World Kindness Day was such a treat here at St. John! Two first-graders presented me with little notes stating, “You rock!” and “You make me smile!” Students went out of their way to say, “Hi” and “Have a great day!” I bet grandparents and friends will feel just as special when they visit their students in grades three, four, and five for Grandparents’ and Friends’ Day on Thursday, November 21.
Every day is Kindness Day at St. John as we live out our theme, Be Kind. I realize that we are called upon to give so much, and yet, each day, we have so much for which to be thankful. Yesterday, the sixth graders marked World Kindness Day by making many trips down the stairs to the St. Vincent de Paul pantry with all the food you have donated. On behalf of all the families that will benefit from your generosity, I say thank you! Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society would also like to extend their thanks: “[We] would like to thank the staff and school families for your wonderful response to the Food Drive. Your donations allow us to help neighbors within our own parish boundaries, who are in need. Your kindness and generosity make a difference in the lives of many.”
Our community is also being kind by supporting the homeless. Next week, on Tuesday, November 19, bring your entire family and join the Fourth Grade and the Parent Association in building care kits for the homeless in our community. In the meantime, donate items that will fit in gallon-size Ziploc bags: gloves, socks, hats, lip balm, travel size soap, cough drops, individual tissue packets, individually packaged food items like granola bars, etc.
You are celebrating kindness by bringing in quarters and dollars to help educate our Unbound friends. Again, I say thank you! You are invited to a gathering to celebrate these new friendships on Sunday, December 8, at 5pm in Egan Hall.
For those of you who missed the State of the Parish, make-up meetings will take place on November 19, at 9am and November 21, at 7pm. Please note that if you are pledging tuition as a parish member and missed the presentation at Mass, attendance at one of these presentations is required.
Blessings,
Bernadette O’Leary
