March Madness is contagious at the high school level too

**UPDATE**

St. Pius X High School was defeated by Dalton High School in the quarterfinals of the state basketball tournament 50-36. St. Pius finished the season with a record of 25-6.

My high school, DuPont Manual, defeated Mercy Academy 55-52 to win their region championship. Now they advance to the Sweet Sixteen round of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state basketball tournament. They will take on Crittenden County High School in their first round game, Wednesday, March 9, in Bowling Green, Ky.

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Tuesday night I covered a second round, state playoff basketball game at St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, where the Lady Golden Lions of Pius took on the young women from Troup High School, LaGrange. St. Pius is the only archdiocesan Catholic school still in contention for a state championship this year.

March Madness often refers to the NCAA basketball tournament that begins in March, and concludes in April. The basketball madness of March, however, is not restricted to the collegiate game. The high school “ballers” also provide their brand of excitement.

Responding to what it’s like to try to get to “the big dance” for a coach and his players at the high school level, second year Pius coach Kyle Snipes said, “It is just as exciting as it was when I was coaching at the college level, although at the high school level it is more special, because the season only goes two weeks into March, so to be playing in March for our program is exciting and also a testament to the hard work the young ladies have put in, not only during the season, but in the off-season as well.”

Despite a sizeable height disadvantage in the paint, Pius kept it close in the first half, and they held a one-point lead at halftime (18-17). Troup’s junior center Shamiya Brooks scored the first two points of the second half, but Pius’ defense held Troup scoreless for the remainder of the third quarter, as their offense extended its lead by 12. Troup scored its second basket of the half with 6:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.

St. Pius went on to defeat Troupe 46-21. Pius juniors Anna O’Donnell had 11 first-half points, Dylan Krause finished with 8 points (two shots from three-point land), and Sydni Payne scored 6 points. Sophomore MacKenzie Garrison also chipped in 7 points. Pius (25-5) advances to the Elite 8 on Saturday, March 5, where they will take on Dalton High School (30-0).

St. Pius X sophomore MacKenzie Garrison (#15) puts up a shot as

three Troup High School players collapse around her. Garrison scored

7 points in Pius' 41-26 victory.

After covering the game, I wondered how my own high school, DuPont Manual, Louisville, Ky., was doing this year. As it turned the Manual girls reached the Final Four of their region tournament by beating Assumption High School 85-59, Feb. 28. This evening they play Ballard High at Bellarmine University’s Knights Hall. Manual has an overall record of 28-4 and they are 16-1 in their region.

How did your high school fare this season? Feel free to let us know.

Michael Alexander, Staff Photographer

I am having a hard time gearing up for Lent, which begins Ash Wednesday, March 9th.

It’s easy to get into the introspective mood that the holy season demands. Scratch that. It’s easy when it’s cold, overcast and just plain icky to get into the introspective mood that the holy season demands . The weather enhances the season of penance.

But not when trees are blooming. And the green shoots of my perennials are poking through the brown earth in my garden. Not so much.

Lent demands prayer, penitence, alms giving and self-denial. Dreary days and trees with bare limbs are perfect backdrops for meditative walks as I review choices made and pledge, once again, to do better.

Forty days later, Easter arrives as the earth awakens. And the first pitch of opening day – with suds and dogs at the ballpark - isn’t far behind.

But the spirit of penitence is hard to muster find when the South shows off with its flowering trees and yellow daffodils and the mercury climbs to the comfortable 70s.

Help me out. How will you keep the spirit of Lent during the beautiful days of spring?

-Andrew
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Photo: Some rights reserved by jezobeljones

Your light must shine, even in the darkness

Yesterday my wife and I decided to go to the later Mass (11:30 a.m.) at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Atlanta, and it turned out that the Gospel reading, the homily and God’s sense of humor brought it all home to us in a practical fashion.

In yesterday’s Gospel from Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus challenged us to be “the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” Our actions as Christians must demonstrate to those around us that we follow Jesus Christ and we strive to model him in our words and deeds.

In his homily Deacon Levi Jelks said we must be the salt in a world that has gone on a salt-free diet. “Like salt we as Christians are called to be of special flavor within society, within our church, within our families and on our jobs or on our college campuses,” said Jelks. “We are called to be a beacon of light for those who are spiritually lost and stumbling in moral darkness,” said Jelks.

It’s no small challenge to live up to, but with the help of the Eucharist and reflection upon the sacred Scriptures, it’s possible.

After an enlightening message the liturgy unfolded in a normal fashion until it was time for holy Communion. Just as the priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers of holy Communion were coming off the altar and the ushers were leading people to the foot of the altar, the lights went out in the entire church. The only light in the church was the candlelight on the altar and the ambient light from outdoors penetrating the ornate stained glass windows of the 87-year-old structure.

When the power failed, the instruments accompanying the choir also stopped, so the choir sang, an a cappella version of Reuben Morgan’s “I Give You My Heart.” It was a powerful moment and a compelling visual to go up to receive the body and blood of Christ in a darkened sanctuary after hearing the word of God on the topic of salt and light.

We later found out that the surrounding neighborhood had lost its power as well. It was further indication that our light must shine beyond the boundaries of our church and spill out into the community around us.

Michael Alexander, Staff Photographer

Scenes from Our Move

We put the paper to bed on Tuesday, Jan. 18, and movers showed up on Wednesday.

I took some time to capture photos with my iPhone as people packed up offices and the community areas, gathered photos for archives and discarded the garage door openers that opened up the parking lot gate. You can see the slideshow below.

I'm a short-timer here. Some folks have been there close to 15 years or longer. Leaving for the last time gave some pause. So with the paper's deadline pressing down, a handful gathered for reading a short prayer printed in the National Catholic Reporter. It is written by Servants of Mary Sr. Joyce Rupp.

Psalm 121

Yahweh guards you from harm,
He guards your lives.
He guards your leaving, coming back,
now and for always (Ps 121:7, 8)

Prayer:

Guardian, guide, no pillar of cloud by day nor fire by night,
Yet I sense your presence with me, God of the journey.
You are walking with me into a new land.
You are guarding me in my vulnerable moment.
You are dwelling within me as I depart from here.
You are promising to be my peace as I face the struggles
of distance from friends and security,
the planting of feet and heart in a strange place.

Renew in me a deep trust in you. Calm my anxiousness.
As I reflect on my life I can clearly see
how you have been there in all of my comings.
You will always be with me in everything.
I do not know how I am being resettled,
but I place my life into the welcoming arms of your love.

Encircle my heart with your peace.
May your powerful presence run like a strong thread
through the fibers of my being. Amen.

-Andrew

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

His gifts of beauty surround us

Sometimes in our busy and hurried schedules we fail to stop and take in the beauty of God around us. Recently I was on my way to an assignment when I noticed the December evening sky below.

I've never taken a photograph that God didn't

see first, because it was his creation.

Ordinarily I would have gone about my business, but it was like God was trying to get my attention. ‘Hey Michael, take a look at this!’ It’s the kind of aerial fanfare God often provides, but can go unnoticed. During this season of Advent as we wait for the greatest of all gifts, the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, slow down and take in a full breath of God’s beauty that surrounds us.

Michael Alexander, Staff Photographer

Award Winners Announced

The Office of Black Catholic Ministry recently announced the winners for the January celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

And here they are:

A crayon drawing of a dove with its open wings hovering over people of many colors was the first place winner in the Fourth Annual Chancery’s Choice Poster Contest in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Workers in the archdiocesan downtown office judged the entries. The theme for this year’s January celebration is “Your Kindness Should Be Known to All.”

The 1st Place prize went to Gilliane Conklin, who attends St. Catherine of Siena School, Kennesaw. Olivia House, a student at St. Thomas More School, Decatur, earned 2nd place and Carmela Pagsisihan, Our Lady of Victory School, Tyrone, took home 3rd place.

The winners will be recognized during the Youth Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 16, at St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School, Decatur.