By Sr. Lynn Rettinger, S.C.
Principal
A blessed New Year to you and to those close to your heart!
Let’s open our eyes and recognize 2014 for what it really is: A wonderful tree heavy with harvest—every day of all four seasons. And let’s practice the trick for harvesting this abundance of gifts.
The trick is: Stop! Look! Go! — the recipe for grateful living.
Stop! Ponder the gift this moment offers you.
Look! Recognize this gift: the opportunity available now.
Go! Do something with this precious opportunity!
Practicing Stop! Look! Go! over and over is the recipe for true joy. May you experience this joy that springs from living gratefully in 2014.
Epiphany celebration at school
The Feast of the Epiphany, or the Three Magi, was celebrated at school on January 6, with Father Grecco and Fr. Mark blessing our classrooms, children and staff. The custom in Germany is that of the childrens' festival between January 1 and 6 (Three Kings Day). After a service at church, the children go from house to house to gather offerings for poor children in poor countries.
They are dressed as the three kings and carry sticks with stars on the top. At the homes they sing songs and recite messages of Christmas. At each house they paint the letters "20+CMB+14" which are for the Latin Christus Mansionem Benedicat (Christ bless this house). At the same time, the letters are the first letters of the names of the wise men: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
We imitate this tradition by having the children gather in the halls and sing carols while the priests move from room to room blessing us and the spaces we use daily.
Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week will be from Sunday, January 26 through Saturday, February 1. The national theme for 2014 is "Catholic Schools—Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service"
We invite all families to attend the 9:30 a.m. Parish Mass that Sunday to celebrate the many gifts God has given to Sacred Heart School, our parishioners, parents, children, and teachers.
The Mass will be followed by a festive family brunch in the cafeteria. The registration form, also available in the monthly envelope, is due on Friday, January 17.
As is tradition, parents can also join their children (preschool to grade 5) for breakfast in the cafeteria during Catholic Schools Week. The reservation form, also available in the monthly envelope, includes times and dates by grade. Please return it by Monday, January 20.
Lost and found
There are gloves, hats, even one boot in the Lost and Found Department at school. Even more clothing is unclaimed at the Activities Building. Stop and take a look if your child is missing something. It saves buying new items. Better yet, labeling clothing and lunch boxes helps us return property promptly.
In need of a wheelchair
If anyone has an idea where we might find a used wheelchair that can be used in school when needed, we would appreciate hearing about it. The parish has one in the auditorium but when it is needed here at school, we must make a mad dash over there to get it.