Dear Parents:

Any time, summer gets here, or for that matter any time when the school is off for a few days, the campus is certainly very different. When I go down to the field on those days, it is kind of sad to see it empty and with no activity from our students. When your sons are not here, our treasure is gone. They make a difference at St. Francis. And it is at those times, when the students are absent, that we have the time to reflect on the activities that we experience during the school year and their significance.

As I reflect on the school year that just ended, I am most grateful for the joy that the senior students and their parents had at their graduation. Four years of secondary education have gone by quickly and have yielded great results. The graduates are now on a new course in their lives. They are going to be on their own in a way that they could have never imagined. We hope that the spirituality and education we presented to them here at St. Francis will help them to navigate the challenging, and at times stormy waters, they will sail on. 

At the Baccalaureate Mass, I encouraged the future graduates to use their minds and hearts, to be aware of their gifts, and not to be afraid of the future. Even when things don’t go the way we want, life always presents us with opportunities that can enrich us and others. I am sure our graduates are up to the challenge.

As you are aware, this year the Capuchin Franciscans of the Our Lady of Angels Province celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Irish friars to the western part of the US. We had the visit of our Minister General from Rome, Fr. Mauro Johri and he was most impressed with the school and the students, parents and supporters he met. One of the things he was most pleased with was the positive attitude and hope he found on campus. I am most thankful to those who contributed so much to make Fr. Mauro’s visit a success.

For the second year, we had our Franciscan Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome. Seven of us led the pilgrimage of thirty students. The results were extraordinary in terms of spirituality and personal growth.  I could not be any happier. Our next pilgrimage is already on the school calendar for Easter week 2011. We are looking forward to it. There will a Pilgrimage Informational meeting in our theatre on September 15 at 7:00 pm.

We are looking forward to welcoming all students and parents in August. Every year, the addition of new parents and students enriches the St. Francis Family, gives us an opportunity of doing new things, and continuing our work of enriching the minds and hearts of our students.

Please know that you are always present in my prayers and at Mass. I ask you to please also pray for us.

Sincerely in Jesus and Francis,



Fr. Tony Martí, OFM Cap
President