Magic, miracles, and might

Leaving work last night, I ran headlong into a virtual army of minivans parked just outside the Reilly Hall doors.  They were positioned for exit in two orderly rows, cargo doors ajar.  Their drivers -mostly school dads - were making silent runs to and from the Parish Center with bins full of merchandise from the Auction storage area.  They were silent figures, focused intently on their loads, illuminated only by the moonlight and headlights.  It was an impressive sight.  The caravan would soon be leaving for the ICC, to hand off their baton to the display team who is performing their own version of magic today.

Well, it seems like magic, anyway - until the structure of this machine we call "The Auction" comes into clearer focus.  I wish you could all have a peek into the office during these weeks from January until this last day before the event.  Activity rises slowly at first until reaching fever pitch in the last weeks.  Donations come in via mail or are lovingly packaged and carried by donors.  Volunteers come and go on a daily basis - some twice a day - to pick up, check off, carry away.  Meanwhile, off-site, others are working relentlessly on acquisitions, raffles, data-entry, catalog, invitations, reservations and promotions.   Then there's the event itself - dinner, music, decorations, display, video, check-in, check-out, and, finally, collecting, packing, and hauling away the last remnants of our presence.  This massive project requires over one hundred well-coordinated hands and hearts.

When we back up to the planning stages, well, you get the picture.  This isn't really magic after all.  It's a combination of creativity and commitment; brains and brawn; and hours and hours of loving effort.  Why do we do it?  We do it because we value Catholic education, generally and this school, specifically.  We do it because we really enjoy working and and playing together. We do it because, as our Life Smart brand reminds us, "we believe in something greater than ourselves."

Maybe it's not magic, but I do believe it's miraculous; a tangible reminder that the the Holy Spirit is at work through us, supporting our mission and helping us discern a way forward in uncertain times.  When we come together in community, invite him into our collective being, and open ourselves to his will, there's really no limit to what we can accomplish.

With special and humble appreciation to the Killorans, the Kloehns, and the McGartlands for their amazing leadership of this phenomenal undertaking, I wish for all of you who have contributed your time, talent, or treasure to the success of this critical effort to know of my deepest gratitude for your passionate partnership.  May God continue to bless each of you - and all of us.