Transforming Urban Cleveland One Student at a Time

Marty the Mascot Makes His Debut

2012-02-07T10:49:00.000-05:00

Marty the Saint Martin Mascot made his debut at our homecoming basketball games on Friday, January 27th. Veronica Favela, Director of Alumni Outreach, has worked with a group of Saint Martin alumni to raise money to purchase the mascot costume as a gift for the school.

Marty the Lion embodies the Saint Martin spirit of courage, heart, love, and honor and will be making appearances at Saint Martin athletic events and activities in support of our students. Check out our Athletics schedule for opportunities to meet Marty and support our student athletes.

Spotlighting a Member of Our Community: Rebecca Levis

2012-01-04T14:18:00.001-05:00

As the first Campus Minister at Saint Martin de Porres High School, Rebecca Levis created the model for our campus ministry program and established high expectations for how the program should be incorporated into our curriculum and our community. Working with the VP of Mission, Ms. Levis developed the service-learning component of our curriculum to ensure that our students become bound to their local and global communities develop a sense of empathy and responsibility for one another.

Throughout her seven years working at Saint Martin Ms. Levis has shown courage and leadership. Ms. Levis moderated the first social justice extracurricular activities and clubs at Saint Martin and helped to fully integrate faith and spiritual development into the life of our school. Ms. Levis worked diligently throughout the first year of our school to create a community of caring aligned with the Seven Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

The number of students participating in service-learning projects and social justice clubs and activities has increased each year as a natural result of the work by Ms. Levis to create a Campus Ministry program that reflects the diverse religious beliefs and values of our students. Ms. Levis’ contributions to the Saint Martin community have contributed to our school curriculum and culture and help the students at Saint Martin reach their potential – intellectually, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually.

Seniors Start to "Get In"

2011-12-28T10:25:00.001-05:00

Dameyonna Willis (left)

Dameyonna was accepted to Lourdes College. Dameyonna plans to study Public Administration or Urban Planning in college. She has worked at the Cleveland Indians throughout her four years at Saint Martin, including during school breaks. Outside of the classroom Dameyonna is involved in Jewels & Gents, Student Senate, Track, and Cheerleading. Dameyonna will be the first member of her family to attend college.

Shaylise Randle (middle)

Shaylise was accepted to Ohio University. Shaylise plans to study Psychology in college. She currently works at Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff and has previously worked at Life Line Screening of America, and Child and Family Services. Outside of the classroom Shaylise is involved in Student Senate, the Saint Martin Recruiting Force, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Barbara Parish (right)

Barbara was accepted to Cuyahoga Community College. In college Barbara plans to study Pharmacology. She currently works at Wickens Herzer Panza Cook & Batista and has also worked at John Carroll University as well as Thompson Hine. Outside if the classroom Barbara is involved in Student Senate, the Saint Martin Recruiting Force, and the Track team.

Advent Devotional: Monday 12/19

2011-12-19T09:38:00.000-05:00

Advent Devotional for Monday, 19 December 2011

Week 4: PEACE

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

Reflecting on this passage, I thought of a Jesuit paradox with which I have only recently become familiar: “Pray as if everything depends on you but act as if everything depends on God.”

The passage also led me to reflect on a very different source, and I apologize in advance for the sports reference. Tom Brady is the quarterback for the New England Patriots and has led his team to three Super Bowl titles. He is known for his calm demeanor especially in high-pressure games. If St. Paul were observing Brady, he might note that his “gentleness” is evident to all.

I once heard Brady discuss why he does not get nervous before big games. His answer was that he does not get anxious because when you prepare as thoroughly as he does, the game ought to be a celebration.

I would imagine that Tom Brady combines his physical and mental preparation for games with prayer. Through his physical, mental, and spiritual preparation, Brady is proceeding as if everything depends on him. Once game time has arrived, he is at peace, his heart and mind are “guarded” and his play is a celebration.

Keith Laschinger, Vice President, Advancement

Advent Devotional: Friday 12/16

2011-12-16T09:12:00.002-05:00

Advent Devotional for Friday, 16 December 2011

Week 3: JOY

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor

Isaiah 61:1-3

Baby Jesus is coming in 9 days! Imagine Mary holding this small child. A baby boy with fragile hands and feet, that new baby smell and his eyes closed, sleeping and dreaming while his quiet birth in the manger changed the world forever. God chose this small baby as the one who would grow up to bind up the brokenhearted, free those in physical and emotional captivity and set an example to show others the way to the kingdom of God. That was Jesus’ purpose.

Now put yourself in the picture.

Many people awaited your birth with the same excitement we see in our preparations for Christ. You had your own 9-month Advent season. So many waited for you during that time in preparation and anticipation. The annunciation of your birth, many visitations of family and friends preparing a place for you and the day when your mother first held you and others gathered, thanking God for this beautiful gift that He had given. Just as God chose Jesus for the purposes written in Scripture, so too did He choose you with a verse written and purpose set out in the same way.

Wait! My purpose has been written down in the Bible, the most published and translated book in history? I’m still trying to figure out what God’s plan is for me!

Let me rephrase. Jesus never saw his purpose written out and spent 30 years of his life discovering it until He was ready to begin His ministry, which included the parables and miracle stories we are all familiar with. While we might not know the exact verse God has written for us, we learn and discover that verse each day from the little miracles that we experience and create. We carry within us the image of Christ and find our own ways to express that. The expression of Christ within us is our purpose. We teach, advise, counsel, empower, love and care for each other and ourselves each day and Christ’s birth reminds us to look back on our year and see how we have done all of these things in his image and likeness. It is in small moments of love and care that we change the world and continue to walk on our path, carefully and purposefully designed by God. We choose to be Christ for others and those choices help us to understand the verse God has written for us a little more each day.

So this Christmas, who are you? Look back on your year. What do you have to say for yourself? Are you who God has called you to be? Look ahead to the next year. What can you do to discover your verse? How can you continue to walk on the path that God has made for you, the one He knew since before you dreamed and slept quietly in your mother’s arms?

Angela Siegel, Jesuit Volunteer

Advent Devotional: Thursday 12/15

2011-12-15T11:41:00.000-05:00

Advent Devotional for Thursday, 15 December 2011

Week 3: JOY

Joy of the Redeemed

¹ The desert and the parched land will be glad;
   the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;
   it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
   the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
   the splendor of our God.

³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
   steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
   “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
   he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
   he will come to save you.”

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
   and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
   and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
   and streams in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
   the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
   grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway will be there;
   it will be called the Way of Holiness;
   it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
   wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹ No lion will be there,
   nor any ravenous beast;
   they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
¹⁰ and those the LORD has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
   everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
   and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 35:1-10

When has God not been there for you? God is always there no matter what. You could be going through some tought times, and yet He is still there. You could even hate Him or dislike Him, but you know what, He is there. Everything and everyone has a purpose, God has everything under control. Sometimes I ask God, "Who am I? Why am I here? Why am I in this school?" And you know what I do, I wait for Him to answer me, and that is not the right thing to do. That is my mistake that I have to learn from. That is a mistake everyone makes, but we must stop making that mistake. God wants to use us, but if we are not willing, if we are not putting our effort and our action into the situation, then don't blame Him for not answering, blame yourself for not acting.

I have dedicated my life to God. God is the number 1 thing in my life. Nothing and no one can ever surpass Him. He gave me life. He saved me. He was there when I was born, and you know what, He is still here. We all must dedicate our time to God. We must dedicate everything to Him. We must not act like any other human, but we must act like God. We must live the way Jesus did. God gave his only son Jesus for us, and He saved us, so Let's live like He did, and lets open our eyes so we can see the path ahead of us. Let's unplug our ears and let's hear what God has to say. Let's stop being lame and jump and feel the Holy Spirit. Let's open our mouths and scream praises to God. It says in Isaiah, "And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!" (Isaiah 55:5-6) We have no excuses; God is here. So if He is here then we should let Him heal our lameness so we can leap. We should let Him open our mouths so we can sing to Him. On this day let's dedicate our lives to God and let's accept Him into our lives. If you want there is this Spanish song that is beautiful: "Promesas" by Felsy Jones. It means Promises in English.

God has many promises He has made us and He will always keep them.

Written by: Victor Rosa, Class of 2014

Advent Devotional: Monday 12/12

2011-12-12T16:05:00.000-05:00

Advent Devotional for Monday, 12 December 2011

Week 3: JOY

“For just as from the heavens, the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it”

Isaiah 55: 10-11

Before coming to Saint Martin, I had lived in Africa for a number of years. There were two seasons where I lived: the rainy season and the dry season. Each season lasted about 6 months. During the dry season, there was not a drop of rain for 6 months. By the end of the dry season, the parched earth was hard as rocks from the scorching heat; the trees were barren of any leaves; the red dust found its way into every nook and cranny. What amazed me was that when the first rains came, this barrenness sprang to life and became luscious. Several months into the rainy season, the parched earth turned into a fertile garden that produced crops and all sorts of fruit trees. Everyone was exuberant because of the new life that the rains brought to everyone.

When I read the passage from Isaiah, this vivid experiences returns to me. God brings joy to all people by the way creation produces life for all. In the same way, God’s word brings life and joy to people. Yet, sometimes we humans interrupt this life-giving cycle of creation. Once again I am reminded of Africa. During the time that I lived there, out of great need, people began to cut down most of the trees in the area to make charcoal to be used for cooking. As the trees were cut down and the deforestation became greater, the rains came later and tapered off sooner. The 6 months of rain were reduced to 4 months. The harvests were meager; hunger and disease became more widespread. The luscious garden created by God was being turned into barrenness.

In reflecting on this passage and the meaning of Advent, I am reminded to renew my efforts to restore the creation that God has created. I am reminded to continue eco-friendly practices, to be “green.” If I can contribute to reversing the destruction of our earth, I am contributing to the spread of joy throughout the world. I am providing hope for our world because we all depend on the earth for our livelihood. May this Advent be a time of joy and hope for all!

Written by: Steve Suding, Vice President of Mission

Advent Devotional: Friday 12/9

2011-12-09T09:38:00.002-05:00

Advent Devotional for Friday, 9 December 2011

Week 2: HOPE

I thank my God every time I remember you.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and,

whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

Philippians 1:3-9

We are all part of a story, a story which we call Life. We live it and we overcome the struggles in it, but we never do anything alone. We have God to lead us out of our personal darkness. At times we do not realize the strength and encouragement that we acquire, nor do we know where it comes from. Have you thought to think about the people who pray for you, the people who believe in you and those who commemorate you as a loving child of God?

Each and every one of us are created in the DIVINE image of God. We are not created in any image but a divine image; an image that we are to see as perfect and God-like beyond our imaginations. With this image God brought upon our heart things we may never understand. We care because it is in our nature and those who care for us, pray for us. We have to look after one another so that we may move forward along side of God. He leads us all without leaving us behind. So, remember those people so that you may give them strength as they, without you knowing, bless you with their strong prayers.

Selina Pagan, class of 2014

Advent Devotional: Wednesday 12/7

2011-12-07T08:58:00.002-05:00

Advent Devotional for Wednesday, 7 December 2011

Week 2: HOPE

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.

Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her

that her service has ended,

that her guilt is expiated,

That she has received from the hand of the LORD

double for all her sins.

A voice proclaims:

In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD!

Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!

Every valley shall be lifted up,

every mountain and hill made low;

The rugged land shall be a plain,

the rough country, a broad valley.

Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together;

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

A voice says, “Proclaim!”

I answer, “What shall I proclaim?”

“All flesh is grass,

and all their loyalty like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower wilts,

when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.”

“Yes, the people is grass!

The grass withers, the flower wilts,

but the word of our God stands forever.”

Go up onto a high mountain,

Zion, herald of good news!

Cry out at the top of your voice,

Jerusalem, herald of good news!

Cry out, do not fear!

Say to the cities of Judah:

Here is your God!

Here comes with power

the Lord GOD,

who rules by his strong arm;

Here is his reward with him,

his recompense before him.

Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;

in his arms he gathers the lambs,

Carrying them in his bosom,

leading the ewes with care.

Isaiah 40:1-11

God is the most powerful person of all time. He breathes life into us; without him we wouldn't be alive. We humans are like grass. We have three points to life: we are to live, to grow and to fade away; but unlike humans, God lives forever and so does his word. God's word has been the same forever and hasn't changed, unlike people. People change their personalities, appearances and beliefs all the time, but God's word will forever be the same. The word of God is unchangeable.

Written by Shayla Morris, class of 2014

Advent Devotional: Tuesday 12/6

2011-12-06T08:51:00.000-05:00

Advent Devotional for Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Week 2: HOPE

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Ephesians 6:14-20

Living in a fashion conscious society with designer labels coming and going, it’s interesting that the Apostle Paul tells us how to dress for spiritual success. We are told to put on the whole armor of God. First, this armor is put together by Truth, described as a belt. God is Truth! He is the foundation that holds all of life together! Second, we are to wear the breastplate of righteousness, a protective covering for our hearts. While the heart is the one key organ that sends blood through our circulatory system to keep us alive, our spiritual lives can be deadened if our hearts are not right with God! Third, we are to prepare our feet for the Christian walk. When you walk in the righteousness of God, it is a weapon of defense against the enemy. “Always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within you.” Fourth, there is a shield of faith that we must wear to overcome spiritual attacks and problems. Faith is something that we all possess and use daily. The value of faith is not in the person exercising it, but in the person whom the faith is in! Fifth, we must put on a covering or helmet of salvation. This is to protect our minds. There is so much negative thinking in our world that can keep us confused if we don’t guard our minds. This comes by praying and immersing ourselves in the “Sword of the Spirit” which is the Word of God.

Hope is God’s gift to us!!!

During this holiday season we will hear carolers sing “We wish you a Merry Christmas.” For some people, Christmas won’t be merry without material possessions. Let us be thankful for the gift we have in Christ Jesus. He gives things that money can’t buy such as love, salvation, joy, and peace. He supplies our every need! Our hope is in His return!

Why not give the gift that keeps on giving. Share Jesus Christ with others.

Written by Gwendolyn Howard, Counselor

Advent Devotional: Monday 12/5

2011-12-05T09:06:00.002-05:00

Advent Devotional for Monday, 5 December 2011

Week 2: HOPE

Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
   and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
   more than watchmen wait for the morning,
   more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
   for with the LORD is unfailing love
   and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
   from all their sins.

PSALM 130

This passage is powerful because it fills me with hope. Despite any of my shortcomings, Christ is ready and waiting to forgive me and to shower me with true love. There are times in life when my faith loses its “priority” status. And while not intentional, I may start to focus a majority of my time and attention on issues at work or home – the big project I’ve been working on for weeks, or the person who has harmed me in some way, or the anxiety I feel about the future. In the end, I usually feel alone, and do not know how to get out of the situation. The solution, however, is always the same – CHRIST!

When I humble myself and genuinely reach out for Christ’s help, things begin to turn around. I can see a light, even if only faintly, at the end of the tunnel. Christ provides direction, hope and inspiration in the darkest times. And He does this, most importantly, without “keeping score” of sins. It doesn’t matter that I have sinned in the past. Christ does not require you to do an equal number of good deeds to offset your sins. If he did, who could earn redemption? Very few, if any of us could. Christ knows this.

Christ is a loving God. More specifically, He is the most perfect example of love. So regardless of whether times are good or bad, put your faith in Christ. It is through Him that we can be forgiven of our sins, and find true redemption.

Written by Treye Johnson, Director of Athletics & Student Activities

Advent Devotional: Friday 12/2

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Advent Devotional for Friday, 2 December 2011

Week 1: PREPARE

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

- Micah 6:8

One verse, three requirements...or three gifts, specifically the gift "to walk humbly with your God." WOW! It's a comforting but overwhelming thought. Here we are, no matter who we are, all being called, even required, to walk with God, not to God, or at God, but WITH God...right there, right next to you.

Several images come to mind as I think about this particular phrase:

- I think about the Relay for Life events I have participated in college. Walking around a track lit with the luminaries remembering and honoring those affected by cancer, the mothers, the fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, sisters, brothers, friends, and strangers who have battled or lost that fight to cancer. It is sad and yet it is in those moments walking around the track with strangers, friends, and family members that we have this courage to want to fight back. That is God, walking with us.

- I think about graduation and the commencement ceremony, walking in with your classmates, the people you have been with for the past years. In that walk, there is an uncertainty about what lies ahead, and yet it is in that uncertainty, in the humility of saying, I don't know what the next step is, that God is there walking with us ready to celebrate and enjoy the accomplishments of your life so far and guide you into the future.

- I think about the 3 minutes each morning I spent at the soup kitchen opening the door for an older client/volunteer and walking with him to the pastry table. In that short period, there I was walking with God.

- I think about the runs I've shared with my sister-in-law around different parts of the city. In those moments when we are chatting, when we are silent and exhausted, there God is in each of us running with us, pushing us forward.

- I think about the little moments we walk humbly with God: The moments walking through the hallways at school. The moments playing on the basketball court, counting on our teammates, knowing we cannot do it all on our own. The moments sitting down to share a meal with classmates, co-workers, family, friends, or strangers. The moments of laughter. The moments when all we can say is, "I don't know."

Here we are, blessed each day to be walking humbly with God as we learn from one another, as we count on each other, as we love each other, as we acknowledge that we are great but we can be better. What a gift it is to walk humbly with God!

Written by Mary Carney, Theology teacher

Advent Devotional: Thursday 12/1

2011-12-01T10:19:00.002-05:00

Advent Devotional for Thursday, 1 December 2011

Week 1: PREPARE

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through Him, and without Him nothing came to be. What came to be through Him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”

John 1: 1-5

It is not always easy to know that God is with us. Sometimes we feel lonely, scared, or frightened. Just knowing that everything we touch, smell, hear, and see comes from God can bring light to our darkness. We see God in everyday circumstances. He is ALWAYS there. Without God, everything would cease to exist, not you, not me, nothing. The gift of our lives that comes from God is the eternal light of the world. Use that light in everyday ways, such as holding the door for an elderly woman, volunteering some extra time to help the needy, or just being a shoulder to cry on when a friend has nobody else; to illuminate the darkness and shed light on the world around you.

Written by Summer Soltis, Class of 2014

Advent Devotional: Wednesday 11/30

2011-12-01T10:16:00.001-05:00

By James Hurley, Counselor

Advent Devotional: Tuesday 11/29

2011-11-29T10:50:00.001-05:00

Advent Devotional for Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Week 1: PREPARE

¹God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains
be carried into the midst of the sea; ³Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. ⁴There is a river, the streams
whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles
of the most High. ⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her,
and that right early. ⁶The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice,
the earth melted. ⁷The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.⁸
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. ⁹
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.¹⁰
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted
among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. ¹¹
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Psalm 46

“What a friend we have in Jesus” was one of my many solos growing up in the church choir. In fact, I had many solos through the years, many of which I didn’t understand or couldn’t relate to, but even as a child, this particular song and title was crystal clear to me. It was clear to me because of the simplicity of the words and title. To support my thoughts on this devotional, I must start by sharing with you how Merriam-Webster defines friend: “A person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard; a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter”.

I have to admit that at an early age I knew that being a friend carried significant meaning. As a matter of fact, my older brother still teases me to this day about how between the ages of 4yrs old and 10yrs old, I threatened him almost daily about “not being his friend anymore” in various situations in which I was hoping to get my way! It’s funny to think about it that way, but certainly we are so very lucky that God doesn’t threaten us with his friendship. Even when we do not deserve His favor and acts of kindness, God is still a true friend to us. As Psalms 46:1 says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Sure, in today’s world and times, we all may be guilty of using the word friend loosely in everyday life by giving the title to people we barely even know. As a matter of fact, how well would we know what’s going on with our many Facebook “friends” without their status updates, wall posts, profile picture changes and instant messages? Well one of the awesome things about having Jesus as a friend is that He doesn’t need Facebook, Twitter, Google or Bing to know what is going on with us; He is always with us! “²Though the earth be removed,” He is with us! “³Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,” He is with us!

So the next time we’re dealing with a situation that seems like there is no way out; when we’re awake crying in the early hours of the morning and think we are alone; when natural disasters occur around us; when we’re worried about classes, grades or significant others, know that our belief in Christ should be more than enough to keep our hearts from being heavy. Stress not, worry not – for we have a FRIEND IN JESUS!

Written by Monica L. Lawson, Director of Admissions

Advent Devotional: Monday 11/28

2011-11-29T10:47:00.000-05:00

Advent Devotional for Monday, November 28, 2011

Week 1: PREPARE

Invitation to the Thirsty

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and you will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me;

listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David.

Isaiah 55:1-3

“Your money’s no good here” is, I think, what God is saying to us in this scripture passage. And when money or status have no value, our egos have no place. We’re not invited because of what we bring to the table, but because God loves us so, so dearly that he can’t help but to draw us towards him.

It may be too predictable or cliché to project my new experience as a mother onto this scripture passage, but it’s also inconceivable to me to not see almost everything through this new lens. And my relationship with my son has provided me with some firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to be in a relationship with another person where ego doesn’t get in the way. My relationship with my son is the only one I’ve ever had in which I don’t get anything tangible in return. I get heart melting smiles, hours of cuddle time and the feeling that my life has new purpose, but he doesn’t cook dinner, pay bills, or even give advice. So while I know I don’t have the capacity to love like God loves, this may be the closest I will come to it—and it’s wonderful. And knowing how much joy I get out of loving my son, and how desperately I want him to know how much we adore him AND that I can only love and provide for him a fraction of the amount that God loves and provides for me, makes me feel very taken care of.

It is simultaneously humbling and emboldening to know that we can’t earn God’s love. But because of our egos (or mine, at least) it is also difficult to accept something that we haven’t merited. And sometimes it feels good to spend our time celebrating the things we’ve earned as a result of how awesome we are. But that’s not what God’s love is about. He loves us just because he made us to be lovable.

Happy Advent!

Written by Devon Lynch-Huggins-Szep, Advancement Coordinator

Advent Devotionals

2011-11-29T10:46:00.000-05:00

We have begun our 4^th annual round of Saint Martin Community Advent Devotionals! They will be posted every weekday until Christmas. These have been written by students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends of the school who share their personal thoughts and reflections on the Scripture assigned for the day.

The Scripture follow four themes:

Week One: Prepare

Week Two: Hope

Week Three: Joy

Week Four: Peace

We hope and pray that these devotionals help you to reflect on the Good News of what God has done for us in sending Jesus into the world.

We Give You Thanks With Grateful Hearts

2011-11-29T09:39:00.000-05:00

This Thanksgiving we would like to share a few words
with you on how much your support means to us.

Please click below to view.
(You may need to allow a few moments for the video to load.)

Caesar Burton featured on City Year's Blog

2011-11-22T14:17:00.000-05:00

Saint Martin sophomore Caesar Burton was recently published on the blog for City Year Cleveland. Caesar highlights the importance of effort and communication at his Corporate Work Study Program job at City Year. Congratulations, Caesear!

To read Caesar's post, please click here.

Adam Musser, Teacher of the Quarter

2011-11-21T12:58:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Adam Musser, who has been named the Teacher of the Quarter for the first quarter of the 2011-2012 school year. Jeff Sutliff, Assistant Principal for Academics, highlights the numerous ways Adam contributes to the Saint Martin Community:

Ben Franklin taught us that, “Genius without education is like silver in the mine.” Adam has applied Franklin’s lesson and shown students their potential through his high expectations and willingness to take risks and work hard on their behalf.

Adam's initiative and persistence in developing Wonder Week has enriched the lives of our students and colleagues. In so doing, he created an example of how we can achieve the mission by implementing the curriculum in ambitious and innovative ways.

It is a tremendous joy to observe the students in Adam's class passionately embrace Shakespeare and engage in sophisticated discussions of high level texts. Through the Word of the Week and other activities, Adam fosters a love for the English language that will enrich our students throughout their lives.

This past weekend, Adam and Keri Grady, teacher coach at Saint Martin, spoke at the 2011 National Council of Teachers of English. Adam and Keri presented the subject of WonderWeek and the impact on the Saint Martin community.

Outside of the classroom, Adam coaches cross-country and basketball. A graduate of Holy Cross, Adam is currently studying at the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College.

Adam's younger sister, Samantha, was the Valedictorian of the first Saint Martin graduating class.

Michelle Brickner Selected as a Champion of Sustainability

2011-11-16T16:20:00.000-05:00

Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S), a Cleveland based economic development organization dedicated to putting sustainability to work since 2000 named seven new Champions of Sustainability at their monthly Third Tuesday Network Event Tuesday evening at Great Lakes Brewing Company. The 2011 class joins 59 past Champions that have been nominated and recognized by their peers across the E4S network. Michelle Brickner, Art Teacher and Organic Community Garden Coordinator at Saint Martin, was nominated by Devon Lynch-Huggins-Szep and selected as one of the 2011 class.

E4S Interim Executive Director Michael Dungan congratulated this year’s honorees and thanked them for the example they set in the community. He commented that, “E4S Champions carry the special distinction of being nominated by their peers for the work they do as implementers as well as for the inspiration they provide for others. We welcome this year’s group to our growing roster of individuals who are embedding sustainability principles in their organization’s operations, product design, company culture and client services.”

In Michelle's nomination narrative Devon highlighted the numerous ways Michelle has implemented sustainable business practices at Saint Martin and positively affected all three areas of the triple-bottom line model of sustainability. Devon highlights how Michelle also contributes to the entire community at Saint Martin: "Michelle is inspiring because she has found a way to make other people want to learn about the things she values. When she recommends a book, people read it. When she invites students to an event, they go. When she brushes the dirt off a vegetable she has just pulled from the garden and hands it to a student who has never really stopped to think about where food comes from, he eats it. Michelle doesn’t teach or lead in a way that says, 'I have information that you need.' Instead, she imagines progress, pursues it and invites people to join her. The best teachers are passionate and curious about a subject and are willing to invite others to join them as they pursue the subject. As she has pursued her love of art, design, local food, community gardens while navigating the process of developing and managing a community organic garden at Saint Martin de Porres High School in the Saint Clair Superior Neighborhood, Michelle Brickner has established herself and her work as a model for her students and her colleagues."

Michelle has also participated in a number of conferences and events at which she has shared best practices. At the 1^st annual National Green Schools Conference in Minneapolis, Michelle participated in a panel on implementing the triple-bottom line model of sustainability in schools. She also presented at the Ohio Farm to School Conference. She and her garden interns presented at the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition’s Community Food Skill Share and she is in the process of preparing to present at the 2^nd annual National Green Schools Conference, which will be held in Denver in February 2012.

Thank you, Devon for your nomination and congratulations, Michelle!

PwC Launches Leadership Development Program for Saint Martin Seniors

2011-11-09T09:07:00.002-05:00

PwC US today announced the launch of a new program for High School Seniors at Saint Martin de Porres High School. The program, "Students Today. Leaders Tomorrow." is aimed at helping students build leadership skills through a hands-on experience. PwC has been working with Saint Martin since 2004, when the firm became a founding sponsor of the school's Corporate Work Study Program.

"We are excited about our new program for Saint Martin de Porres High School," said Robert D. Saada, Managing Partner of PwC's Cleveland office and Lake Erie Region. "'Students Today. Leaders Tomorrow.' is about accelerating the leadership skills and professional development of these talented Cleveland High School Seniors. We have built a unique curriculum, which will introduce these students to leadership development through the eyes of our leaders and a host of other Northeast Ohio business and community leaders."

"PwC has sponsored our Corporate Work Study Program since we welcomed our first students in 2004, so we are pleased that they have strengthened their commitment to our young people through the 'Students Today. Leaders Tomorrow.' program," noted Rich Clark, President of Saint Martin de Porres High School. "We commend PwC for its vision and dedication in developing this program. It is efforts such as this that further assist us in successfully preparing our young women and men for college, career, and life success."
The first of the bi-annual events associated with the "Students Today. Leaders Tomorrow." program is being held on November 9th at the Quicken Loans Arena. More than 30 PwC Partners and staff will help facilitate a hands-on session on "Effective Communication Skills" for 89 Saint Martin Seniors. The second event will be held on April 3, 2012.

Seniors Start to "Get In"

2011-11-04T13:08:00.000-04:00

We received exciting news this week at Saint Martin, the first college acceptance letters for the senior class! Rayvon Johnson was accepted to Cuyahoga Community College and Jocelyn Duncan was accepted to Ohio University.

Rayvon plans to study Respiratory Therapy in college. She is involved with Choir at Saint Martin, Jewels & Gents, and works at ValMark Securities.

Jocelyn plans to study Classic Civilizations in college and hopes to become a History Teacher. She was inspired Mrs. Marissa Siebert's course during her junior year at Saint Martin. Jocelyn is involved in Student Advocates for Social Justice, Nature Club, Student Senate, and is a member of the Saint Martin Recruiting Force. Jocelyn works at the Cleveland Office of Sustainability.

Congratulations, Rayvon & Jocelyn!

A Martin Moment

2011-09-20T13:36:00.002-04:00

There are times at Saint Martin when we are reminded of how we are transforming urban Cleveland one student at a time. Clairesa Bopp, '10, recently provided such a "Martin Moment" in an email to Mary Ann Vogel. Thank you, Claire!

"Now that I have entered the real world, I know that any success I achieve is in part due to my time at Saint Martin. It didn’t seem like it when I was in high school, but I know now that if it hadn’t been for Saint Martin de Porres High School I would not be the person I am today. I owe so much thanks to all of the school. Looking back I can honestly say I enjoyed my classes. The teachers were excellent! I was blessed to have teachers that made class interesting and engaging. I’m pretty sure not all high school students can say their class made The Odyssey into a movie or hand build a catapult. I have so many good class memories and am so thankful for having innovative teachers that truly understood the mentality of high school students.

I owe so much of my current success to CWSP. Had it not been for the Corporate Work Study Program, I would have never had the opportunity to enter the professional world as a high school student. I truly feel blessed to have had the opportunity to enter the work world and ultimately become a young professional at Fifth Third Bank. Many people at the Bank assume that I am a college graduate. I love to see the astounded looks people have when they find out that my high school made me the professional I am. I know without a doubt, the Corporate Work Study Program works!

I am also thankful for the leadership opportunities I got at Saint Martin. I am extremely thankful that faculty members supported me creating the Student Webpage Club and I was able to be a leader. The New Orleans service trip was also an extremely significant experience in my life. I was so fortunate to have that experience. Although I didn’t build a whole house by myself, being able to put up drywall in one room felt like the biggest accomplishment to me. Being able to help a disaster stricken community really opened my eyes and allowed me to see what kind of person I want to be.

I will forever be thankful for my time at Saint Martin de Porres High School. I believe I am a success story and will always acknowledge the school for setting the building blocks in place for me to be a knowledgeable, competent, professional individual. I want to help continue the mission of Saint Martin de Porres High School. The best way I can do it now is to act as a mentor to the younger interns that also work at Fifth Third Bank. If at any time, the school needs my assistance I will be happy to help at any capacity.

I hope in some way this email helps you prepare for the coming school year and can forever be proof that Saint Martin de Porres High School is a truly unique school that gives students the opportunity to grow academically, professionally, and spiritually. I will always hold the school and the faculty close to my heart. Thank you for everything!"

-Clairesa Bopp

With a Great Moustache Comes Great Responsibility

2011-09-14T11:46:00.000-04:00

Today we celebrate the 60th birthday of a truly great man! (the moustache hasn't been around that long, just since Nixon was in the White House.)

Happy Birthday Rich!

We love you and there's nothing you can do about it.