September 2022: New Beginnings

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ‘76
 
Dear Friends,

Tapestry is Archmere’s annual literary magazine, and I am always amazed at the high quality of writing and artwork included in the publication created by our students. One particular piece composed by Liz Xu ‘24 struck me, entitled “I Believe in Goodbyes,” a reflection on “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. In the traditional school calendar, this is a time of new beginnings, after having just a few months earlier said “Goodbye” to the members of the Class of 2022. It is good for us to reflect on Liz’s words as we learn to appreciate the time we have together, beginning with this new school year.

Liz writes, “Everything leaves eventually. Everyone understands it at one point. Whether morbidly or mundanely, there’s nothing that you can keep by your side forever. People, places, things… they change, they die, they leave. But just because you’ll have to say goodbye doesn’t mean it’s all meaningless.” Liz concludes, “Because of the time we spent together. That’s what makes it worth it. . . . So let’s enjoy these brief moments of real connection, even if it’s just a second. And when the time comes… we’ll say goodbye…”

On September 2, 2022, my first grandchild was born - a granddaughter - born to my son and daughter-in-law. I have not met her in person yet. They live in Virginia, and they named their daughter, Virginia Jane, after my wonderful aunt and my daughter-in-law’s fantastic godmother, Jane. When they called us to let us know that she was born at 2:34 AM, we were so excited for them and for us - newly-minted grandparents. More than that, I was thinking about my aunt, who was born in 1920, accomplished a third-grade education because her father - my grandfather - had died suddenly, and the oldest six of the eight children ages 15 to 8, including my aunt who was the youngest, had to quit school and work in the mills on the Brandywine so that the family could “make ends meet.” She would eventually marry her “sweetheart,” who served in the U.S. Army in World War II. They were unable to have children of their own, and they lived next door to us, so my brothers and I became their “children,” and my children became their “grandchildren.” When we moved and built a larger home, they moved in with us, creating a multi-generational household, until they passed away in 2002 and 2003.

After 102 years, we now have another Virginia Marinelli in the world! When I think about this, I consider how wonderful our life is - the ability to create, to start anew, and, in our Catholic faith, to know that what we have created is unique and will live beyond what we can know and see.

I suppose that the thoughts of creation may not seem as profound in the context of beginning another school year, but, in a way, they are. Our students have a “blank canvas” in which to fashion their futures. Each stroke on the canvas may not be perfect, but it is uniquely theirs, and we believe that God loves the creation they are becoming, as long as they are keeping in mind the core values we believe as a community, the family values that are held in esteem, and the inspiration that they find in daily prayer.

In our first administrative meeting of the new school year, Father McLaughlin offered the opening prayer, constructed from the Gospel reading for the day and his Mission and Heritage email message earlier that day, which reads, “September 1 is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Pope Francis established this day of prayer in 2015, as the first day of the ‘Season of Creation,’ which extends from September 1, the first day of Meteorological Autumn, to October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron of creation. This year's theme is ‘Listen to the voice of creation.’ In his ‘Canticle of the Creatures’ Saint Francis wrote of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind, Sister Water, Brother Fire, Mother Earth. Today at Mass we prayed, ‘The Lord's is the earth and its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it’ (Psalm 24:1). Let us ‘listen to the voice of creation’ with open ears and respond with tender, loving care.” There is no better message for our school community to hear as we together share another year of teaching and learning, journeying in faith together.

Blessings for an enjoyable year,

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ‘76
Head of School
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Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.