Elementary K-3 Campus Newsletter

February 1, 2008

ocs A Big THANK YOU to everyone who ensured that we had another successful Catholic Schools Week! Thank you to Bishop McRaith and all of the priests who celebrated the OCS Mass with us at the Sportscenter. Thank you to our Grandparents for making Grandparents Day such a special day. Thank you to James Mayfield, father of Garrison, for donating all of the cookies for Grandparents Day.

Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered this week to help with class projects, as well as for providing so many delicious snacks and dishes! The PTO Sponsored Staff Luncheon was delicious! Thank you to the faculty and staff for planning enriching faith centered activities for the students, adjusting schedules, and being flexible!

Lent begins next week. We will celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass at 9:00 on February 6. There will be NO Mass on Thursday, February 7.

An important part of our Catholic Tradition during Lent is to make an active decision to make sacrifices by either giving things up or by doing extra things to help others as we try to become more like Jesus. We will send home a list of things students can do as part of their Lenten Sacrifice. A jar of Jellybeans will give the children a “visual” picture as their good deeds and sacrifices accumulate. More information will be sent home next week.

Happy Birthday this week to: Sarah Murphy, Emily Dant, Claire Hagan, Sarah Brown, and Mrs. Robin Swift,

Congratulations to John David Marshall, Lucy Wright, Casey Wink, and Jade Flaherty for reaching the 50 Point Club in Accelerated Reader Points!

Next week is the last week to bring in your old telephone books for recycling. The Environmental Club at Catholic High is collecting books between We will collect books through February 8.

February 6- 9:00- Ash Wednesday Mass
February 7- Eye Exams for 1st and 3rd Graders
February 8- Mid-terms go home
February 11- 2nd Grade Field Trip- RiverPark- “Super Scientific Circus”
February 11-12- Officer DARE visits the K-3 Campus
February 12-6:30- PTO Meeting at 4-6 Campus - please note the correct date of 2/12
February 14- 9:00- Confessions- 2nd & 3rd Grade Students (No Mass)
February 15- PSAS forms due for Financial Assistance
February 21- Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer Service (No Mass)

January 28 - St. Thomas Aquinas- Thomas lived in the thirteenth century. He was the son of a noble family of Italy. He was very intelligent, but he never boasted about it. He knew that his mind was a gift from God. Thomas was one of nine children. His parents hoped that he would become a Benedictine abbot some day. The family castle was in Rocca Secca, just north of Monte Cassino where the monks lived.
Thomas was sent to the abbey for schooling when he was five. When he was eighteen, he went to Naples to finish his studies. There he met a new group of religious men called the Order of Preachers. Their founder, St. Dominic, was still living. Thomas knew he wanted to become a priest. He felt that he was called to join these men who would become known in popular language as "Dominicans." His parents were angry with him. When he was on his way to Paris to study, his brothers kidnapped him. They kept him a prisoner in one of their castles for over a year. During that time, they did all they could to make him change his mind. One of his sisters, too, came to persuade him to give up his vocation. But Thomas spoke so beautifully about the joy of serving God that she changed her mind. She decided to give her life to God as a nun. After fifteen months, Thomas was finally freed to follow his call. St. Thomas is one of the greatest Doctors of the Church.

January 31 - St. John Bosco - John Bosco was born in Turin, Italy, on August 16, 1815. His parents were poor farmers. When John was two, his father died. John's mother struggled to keep the family together. As soon as he was old enough, John, too, worked as hard as he could to help his mother. He was intelligent and full of life. John started to think about becoming a priest. He didn't say anything to his mother because he knew they couldn't afford the seminary education. So John waited and prayed and hoped. Finally, a holy priest, St. Joseph Cafasso, became aware of John's desire to be a priest. Father Cafasso helped him enter the seminary. John had to work his way through school. He learned to do all kinds of trades. He was a carpenter, a shoemaker, a cook, a pastry maker and a farmer. As a priest, Don Bosco, which means Father Bosco, began his great ministry. He gathered together homeless boys and taught them trades. This way they would not have to steal or get into trouble. By 1850, there were 150 boys living at his home for boys. Don Bosco's mother was the housekeeper. At first, people did not understand what Don Bosco was trying to do. They were afraid that the boys would never really turn out well. But Don Bosco proved that they would.Don Bosco started his own religious order of priests and brothers. They were called the Salesians, after St. Francis de Sales. Don Bosco died on January 31, 1888. The entire city of Turin lined the streets to pay him tribute. His funeral became a joyous proclamation of thanksgiving to God for the life of this wonderful man

February 3 - St. Blase- St. Blase lived in the fourth century. As a young man, Blase thought about all the sufferings and troubles of the times. He began to realize that only spiritual joys can make a person really happy. He became a priest and then bishop of Sebaste in Armenia. With all his heart, Blase worked to make his people holy and happy. He prayed and preached; he tried to help everyone. When the governor, Licinius, began to persecute the Christians, St. Blase was captured. He was sent to prison to be beheaded. On the way, people crowded the road to see their beloved bishop for the last time. He blessed them all, even the pagans. A poor mother rushed up to him. She begged him to save her child who was choking to death from a fishbone. The saint whispered a prayer and blessed the child. He worked a miracle that saved the child's life. That is why St. Blase is called upon by all who have throat diseases. On his feast day, we have our throats blessed. We ask him to protect us from all sicknesses of the throat.