Newsletter (Archived): Newsletter 871 - Feb 3, 2010 - Feb 10, 2010 [Archive]
Psalm 71
R I will sing of your salvation.In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me. R
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. R
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength. R
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. R
From the Principal
This week is Catholic Schools Week. Father John celebrated Mass for the children on Monday. Tuesday Father Ramon presented a music program from the sixteenth century with his flute. The students played very close attention and enjoyed the performance. Today we had Spirit Dress, and we will do Black and Gold Day on Friday. As this point we have not heard of a day off on Monday, so I suspect we will be in school. Sunday students will read essays on Catholic schools at Mass.Today material is going home to register your children for the 2010 school year. Please give your prompt attention to this matter as we need to prepare for the registration of new students on February 22. Brothers and sisters of currently enrolled students may register this week also. If you need a new student registration form, please call the school. Simply registering without completing the new student registration form will not suffice.
I thank all those who have forwarded names of perspective new students. The school counts on parents to recruit students for the next school year. No one can offer a better assessment of the school. We have already offered a number of parents tour the school and we are optimistic regarding the interest of the school in the community.
Calendar for the Week
Sunday, January 31-Saturday, February 5Catholic Schools Week
Wednesday, February 3
Current Student Registration Begins
Thursday, February 4
Kiss-o-Gram Deadline
Track & Field Meeting for Parents @ 4:00 in the Gym
Home & School Meeting @ 6:30 in the Gym
Friday, February 5
NO MASS
Black & Gold Spirit Dress Day
Mother Seton Ballots Due
Wednesday, February 10
MidQuarter Reports
Friday, February 12
Deadline for Current Student Re-Registration
Current Student Re-Registration
Forms for re-registration of current students for the 2010-2011 school year have been sent home today.Forms and the registration fees are due in the school office on or before Friday, February 12. Fees must accompany the form to ensure a place in the class for next year. After February 12, an additional $200 late registration fee per student will be charged.
Siblings of current students who are new to SJS next year can be added to the form. A new student registration packet will be sent to parents who indicate an additional student next year.
If your child is not returning to St. Joseph next year, a space to indicate such is on the bottom of the re-registration form.
All forms are due into the school office on or before Friday, February 12. Current students registering after this date will be charged an additional $100 per student late registration fee.
Students of the Year
Christina Ernst has been named SJS Fifth Grade Student of the Year.Zacary Barrient has been named SJS Eighth Grade Student of the Year.
In order to be chosen, students submitted a book outlining their grades, test scores, awards and honors, accomplishments, and service to the school and community. Only students in Fifth and Eight Grades were eligible for this honor.
Congratulations to Christina and Zacary!
Kiss-o-Grams
The final day to order Kiss-o-Grams is Thursday, February 4!!!!!
A kiss-o-gram is a paper heart with two Hershey's kisses attached. The names of the receiver and the sender are written on the heart. Kiss-o-grams may be sent to anyone who attends or works at SJS.
Each kiss-o-gram costs 50 cents.
Student Council members will be in the gym collecting money before school.
Please make sure that order forms are turned in with the money. Kiss-o-grams will be delivered on Thursday, February 11.
Thank you for your support.
New Survey
In an effort to improve system practices, St. Joseph School is conducting an online survey on Catholic Identity. Your input through this survey is a valuable tool for the school.The survey will be open from January 25 through February 12. Your responses will be anonymous. Your honest opinion is appreciated.
The survey website and the access code needed to complete the survey were sent home January 27. A letter from Dr. Melanie Verges, Superintendent of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, was also included.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Mother Seton Ballots
Ballots for the Mother Seton Award are being sent home today. This year we are blessed with three wonderful nominees: John Ryals, Jeff Schmitt, and George Waddell.Please vote for one candidate and return the ballot to school on or before the deadline of Friday, February 5.
Track & Field Meeting
If your child is interested in participating in track and field for the 2010 season, there will be a meeting in the St. Joseph School gym on Thursday, February 4, at 4:00 p.m.If your child plans to participate in the track and field program, it is mandatory for a parent/guardian to attend this meeting.
This meeting is open to parents of students in all grades.
Who Dat Day
Students at St. Joseph may wear black and gold shirts or jerseys with their spirit dress on Friday, February 5, 'cause the Saints are goin' to the SuperBowl!!!! Catholic Schools on TV
Catholic Life, hosted by Dina DePaula, will celebrate Catholic Schools beginning Sunday, January 31, 2010. Interviews include Dr. Melanie Verges, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Mr. Joseph Scimeca, Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Jamie Wax, 2010 Distinguished Graduate of St. George Elementary School. Join us on Catholic Life beginning January 31 as we celebrate Catholic Schools. This production may be seen at the following times and channels:Hammond, Charter Communications, Channel 74
February 7
Sunday: 12:00pm
Wild West Spring Fest
In response to feedback, the Home and School Association has sent home a user-friendly Fair Packet. The packet provides you with an early look at all the information needed to plan a fair strategy. It shows all scheduled events, items for purchase, contest, entertainment, etc. Deadlines for each are also outlined. These deadlines are necessary in order to meet planning, schedulings, and production limitations.
Please review the packets carefully and save them for future reference. A new tab on this website has also been added for up-to-date fair news. We hope everyone finds this a convenient and easy way to plan for the fair.
Looking for Saints
Calling all Students - Grades 3-12St. Joseph Parish is looking for children to paly the role of saints for the St. Joseph Altar.
The altar will be on Sunday, March 14.
The children will be asked to participate in the rosary procession, Mass, and feeding of the Saints. Each child is responsible for his own costume. There will be a short practice on Monday, March 8, at 6:00 P.M. in the gym.
Anyone interested in participating, please contact Mrs. Fay Murray at 985-386-8151 or call the rectory office at 985-386-3749.
Altar Serving Training
Training for anyone in Grades 4-12 who wishes to become an Altar Server will begin Sunday, February 21st at 1:30 pm. We ask that parents meet us in the Narthex to register their child and schedule their small group training. After that, they are welcome to stay, or they may leave and pick up their child after the training session.We look forward to seeing you there!
Glen and Michele Ernst
Community News
PONCHATOULA YUOTH BASEBALL/SOFTBALLRegistration for Ponchatoula youth baseball and softball is now underway. Players must be between the ages of 5-19.
The baseball fee is $75.
The fee for Coach Pitch T-ball and Softball players is $60.
There is a $5 discount for each additional sibling.
Registration fees and a copy of the birth certificate must be included with the registration form (if the birth certificate is not already on file).
Walk-in registration dates are January 30 and February 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ponchatoula Community Center in the Second Floor Conference Room.
Registration forms are available in the school office and will be accepted until March 6, 2010.
GREEN AND GOLD PAGEANT APPLICATION
Registration for the Green and Gold Pageant will begin on Feburary 5.
Divisions are from ages 12 months through 17 years.
Rules and the registration form are available in the school office.
St. Joseph Parish News
Parish Website
Mass Schedule
Saturday evening at 5:00
Sunday morning at 8:00 and 10:30
Sunday evening at 5:00
ST. JOSEPH ALTAR
St. Joseph Altar Committee will sponsor its annual St. Joseph Altar the weekend of March 13 & 14. Traditionally, all items used for the altar are donated and all proceeds collected from the altar are distributed to the poor of the parish through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
The members of the St. Joseph Altar Committee are contacting you at this time to ask for donations of goods, services, and money towards the preparation of the altar. The following items are needed for cookies: all purpose flour, sugar, 3 pound can of Crisco shortening, powdered sugar, evaporated milk, and dried figs. If you can donate any of these items, please bring items to church, place in the box marked St. Joseph Altar. Please contact Fay Murray at 985-386-8151 for additional information.
We will bake cookies on Saturday, February 13, at 8:30 a.m. at Ponchatoula High School cafeteria. Bring a rolling pin and a small knife.
RECONCILIATION SERVICES FOR LENT
At the direction of Bishop Muench the priests of our deanery have been asked to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation more frequently during the season of Lent at two central locations within the Northeast Deanery.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. on the following Wednesdays at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Hammond and St. Helena Catholic Church in Amite on February 24, March 3, March 17, and March 24.
In addition to the abvoe dates and times, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available during the Parish Mission here at St. Joseph on Tuesday, March 16 at 8:00 p.m. Several priests will be available at all three locations.
This Lenten plan offers a wonderful opportunity for all of us to participate ini this very important sacrament. All our parishioners are urged to take advantage of this opportunity dyring this Lenten season.
ARE YOU DISCERNING A VOCATION AS A PRIEST OR BROTHER?
If you would like to explore a vocation as a Dominican friar (Order of Preachers), you are invited to the Dominican Experience Weekend. This weekend of prayer, community, and information sharing is designed to help men explore the possibility of a vocation to Dominican life. College-age and older men are invited February 26-28 to St. Anthony of Padua Priory in New Orleans, LA. For more information, visit the website.
TRAINING FOR NEW ALTAR SERVERS
Training for anyone in Grades 4-12 who wishes to become an Altar Server will begin Sunday, February 21st at 1:30 pm. We ask that parents meet us in the Narthex to register their child and schedule their small group training. After that, they are welcome to stay, or they may leave and pick up their child after the training session.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Glen and Michele Ernst
Prayer for Priests
The Year for Priests 2009-2010Dear Lord,
We pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around Your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry.
We pray that Mary will guide Your priests to follow her own words,
"Do whatever He tells you." (Jn 2:5)
May Your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary's most chaste spouse.
May the Blessed Mother's own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross.
May Your priests be holy, filled with the fire of Your love, seeking nothing but Your greater glory and the salvation of souls.
Amen
St. John Vianney, pray for us
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