FROM THE PASTOR, FR. PHILIP SULLIVAN, OCD

April of 2015

Dear School Parents:

With the collaborative help of our Provincial, Fr. Stephen Watson, the Carmelite fathers and I continue to be deeply committed to excellence in Catholic education.  Building on this foundation and the previous success enjoyed by St. Therese School, together we will be undertaking some positive steps in the upcoming 2015-16 academic year. We promise to foster Catholic identity, incorporate Carmelite spirituality, and enhance our curriculum for the benefit of our students and their families.   

As pastor and spiritual leader of St. Therese Church and School, I am excited to announce that our Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles will be working together with the Carmelite Friars in our children’s religious education. Their contribution and presence to our school will be a wonderful addition to our exciting new vision!  

In addition, we will be adding components to our curriculum to embrace what is known as a Classical Model of Catholic Education.  This time-honored model integrates all of our subjects seamlessly with the Catholic Faith. It will enable all of our children to think logically and speak persuasively and will prepare them for whatever their future holds. I assure you that we will continue to honor our current curriculum. Many of our parish families have been requesting Classical Components/Electives to our current curriculum. This has been successfully done at other schools within the Archdiocese.  

And while we have great affection and gratitude for the work of our current principal, Mrs. Carmela Lovano, we have hired a new principal, Mrs. Alma Cornejo, who will help us attain the goals and changes of the new vision. Our new school principal is a woman with a strong faith, committed to Carmelite spirituality, and brings with her decades of experience in classical curriculum and Catholic education and administration.  The Carmelite Fathers are confident that our teamwork with Mrs. Cornejo during this transition will be respectful but with deliberate haste to bolster our already-existing curriculum.  

Good things are coming!  St. Therese School will continue to grow in excellence!  Understandably many of you have questions.  Answers are also coming. I have invited Mrs. Cornejo to attend our Spring Parent Meeting on May 18, 2015. However, I would also encourage you to email Mrs. Cornejo directly with any particular questions you may have (stsprincipalcornejo@gmail.com).  In light of these upcoming changes, we would like to give our school families time to discern and pray about your return to St. Therese School. Therefore, we will extend the reenrollment date until after the Spring Parent Meeting on May 18, 2015.  

I ask for your prayers and patience in this time of transition.  I feel hopeful and encouraged with this wonderful work that we have undertaken.  Mrs. Lovano, Mrs. Cornejo, and I are a united force in making this transition successful for the sake of our children. With God’s grace, we will work together to prepare our children for God’s Kingdom and for God’s greater glory.  

Sincerely, Fr. Philip Sullivan, OCD