Junipero Serra High School - El Padre Yearbook (Gardena, CA)

Page 3 text:

A Message From Fr. Bertrand Clemens S.M. These are the most challenging of times, and these are the least challenging of times. Our era leaves little for challenge, when so very much comes so easily. A flick of a switch brings us into instant contact with joyous and tragic events in every part of the world. The touch of a button results in heat, light, food. Throw-away clothes, dishes, toys, and containers lighten the work load. Every imaginable mode of transporta- tion takes us speedily and safely to new and distant places. Enjoyment, pleasure, recreation are at fingertips. The list continues on and on. Yet these are the most challenging of times. Life has become cheap. Involvement with others is a forgotten virtue of another era. Inflationary economy and lack of energy brings fear and concern. Thousands of hungry, dejected, and oppressed peoples still exist on this rich planet. Deep hatreds of one nation or people for another continue to smolder and often erupt. These and similar conditions need changing and Tightening. The most unfortunate condition today is that the good people do so little, while those who are evil are never idle. There is a need for men to work for the good, to get others to work with them for these same goals, and to enlist institutions to do the same. The agenda for the good man is long, complex, and difficult for it primarily demands a changing of people and a changing of power and political structures. But this is the work of every Christian and every well-intentioned person. Serra endeavors to develop men who are real leaders — men who are free, independent, intelligent, moral, and social minded. These are the men the world needs today. With such leaders these most challenging of times can become the best of times.