Shamrock 2010, Opening Remarks
Gracious God, Our blessings are many! Fill our hearts with gratefulness for the gift of living, for the ability to love and be loved, for the opportunity to see the everyday wonders of creation, for sleep and water, for a mind that thinks and a body that feels.
In the ideas, in the hopes, and in the dreams, of this community, let us find that we are made fuller and more alive. Let the gifts given by those tonight give us the ability to meet the needs of our school community. As we all share in the life that you have so graciously given us, may we continue to be a Catholic school that “Lights the Way” for generations to come.
Welcome to the 9th annual Shamrock event. A lot has changed in these 9 years. People have come and gone, and this event has undergone dramatic transformation. Change is healthy in the fact that it brings new ideas, energy, and people. The same people that had the original idea for Shamrock in 2001 have moved on. New volunteers have picked up the reigns and kept this event alive. The organizing chairs have changed and brought with them new ideas for menu, entertainment, and venue.
We are so excited this year to once again have the Cedar Rapids Marriott as our hosts! I would like to acknowledge the Shamrock committee for all their hard work at ensuring the success of tonight’s event, especially our committee chair, Kelli Becker. I think I should also thank Jerry Brown and his entertainment crew for all the hard work with the video you will see throughout the evening, although I must admit that I haven’t seen any of the video yet. Jerry tells me that everything will be fine; I think if it isn’t then I can claim “plausible deniability”. Thanks for the protection, Jerry!
Like the Shamrock event, our school has undergone dramatic change, particularly in the past 18 months. While change is very healthy for the future of our school, many of these changes have been painful. We have been faced with the tremendous challenges of declining enrollment, increasing costs, and operating budgets offering very little flexibility in discretionary spending. We thank you for your continued prayers during these difficult times.
Our parish, our families, and our community all benefit from a strong school with an academic program rooted in the faith. We are a Catholic School of Excellence in part because of the support you all continue to show.
It is because of the support we have from our community, from your prayers, to your words of encouragement, and your participation in events like this that we are able to successfully face each challenge and overcome all obstacles.
I am happy to report that we are financially solvent, and fiscally we will be in great shape next year. So, while tonight we ask for your continued financial support, let it also be a celebration of our school community. Thank you for coming. I hope each of you have a wonderful evening and may God Bless You.
