Principal’s Notes — 2/16/10
• Lent starts this week!
o On Wednesday we begin the liturgical season of Lent. There will be a school Mass at 8:15 AM along with the distribution of ashes. In the Gospel on Wednesday, Jesus instructs us to perform our penance in private, yet on that day Catholics flock to Mass to receive ashes on their foreheads, a visible sign to everyone. As we wear our ashes that day, let us not do so to proclaim our holiness, but to identify that we all are sinners seeking true repentance and renewal. (Reminder: To help the students understand fasting, there are no bake sales on hot lunch days and no ice cream sales during Lent.)
o One of the important aspects of our Lenten journey toward holiness is an increased awareness and effort to help those in need. Please remember to encourage your child to earn money for his or her Rice Bowl which is in this Monday Envelope. Inside the Rice Bowl you will find a Lenten calendar which will help your family understand the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. All the money collected will be sent to Catholic Relief Services to improve agriculture, get clean water, support small businesses and provide basic health and nutrition services along with educational resources and training for people in communities around the world. Parents are welcome to add their own contributions to the Rice Bowl.
o Today, the day before Lent begins, is known as Shrove Tuesday. To “shrive” is to hear confession. This refers to the reconciliation sought in preparation for the greater rigors of Lent. This day has also been known as Pancake Day during which an effort was made to use up the eggs and milk before Lent, with its strict conditions for fasting. Our High School Youth Ministry is having a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner tonight from 5:30-8:00 PM in the Parish Center. Dinner will cost $6.00 for adults (ages 11 and up) and $3.00 for children (10 and under). Support our parish high school students in their efforts to attend World Youth Day and help your family keep alive this Catholic tradition.
o Please consider attending the Parish Mission presented by Fr. Dominic Briese next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the Church. His homilies each evening will be enlightening.
• The Haiti Benefit Concert was very successful with our talented students raising hundreds of dollars for the earthquake victims. Together with the 5th Grade Jump-a-thon, the students’ donations and the silent auction, more than $1,000 has been collected to help in the relief efforts!
• Please join us this Friday and each Friday in Lent (except Good Friday) for our wonderful Fish Fry dinners! This week’s Fish Fry is hosted by families with students in Grades 2, 5 and 8. It is very important that every school family make the effort to work at least one Fish Fry for their child’s class if possible. These are the last major fundraisers for the school year. The sign-up sheets are in the School Office – we need help with set-up, serving, and clean-up. You do not need to have Safe Environment clearance to work at the Fish Frys. If you cannot work the dates hosted by your child’s class, you may still sign up for another date. I also encourage all of you to join us for dinner that evening. The delicious dinner is worth the wait – especially if you’re having fun visiting with the folks around you.
• The Advisory Council Meeting scheduled for next Monday will be rescheduled due to the Parish Mission. Please check next week’s newsletter for the new date. Topics to be discussed include the budget and proposed tuition rates for next year. Please join us.
• Enclosed in your Monday Envelope is a Ziploc with a P.R.A.Y. card. Feel free to use this card for your personal family devotions. These cards were prepared by our 8th Grade so any voluntary donations received from the cards will be used towards their 8th Grade class trip.
• Middle School basketball teams play this week. Come cheer them on! See the schedule below.
Upcoming Events:
Tues., Feb. 16
Middle School Basketball vs. ICS at Kerr-McGee, Girls 3:00 PM, Boys 4:00 PM
Wed., Feb. 17
School Ash Wednesday Mass, 8:15 AM
Fri., Feb. 19
School Mass, 5th Grade, 8:15 AM
Stations of the Cross (School), 2:00 PM
Fish Fry, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, hosted by Grades 2, 5 and 8
Mon-Wed, Feb. 22-24
Parish Mission; 7:00 PM Mass