Principal Mike Tolan, art and theology teacher Sue Silverstein, and the statute the students and staff call “High Five Jesus” all thank you, as do I, for the remarkable and almost instant response to yesterdays’ Amazon Bishop Maginn Art And Books Wish List.

It sold out right after dinner. The staff at the school will be unpacking boxes for days, starting tomorrow. Last year, we protected the body, this year we nourish the mind.

I think the wish lists for Bishop Maginn and the Mansion are one of my best ideas. People choose what they want to donate, and it goes straight to those who need it, no middle people or administrative costs.

Last night, the wish list broke all previous records for selling out. One minute there were 28 items, the next there were none. It was quite a thing to see.

Nearly two thousand dollars worth of books and art supplies are now on the way to Bishop Maginn High School, an antidote for the violence, confusion, money troubles,  pandemic issues, and other challenges the school is facing.

I see the school as an oasis, a place of safety, learning, and hope in a troubled world.

I’ve seen so many refugees and inner-city children find themselves in a school where love instead of threats or intimidation is the driving force.

The teachers there really care.

I am so grateful to the school – especially Mike Tolan and Sue Silverstein – for letting me in and letting us help. That has been so grounding for me and others.

And what a joy to see how Zinnia, who was trained in part by the students, spreads love and smiles, just what great therapy dogs do.

It feels so good to do good, especially when the news is bleak.

I am in awe of the love and generosity of the Army of Good, they never disappoint or stop trying to do good, you never walk away. None of this would be possible without you.

Because of your good hearts, the new English teacher will have the books she needs to guide her students towards reading books they will care about.

They would never have these books without you.

And Sue Silverstein will use her love and wizardly to light the creative sparks in children who have every reason to give up but won’t.

For now, at least, Zinnia and I can come and go as we please, so I will be writing about the school more regularly again.

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Bishop Maginn is into its tenth life and they are heading for an eleventh. They are the little school that good, they defy all odds and grow.

They are still broke, still admitting students whose families have no money, still doing their work in a time of great crisis for the Catholic Church.

But more than any place I’ve been, seen, or read about, this school embodies the ideas and values of the person they call “High Five Jesus,” because so many kids high-five him on the way out the door each day.

Perhaps he is watching over them. Bishop Maginn is a school he would love.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You remind me again and again that people are good.