Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This past week we have been celebrating Catholic Schools Week. We give thanks to God for all of the blessings of our Catholic school and the good work that goes on in all of them around the world. I thank God for all of the awesome people that work so hard every day to make St. Maria Goretti Catholic School such a special place for our young people. We have a truly wonderful principal in Miss Rebecca Neidlinger and a fantastic staff and faculty who give their best every day for our students. I thank all of our parents and all of our volunteers who work so hard and give so much so that St. Maria Goretti can grow and thrive. And I congratulate all of our students. We are exceptionally proud of you and your accomplishments. Catholic Schools Week is a special week for our entire Parish family, as we all rejoice in the good that is going on, that will make all of us better.

This week we begin open registration for our school for the whole Parish. It is a bittersweet time. We are all very happy and proud that so many want to attend St. Maria Goretti Catholic School, and we are all deeply saddened by the fact that everyone who wants to come to St. Maria Goretti Catholic School, cannot, because there is not room. St. Maria Goretti School and Parish were started to try and provide Catholic education to all those who wanted it. We took the waiting list for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School and opened ours ten years ago. We now find ourselves in the situation that both Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Maria Goretti have waiting lists. We remain committed to getting Catholic education to everyone that we can. St. Maria Goretti currently has two sections of each grade, or fifty students in each grade level, twenty-five in each class. As soon as possible, we will move to the third section of each grade level. That is not possible today. We continue to work toward it happening in the future. This is not as simple as some might think. We have a lot of work and many responsibilities to take care of, before that happens. The key is for all of us to continue to work together and make the sacrifices that are necessary to enable St. Maria Goretti School and Parish to keep growing. We’ve done it before. We are doing it now. And we will continue to keep reaching for our goals in the future.

The Waiting List policy and procedure is as fair as possible to everyone. It is based entirely on the date of registration in the Parish. It is a seniority system. It is not perfect, but it is the best that we have that keeps things as fair as possible. For a copy of the St. Maria Goretti Enrollment policy, stop by our school office and request one. Please know that the Waiting List and its policy and procedures are St. Maria Goretti’s “sacred cow”. Nobody, not myself, not the Principal, not the School Council, NOBODY touches, alters, re-aligns, edits, or re-defines the Waiting List standings for anybody. Again, it is as fair as possible to everyone, and you have my promise that we will keep it that way.

Both the Men’s and Women’s Christ Renews His Parish Weekends are coming up in March. Now is the time for all of those who have not made this amazing weekend to plan to do so. If you are reading this, and you haven’t made Christ Renews His Parish yet, what are you waiting for? Now is YOUR time! Guys, set aside March 4 th and 5 th. Ladies, don’t be left out, your weekend is coming up on March 18 th and 19 th. Plan now to attend. You will be so glad that you did.

Let’s try harder this week. Let’s be more patient with one another. Let’s give others a chance. Let’s go out on a limb and talk to somebody that we don’t know that well yet. Let’s listen more. Let’s live out those Baptismal promises. Let’s care enough to actually do something. Let’s pray. Let’s laugh when we’re moved to and not be afraid to cry when we need to. Let’s remember that we are not the only people on the planet. Let’s take the time to teach a child something new. Let’s say ‘thank you’ to someone that we should have thanked a long time ago. Let’s live the life! And may we love and support one another as we do it!

In Christ,

Fr. Kevin

A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.