As I noted in last week’s Principal’s Letter, the calendar on our website is experiencing technical issues, so pay close attention to this week’s Dates to Note. Recall, school is not in session tomorrow, Friday, November 10, as we observe Veterans Day; earlier this week, our community prayed for our veterans:
Dear God, we pray for all our relatives and friends who are now with you in Heaven. We know you are looking after them.
Bless also those who bravely gave their lives serving our nation, and grant them eternal rest.
Bless our veterans who served our nation defending our freedom.
For those who are serving, give them courage.
For those who served, we offer our gratitude.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Students in fourth and fifth grades also prayed for their relatives and friends who passed during a colorful and reverent celebration of Dia de Los Muertos. We continue to pray during November for the faithful departed. Fr. Crispin will also pray for your friends and family. He has placed a special box on the altar into which you can place their names, and he will offer up prayers for them.
Thanksgiving is coming up; it is a time to give thanks for our many blessings and a time to reach out to those who are not as fortunate. We are grateful for your partnership as we support our neighbors, locally and globally, through food and hygiene drives, the Missionary Discipleship program and so much more. Traditionally, 6th-grade students organize a Thanksgiving food drive for the St. John Conference of St. Vincent de Paul. You gave so much earlier in the year, that the food pantry is still well stocked. However, the need for financial support is great.
A founding St. Vincent de Paul activity, still practiced today, is the Home Visit. Through these visits, Vincentian members establish personal relationships with our neighbors in need, providing food, rent and/or utility assistance. Instead of a food drive this year, I hope you will join me, and the 6th grade leadership, in supporting a fund drive. I am asking that, instead of a food donation, you donate the cost of the food; for example, instead of dried beans, send in a dollar, instead of cereal, send in the cost of the cereal. Every dollar helps keep our neighbors sheltered.
The walking school bus is becoming a reality, and we will begin with ‘baby steps’ soon! Be on the lookout for more information.
God Bless,
Bernadette O’Leary
