The Good News
April 9, 2017 - St. John XXIII School
Holy Week
When we return to school on Monday, we will be in the most special time in the Church year - Holy Week.
It begins with Passion Sunday, with the blessing of the palms and reading of the Passion. On Monday of Holy Week is the Mass of the Chrism at the Basilica, when the holy oils used in the sacraments are blessed. Lent ends on Wednesday of Holy Week, and the Easter Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.
As we enter into Holy Week, we become mindful of the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us and the eternal love of God that surrounds us unconditionally. This week we will remember, we will pray, we will weep, we will come together, and we will rejoice! This is because we are Easter people! There is hope and joy in knowing that after sacrifice and pain comes eternal glory with God, our Father. Sometimes this week can be difficult for our children to understand the suffering of Jesus. There is hope in coming together as Christians to love in times of suffering and pain. What do we do when one of our own are hurting or in pain? We pray, we care, we support, we love, we remember God’s love for each of us. Reminding our children that there is a beautiful call for God’s people to respond in crisis and suffering. This is LOVE and FAITH in action! In their worlds, our students respond with LOVE and FAITH when they include others, pray for the needs of others, share their belongings, and love without conditions. May this week, we remember to respond to suffering with love and remain steadfast in our joy of the hope that Easter brings! God’s blessings to each of our students and their families.
Holy Week Mass times at our OLA Cluster Parishes
Holy Thursday, April 13th
OLA, Fort Saskatchewan 7:00 pm
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Skaro 7:00 pm
Good Friday, April 14th
OLA, Fort Saskatchewan 10:30 am & 3:00 pm
St. Clare, Redwater 10:30 am
Sacred Heart, Gibbons 3:00 pm
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Skaro 3:00 pm
Easter Vigil, April 15th
OLA, Fort Saskatchewan 9:00 pm
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Skaro 9:00pm
Easter Sunday, April 16th
OLA, Fort Saskatchewan 9:00 am & 11:00 pm
St. Clare, Redwater 9:00 am
Sacred Heart, Gibbons 11:00 am
St. Michael the Archangel, St. Michael 10:00 am
SLS Lenten Service Project: DIAPER-THON
During Lent we are called to pray, fast, and give. Our Servant Leadership Squad has been in contact with the Mustard Seed Mission to ask what we can do to help those far less fortunate than us this Lenten Season. The Mustard Seed shared that they are in desperate need of . . . DIAPERS! They serve many families, including some young moms that may be homeless.
The SLS will be collecting diapers until Thursday, April 13th.
NEW Pre-K Program coming Fall 2017!
EICS Fort Saskatchewan Consultation Open House
This Tuesday, April 11th you are invited to an open house discussion from 6:30 - 9:00 pm at St. John Paul II School regarding our EICS Schools in Fort Saskatchewan. Results of the recent consultation regarding school programming, boundaries and grade configurations will be shared in anticipation of the opening of St. Andre Bessette Catholic School.
OLA School Open House April 25th
Mr. Lorne Monaghan, the principal at Our Lady of the Angels School, would like to invite our Grade 4 families to the OLA Open House on Tuesday, April 25th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.
Please click here for more information.
Yearbook Photo Request
A reminder that Roberta Carriere, your PSC Yearbook Chair again this year, welcomes and encourages you to send photos her way. She is hoping to include as many of the activities that happen here at our school as she can. Photos can be sent to: berta_blair@shaw.ca.
PSC Spring Plant Basket Fundraiser
Junior Options
This past Wednesday afternoon our Grade 1 - 4 students got their first taste of Junior Options. What an awesome afternoon - the kids were excited, engaged and enthusiastic! Each teacher had an activity planned and our students had the power to choose how they spent their learning time. Dance, drama, cooking, art, stop-motion animation movies, board games, puzzles, drumming, music, lego . . . and more! We look forward to holding more Junior Options on our next early-out afternoon in May.
Crazy Hair Day
Epi-Pen Recall
Community Invitation to "Come and Play"
Looking Ahead . . .
April 9 Palm Sunday
April 10 - 13 SLS Diaper-Thon collections!
April 11 EICS Open House 6:30 pm at St. John Paul II High School
April 13 Deadline to order the PSC Spring Plant Baskets
April 13 Holy Thursday/Good Friday celebration 9:30 am
April 14 Good Friday - NO SCHOOL
April 16 Easter Sunday
April 17 Easter Monday - NO SCHOOL
April 21 School Easter Mass 9:30 am at Our Lady of the Angels Parish - please join us!
April 21 Bach to Beatles Presentation at 2:00 pm
April 25 Our Lady of the Angels School Open House
"Dear young friends, don’t be afraid to say “yes” to Jesus with all your heart, to respond generously and to follow him!"
Pope Francis
via Twitter April 8, 2017
9526 - 89 St. Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: stj.eics.ab.ca
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnXXIII/
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII