God is on My Side!

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It warms my heart to know that people turn to God more often than we think. Imagine the beginning of a game; the team gets their pep talk and before they go out on the court or the field, they all yell their "spirit cheer." Have you noticed that as they disperse you can spot two or three of the players making the sign of the cross? As you look over to the other side, you may notice the opposing team members doing the same thing. Since ancient times, people have always claimed that God was on their side. The bottom is: God is on everyone's side, all at once.

God is on the side of truth and compassion. It is up to us to want to grow in our spiritual life, to forgive and to be forgiven. God will always find a way for us to "win." Even when we seem to fail, God is working behind the scenes to bring out good results. It is our mistakes and our faults that make us more compassionate and understanding toward one another. Let us learn from our experiences and take the time to teach these vital lessons to our children. Even in moments of disaster, loss or disappointment, God is there inspiring us to pull together, to do the things we never thought we could. The lessons of kindness toward others are priceless opportunities for us to restore relationships and regain trust. "If God is for us, who can be against?" (Romans 8:31) Let us during this Holy Week make a sincere effort to place our trust completely in God's tender and loving hands. He alone can bring us peace.

Have a blessed Easter Season,
Sr. Carmen Botello, FMA
Principal

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Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Art and design have always been a crucial part of my life. From coloring when I was a child to taking every art class I could in high school, it's the only thing I ever really wanted to do. I studied all aspects of art for 7 years and graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design in 2006. Since then I have worked as a freelance artist and writer, specializing in layout and album design. I also love photography and film.

I've been a professional designer since 2006 and have experience in all types of graphic design and the arts. My clients include DaVinci Roofscapes, Kayu, Terri Cole, Sheherezade, Kate Smith, Patti Green, Christine Gutierrez, and many more. I like to work with people from various fields which has given me a wide range of projects to apply my aesthetic. I have also written for Patch.com, as well as edited texts and books, so if you need writing services I can help you with that too! 

Besides graphic design, I also run a small stationery business that offers all kinds of invitations and other type of paper goods. You can view my shop and check out my blog on my website. I live and work in New York with my husband Dan, son Elliot (5.22.16), and 2 dogs. Both vegetarian and eco-consious, I do my best to live the most natural, organic life I can, and now create the same environment for my son. Besides design, my hobbies include photography, reading, writing, interior design, and cooking. I love music and used to play bass in a band when I lived in Jersey and of course I sing and dance every chance I get. Working with me is like teaming up with a friend, I am easy going, honest, and kind. My mission is to bring beauty to as many lives as I can through art and design and I look forward to working with you!