From Nagasaki to the February Sky
Jul 11, 2026
St. Paul Miki & the Japanese Martyrs
On February 6, the Church honors St. Paul Miki and his twenty-five companions, crucified at Nagasaki in 1597. Paul Miki was a Jesuit seminarian, educated in the very schools the missionaries had established to form Japanese Christians. From the cross, he preached his final sermon, forgiving his executioners and proclaiming that there is no salvation except in Christ.
The story of the Japanese martyrs offers homeschooling families a powerful witness to the global reach of the Church and the fruit of Catholic education. The Jesuits who evangelized Japan understood that forming minds and hearts together was essential—a conviction we share as home educators. Consider reading aloud from accounts of the Nagasaki martyrs this week, or locating Japan on your globe and praying for the Church there today. These saints remind us that the faith we nurture at home may bear fruit in ways we cannot imagine.
St. Paul Miki and companions, pray for us.
High School Lecture Series: Homer, Aristotle & the Virtue of Liberality | Thursday, Feb 6, 3–4:30pm | UST Malloy Hall 101
Dr. Erik van Versendaal presents "The Virtue of Liberality and the Imitation of Beauty: Homer and Aristotle." This lecture explores how the classical tradition understood generosity not merely as giving, but as a reflection of the beautiful and the good. A perfect tie-in to this week's feast of St. Paul Miki, whose Jesuit education in Japan was rooted in that same classical vision.
Open to all teens ages 13–19—invite friends! Parent session: "Navigating College Admissions as a Homeschool Family" runs concurrently.
Nature Notebook
Observing the February Sky
What does the sky outside your home look like at a particular time of day? This month, choose a regular moment—early morning, midday, or dusk—and observe the sky from the same spot each day. Notice the color, the quality of light, the position of the sun or moon, the movement of clouds.
Challenge: If buildings or trees block your view of the sky, pay attention instead to the light that enters your world. How does it fall across a wall or floor? What is it like as winter turns toward spring?
This is the first in a monthly nature observation series. Keep a simple sketch or written record, and watch how your ordinary view transforms across the seasons.
Upcoming in Houston
Red & Silver Masquerade Dance | Saturday, Feb 14, 6–10pm | Our Lady of Walsingham (St. Jude Hall), 7809 Shadyvilla Ln, Houston | Ages 13–18 only. $10 at the door or pre-pay online. RSVP and liability waiver required by Feb 9.
ITI Summer Program: Science, Theology, and the Pursuit of Wisdom | June 29–July 10, 2026 | Two-week immersion for ages 17–30 at Schloss Trumau, Austria. Seminars, excursions to Vienna and Mariazell, daily Mass, and lasting friendships. Early bird discount (€2,000) ends Feb 28.
Wyoming Catholic College: PEAK Summer Program | Two-week immersion for rising juniors and seniors in Lander, WY—Great Books seminars, horseback riding, rappelling, backpacking, and Catholic liturgies. Early bird discount ($300 off) ends March 1.
Children's Entrepreneur Market – Conroe | March 7, 10am–4pm | Lonestar Convention Center. Kids sell their own products, learn real business skills, and keep the profits!
Vulgate Summer Teaching Program | June–July 2026 | College students: spend 4 weeks teaching English at Catholic schools in Lisbon, Portugal. Travel and living expenses covered.
Teach to the Text
Spring & Summer Courses Now Open | Early bird discount through Feb 28 — use code EB2026
Spring: The Odyssey for Adults — read the book before you see the film (starts March). Socrates May Seminar — a quick introduction to philosophy for high schoolers.
Summer (July 1–Aug 9): Bread Alone: A Contemplative Study of The Hunger Games for Christians — a 40-day retreat for teens exploring nonviolence and Just War through the lens of Christian spirituality.
Fall: Introduction to Expository Writing — eight weeks for middle schoolers.
