Mustang Memo
A Newsletter for Saint Ann School Families
November 27, 2022
Table of Contents
- Spiritual Reflection
- The Season of Advent
- Bravo, Choir!
- Holiday Jeep Raffle Incentive
- Vision for the Future Reminder
- Home & School Association News
- Student Life Notes
- Mark Your Calendars!
One Body in Christ: Our Spiritual Theme
Rights and Responsibilities
Spiritual Reflection
Let us consider the words of some trusted guides when we reflect on the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Rights and Responsibilities:
"The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society." (Rights and Responsibilities, USCCB.org)
"In human society one man's natural right gives rise to a corresponding duty in other men; the duty, that is, of recognizing and respecting that right. Every basic human right draws its authoritative force from the natural law, which confers it and attaches to it its respective duty. Hence, to claim one's rights and ignore one's duties, or only half fulfill them, is like building a house with one hand and tearing it down with the other." (St. John XXIII, Peace on Earth [Pacem in Terris], no. 30)
Finally, here is the third video in the series reflecting on our theme "One Body in Christ" with our own associate pastor, Fr. Rich Jasper:
The Season of Advent
"Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart in order to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world."
- Pope Francis, Angelus, 2018
Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.
The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas.
Advent wreaths represent a special devotion of the season. Traditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent.
The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.
On Monday 11/28, the school will begin a series of Advent prayer services helping us to prepare for the Christmas season. At our first prayer service, Advent wreaths will be blessed and given to each class. We invite you to celebrate the season with an Advent wreath of your own at home.
Resources for sharing with your family during Advent:
Blessing of the Advent Wreath:
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/blessing-advent-wreath
Short Video on the meaning of Advent Wreaths:
Advent Calendar:
Stay Tuned for More Details on Special Advent & Christmas Celebrations at SAS!
Bravo, Saint Ann's Choir!
Thank you, Mr. Trites, for arranging this opportunity for our school, and chaperones, for spending the holiday morning cheering for the Mustangs!
Holiday Jeep Raffle Incentive
We ask for your help with another sales push for the holidays. This time, the prize will be awarded to the whole class that sells the most tickets between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! The winning class will earn a Cookies & Cocoa Party during the school day on January 6 - our first Friday in the New Year.
Please consider selling tickets to family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and teammates! They make excellent stocking stuffers and can be purchased as single tickets - $10 each - or in ticket books of 6 - at the discounted rate of $50 per book. Contact the main office with questions!
Vision for the Future Tuition Assistance Program Reminder
Applications and all required documentation
for the 2023-2024 school year must be
received by FACTS no later than January 31,
2023.
Tuition assistance through the Diocese of
Wilmington is provided to children attending
grades K-12.
Families currently receiving tuition assistance
from the diocese must reapply. Assistance is
not automatically renewed from year to year.
Home & School Association News
Christmas Caroling: The St. Ann Parish and School community will be Christmas caroling through the surrounding neighborhoods on Saturday, December 17 from 5:30-7:30pm. Everyone is welcome to meet in the Social Hall after the 4:00pm Mass - bring a brown bag dinner! - or arrive by 5:30pm. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served after caroling. To join in the Christmas cheer, please sign up via Google form. We are also looking for volunteers willing to lead caroling groups and cookie donations, sign up is in the google form.
Restaurant Fundraiser: Please save the date for the next Saint Ann School Restaurant Fundraiser on Wednesday, January 11 at Stitch House Brewery.
If you know of a restaurant that would like to partner with HSA for a fundraiser, please contact Katie Messner at katieanne.messner@gmail.com.
Student Life Notes
Join Santa for Breakfast on Saturday, December 3rd from 9:30-11:30 in the Social Hall.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast, make some Christmas crafts, and have your photo taken with Santa Claus. He's looking forward to seeing you!
Register and pay using the link below by November 30th.
Mark Your Calendars!
November 27: Advent Begins
November 28: Advent Prayer Service & Blessing of Advent Wreaths - 10:15 am
December 3: Breakfast with Santa, 9:30-11:30 am
December 6: Student Appreciation Day awarded by Student Co-Principals!
Wear Your PJs!
Optional: Order Chick-Fil-A lunch through YayLunch!
Snack & Dessert for All Students
No Homework!
- December 7: Christmas Concert for Students - 2:00 pm
December 8: School Mass, Feast of the Immaculate Conception - 9:15 am
December 9: Middle School Christmas Movie Night
December 13: School Mass with the Bishop - 9:15 am
December 16: Casual Day for the Missions
December 17: Christmas Caroling - 5:30 pm
December 22: Half-Day Schedule - 11:30 Pre-K, 11:45 K-8 dismissal
December 23 - January 2: NO SCHOOL - Christmas Holiday
January 6: Cookies & Cocoa Party for Jeep Raffle Incentive Winning Class
January 14: Correction to Date: Trivia Night