Earlier this month, our middle school students participated in class competitions to determine who would compete in the School Geography Bee that was held December 10, 2013.  Thanks to the great preparation of our students, it took several rounds of competition to narrow down to two finalists.  Congratulations to Max, our School Geography Bee Champion, who will go on to compete in the next round of the National Geographic Bee.

St Anthony was born in Portugal in 1195. When he was a boy he wanted desperately to be a knight for the Church. But God had an even better plan in mind. Anthony would become a great crusader for the Church, but his only weapon would be his special love for the Child Jesus!

St. Francis of Assisi lived during a time when people thought too much about riches, and not enough about receiving the greatest gift - Jesus - into their hearts. One day when Francis was praying, he heard Jesus say, “Go, Francis, and repair my Church, which you see is falling into ruin.” From that day, Francis worked to build the Church. He started an order of poor monks called the Friars Minor, or Franciscans. They taught others to seek Jesus, poor and gentle, to fill their hearts. One Christmas Eve, Francis led the Friars Minor up a mountain to celebrate Christmas Mass. He had a new idea about how to share the joy of Christmas with his family of monks. There, before the altar, he had placed an empty manger. Next to it was a real donkey and an ox! After Francis read the Gospel, he prayed for a long time over the manger. Suddenly, people saw the Christ Child appear in the manger, smiling and looking up at Francis! St. Francis had invented the first nativity scene to help celebrate the wonder of Christmas!

Sponsored by Marriage and Family Ministries of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Sunday, November 17, 2013
2:30-5:00pm

 

 

With the help of the K4J program, our students are learning about the virtue of

Last weekend, Pope Francis performed the consecration before the image of Our Lady of Fatima, asking Mary’s help to “revive and grow faith.” Oct. 13 marked the 96th anniversary since the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to shepherd children Jacinta Marto, her younger brother Francisco and Lúcia dos Santos at Fatima - who happen to be our Saints of the Month (see below)

One day in 1917, three shepherd children named Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco were tending their sheep near the small town of Fatima, Portugal. Suddenly, Mary appeared to them over the top of a small tree. She told them to come and visit her in that same spot each month. Mary revealed many things to the children, some of which were secrets. Soon, however, the town’s people began to get very curious. They tried to make the children tell them the secrets, which the children had promised Mary they would not do. A government official threatened to burn them alive in boiling oil if they would not tell him the secrets, but the children were responsible and remained faithful to their promise to do what Mary asked of them. In October, Mary appeared to the children one last time. There was a crowd of thousands of people gathered to watch. It was a rainy day. Mary gave all the people a sign -- the sun came out and danced in the sky! The doubting people became believers. They were now FREE to love God and each other!

Mary, help me be RESPONSIBLE in my actions,

just like the three humble children who did what God asked of them,

even when it was very hard. Amen
 

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