Psalm 23

R.  I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul. 

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 

He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage. 

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. 

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come. 

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Calendar-at-a-Glance

Thursday, December 4
Field Trip (8th)

Friday, December 5
Spirit Dress 
Christmas shirt or Christmas hat for $1 donation.
Christmas Lighting (1st & 2nd graders)

Sunday, December 7
Second Sunday of Advent

Monday, December 8
Mass @ 8:30 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Food Drive

Tuesday, December 9
Home & School Meeting @ 6:30

Thursday, December 11
Advisory Council @ 6:30

Friday, December 12
Accelerated Reader Deadline
Exams (grades 6-7-8) English & Social Studies
Spirit Dress

Sunday, December 14
Third Sunday of Advent

Tuesday, December 16
Exams (grades 6-7-8) Reading & Science 
STA Registration Due

Wednesday, December 17
Mass @ 8:30
Food Drive
Crusaders Announced

Thursday, December 18
Exams (grades 6-7-8) Math

Friday, December 19
Christmas Program/Parties
Spirit Dress
Second Quarter Ends
1/2 Day - Early Dismissal

Sunday, December 21
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Thursday, December 25
Christmas Day

Monday, December 22-Friday, January 2
Christmas/New Years Holidays

Tuesday, December 30
SJS/Pelicans Game

Monday, January 5
Classes Resume
No Bus Service
Dismissal @ 1:00

Prayer Request

To our St. Joseph Family ....

We are asking for prayers for the family of one of our faculty members.

Over the Thanksgiving holidays, Mrs. Sandy Gaines's son Joey was seriously injured in a farm accident. He is getting better each day but is still hospitalized and has a long way to go to a complete recovery.

We know how powerful our prayers are and how generous our families can be when asked for prayer.

We are confident that Our Lord will guide Joey through this healing process and give his family the strength they need for this challenge.

Be a "Sock Angel"

Be a "Sock Angel" ....

help to provide socks for the homeless.

As our school-wide Advent project this year, students at St. Joseph will pair with St. Vincent de Paul to collect socks for the homeless.

The cold weather has already begun this year. The homeless need socks to keep their feet warm. So while you're out shopping for Christmas, grab some socks! They can be for women, children, or men. 

Students can start bringing socks at any time. A collection station will be set up each morning in the gym for the socks. The last possible day to bring socks is Wednesday, December 10.

We know our students can show their Christmas spirit to the less fortunate through this program.

Christmas Lighting - December 5

Our first and second grade students will particiate in the Ponchatoula Christmas Lighting on Friday, December 5.

Our students will be playing bells at First United Methodist Church at 201 East Pine Street starting at 6:15.

We hope lots of folks turn out to see our first and second graders performing!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTING DETAILS

Christmas Shirt/Hat for $1 - December 5

On Friday, December 5, students may come to school in spirit dress OR, for the donation of $1.00, red or green or Christmas shirts and/or hats. 

The donation goes to the cheerleaders as their donation to the Kickin' It for Kids Charity Cheer Competition. The money will be given to a local Children's Hospital.

Mass - December 8

Our Mass the week of December 8 will be moved to Monday, December 8.

December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation.

We will collect the food for the needy at this Mass.

We will not have Mass any other day that week.

The painting is "The Immaculate Conception" by Murillo, 1678.

Home and School Meeting - December 9

The St. Joseph Catholic School Home and School Association meeting will be on Tuesday, December 9, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

We hope to see everyone there.

Accelerated Reader Deadline - December 12

The Accelerated Reader deadline for the second quarter is Friday, December 12.

Exam Schedule - Starts December 12

The exam schedule for grades 6-7-8 is as follows:

Friday, December 12 - English & Social Studies
Tuesday, December 16 - Reading & Science
Thursday, December 18 - Math

STA Registration - December 16

Reminder to eighth grade students hoping to attend St. Thomas Aquinas High School for the 2015-2016 school term: 

Registration is due on Tuesday, December 16. 

Please visit their website to register. REGISTRATION.

Father/Daughter Dance - January 9

Come dance the night away at the annual Father/Daughter Dance on Friday, January 9, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. 

Come dressed in attire from the 1950's. There will be an award given for the best dressed couple. 

Girls from all grades and their fathers are invited. There will be music, dancing, food, drinks available. Pictures will be taken by Wendy LeSaicherre. Price for pictures is $10, to be paid the night of the dance. 

Early Bird Price for the dance is $20 which admits one dad and one daughter. 
Each additional daughter is $5. 
At-the-door prices will be $30 per dad/daughter. 
Each additional daughter will be $5. 

Special circumstances permit another male figure in the student's life. This may include grandfather, uncle, etc. 

Please register for the dance on EDLINE, then send the money to school in a well-marked envelope.

Advent Wreath Blessing

Following assembly the morning after the Thanksgiving holidays, the students of St. Joseph began the Advent season with ablessing of the school Advent wreath as well as a wreath for each homeroom.

The ceremony included music, singing, prayer, and the lighting.

Following the blessing, students were dismissed to begin their three weeks of study prior to the Christmas break.

SJS in NYC

Two SJS grads, Krystal Waddell (left) and Dani Majeau (SJS Class of 2011), were having a blast last week in New York City getting ready for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Krystal and Dani enoyed a week of rehearsal, fun, and lots of excitement in NYC with their families.

The girls were part of the Varsity Spirit Cheerleaders.

Congratulations to our Artists!

Congratulations to eighth grade student Leigh Henderson (left) for her artwork which was selected to send to the Office of Catholic Schools in Baton Rouge to compete in their Christmas card contest.

Also congratulations to seventh grade student Alexis Adams for her artwork which was selected to be made into the school Christmas cards.

We are blessed to have such talented students at St. Joseph!

Our Parish

Personnel
Fr. Paul A. McDuffie, Pastor
Larry J. Melancon - Deacon
Mike Agnello - Deacon

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil Mass - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Mass - 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. (5:00 Mass only until November 30)

Weekday Mass Schedule
The week day Masses on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday will be at 8:30 a.m.

Reconciliation (Confessions) will be available before all week day Masses at 8:00 a.m. in addition to Confessions on Saturday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Beginning November 29, confessions will start at 4:00.)

Contact Information
Address - 255 North 8th Street (P.O. Box 368), Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Phone - 985.386.3749
Website - http://www.stjosephsonline.com  


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