Head of School's Message — Christmas 2019

Whenever I ask a Mayfield student or alumna the question: “What is your favorite time at Mayfield?” I almost always get the same enthusiastic answer—“Christmas time!” 

Mayfield at Christmas delights all our senses. The inherent beauty of Strub Hall is magnified by sparkling trees, garlands and wreaths. The lovely Nativity scene in the Chapel and the angel flying above the living room hearth bring focus to our minds and hearts. 

Carol Night captures the sounds of the season. This year our instrumental ensemble awakened our nostalgia with “A Cartoon Christmas,” complete with clips from classic shows, along with a visit from Frosty the Snowman (aka math teacher Kenny Fisher). As always, our stunning vocal ensemble performed on the Strub stairway and then we joined voices to sing carols around the piano while enjoying cookies and our delicious Mayfield punch!

All this plus our favorite treat—Kris Kinds (our school-wide secret Santa tradition)—create that special Mayfield Christmas feeling that is so precious to our community and so memorable for our alumnae. It’s the feeling of joy and excitement. The feeling of comfort and friendship. The feeling of love and belonging. The feeling of home.

This year as we mark the 100th birthday of Strub Hall—our Mayfield home—we feel in a special way the legacy of our founder, Cornelia Connelly, and all the Holy Child Sisters who taught us the real meaning of Christmas. The birth of Our Lord—God coming to us as a helpless baby born in a humble barn—provides the beautiful proof that God is with us, and in us, and works through us with a powerful force of love. We are never abandoned, we are never alone, we are always cherished. We know this because we were given the most precious gift imaginable in the form of a newborn baby lying in a manger.

Our beloved friend and mentor Sr. Barbara Mullen, SHCJ, summed this up in her beautiful prayer:

A Christmas Prayer
by Sr. Barbara Mullen, SHCJ
(1929-2016)

Oh Divine Child,
This is your time. Christmas is a remembrance of the choice, You, our God, made to become human so that we may become divine.
 
We celebrate this season with gifts. As we give our gifts to family and friends, help us to reflect that the greatest gift of all is You, this Child of Bethlehem.
 
With all the busy-ness of the season, give each of us the grace to reflect and rejoice at our gift of you.
 
May we share in our lives the love and joy that filled your heart and life. We ask in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen

And I add my own special prayer for my beloved Mayfield community—that your Christmas is filled with family, fun, and joy and, most of all, the blessed spirit of the Holy Child Jesus.

With Love and Gratitude,

Kate Morin
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Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.