December 2016 Newsletter MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION During the month of December at St. Mary we will be learning about Advent, it’s meaning and symbols. Advent marks the beginning of the Church calendar year. During the four weeks of Advent we commemorate the coming of Jesus to Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago. During this me we celebrate his coming into our hearts. In a spirit of anxious ancipaon we prepare once again, with grateful hearts to celebrate the coming of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord. The most common symbol for Advent is the Advent wreath. Its circular shape, formed by evergreens is a symbol of eternal life. Its three purple candles symbolize our me of waing, our me of repenng, our me of preparing for the Lord. Its pink candle represents a me for rejoicing as we move closer to Christmas. The light cast from the candles remind us of Jesus, the Light of the World. December is a busy month around St. Mary. We begin our month with Demonstraon of Learning on December 01 and we are excited to have you come and celebrate your child’s successes! Audreys Books is hosng our Book Fair this year. Our book fair will run during the Demonstraon of Learning. On December 15 we are joining our St. Monica Family again for an Advent Liturgy of the Word at St. Thomas More. December 20th and 21st , we will have our annual Christmas Concerts. Wishing your Family a wonderful Christmas Holiday filled with many moments of Joy, Hope and Peace. Marcel & Kathy
Transcript
December 2016
Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION
During the month of December at St. Mary we will be learning about Advent, it’s meaning and symbols. Advent marks the beginning of the Church calendar year. During the four weeks of Advent we commemorate the coming of Jesus to Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago. During this time we celebrate his coming into our hearts. In a spirit of anxious anticipation we prepare once again, with grateful hearts to celebrate the coming of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord. The most common symbol for Advent is the Advent wreath. Its circular shape, formed by evergreens is a symbol of eternal life. Its three purple candles symbolize our time of waiting, our time of repenting, our time of preparing for the Lord. Its pink candle represents a time for rejoicing as we move closer to Christmas. The light cast from the candles remind us of Jesus, the Light of the World.
December is a busy month around St. Mary. We begin our month with Demonstration of Learning on December 01 and we are excited to have you come and celebrate your child’s successes! Audreys Books is hosting our Book Fair this year. Our book fair will run during the Demonstration of Learning. On December 15 we are joining our St. Monica Family again for an Advent Liturgy of the Word at St. Thomas More. December 20th and 21st , we will have our annual Christmas Concerts.
Wishing your Family a wonderful Christmas Holiday filled with many moments of Joy, Hope and Peace.
Marcel & Kathy
December 1 Celebration of Learning - Dismissal at noon as usual
1:00 - 4:00 pm and 5:00 - 7:30 pm
December 1 Grade 6A to Mustard Seed
December 2 Grade 5 In School Fieldtrip - Hands on Science - Chemistry
December 2 Grade 3 - Clay Art with Debra Bryan
December 2 Grade 2 - Otts Knotts - Creche building
December 4 Second Sunday of Advent
December 5 Grade 2B - In School Fieldtrip in a.m. - Magnetism
December 5 Grade 5 - In School Fieldtrip - Hands on Science - Chemistry
December 6 Grade 2 to STM for 9:30 Mass and Advent Activities
December 6 Grade 4 In School Presentation - “Compost In, Compost Out”
December 8 Grade 6B to Mustard Seed
December 11 Third Sunday of Advent
December 15 Whole School Advent Celebration at STM 9:30 a.m.
December 16 Grade 4 to Fort Edmonton Park
December 16 Grade 6C to Mustard Seed
December 18 Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 20 Christmas Concert - 2 performances - 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm
6A, 6B, 5B, 4A, 4C, 3A, 3B, 2B
December 21 Christmas Concert - 2 performances - 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm
6B, 6C (and a couple from 6A), 5A, 5C, 4B, 3C, 2A, 2C
December 22 FULL DAY OF CLASSES - Dismissal at 3:10
December 22 Grade 5 and 6 Skiing at Snow Valley
December 23 Advent Pancake Breakfast
December 23 Dismissal at 11:55 a.m. for Christmas Break
District switch day before Christmas Break
December 26 - January 9, 2017 - CHRISTMAS BREAK
Enjoy the Blessings of Christmas
January 9 Classes resume at 8:25 a.m. after Christmas Break
GRADE SIX STUDENT/PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Grade six students, parents and teachers will follow
an interview format for the November report card.
Please watch for scheduling information coming home with your child.
REPORT CARDS
The E-report Cards were available on Powerschool for viewing, downloading and saving starting on Friday,
November 25th at 4:00 pm through the Powerschool Parent/Student Portal at https://powerschool.ecsd.net/.
The Powerschool logins used last year remain the same and should be used to access the report cards. If
you cannot access a computer, please let the office know that you will need a printed copy.
If you have not received a Parent Access Id and Password please complete this form and return it to the school office
and your password will be sent to you. The logins are the same as those used in the 2015-2016 school term.
Our students are preparing to show their parents the evidence that supports their learning. They look
forward to sharing with what they have learned, their personal achievements, successes and areas they
plan to focus on for the next report card in March. This process places the student at the center of the
conference, enabling him/her to demonstrate, with confidence, all that they have been learning. It is a
celebration of the child and the child as a learner.
We look forward to this special day!!
Congratulations boys and girls on a job well done!
We are proud of you!
Enjoy your child’s celebration of success!
REPORT CARDS available for viewing on POWERSCHOOL
FRIDAY, November 25th @ 4:00 P.M.
Kathleen Nguyen, Elementary Religious Education Consultant
Celebrating Advent as a family
What do January 1st and November 27 have in common this year?
They are both considered a New Year!
The first Sunday in Advent falls on November 27 this year and so it is the first day of our New (liturgical) Year. During this time of advent, we are joyful and hopeful as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. This is a time that we can give our children the gift of tradition as we deepen their understanding of the Church’s celebration of this season.
Create and use the Advent Wreath as a family to prepare for the birth of Jesus:
The Advent wreath has many rich symbols that can help make the Advent season meaningful to us because we focus on Jesus. At first glance, you see four candles that are evenly spaced around a circle of evergreen branches. But what does it mean?
Circle: The circle is a symbol of God who is eternal and everlasting.
Evergreen plants: Evergreen plants have leaves all year long which symbolize Jesus Christ who has conquered death and given us everlasting life.
Candles: The candles represent Jesus Christ as the light of the world. The warmth of the candle and bright light that it brings during the cold, dark winter help us remember the new life Jesus has given us.
Four candles: The four candles represent the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Each week, we light one more candle.
Three purple candles: Purple was used in ancient Rome as a symbol of royalty. We use purple to remember that Jesus is the Messiah or King. Purple helps us remember that we must prepare in a special way; especially through prayer and penance.
One rose candle: We light the rose candle on week three. This is known as Gaudete Sunday; a Latin word that means rejoice. We know that Christmas is almost here!
Blessing your Advent Wreath as a Family
http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/advent/about-advent/blessing-an-advent-wreath Praying together as a Family
Sit the Advent Wreath in the middle of your table. Light the candle. Say a short prayer from the link below or sing a verse of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/advent/prayers Have a Blessed Advent.
A special thank you to our grade six teachers and students
for the meaningful Remembrance Day Celebration. The
celebration presented a very heartfelt tribute to veterans
who have served and died in war and risked their lives so
that we may have freedom and peace on earth. Thank you
for the donations received from students and the school
Social Justice Action explores the heart treasure of GENEROSITY!
Inspire and Ignite Through Christ!
SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS!
What has become an Advent tradition here at St. Mary School, we are launching our sixth annual GREAT BOX of SOCKS COLLECTION and TOONIES for TOES! Our school wide community is invited to collect pairs of adult men’s socks to warm the hearts and toes of the homeless of south Edmonton. The socks will be donated to the Edmonton Do Likewise Society (http://www.dolikewisesociety.org/). Edmonton Do Likewise serves the homeless people of south Edmonton. The goal is to have each student send a pair of socks each Monday of Advent for the lighting of a new candle on our Advent Wreath during the morning community prayer services. In addition, during each of our concert presentations on December 20th and 21st, each family might consider an admission donation of a pair of adult men’s socks. Fear not! If you forget a pair of socks, donate a TOONIE for TOES each Monday instead towards the purchase of a pair! Socks can be brought in all throughout Advent; bins are placed in the atrium at school. The Caught in The Spirit Club members and Grade 2’s will coordinate the TOONIES for TOES campaign during Advent. Thank you for your generosity. MUGS OF JOY St. Mary is off to the Mustard Seed again! Over the past two months, our grade 6 students have been working hard to earn money towards their 'Mugs of Joy' project for the Mustard Seed Church. Our students will arrive with care packages in hand, in hopes of giving every member of our Edmonton community a happy Christmas.
FOOD HAMPERS Classroom teachers will be sending home information on how students can help donate and create food hampers for those less fortunate in our city. We are partnering with another inner city school to coordinate this project. More information will be sent through the classrooms.
ST. MARY ADVENT CELEBRATIONS
At Mass, after praying the Lord’s Prayer, we hear “. . . as we await the blessed hope and
the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” This prayer reminds us that during Advent, we
wait in joy, in hope, and in anticipation for the wonderful event we are about to
experience—the feast of Christmas, the coming of Christ into our lives in new ways, the
return of Christ in glory at the end of time. As the Church, we wait during Advent and look
forward to celebrating the fact that God loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world to save us. This
waiting is far from empty; rather, it is full of the hope that God promises us as we prepare for Christ in the
feast of Christmas.
The students at St. Mary will be experiencing the season of Advent through discussion, prayer and
celebration.
Advent Week 1– Monday, November 28th - Celebrated on SMTV
Advent Week 2 – Monday, December 5 - Celebrated on SMTV
Advent Parish Exploration – Tuesday, December 6 (Grade 2 community walks to the church)
Advent Week 3 – Monday, December 15th Whole school to STM Parish
Advent Week 4 - Monday, December 19th - Celebrated on SMTV
CHOIR CHRISTMAS PERFOMANCE
Members of our St. Mary choirs are excited about the Teddy-toss at this year’s Sing for
Santa on Saturday, December 10th, 2016. We’ve been practicing the National Anthem and
several Christmas carols that will be sung that evening during the intermissions. The
Edmonton Oil Kings will be playing the visiting Kamloops Blazers at Rogers Place. The game starts at 7:00
p.m. All the students will get a Santa hat, likely delivered to the school the week of the game. We are awaiting
details on when and where to meet at the arena. Parents will be provided with further information as soon as it
becomes available.
1st
Candle – PURPLE (HOPE)
For many years the
faithful looked forward to
the coming of the Messiah.
We look forward with the
eyes of faith.
2nd
Candle – PURPLE (LOVE)
We know that God is love. We remember with thank-
ful hearts the gift of Jesus, who came as a babe in a manger,
lived and loved
among us, was killed on a cross,
and
arose! Love endures forever.
3rd
Candle – PINK (JOY)
Prophecy has been
fulfilled. The long-awaited
Messiah has come. Joy is the
mood of all earnest seekers.
5th
Candle –
We are reminded that Jesus is the
lamb of God who came to wash
away our sins.
Chaplains Corner
4th
Candle – PURPLE
(PEACE)
Christ is the Prince of
peace,
come to reconcile us
with
God and others. Christ
helps
us to see that peace is
possible.
GRADE 2C—”Christmas Goodie Basket”
In Grade 2C we are creating a "Christmas Goodie Basket" for the Carmelite Nuns/Sisters in Spruce Grove.
The students are bringing in non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products, Christmas
'goodies', monetary donations, etc. The items will then be delivered to Carmelite's via St. Maria Goretti
(Devon, AB) C.W.L., from the Grade 2C Students of St. Mary School in Edmonton.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT RAFFLE
Once again this year, the St. Mary Parent Council will be holding a raffle for front row seats and parking spots. Please watch for information coming home regarding the purchase of raffle tickets.
ST. MARY CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Students are working diligently learning their lines and various parts in this year’s Christmas production
“Miracle at Midnight”. Our production will again take place in the St. Mary Catholic School gym.
The dates for our Christmas Concert are Tuesday, December 20th and Wednesday, December 21st.
Students in grade 6A, 6B, 5B, 4A, 4C, 3A, 3B, 2B will be performing on Tuesday, December 20h.
Students in grade 6B, 6C (and a couple from 6A), 5A, 5C, 4B, 3C, 2A, and 2C will be performing on
Wednesday, December 21st.
There will be one matinee performance at 1:30 pm and one evening performance at 7:00 pm on both
days so that we can meet the seating capacity guidelines for our school gym. Every effort has been
made to accommodate the families that have two or more children at the school, so that they only have to
attend the one day. Please watch for information on required dress and costuming closer to the concert
date. We are looking forward to seeing you at our Christmas production!
Suggested Admission - One pair of Men’s Socks in support of Advent Social Justice Project
Or
$2.00 in support of Toonies for Toes
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES AT ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH
Christmas Mass Times at St. Thomas More:
Saturday, December 24 - CHRISTMAS EVE:4:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 12:00 midnight
Sunday, December 25 - CHRISTMAS DAY: 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon
Monday, December 26: No Mass
Tuesday, December 27: 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 28: 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, December 29: 8:30 a.m.
Friday, December 30: 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, December 31 - NEW YEAR’S EVE: 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 1 - NEW YEAR’S DAY: 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon
ADVENT PANCAKE BREAKFAST - December 23, 2016
Our Annual Pancake Breakfast will be held the morning of Friday, Dec 23rd, 2016 and we need your help! That morning everyone will be invited down to the gymnasium to have pancakes by grade. We encourage everyone to wear PJ’s to school that day too! This event is only made possible from the support of the parents. Volunteers are needed for the following areas with applicable start times: * Gym Table/Decorations set up 8:00 a.m. (or the night before works too) * Cooking pancakes – 7:30am - bring your griddle/spatula (first batch of pancakes need to be ready for first 8:45 serving) * Mixing pancake ingredients and running the batter to the cookers 7:00 start time * Serving pancakes, cleaning tables, and resetting for the next class 8:30am *Juice and syrup – distribution and stocking tables 8:30am Please send an e-mail to Vivianna Botticelli at [email protected] with your preference of what position you would like to volunteer for. Volunteers will be contacted by e-mail for further instructions (positions, arrival time, etc.) Thank you for your time and consideration in volunteering for this event. It is so much fun to see the kids enjoying the holiday season. Vivianna Botticelli, Parent Volunteer for the Pancake Breakfast
Thursday, December 22th
will be a full day of classes
with dismissal at 3:10 p.m.
Friday, December 23rd, children will be
dismissed at 11:55 a.m
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
There is no School Council meeting scheduled for the month of December. The next School Council meeting will be held at the school
Monday, January 16th, 2017 at 7:00 pm. Please join us!
NEXT SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
To assist us in the management of our bus account reconciliation,
we would appreciate payment by the first day of each month.
Paying on–line or sending post-dated cheques for the year or prepaying
the yearwould be greatly appreciated and reduce the amount of staff
time required for this service.
BUS PASS REMINDER
If you have not already paid your child’s limited 2016/2017 School Fees, please send payment as soon as possible. Payment can be made by cash or cheque or can be paid on line through Powerschool using your parent log-in password. We appreciate your early attention to this request.
SCHOOL REGISTRATION FEES
It is very important that you call the school, if your child(ren) are ill, going to medical appointments or are going to be away for any other reason. For the safety of our students, we must verify the whereabouts of your child. The Synervoice call out system, attached to Powerschool, will call every number available until the absence is verified. With your help, by calling in, the number of calls made to your telephone numbers will be reduced. Thank you for helping the school keep your children safe.
PHONE IN REMINDERS
NEWS FROM ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH
First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are offered to children in
Grade 2. What an exciting year for these children to celebrate TWO sacraments.
See the green sacrament brochure in your Catholic school office or parish
brochure stand for the details.
St. Thomas More parish has a Drop-in Registration to begin the process for
your child to receive these two sacraments.
Drop-in Registration will occur from 9-11:00 a.m. on the 1st Saturday of each month (Oct. thru Feb.).
To prepare for the drop-in registration please read the green brochure thoroughly and select the
dates of the various sacrament meetings that you will attend with your child. You will be putting the dates
you have chosen onto the registration form at the Drop-in Registration.
Call Kathleen or Diane at the parish office for more information. 780-434-6313 X 235
We are entering in the cold winter season and we encourage students to dress appropriately for the weather. Students go outside at recess and lunch time unless the weather is inclement.
Components of inclement weather are: continuous rain, extreme wind, extreme cold (combination of temperature and wind-chill factor, -20 degrees Celsius).
Students stay inside during inclement weather. We are in contact with Environment Canada and we also follow a weather chart that gives us the necessary information.
We also rely on students to follow good judgment when it comes to freezing temperatures. When students arrive early at school, students may use the front entrance when severe conditions arise.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
With Edmonton Catholic School District the safety of our students is always our first priority and students are well supervised when they are on school property. When situations occur that warrant emergency procedures to ensure the safety of all students, we will provide parents with accurate and up to date information through our Synervoice email system. We will also keep parents informed about an emergency and the safety procedures that have been put into place by posting the information on the school website. Information will be posted and updated as required when a school is experiencing an emergency. We also need to keep phone lines available at the school during an emergency, so we ask that you do not call the school. This will enable the staff at the
school to keep in touch with emergency providers and District personnel.
Thank you for your support and help in ensuring our students remain safe.
SCHOOL SAFETY
Please be advised that the following Radio and TV stations will carry announcements with
respect to transportation cancellations due to inclement weather conditions.
RADIO STATIONS
CHED AM 930 The Light CJCA CBC
CISN FM 103.9 SHINE 105.9 FM CHFA (CBC Fr.)
JOE FM 92.5 CFRN The Team 1260 CFCW 790
INEWS 880 AM LITE 95.7 CAPITAL FM 96.3
The Bounce FM 91.7 The Bear 100.3 FM K97 97.3
TV STATIONS
CITYTV CTV Edmonton GLOBAL Edmonton CBC TV
Every effort will be made to have messages broadcast commencing no later than 6:30 a.m.
CANCELLATION OF CHARTER (YELLOW) SCHOOL BUS SERVICE
Given the possible extremes of Edmonton weather and the potential for unexpected mechanical difficulties, it is impossible to guarantee buses will run on time or at all during severe weather conditions. A route can take 50% longer in adverse weather conditions. Parents are advised that if a bus does not arrive within twenty minutes of its scheduled time, they are to assume the bus is not coming. Parents must ensure that their child knows to return home or to a preselected location and the parents must make alternate arrangements to get their child to school. Parents should also ensure that:
Children are supervised at the bus stop
Children have a place to go in the event the bus does not arrive
Children have alternate arrangements for getting to school should the bus not arrive.
Children are suitably clothed to withstand weather extremes
Transportation Service’s normal operational procedures for delayed transportation also apply in severe weather conditions.
The Carrier is responsible for notifying the School and the Transportation Services office when a route is running late.
Parents then have access to three different resources to get an update on the status of a particular route: calling the School, the Transportation Services office, or directly contacting the Carrier.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL/BIRTHDAY/PARTY TREATS
To continue with our Health and Wellness focus we would like to recommend Healthy snacks to help you
say “Happy Birthday”:
· Fruit salad or kabobs · Cheese, crackers and low-fat meat platter · Frozen yogurt · Low-fat muffins · Veggie and dip platter · Pretzels, animal/graham crackers, popcorn mix (popcorn, raisins) · Popcorn in festive bags
· Oatmeal raisin cookies · Mini bagels · Yogurt Parfaits (fruit and yogurt topped with granola) · Fruit smoothies · Organic, lower sugar brownies · Goodie bags filled with erasers, stickers, pencils, etc. · Low-fat baked tortilla chips with salsa and bean dip · Angel food cake– plain, topped with fruit · Pizza with low fat toppings · 100% fruit juice freezies
STAY IN THE KNOW ABOUT SNOW! Keeping informed about winter roadway maintenance
What you need to know about SEASONAL PARKING BANS
When a seasonal parking ban is declared, you cannot park on routes where the seasonal parking ban sign appears. Vehicles must be moved off-street or to a side road where the signs are not posted
Citizens will be advised about the parking ban through:
Local media (television, radio and internet)
311
Email notification system
FaceBook and Twitter posts
Digital Messaging Signs by city roads
Edmonton Transit bus-front messages
City of Edmonton website
When there is a significant snowfall, a minimum of 8 hours notice will be given if a parking ban will be called
Vehicles that have not been moved off of signed routes when the ban comes into effect are subject to ticketing and towing
There is NO parking permitted on the seasonal parking ban routes until the City declares the ban is over. In some cases, more work will be required or more snow may be forecasted, and the routes must remain clear of vehicles until the ban is officially lifted
To sign up for email notifications for parking bans or for more detail about winter road maintenance in Edmonton, visit www.edmonton.ca/winterroads
What you need to know about
NEIGHBOURHOOD BLADING
Parking is NOT banned when equipment comes to blade in neighbourhoods; however, crews can do a better job if vehicles are moved off-street
Neighbourhood roads will be bladed to a solid 5 cm snow pack. If there is a significant amount of snow and a 5 cm snow pack cannot be maintained, crews will plow down to bare pavement where required
Citizens will be advised about an upcoming neighbourhood blading cycle by the same notifications as with a seasonal parking ban
To find out when crews will be working in your neighbourhood, you can either call 311 or visit www.edmonton.ca/winterroads and click on ‘Neighbourhood Blading Schedule’
The City of Edmonton is committed to keeping city roads in good winter driving condition throughout the snow season, and crews work around the clock to achieve that goal. Your cooperation means that we can do the best job
As a member of two music ministry groups, I am fascinated with the many ways that the themes found
in favorite hymns and songs celebrate the ‘Word of God.’ Whether Sing to the Mountains, Sing a new
Song, or Go Tell it on the Mountain, the message of God found in each musical piece touches the heart of
the Gospel message we proclaim. Pope Francis opens this chapter by reminding us that the core of the
Gospel message, the Kerygma, “is what is most beautiful, most excellent, most appealing and at the
same time most necessary.” (58). Pope Francis outlines the need for us to enter more deeply into the
Word of God “which we must hear again and again in different ways, and which we must always
announce in one form or another.” (58). Very much like how I hear a similar message via different hymns
and songs, I can learn more and interpret nuances differently because of the various styles of music. As
for the message our Pontiff states: “nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wise than
that message.” (58). This chapter explores in great detail, through many illustrative scriptural examples,
the Church’s teachings on marriage and the family.
“Our teaching on marriage and the family cannot fail to be inspired and transformed by this message of
love and tenderness; otherwise, it becomes nothing more than the defence of a dry and lifeless
doctrine.” (59). Echoing the call for a pastoral approach to deepening our understanding of family and
marriage encountered in chapter 2, Pope Francis posits that “the Christian family can be fully understood
only in the light of the Father’s infinite love revealed in Christ, who gave himself up for our sake and who
continues to dwell in our midst.” (59). Through sharing beautiful examples of Christ’s love, mercy, and
compassion, the chapter goes into great detail about how marriage and family life is to be viewed as ‘a
gift’ from the Lord.
In reminding us of God’s divine covenantal love for all of humanity, our salvation history, we recall that
“through his Church, Christ bestows on marriage and the family the grace necessary to bear witness to
the love of God and to live the life of communion.” (63). In several examples such as: the miracle at Cana,
friendship with Lazarus and his family, and sympathizing with grieving parents over the loss of a child,
Jesus “demonstrated the true meaning of mercy, which entails the restoration of the covenant.” (64).
Jesus models ‘gratuitous love’ in the face of sin and in doing so models how we are called to do the same
in our relationships. Pope Francis reinforces this point through recounting the nativity narrative where
“the incarnation of the Word in a human family, in Nazareth, by its very newness changed the history of
the world.” (65). Mary said ‘yes’ to have the Word conceived in her womb. Joseph too said ‘yes’ in
naming Jesus and watching over mother and son. We witness the struggles and toil of a family, who
despite the harshness and challenges life can sometimes bring, such as exile, persecution and humilia-
tion, hold their communion with God with humility and love. “The covenant of love and fidelity lived by
the Holy Family of Nazareth illuminates the principle which gives shape to every family…on this basis,
every family, despite its weaknesses, can become a light in the darkness of the world.”(66.) This is truly a
hope-filled message.
From the example of the Holy Family, we next examine several documents of the church, such as Second
Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution, Gaudium et Spes, which promotes the dignity of marriage and
family. We learn that in marriage “Christ the Lord makes himself present to the Christian spouses in the
Amoris Laetitia Chapter 3 1
sacrament of marriage and remains with them.” (67). Through the incarnation, Jesus “assumes human
love, purifies it and brings it to fulfilment. By his spirit, he gives spouses the capacity to live that love,
permeating every part of their lives of faith, hope and charity.” (67). This is central to the foundation of
the Christian family.
Pope Frances cites the work of Blessed Paul VI (Humanae Vitae) which brings out the “intrinsic bond
between conjugal love and the generation of life: married love requires of husband and wife the full
awareness of their obligations in the matter of responsible parenthood…“the exercise of responsible
parenthood requires that husband and wife, keeping a right order of priorities, recognize their own
duties towards God, themselves, their families and human society.” Pope Francis furthers his views
through citing Saint John Paul II’s Familiaris Consorto which “defined the family as ‘the way of the
Church…how spouses, in their mutual love, receive the gift of the Spirit of Christ and live their call to
holiness.” (69). This is echoed by excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI’s Deus Caritas Est, where he states
“marriage based on an exclusive and definitive love becomes an icon of the relationship between God
and his people…God’s way of loving becomes the measure of human love.” Further, in Caritas in
Veritate, Benedict XVI stresses the importance of love in society “as a place where we learn the
experience of the common good.” (70). The message is consistent in all cases: love is at the heart of
our existence. Marriage and the family are rooted in love; a love that is radiated and witnessed
through Jesus.
The chapter progresses to a detailed examination of marriage including the nuptial mystery, sexuality,
imperfect situations, the ministry of marriage, procreation, and the sanctity of life. The message of the
“Church’s teaching is meant to help couples experience in a complete, harmonious and conscious way
their communion as husband and wife.” (82.) The chapter then explores the role of family and the
Church. Pope Francis asserts that “the Church is a family of families, constantly enriched by the lives of
all those domestic churches…the church is good for the family and the family is good for the Church.
The safeguarding of the Lord’s gift in the sacrament of matrimony is concern not only of individual
families but of the entire Christian community.” (87.) Pope Francis assures us that “the experience of
love in families is a perennial source of strength for the life of the Church.” (88). Examples of the
beauty of marriage, the value of family and the profound sense of God’s covenant of love with
humanity are abundant in this chapter.
Just as a song sounds better when others join in and lend harmony, Pope Francis’ shared wisdom on
marriage and family life in this chapter is succinctly captured in his closing words: “The beauty of this
mutual, gratuitous gift, the joy which comes from a life that is born and the loving care of all family
members – from toddlers to seniors- are just a few of the fruits which make the response to the
vocation of the family unique and irreplaceable, both for the Church and for society as a whole.” (88).
What a wonderful song these words would make!
Tim Cusack, Assistant Superintendent, Learning Services Innovation
Amoris Laetitia Chapter 3 2
Selecting from the drop down, parents can view any completed term for the current school year.
December 2016
“Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come...
And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” ~ Mark 13:35-37
The month of December is joyous for many reasons in Edmonton Catholic Schools. Our schools enter the
exciting time of Advent, which has us anticipating the birth of Jesus. This scripture passage is one which is often used
during Advent. Jesus is giving his disciples a message of hope about the coming of the Messiah, assuring them that they
should keep faith in God’s promise, even during challenging times. It calls for us to be alert and to prepare a place for
Jesus in our daily lives.
Classrooms will be abuzz with activities that help students to prepare just such a place in their lives for Jesus and
explore the great gift of love that our Father has given us in the person of His Son over the four weeks of Advent. In this
year where We are Called… to be Leaders of Hope and Mercy in Edmonton Catholic Schools, we are reminded of what
hope truly means as we prepare for the birth of our Savior.
Our schools and sites also turn their attentions to mercy through their many social justice projects. Our annual
We Care Challenge is one way in which this occurs. Many of our schools and sites carry out a variety of engaging
activities to raise funds for the Edmonton Catholic Schools Foundation and Catholic Social Services’ Sign of Hope
Campaign. Other schools will collect socks and mittens, build hampers, and raise funds for the many organizations in
Edmonton and beyond that help people in need.
We have several exciting enrichment opportunities for students who are passionate about music through our
All-City Choir and All City- Band Programs. These highly committed students come together regularly to hone their skills
as ensembles. There are several occasions for people to enjoy these spectacular groups at their Christmas concerts.
The concerts start at 7:30 pm: All City Choir @ St. Joseph’s Basilica- Dec. 5, Junior All City Band @ John L. Haar Theatre
(MacEwan)-Dec. 7, Senior All City Band @ U of A Convocation Hall – Dec. 13.
Our Council of Elders hosts a Sacred Pipe Ceremony four times a year to welcome and honour each new season
hosted at a Nehiyaw Pimatisiwin (Way of Life) School. The winter ceremony will be held at Our Lady of Peace School on
Thursday, December 15. This is a time to celebrate friendships, welcome new friends to the circle, and to ask
God/Creator for his blessings. If you are interested in attending the Sacred Pipe Ceremony, please contact The Council
of Elders office at 780-471-2360.
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There are many times where we report our accountability to the public. There are two major reports of this nature which will be presented at the November 29 Public Board of Trustees Meeting, our Audited Financial Statements, August 31, 2016 and the combined Annual Education Results Report 2015-2016 and Three-Year Education Plan 2016-2019. Once approved by the Board of Trustees, the reports will be posted on our public website on the Annual Reports and Results page at https://www.ecsd.net/AboutUs/annual_reports/Pages/default.aspx.
As we turn our eyes towards Christmas and the birth of Jesus, we also reflect upon the willingness of his mother,
Mary, to humbly serve our God. Her incredible faith, echoed in her joyous acceptance of the news that she was to give
birth to the Messiah, reminds us that God calls on us, too. Pope Francis shared the following thought on Twitter - “Mary
is the woman who says yes, a yes of surrender to God, a yes of surrender to her brothers and sisters. May we follow her
