With summer here it is time to say good-bye to your students. But you probably never lose complete contact with your students because you continue to remember them in prayer, hopeful that they remain close to Jesus and strong in their Catholic faith.
Over the past couple of months I have been so fortunate to share in the great success of two of my former students. Doug O'Neill is the champion trainer for I'll Have Another, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Doug was on my grade school basketball team at St. Monica's Elementary School in Santa Monica. His wife Linette was in my math and religion classes. They have two nice kids who now attend Notre Dame Academy in West Los Angeles. I'm counting on them eventually attending the University of Notre Dame!
Another good friend and student from St. Monica's is Mark Verge. In March, Mark became CEO of Santa Anita Race Track. Mark met his wife Lani in high school at St. Monica's. They too are parents of two beautiful children. Like Doug, Mark and his family still are parishioners at St. Monica's.
Now check out this story about how Doug and Mark first got interested in horse racing! Not all our students end up as priests and nuns!
Share a prayer for your own students who are leaving your class for the summer as I pray in thanksgiving for Doug and Mark—great husbands, fathers, and friends.
Act of Hope
O God, I hope with complete trust that you will give my students, through the merits of Jesus Christ, all necessary graces in the world and everlasting life in the world to come, for this is what you have promised and you always keep your promises. Amen.
