Dear Sacred Heart Parishioners,

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I notify you that the Academy will cease operating after this academic year. There will not be a 2013-2014 school year. This decision was made on March 5th, by diocesan leaders.

Two realities have forced us to close the school in June. In spite of valiant efforts to recruit new students, the number of students needed to support the school just cannot be found. We need a minimum of two hundred students paying full tuition to assure the payment of teachers’ salaries and benefits and the maintenance and operational needs of the school. Within the last year medical benefits alone have increased by seventeen percent. Our graduating class of twenty-six students means that we need to enroll not only 26 students to replace the graduating class but also another forty-plus students to reach the number of students needed to remain financially viable. They cannot be found.

Three years ago, the Diocese of San Diego granted a $250,000 line of credit to meet short-term financial needs. Within these three years parishioners have contributed $293,226.00 in financial aid to the school. We have exhausted our reserves and there is no more money to contribute to the school. In spite of the money from the parish, we have also borrowed beyond the initial line of credit from the Diocese and owe more than $350,000. There will be no more money coming from the Diocese. Therefore, we do not have the financial ability to go beyond this year.

This tragic event leaves us grieving and maybe even angry. Personally, I know that all that could be done was done. For at least five years a number of devoted people, both on the diocesan and parish levels, have done everything possible to keep the Academy viable. It just has not worked and as Pastor I know that no one in particular is to blame.

Now we need to continue to work together to bring this academic year to a successful end. We need to continue all our fundraising efforts for the sake of our teachers and students.

This has truly been a Lenten journey of loss and grief. My years of ordination have taught me the reality of resurrection. Our faith is that dying leads to greater life. So it will be for this situation. The loss of the Academy will lead to new grace and life for the parish.

Fr. Ron

Dear Parishioners,

The last two months have been filled with amazing opportunities for grace and blessings for me.

On November 3rd, my dear dog, Poko was overtaken by lymphoma and was mercifully put down.

In that tragic loss, so many of you expressed verbally and through cards, your sympathy and solidarity with me in which proved to be a very difficult period. You were amazing in your care and concern; truly a sustaining grace.

Then there was what I call my trifecta of grace: December 11th, the anniversary of my ordination, December 25th, Christmas, and January 3rd, my birthday.

On each of these occasions, there has been an extraordinary amount of congratulations and good wishes both spoken and through beautiful cards. There have also been many generous monetary gifts as well as delicious gifts of food and gift cards to restaurants and book stores, and spiritual bouquets from our SHA students.

This generosity and caring concern in all their forms touches me deeply because they manifest your love for me.

In return, I promise to lead you with a shepherd’s heart doing whatever I can to make your experience of Church filled with a focus on your needs and spiritual well-being.

Keep me in your prayer. You are in mine.

Fr. Ron

Poko, our companion for the last thirteen years has died. She belonged to me and to the parish, especially to the children. Thank you for sharing in my grief and loss. Your many expressions of sympathy have consoled me and have honored Poko.

I am deeply grateful for the exceptional care that Poko received from Doctors Greg Bowerman, Lisa Rehberger and Hans Ewerts and the entire staff at Peninsula Veterinary Clinic. Poko was not only their patient, they were her friends. Many parishioners bonded with Poko in a special love. The joy and care they brought to her life, they also brought to mine.

What now? When we deal with departed pets we are dealing with mystery. However, everyone and everything belongs to God. In that thought I take comfort and see Poko rolling with abandon and eternal joy in sand and grass.

Good bye Poko. Good bye Shungo Buf Pōkō,
the Dog of Sand Grass Spring Place.

Fr. Ron