The Archbishop is welcomed to The Atonement Catholic Academy

A LETTER FROM MR. WATSON


Dear Academy Family,
 
At about 8:45 yesterday morning, Archbishop of San Antonio’s car entered a corridor of cheering students and faculty welcoming him to the Atonement campus. As Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller’s driver pulled into the piazza, the whole student body streamed in, surrounding him. His Excellency emerged to be greeted first by Bishop Lopes of the Ordinariate and then by clergy and administration, before beginning to jog (yes!) through the crowd, tossing rosaries to ecstatic boys and girls.
 
As the archbishop turned to enter the school building and prepare for Mass, the entire school community broke into “Our Lady of The Atonement,” the Academy’s alma mater.
 
At the school Mass, Archbishop Gustavo witnessed sacred choral music sung by Academy choirs, an organ recessional by eighth grader Luke Farber, and the beauties of the Ordinariate liturgy. In his homily, Archbishop Gustavo repeatedly expressed gratitude for the people and work of the Academy and parish. 
 
The morning was punctuated by Bishop Lopes’ unanticipated bestowal of not one but two “bishop’s holidays”! Some attendees report that scholars and teachers broke into a rare applause inside the church. The Academy has declined to comment on this aspect of the story, except to say that it is taking the Bishop’s wishes very seriously.
 
Overall, it was a great day to be a Crusader.
 
Let us continue to pray for one another. Our Lady of The Atonement—Pray For Us!
 
Your servant,
 

Matthew David Watson
Head of School