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 Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today we begin our celebration of Catholic Schools Week
2008. This last week of January was set aside by U.S. Bishops a few
years ago, to honor and recognize the great accomplishments of
Catholic schools in our country. As a parish with a Catholic
school, we have much to celebrate and give thanks to God for. The
theme for this year’s celebration is “Light the Way”.
I’d like to take the opportunity this week to publicly thank
our wonderful school Principal, Rebecca Neidlinger, and our awesome
faculty and staff. Miss Neidlinger is always friendly, courteous,
professional, and a wonderful example of our Catholic Christian
Faith. St. Maria Goretti School and Parish are blessed to have her
here leading our school. Our faculty and staff also are true
blessings from God. All of these selfless individuals give so much
more than we would ever be able to pay for. And they do it with a
cheerfulness and joy that is contagious. These folks really care
about our children! Teaching at St. Maria Goretti, or working in
the kitchen, or on our maintenance staff, is so much more than just
a job. It is a mission. I am so proud and honored that I get to
share a “mission” with these extraordinary people every day here.
This year I’d also like to offer my appreciation to our
school parents. Thank you for sending your children to St. Maria
Goretti Catholic School. Your trust in that decision is something
that is most important to me. I thank you for all the volunteering
and helping out around here that you do. We would not to able to
run as high-quality Catholic school without your help and
volunteering. And that doesn’t just pertain to the school, but it
also pertains to every aspect of our Parish’s life. Thank you!
I’d also like to thank our students. St. Maria Goretti
Catholic School has GOOD kids. They are not always perfect -
sometimes they smell a little funny after gym class and I would
still like them to participate at Mass more - but we love them and
we are very proud of them and their achievements. In the
classroom, in music, in art, on the athletic field, on the stage, in
church, in the library, or the food pantry, or in the cafeteria, we
have talented and generous students! Our students have consistently
had some of the highest test scores in Hamilton County, and that’s
pretty tough because Hamilton County has some of the highest test
scores in the state of Indiana. Congratulations, guys! We are
proud of you.
It is hard to celebrate Catholic School’s Week and not
mention the fact that our Catholic School does have a waiting
list. Our Parish does remain committed to the expansion of our
school, and we pray constantly for the day when there is no waiting
list, but lots of full classrooms with many happy students! We
continue to work towards this. It is going to take sacrifices on
the part of all of us!
And finally, thanks and congratulations also go to our entire
Parish family. Whether we have kids in the school or not, all of us
have received blessing because we have a school. P.R.E. – Parish
Religious Education, our Youth Groups, and all of the ministries of
our Parish are better and stronger because we have a Catholic
school. It is an expensive investment, but it is an investment that
I firmly believe will pay back well for us as Church down the road.
Happy Catholic Schools Week then to all of us! We, in particular,
have a lot to celebrate and give thanks for!
Congratulations to all of our second-graders who made their
First Reconciliations this past Thursday night. May you always have
a love and respect for the Sacrament that gives us God’s grace and
mercy in such a real and tangible way. With Lent coming up, it’s
really time for all of us to ask ourselves when’s the last time that
we went to Reconciliation? Has it been a little too long? Maybe
it’s time to hit Confession the next time that you get the
opportunity.
I can’t believe that next weekend is February already!
Wasn’t it just New Year’s? Don’t forget, that Ash Wednesday is
February 6th.
It will be Lent in a week-and-a-half !
In Christ,
Fr. Kevin
You cannot criticize the New Testament. It criticizes you.
I am so very much looking forward to next Saturday night’s
“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” Dinner. I hope we see you there!
Have a great week!
In Christ,
Fr. Kevin
If you make money your god, it will plague you like the Devil.
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