Happy Catholic Schools Week!

My Dear Parishioners,

Happy Catholic Schools Week! Thank you to Mrs. Durkin, our principal, and all of her teachers, staff, and volunteers. Thank you also to our parishioners.   Without  your support of Catholic education, we could not fulfill this part of our mission as church. Our school is a real blessing to our families. It is a true community where we are, “Focused on Faith and Learning.” Our Mission Statement reads: “St. Joseph/St. Robert School Community, with Jesus as our foundation, inspires us to live fully His message of love, courage, and compassion. Our academic rigor and relevance empower us to be contributing members of the Church and the global community.” All are invited to check out the good things happening at our school by coming to our Open House, Sunday, Jan. 29^th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The US Bishops’ website gives us the following:

The Catholic Schools Week theme is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” Catholic schools have a specific purpose to form students to be good citizens of the world, love God and neighbor and enrich society with the leaven of the gospel and by example of faith.

As communities of faith, Catholic schools instill in students their destiny to become saints. Academic excellence is the hallmark of Catholic education intentionally directed to the growth of the whole person – mind, body and spirit. Finally, service is fundamental to Catholic education and the core of Catholic discipleship. Service is intended to help form people who are not only witnesses to Catholic social teaching, but also active participants through social learning. The CSW logo emphasizes that the Catholic school, like the Catholic Church, is not a building or an institution, but it is the people. As the people of God, we work together to bring the Kingdom of God to Earth and raise up the next generation to do the same. The image of teachers and students forming the foundation of the school shows that they are active people of faith who serve others and God. May we all strive to live in active service of Jesus and his mission as we nationally join together during Catholic Schools Week and always.

We are three and a half weeks away from beginning our celebration of Lent. Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 22^nd this year. In preparation for our celebration, I am asking that you bring your old palm from last year to Church where we can collect it and use it for the ashes. You can deposit your palm in the basket by the crucifix in the back hallway.Please take the palm out of any bags or containers and just leave the palm in the basket. The extra bags only add to the clutter.

While I am on the subject it would be good for me to address a few housekeeping items. I have noticed that some people like to leave certain items from home on our back tables. I imagine that they do this with the idea that if they can no longer use them, perhaps someone else can. I am asking that you please do not do this. This simply adds to the clutter and it detracts from the items that are approved to be there. I know that some people receive religious items, literature, and other things that they don’t want to throw away, but please do not leave them on the tables! Also if you have something that you feel should be placed on the tables, please check with me first.

May God Bless You,
Fr. Bordonaro