Once a year, I get to teach my students whatever inspires me.
Published in Plough Quarterly
“Wisdom begins in wonder.” – Socrates
“All my life through, the new sights of nature made me rejoice like a child.” —Marie Curie
When the students arrived at school to find a multilevel wooden structure built in the middle of the commons one spring day a few years ago, they knew something was up. It started with whispers, but soon there were shouts and declarations: “It’s Lernvergnügenstag – I knew it!” I had spent most of the weekend in the school with my miter saw and impact driver, building the strange creation. I had even come up with a semi-convincing explanation for it, in an attempt to preserve the surprise as long as possible.
But while the students had no idea what the mysterious structure in the commons was for, they were right: today was the much anticipated “Lernvergnügenstag” (German: day for the joy of learning), an annual tradition at Trinity Academy, Portland, the small Christian middle and high school where I teach. For months, teachers had been preparing in secret, putting together presentations and activities to explore topics that fascinate them, from squid dissections to the Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac chant to the work of Antoni Gaudí. As it turned out, Gaudí was behind the mystery structure I’d built.
Since you’re here…
My family was able to visit the Sagrada Familia a couple weeks after I wrote this article, while we were in Spain for my brother’s wedding. Here are some photos from that visit, including ones from when my other younger brother, Fr. John Paul Tomassi, celebrated Mass in the crypt of the Sagrada where Gaudí is buried, and later concelebrated the International Mass in the main basilica the morning after the wedding. Photo credits mostly my dad, Tim Tomassi.
You are an inspiration, sir. Beautiful pictures!