As we begin a new school year, we also begin Year Three of our OCSB Spiritual Theme journey: We Are Called to Nourish New Beginnings.
After opening doors and building bridges, this next chapter invites us to nurture new opportunities for growth and renewal, and to sustain them through community and shared commitment to one another. It is about continuing to build a sense of belonging where every person’s contribution is valued and celebrated, while creating new paths for the future.
This year is not about simply adding more. It is about recognizing what has already been given, carrying forward the relationships, lessons and giving thanks for the blessings we have gathered, and allowing them to nourish what comes next.
What Does it Mean to Nourish a New Beginning?
A new school year brings new opportunities, new relationships, new hopes and sometimes uncertainty.
Before rushing ahead, Nourishing New Beginnings invites us to consider what gives life, what strengthens our communities, and what helps each of us grow.
Throughout the year, we will explore ten words that help bring this theme to life:
Gather. Notice. Remember. Awaken. Wonder. Serve. Transform. Savour. Entrust. Celebrate.
Each word offers a different way to reflect on how we care for ourselves, one another and the communities we serve.
We begin in September with Gather, recognizing that what we carry forward from the past matters. The relationships we have built, the lessons we have learned, and the blessings we have received can help nourish what comes next.
As the year unfolds, we will be invited to notice God’s grace in the everyday, remember what matters most, awaken to the needs around us, serve with the gifts we have been given, and celebrate the goodness we encounter along the way.
Moving Forward Together
At the heart of Nourishing New Beginnings is a simple question:
What gives life?
As students, staff and families begin another year together, may we have the wisdom to recognize what nourishes us, the courage to let go of what does not, and the openness to receive the goodness God offers.
May this year be one in which we see more clearly, love more deeply and move forward together with hope.
We would also love to see how our OCSB community is Nourishing New Beginnings throughout the year. Share your moments with us on social media by tagging @OttCatholicSB or using #ocsbNewBeginnings.
