. Everywhere we turned, we saw evidence of God’s presence, alive and active at Bishop Miege.

By: Principal Maureen Engen

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” — Psalm 34

As we enter our fourth week of being back at school, and the third week with students, I hope you still carry with you some cherished memories of summer. Returning from the long weekend offered a chance to pause, to recollect moments of rest and fun from the summer, and to reflect on the energy and promise of this new school year. For me, those memories remain a source of gratitude, and they give perspective as we walk together into the busy rhythm of fall, continuing to build on the strong and spirited start we have already shared at Miege in the last few weeks.

Over the summer, I received many invitations, but not the kind that arrive in the mailbox. My children kept inviting me to see how their babies were growing. One was smiling for the first time, another was holding his head up proudly, and another was pulling herself up on the edge of the table. You see, I went from being a grandmother of four to being blessed with seven grandchildren in just the span of a year! Needless to say, my summer was spent joyfully accepting invitations to share in the wonder of my own children raising theirs.

Recognizing God’s invitation

It was during this time that I realized: God invites us, too. He draws us in to taste and see the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 34:8). Just as I was invited to witness my grandchildren growing, I feel God inviting me, inviting all of us, into this new school year to see His goodness at work.

Already, His goodness has been revealed. Our new amazing chaplain, Fr. Andrew Strobl, and I recently walked through classrooms together. We invited ourselves into the delight of learning, and what we saw was remarkable.

• • Students were engaged in conversations about algorithms.
  • Environmental science class was making salsa from vegetables grown in the Miege garden.
  • Fr. Andrew was able to explain to Physics students the relationship between faith and science and how they are interwoven.
  • We observed students engaged on the 17 new MacBooks in the Journalism room.
  • Freshman English classes were practicing ACT questions–a skill that will serve them well into the future.
  • In an Algebra II class, we observed students working out problems on the board in groups. It was impressive, a way to get them to think and solve so they can retain the information better.
  • In Junior English, students were learning how to incorporate quotations into their writing.
  • Spanish classes were immersed in lively discussions.
  • Human Body Systems class was making anatomical clay models.

Everywhere we turned, we saw evidence of God’s presence, alive and active at Bishop Miege.

Choosing to see the goodness

We also see His Spirit moving in our chapel. More and more students are choosing to attend morning Mass, filling the space with prayer and grace. In fact, just this past Thursday, Fr. Dan Morris, the Archdiocesan Vocations Director, remarked with delight that the chapel was full! Our senior leaders bring incredible energy, and they are embracing our incoming freshmen and transfer students with open arms. And no doubt, as a community we will continue to be invited into celebrating the many successes of our students. Already, we’ve been honored with the Gallery of Excellence for the 2024-2025 yearbook. You are invited to check out our Facebook and Instagram posts, which highlight these celebrations one after another!

With the move from summertime to a school schedule, it might be easy to approach the start of the year with hesitancy. The combination of early mornings, activities, and homework might bring anxiety. But instead, we are choosing to be invited into goodness. This year, I invite you and your family to join us in finding the beauty, the happiness, and most importantly, the Lord at work here at Miege.

My prayer is that this semester we carry forward the positive start we have shared, entering each day with open hearts, grateful spirits, and confidence that God will reveal His goodness to us again and again. As Psalm 34 reminds us, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” In this new school year, we are invited not only to witness God’s blessings, but to live them out in our classrooms, our homes, and our service to one another.