Principal’s Letter
The more you pray, the easier it becomes. The easier it becomes, the more you’ll pray.
St. Teresa of Calcutta
Today is All Souls Day, and we remember our loved ones who have passed away. We pray they are in the company of the saints we celebrated at the All Saints Mass yesterday. I feel my deceased mom and dad still looking out for my family and me. I often find myself calling on the Saints, asking them to intercede for me. Mary, Mother of God, is a great listener. St. Anthony works hard to find my keys. Prayer is rooted in our relationship with God and his goodness.
The finest expression of prayer is the Mass. It is also the source and summit of our faith and our mission here at St. John. We pride ourselves on being a great community. We should be that community at mass as well, gathering each week to give thanks for our many blessings. At the State of the Parish, I was glad to see some school families, but at the end of Mass, there were so many envelopes belonging to the parish families who did not attend. Out of 205 in-parish school families, only 49 picked up their envelopes! We need to eat together at the table of the Lord as well as at the back-to-school bbqs.
Let’s give a huge shout-out to the eighth-grade students and their teachers for hosting a fantastic Halloween Carnival. The older students accompanied their buddies as they participated in games that students created in MakerSpace. I am sure you have seen our social media posts, which featured the fabulous costumes and the joy we all experienced throughout the day.
Congratulations also to Mrs. Brumback and 8th graders: Addy M., Amelia E., Aspen P., Daniel R., Fritzi W., Keane B., Maria Elena N.S., Nathaniel M., Parker M. and Olivia O. for competing in the Seattle Prep Math Games last Saturday! Students answered spooky questions, completed a graphing relay race and broke out of an escape room challenge!
The teachers report conferences are going well. It’s time well spent. Remember to review with your children the discussion from conferences and remind them we are here to support their academic and spiritual journey.
I also encourage you to support Father and the Principal Search Committee by submitting the Principal Search Survey. We value your input and want to hear from you about your thoughts, hopes and concerns regarding the principalship. The deadline to submit the survey is November 8.
I am excited to share that my wish for a walking school bus is coming to fruition. Be sure to read about this awesome opportunity for our students in NewsViews this evening. Thank you to Anne Egleston for leading this project that is dear to my heart.
Be sure to set your clocks back one hour this Sunday; November 5 is the end of daylight savings time. Enjoy the extra hour by coming to Mass, and then enjoying a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in support of our parish St. Vincent de Paul (the pancake breakfast will be offered after each Mass on November 5). One last thing: the calendar on the St. John website is experiencing technical issues. Be sure to pay close attention, then, to Dates to Note.
Bernadette O’Leary
