Mercy Peek & Ponder by Mr. McGrath
Volume III Issue 7 Sunday, October 23, 2016
Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School
Email: jmcgrath@olmcatholicschool.com
Website: www.olmcatholicschool.com
Location: 29 Conwell Drive, Maple Glen, PA, United States
Phone: 215-646-0150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Our-Lady-of-Mercy-Regional-Catholic-School-1427959374084742/?ref=bookmarks
From the Principal .... Mercy changes the world!
Today the Church throughout the world celebrates World Mission Sunday. As we gather each school day, it is an occasion to especially remember in prayer those who have given their lives to missionary services in places far and near. World Mission Sunday also invites us to make gestures of solidarity and support that will assist missionaries and the people to whom they minister, people who are often poor and sometimes persecuted for their faith in Christ.
At the center of a missionary’s vocation is an eagerness to draw others to Christ, to introduce Him to those who do not know who He is, and to invite those who have forgotten Him to live as His disciples once again. Missionary and evangelizing activity consists of communicating the joy and hope of our Baptism, and then by our regular encounters with Christ in the Sacraments of the Church. In the Eucharist, we are called and enabled to be missionary disciples, followers of Christ who seek to do His will and to teach others who He is by our lives of faith, hope, and Christian charity.
In his message for World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver, and that this annual celebration is a moment to rekindle the desire and sense of obligation to take a joyful part in the ministry of the Church.
The Lead Gift event next Sunday, October 30th is an historic event in the 5-year history of Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School. Your support ensures that the MISSION of OLM - "living the Good News of Jesus Christ" changes the world. Your support helps in many ways - but may I mention two important ways - our resource room and scholarship opportunities.
OLM has a "life-changing" tier three reading intervention program that is positively impacting our students. This is a vital service at OLM and needs to continue to grow and evolve. Additionally, we must make a Catholic education affordable for our families. When you donate to the annual giving fund, you help make the gift of a Catholic education possible.
The monetary sacrifices we make at OLM are loving signs of self-offering, first to the Lord and then to others. They are our powerful way of bringing Christ to others. Our Lady of Mercyl truly becomes a means of evangelization of all humanity, in places near and far.
Our Lady of Mercy Annual Giving Fund Inaugural Event
*2PM Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Alphonsus Church
*Cocktail reception to follow at Our Lady of Mercy School
Kindly RSVP by Monday, October 24, 2016 to
olmannualgiving@olmcatholicschool.com OR
by calling Julie Bebey at 215-646-0150 X113
Matching Gifts from your company are always welcomed. Checks can be made payable to OLM Regional Catholic School, earmarked for "OLM Annual Giving Fund".
Sunday, Oct 30, 2016, 02:00 PM
Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church, Conwell Drive, Maple Glen, PA, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Upcoming Events
October 23
OLM Family Hayride, 1PM
October 25
Philadelphia Orchestra Music Field Trip, grades 3-5
October 27
Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3P-6P
October 28
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Parent-Teacher Conferences, 8A-12P
Middle School Haunted Hayride, 7P-9P
October 30
Lead Gift Event, 2PM
October 31
Halloween Parties, 2PM (Students may accessorize their uniforms with orange/black, Halloween t-shirts, headbands, socks, etc. No masks or face painting)
November 1
School Liturgy, 9AM
Peacemakers
SAVE the DATE ...
Kindergarten 2017-2018
2016 OLM Choir CD "Celebrate" on sale ...
Live Nice at OLM
Virtue of the Month: KINDNESS
Our virtue of the month of October is KINDNESS.
"From the Cross, Christ teaches us to love even who do not love us. This is true Christian kindness" ~ Pope Francis
Kindness is to be felt rather than to be defined. It is better to experience it than to try to explain what it is. Moreover, its home is in the heart rather than in the intellect.
When closely looked at, kindness seems a very complex virtue; or we might say that kindness is not so much a single virtue, as a happy mixture of many. Sometimes it takes the form of a special affection, manifesting itself by gentleness, love, mercy and graciousness. Sometimes it takes a more active form, inspiring zeal and generosity.
That so many virtues need unite to build it up proves the worth of kindness. Its beauty and its fragrance are enhanced by its coming before us in the guise of a basket of many flowers.
Kindness is truly defined as that feeling in the soul which inclines a person to wish well to others, and to seek to do them good. Kindness begins its work by making the kind person think well of others, and feel for others.
Kindness is a retiring virtue. It is not striking like genius, nor noisy like valour; in silence and in the dark it does good. Kindness is not of the proud plants which flower only on the heights, it loves the fertile lowliness of hidden valleys, it is among those humble virtues.
We pray to Saint Faustina to help us to be kind people.
Students will be recognized at the School Liturgy on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
Now is the time to send in those Box Tops that you've been saving up all summer!
Please use the collection sheet or place the Box Tops in a plastic bag or envelope with your child's teacher's name it. Our first contest will run through October 20th. The class that submits the most Box Tops will win an ICE CREAM PARTY! If you are a warehouse club shopper, keep your eyes out for packages with Bonus Box Tops, in stores now. Also, there is a new Box Tops app this year that helps our school earn bonus Box Tops. Select the products you purchased, scan your store receipt, and the Box Tops get added to OLM's account.
Please take a minute to check it out here http://www.boxtops4education.com/bonusapp and consider giving it a try. Last year our school earned $1,746. Let's work together to pass our $2,000 goal this year! Please contact Eileen Wisniewski at edw1972@yahoo.com with any questions about the program or the new app.
OLM SKI & BOARD CLUB
Attention all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students! The OLM Ski and Board Club is preparing for a great season at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Lehigh Valley, PA! Please save the following dates for our six session ski package.
Registration and more information will be sent home in the coming weeks. See you on the slopes!
Friday, January 13, 2017
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Friday, February 3, 2017
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Friday, February 24, 2017
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
OLM THIRTY-ONE FUNDRAISER
Sale Dates: October 26th - November 16th
Home and School is sponsoring a special Thirty-One fundraiser in time to start your Christmas Shopping. Each family received a Thirty-One catalog today. Information on how to order is attached. If you have questions, contact Ms. Jeanine Duncan at dunk1026 @yahoo.com. Happy Shopping!!
A MESSAGE FROM THE HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION...
OLM Adult Social
TICKETS ARE ON SALE!
Saturday, November 12th ~ 7:00 - 11:00 PM
$25 per person (Includes food, beer & wine & DJ)
We Can’t Do It Without You!
The Home and School Association sponsors a full calendar of social events, fundraisers, meetings and programs each year. Lots of volunteers are needed to help make this happen. Contact Mirella Palme at mirellapalme@verizon.net our volunteer coordinator to lend a hand!
To view a list of current volunteers and chairs/co-chairs, or to sign up as a volunteer, please https://sites.google.com/site/olmhsaweb/volunteers
GIANT A+ REWARDS PROGRAM
Welcome to the start of a new school year and a year of A+ School Rewards. Beginning October 12, 2016 through March 17, 2017, Our Lady of Mercy will have the opportunity to earn cash through the Giant A+ School Rewards Program. Our School ID # is 26548.
All you have to do is: Log on to www.giantfoodstores.com/aplus to designate our school online using your Giant BONUSCARD - or - Call the A+ Hotline at 888 - 448 - 4642 for assistance.
Remember: If you registered your card last year, you DO NOT need to re- register this year. You can visit the website to verify the correct school assignment.
Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. It could mean more CASH for our school. After you register your card, each shopping trip to Giant using your BONUSCARD earns CASH for our school. Each month, the amount of CASH awarded will be updated on the Giant A+ website.
You can track the amount of points you earn for our school by checking your grocery receipt and online when you create an account at www.giantfoodstores.com.
Our school will receive a check at the end of the program and the money can be used for any of our school’s educational needs.
Thanks for supporting our school.If you have any questions, please contact Janine Braccia at janinebraccia@comcast.net.
News from the OLM Cafe
The OLM Cafeteria is at full swing! On September 13, we served an option with gluten-free ingredients– Nachos Grande made with ground beef and served with corn chips, to raise awareness for Celiac Disease, and on September 15, we celebrated Watermelon Day and Lunch was served with a fresh watermelon treat!!
Due to the controversy in recent studies about Gatorate and the effects that it has in young kids, OLM has decided not to sell it anymore. Starting October 15th, students in the second lunch period would be able to buy Vitamin Water as an option for an additional drink. The same way, due to the controversy in recent studies about food coloring, Water ice would not longer be available as a snack and we would substitute it with a vanilla ice cream sandwich.
Volunteer for Lunch Duty at OLM!
Two parent volunteers must be on-duty in the school yard - before the playground is open. This ensures the safety of ALL. Our active volunteer program not only provides valuable hands-on assistance through the school, but also benefits the children by reinforcing ties between the children’s individual homes as well as the community at large, and the school. The Lunch/Recess Duty Volunteer program is a great way to volunteer and become involved at the school.
Sign up for Lunch Duty at:
Birthday Blessings this Week!
Sunday, 10/23
Ashley Hughes
Sophia Moore
Monday, 10/24
Danny Bryce
Ms. Bordoni
Tuesday, 10/25
Girffin Selgrath
Wednesday, 10/26
Benjamin Selgrath
Molly Waltrich
Ms. Duncan
Thursday, 10/27
Friday, 10/28
Liam Ragan
Teddy Nagle
Saturday, 10/29
ALTAR SERVICE THIS WEEK 9AM
Tuesday: Elena Franklin
Wednesday: Ciara Peyton
Thursday: Nathan Selgrath
Friday: Lauren Bauer