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Let your chief study be to acquaint yourself with God because there is nothing greater than God, and because it is the only knowledge which can fill the Heart with a Peace and joy, which nothing can disturb.
-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Immersion
Expanded stories from our Read • Scan • Immerse section in the printed newsletter.
Never Forget…
But Also Remember to Tell Your Children
“Where were you?” For us, it’s memory. For our children, it’s history. This 9/11, help them understand why we ‘Never Forget’
Family Fire Drill Fun:
Creating Your E-Plan
Does your family have a fire plan? Pick a safe meeting spot together — then click here for our step-by-step Family E-Plan guide!
Fire Drill Prep!
Do you know how MSC fire and intrusion drills work? We practice together so every child stays calm and safe.
Featured
Articles
This is where you’ll find our stand-alone stories, moment, or idea worth sharing. Whether thoughtful, bold, or simply curious, these articles stand on their own and invite you to pause, reflect, and explore.
Respect Our Heroes
Why firefighters deserve our gratitude & Mounted Patrol: Where officers and horses serve together.
By Jax Glasgow
Emergency Management interview coming soon
by Andrea Indalecio
Columns
This is where our recurring voices take shape. Columns bring you consistent perspectives—whether insightful, lighthearted, or challenging—offering a rhythm of thought you can return to week after week. Each column builds on a theme, guiding you through an unfolding conversation.
The Power of the
One-Liner
Power of the One-Liner
“Short but strong—quotes and one-liners to lift your spirit and fuel your day.
Each Thursday we highlight a saint whose feast day falls this week. Discover their story, virtues, and how they can inspire us today.
Saint of the thursDAY
Virtue of the
Month
Each month we spotlight a virtue to practice together—at home, in class, and in our community.
Answer Key
Find the solutions for this issue’s games, puzzles, and challenges.
Family Fire Drill Fun: Creating Your E-Plan
Emergencies can feel scary — but a simple plan can turn fear into confidence. Having a Family E-Plan (Emergency Plan) means everyone knows exactly what to do in case of fire or evacuation. And yes — you can make it a fun family project!
1. Talk It Out Together
Gather the family and explain why having a plan matters. Keep it light — compare it to practicing a game strategy or a treasure hunt.
2. Pick Your Meeting Spot
This is the most important part! Choose a spot outside and away from your home where everyone will meet. It could be:
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A big tree across the street
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A neighbor’s porch
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The mailbox at the corner
👉 Pro Tip: Make sure it’s easy for little kids to find, visible from your house, and safe from traffic.
3. Draw Your Map
Grab crayons or markers and sketch your house. Draw exit routes from each room and mark your meeting spot with a star. Tape it to the fridge or a bulletin board.
4. Practice Like It’s Real
Do a family fire drill once or twice a year. Say, “Fire drill!” and have everyone follow the plan — calmly. Time it if you want to make it a game.
5. Review and Update
As kids grow or your home changes, update your plan. And always remind your family: things can be replaced — people can’t.
By practicing together, your kids learn that emergencies don’t have to be overwhelming. They’ll know what to do, where to go, and that you’ll all meet again safely at your special spot.
by Anh Vu FºS Media Editorial Guide
Never Forget… But Also Remember to Tell Your Children
Each year on September 11th, we pause to remember a day that forever changed our country. For those of us who were old enough, the phrase “Never Forget” carries with it the memory of where we were, who we called, and how our hearts ached as the tragedy unfolded.
But for today’s children, 9/11 is not a memory — it’s history. They weren’t alive in 2001. They cannot “never forget” something they never knew. And yet, it’s still our duty to pass on the meaning of that day.
Never Forget means more than remembering the sorrow. It means honoring the sacrifice, the courage, and the unity that followed. It means telling the stories of firefighters, police officers, chaplains, and everyday citizens who showed extraordinary bravery. It means helping the next generation understand that even in times of evil, faith and love can rise.
In Catholic life, we are familiar with this kind of remembrance. We remember Christ’s Passion — not because we lived it, but because it shapes who we are. We remember the saints — not because we met them, but because their example guides us. In the same way, teaching our children about 9/11 is not to overwhelm them with fear, but to form them in courage, empathy, and hope.
So, to adults, the question may always be “Where were you?” But to children, the invitation is different: “Ask your parents why they could never forget.” Tell them the story. Tell them about the heroes. Tell them about the day our nation wept — and also came together in prayer, service, and solidarity.
Because remembrance is not only about looking back. It is about shaping the hearts of those who will carry the memory forward.
by Anh Vu FºS Media Editorial Guide
Respect Our Heroes
Why Firefighters Deserve Our Gratitude
Interviewing these firefighting heroes really made me appreciate the job they actually do.
Both of the firefighters I interviewed said they didn’t have a lot of knowledge before attending a training session, but were drawn to it because of the teamwork, brotherhood, and physical challenges it presented.
Since they mentioned the training, I asked them about their favorite part of it and surprisingly enough, it was the “fake” fires. During the training, hay bales are set on fire, and they said that it was a real thrill to put them out.
They said the hardest parts of the training were waking up at 4 a.m. and being away from their families for extended periods, as they had to sleep in the fire station. So, of course, when they are with their family, they spend as much time as possible with them in activities such as playing catch, attending sports games, and simply spending time together.
Order is something required of you if you are considering a career as a firefighter. The firefighters have a daily routine that consists of checking tools, grocery shopping, cooking meals, responding to calls, cleaning the fire station, and working out, which is something you shouldn’t overlook. How are you going to hold 944 pounds of water in a water hose without working out?!
We did discuss the reality of prank calls (which is something you should never do, by the way). If they receive a prank call, they must go; they do not have the authority to decide what constitutes a prank call and what does not. After all, you don’t actually know if it’s a prank call until you are actually there. But do consider the danger
of a prank call. If they are out because of a prank call and receive a real call on the other side of the city, they cannot reach the people in danger as quickly.
Overall, always respect firefighters and express your gratitude for the countless hours they work to keep us safe.
Mounted Patrol: Where Officers and Horses Serve Together
The HPD (Houston Police Department) Mounted Patrol has 32 horses, each assigned explicitly to a different officer.
Although having a mounted patrol makes it easier to sneak quietly into places that vehicles cannot, maintain order because of the fear of getting stepped on, and keeps us safe during parades, protests, and even holiday shopping, as you can guess, it is
harder to take care of a horse than to take care of a car. For example, officers have to find and vet new horses to replace the old ones. Once they have possession of a horse, they need to train it so it can become accustomed to the environment (luckily, they have a training arena equipped with PA systems, flares, and smoke bombs). They need to train new officers in a specialized program that lasts approximately 9 weeks.
Don’t forget the expenses! The city only covers their salaries. The HPD Mounted Patrol relies on sponsorships from
various sources, including grocery stores, restaurants, and even families. Who knows, maybe you could be a sponsor? They also have to cover other bills, such as veterinary bills, and would like to have a professional trim the horses' toenails. If they don’t have an officer trained to cut toenails or a volunteer, they might need to pay for that, too.
All of this reminds me of how much police officers are willing to do to keep us safe. So, the next time you see a police officer, wave to them and say thank you. I am sure that will make their day.
by Jax Glasgow, Scholasticas at MSC
Behind the Scenes of Disasters
Have you ever heard of a job called ‘Emergency management’? I hadn’t! But after a nice call with my friend Jennifer Kiggr who works for Harris County Public Health, I found out a lot!
When she was a kid, Jennifer lived in San Antonio, TX. She went to a Catholic school. As a young adult (about 20) during Hurricane Katrina, Jennifer was told to go to a stadium during the disaster with people who had just lost their homes. Seeing these people, standing there with plastic bags full of the only items they had, made her think about the terrible things that happened to people.
She went to college at Rice University here in Houston, majored in Biology and Health Science, and got a master’s in public health. As someone who treats people, she decided to enter Emergency Management.
What’s that you ask? Well, when a disaster happens, like a hurricane or a fire, the emergency management team is activated. That means that doctors, firefighters, police officers and even the F.B.I. help in these situations. They get people to safety, teach people how to avoid getting really hurt during an accident or natural disaster, and make sure everyone around the area is aware of things like gas and chemical leaks. But when deactivated, they go back to being your everyday doctor or firefighter.
Jennifer’s area of expertise was anything that happened in a medical aspect in any disaster, like if you were to get hurt during a fire or hurricane, or breathe in bad and toxic fumes. Jennifer said that she loved working in emergency management because it felt like it gave her a lot of self-worth working to help people and sometimes save their lives!
She also worked in shelters. During her time working with the shelters, she made sure no outbreaks happened in the large areas, and if they did, made sure to help stop the spread. When we were affected by another hurricane in 2017, Harvey, Jennifer was locked into emergency management for 7 days while 8 months pregnant! They “lock you in,” as in they keep you in a windowless, weather-safe building complete with computers and dependable Wi-Fi to get your job done. They feed you, keep you safe from whatever hazard is occurring, and don’t let you out until the crisis is over.
But something big happened in emergency management one year: COVID. When a disaster happens, the emergency management team is activated for a week or two. But during COVID, the team was activated for almost two years! Emergency management wasn’t prepared for this sudden disaster, but the team tried their hardest to get us the help we needed.
They helped educate about what they knew about COVID (where to go, how to try to prevent it, symptoms, etc.) and they did something called a mass vaccination clinic, where they go to a stadium (like NRG Stadium where Jennifer would vaccinate) and vaccinate thousands a day! She also worked in a church where they found out who was there, contacted them, told the chances of getting COVID, the symptoms, how to try to avoid it, and to stay away from as many loved ones as possible (especially older and sicker people).
But because of the unexpected long term, the staff became really tired. I mean, imagine working for 12 hours or more a day including weekends! That can cause fatigue. Jennifer helped make sure the team was ready to help, but each day was a new challenge because of the short staff. Because she worked in helping Houston, that meant that she also worked for the government. The F.B.I. helped in surveillance, because there were people trying to get vaccinated when they weren’t supposed to get it, so everyone pitched in to help out. And together we got through COVID.
Jennifer’s family didn’t really think about emergency management as a huge deal. But, because of all the help they gave and time they dedicated, Jennifer and her team were invited to stand behind the president! Jennifer’s family was really impressed!
Jennifer also said that it’s not that hard to get into emergency management, but you need to go to college and get a degree. There is an emergency management degree that you can get at Sam Houston State University, and at Texas A&M. And because we’re a big city with a lot of hazards, the team is seeing more emergencies happen, and fewer people joining. With lower staff, people have to work twice as hard, so if you’re interested in medical work, or becoming a firefighter, or a police officer, then maybe you could look into it.
Jennifer isn’t working in emergency management anymore, but she still works in the medical field! She has a few kids and a dog now too. Her favorite saint is Saint Francis of Assisi because she loves animals. She also has a favorite poem called The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.
She also said that if she could give advice, she would say to keep yourself open. Always be aware of everyone because you never know what might happen, like when she went to the stadium during the aftermath of Katrina and her heart was opened.
I really loved talking with Mrs. Kiggr, we both love animals and share a favorite saint. I hope you enjoyed reading, and that you learned something new!
by Andrea Indalecio, Scholasticas at MSC