Message from the Director

Dear Members of the Prep Community,

Our theme for the 2012-13 school year is “A Window to the Heart of God.” In the weeks since we’ve chosen this theme, many people have asked me “What does that mean?” or “Why?” The idea of a “window” into God’s love isn’t at obvious or as clear as some of our past themes, but when we place it into context our theme offers inspiration and challenge for the new year.

The theme is taken from Tom Franzak’s song, Heart of God. The chorus says,

“Give us love that understands the work of loving

hands can be a window to the heart of God.”

Franzak reminds us that the people around us can offer a glimpse into the depths of God’s overwhelming love for us. The “work of loving hands” can manifest itself to us in many different ways – through the teacher that stays after class to make sure a student understands a difficult concept, through the friend who is there during stressful times, or through our parents who have quietly sacrificed to give us the best lives possible.

Additionally, we can see God’s love at work when we dedicate ourselves to the service of others. More than 120 Prep students and faculty participated in service this summer, in places as close as Hackettstown, NJ and as far as Bethel, AK. One student wrote in his reflection about his trip to Los Angeles, “By means of developing personal relationships with those whom I served, I was able to discover that everyone, regardless of social class or past history, possesses a God-given gift and the potential for success.”

Because he spent his time serving people different from himself, that student was able to recognize God in the poor. And, by recognizing and affirming God in those people he met, that student acted as a window into God’s love for them. We are all called to that each day – to show the people in our lives glimpses into God’s deep love through our words and actions.

I pray that this year we may all have the graced experience of recognizing the people and experiences that open windows into God’s love for us, and that we may have the openness to be windows for others.

Peace of Christ,

Ms. Maura Toomb

Director of Campus Ministry

toombm@spprep.org

201-547-6457

PS: If you would like to hear a preview of “Heart of God,” you can click here.