The Paw Print JSerra Catholic High School Volume 25 • September 2014 A Spiritual Conversation In This Issue: With Father Damien and Mr. Laubacher Confession: by Zoe Kaffen Page 3 Performing Arts–Dance: Page 4 Pep Squad: Page 8 Make a Wish by Julia Sanchez Most people are aware of cancer and the many foundations and organizations that revolve around raising money and finding a cure. But the Make a Wish foundation differs from the rest. Instead of simply raising money and donating it, the Make a Wish Foundation offers cancer patients—specifically young children and teenagers—the opportunity to make one wish, any wish, before cancer takes its course. The wishes differ from traveling to Europe to meeting wrestler John Cena. To be eligible to “make a wish,” the child must be between the ages of 2 and 18, with the child’s physician deciding whether or not the child is eligible. The Make a Wish Foundation grants wishes through its 62 chapters throughout the United States and the 47 other countries involved. We caught up with Father Damien and get all turned around and you gradually begin to The foundation began in the spring of the newest campus minister, Mr. Laubacher, to realize that the things you thought you wanted 1980 when seven-year-old Christopher James find out a little bit more about their spiritual do not make you happy anymore.” Greicius (August 8, 1972–May 3, 1980) was beliefs. What was surprising were the deep Father Damien, how did your parents treated for leukemia, cancer of the blood. Greicius spiritual experiences that both Father Damien react to your decision to become a priest? had always wanted to be a police officer and U.S. and Mr. Laubacher disclosed to us. “At first my parents were not that Customs Officer, Tommy Austin, befriended the Father Damien, what sparked your supportive. They really believed that this young child. Austin worked with the Arizona interest in joining the priesthood? was just a phase I was going through. At one Department of Public Safety to give Greicius “I finished college at UC Irvine at about continued on page 2 an experience he would never forget: to spend age 23, and the last year of college I met a one day as a police officer. He rode in a police Catholic who knew his faith very well. Through helicopter, received a custom-tailored police him, I learned that life may be challenging and uniform, and was sworn in as the first honorary there are many obstacles, and that the Cross Save the Date DPS patrolman in state history. Unfortunately, actually forces you to look within and find Homecoming Game.......September 26 Greicius died shortly afterwards, but his wish solutions that are more meaningful than what was granted, thus beginning the biggest wish- society has to offer. I suddenly found that the Homecoming Dance.....September 27 granting, non-profit organization in the world. answers I was looking for were in Jesus.” College Fair.........................October 22 The Make a Wish foundation is an Father Damien, was there a circumstance or amazing organization which allows sick children event or that made you suddenly realize your calling to have their dreams come true. JSerra is proud to the priesthood or was it a gradual feeling? to continue its own Make a Wish club on campus. “It was gradual. Often times, the things If you have any questions, e-mail the president of that you think you need to be happy suddenly the club, Sydni Brown, at [email protected]. JSerra Catholic High School • 26351 Junipero Serra Road San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 • (949) 493-9307 • JSerra.org Page Two My Meatless World Hello New Teachers! by Michael Elsanadi by Mary Kaffen With the recent rise in the popularity science department. She teaches a freshmen of vegetables, such as kale and quinoa, and with Conceptual Physics class here at JSerra and has restaurants such as Veggie Grill and Native been teaching for thirteen years. In sixth grade, Foods, one question remains: is vegetarian food Mrs. Chenault wanted to be either a teacher or beneficial to one’s health? a hairstylist. I asked Mrs. Chenault what inspired Vegetarians do reap the benefits of her to become a teacher; she replied that her ample amounts of vitamins through organic sixth-grade teacher influenced her to enter vegetables and dairy products. For example, one into the profession. cup of chopped kale contains only 33 calories When asked what she liked best about and includes 206% of the daily value of vitamin JSerra, Mrs. Chenault praised her students for A, 134% of vitamin C, and 684% of vitamin K. Sister Maria Corazon teaches Religion1 being polite, respectful, and good listeners. However, with the benefit of consuming large to freshmen, as well as a Religion 3 Honors, amounts vegetables, you sacrifice taste. Nothing a junior-level religion class. Sister Corazon Father Damien compares to devouring a juicy rare steak with belongs to the Carmelite Sisters of the Most continued from page 1 the benefits of Vitamin B3, B12, B6, and iron. Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. Conversely, these vitamins are only found in grass- She leads an active life in Christ so I fed free roaming cows, who’s meat is expensive asked her if she had gone on any mission trips. relative to factory processed red meats. A study She replied that she had volunteered to serve confirmed that those who consumed high levels at World Youth Day in Toronto, helping youths of unprocessed and processed red meat suffered with new technologies, such as the iPhone and from a 20% higher risk of mortality, cancer walkie talkies. Sister Maria Corazon recalls that mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. her high school religion classes at all-girls Bishop After reading this research, I had decided Conaty Catholic High School, in Los Angeles, to become vegetarian for four weeks. Beginning helped influence her to become a sister, but with the first week, I felt famished as my taste she recognized her calling at the age of eight buds longed for steak and chicken; sauntering after watching the movie, “Song of Bernadette,” point, my parents realized how important this around the house, and fatigued due to my depicting the life of Saint Bernadette. decision was for me. It was almost like a marriage body’s lack of protein, I thought I had made the Asked what her greatest religious contract, and I promised myself I would persevere. wrong decision. I hated being a vegetarian. The challenge was, Sister Maria said that in her life, Nowadays, so many people constantly give up on faux-chicken made my stomach grumble, the there have been times when she had to renew their choices, like getting a divorce, quitting your job kale made my face sour, and I always felt hungry, her faith in Christ, asking herself is Jesus Christ or dropping out of college, but for me sticking with no matter how much I ate. my Lord and Savior. my choice and persevering was really important. However, as I continued into the second In the English department, Mrs. Hirsch When my parents saw how serious I was about week, the increased intake of vegetables, and teaches Advanced Placement Literature, a the priesthood they began to support me.” the decreased intake of meat made, me feel junior-level English class. Mrs. Hirsch attended Mr. Laubacher, what were you like in energized. Soon I began to actually enjoy being U.C. Riverside, and then obtained a Masters high school? vegetarian; the bitterness of kale and the what- degree at Pepperdine University. She has been “I grew up Catholic where faith was I-thought-to-be-flavorless taste of a well-made teaching for ten years at public school. a really important part of my life. When I was vegetarian dish were items I began to look I asked Mrs. Hirsch what she liked about younger I loved going to youth groups and learn forward to. By week three, I had tamed my a private school. She commented on the small to play new instruments. I was really into sports meat-hungry stomach and began to enjoy living size of her classes, saying that at public schools and surfing, so I ended up going to a public high a meatless life. Into week four, I began dreading she would teach classes of about thirty or more school where I got mixed up in a lot of bad turning myself back to meat. students. She enjoys the size of JSerra classes, situations. I made friends that led me down the However, at 8:00 PM, on September making it easier to connect with her students. wrong path and turned me away from my love of 1st, I bit into a steak and felt nothing but guilt, Mrs. Chenault is a new teacher in the God. I remember that during high school I was anxiety—and nausea. Little did I know, eating really convinced that there wasn’t a God. I wasn’t large amounts of meat, after fasting from it living a very moral life, but eventually I graduated for over three weeks, can lead to waves of The and got a couple wake-up calls that made me headaches and nausea. Luckily, these symptoms Paw Print question the purpose and meaning of my life. soon subsided. Staff Mr. L, what made you decide to study I look back as to why I chose vegetarianism Katia Bergstrom Zoe Kaffen theology and philosophy in college? for a month. Perhaps it was to challenge Sydney Brown Emma McClellan “I lived a pretty secular life, going to myself and place myself in an uncomfortable Olivia Coyle Garrett Prendiville concerts and parties and getting mixed up with Megan D’Souza Julia Sanchez environment.