Pastoral Plan 2016- 2017 PASTORAL PLAN School Name: St. Anthony Elementary School School Mission Statement: The staff of St. Anthony believes each student should be guided to grow in the image of Christ. Our mandate is to encourage in children the life-long desire to learn and find joy, delight, and enthusiasm in the learning experience. Our school reflects the community as an instrument which aids parents and the church in the formation of the young - spiritually, intellectually, morally, physically, and socially. Students should grow in their sense of self-worth, respect for all members of our community, personal responsibility in the use of freedom, and love of God. Students have the right to go to school. With that right comes the responsibility to respect the rights of others. Discipline is an educational process, which teaches responsibility. This process ultimately directs our students to self-discipline and responsible independence. School Motto: A community of learning on a foundation of faith. Pastoral Plan Links to Strategic Plan/Catholic Board Learning Plan: Page 1 of 10
Transcript
Pastoral Plan 2016-2017
PASTORAL PLANSchool Name: St. Anthony Elementary School
School Mission Statement:
The staff of St. Anthony believes each student should be guided to grow in the image of Christ. Our mandate is to encourage in children the life-long desire to learn and find joy, delight, and enthusiasm in the learning experience. Our school reflects the community as an instrument which aids parents and the church in the formation of the young - spiritually, intellectually, morally, physically, and socially. Students should grow in their sense of self-worth, respect for all members of our community, personal responsibility in the use of freedom, and love of God. Students have the right to go to school. With that right comes the responsibility to respect the rights of others. Discipline is an educational process, which teaches responsibility. This process ultimately directs our students to self-discipline and responsible independence.
School Motto: A community of learning on a foundation of faith.
Pastoral Plan Links to Strategic Plan/Catholic Board Learning Plan:
Link: Strategic Plan 2014-2019 Strategic System Plan
As we begin a new school year, let us keep in mind the importance that our schools represent to our catholic community. They are the institutions upon which our academic, spiritual and Catholic values are developed and nurtured. As I address this pastoral letter to you, I write these words hoping that together, we will continue to make an earnest effort to render our schools what they should actually be. I thank God for the success of the last school year. For those who do not know me, or are new to the parish, I wish to introduce myself to you. My name is Father Joseph Pham, and I am the pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church. This is my second year in the parish, and I thank you for your prayers and the support you have rendered to me during the past year. I am very happy to be your pastor and to serve this great community. Please pray for me so that I can continue to serve you faithfully.
As we begin the month of October things are starting to get busy here at the parish, and I am sure the same is true for you at home. Here at our parish community of St. Anthony of Padua, we believe that the Lord is always present among us. Jesus gathers us together as a family every Sunday so that we can be fed by His Words and Eucharist. Indeed the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life”. We gather together to be nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist so that we can be living examples of Jesus to our brothers and sisters. At St. Anthony of Padua Church, we really encourage our families to attend Mass on Sunday. Besides coming to Mass on Sunday, I also encourage your family to spend a few minutes daily to pray together. When the family prays together it brings them closer together. We invite the Lord to come into our family and share with us our joys and sorrows. As parents, you are called to be examples of faith to your children. I strongly believe that the parents are the first teachers of faith to their children. Children look up to their parents for spiritual guidance and faith. We are so blessed at St. Anthony of Padua Church this year because Cardinal Thomas Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto, has chosen our parish as one of the eight churches to have a Holy Door during this Holy Year of Mercy. On Sunday Nov. 20, at 12:30 PM Mass, the Cardinal will come to our parish to preside over the Holy Mass and to close the Holy Door. This will mark the end of the Holy Year of Mercy. We are invited to live our faith in God who is all loving and merciful, and to show our compassion towards those we meet every day.
I also ask you to consider joining our parish ministries. Here at St. Anthony of Padua we have so many different ministries you can join: Youth Group, Choir, Lector, Eucharist Minister, Alter Server, Pastoral Care Team, Hospitality Committee, Ushers, Teacher Volunteers, just to name a few. It is important to share your talents and blessings with the parish community. Together we can turn our parish into a place of love where all people are welcome.
This year, thanks to many volunteer teachers, we have a tutoring program at our parish which runs every Saturday from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM before the Saturday 5 PM Mass. You are invited to bring your children from grades 2-12 for help in Math, English, Science and French. I can always use more teacher volunteers. If you can help us for one hour a week on Saturday afternoons, we would really appreciate it.
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Pastoral Plan 2016-2017
Every Tuesday we also have Mass with confession and with a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, our parish Patron Saint. I invite you to join us as we give praise and thanksgiving to God and ask St. Anthony of Padua to intercede for us.
We need to come together as a family so we can help build up this parish together. Together we can make a difference, with the help of God. I ask you to please keep me in your prayers and may God bless you and your family always.
Fr. Joseph Pham
Message from the Catholic School Council:
The St. Anthony Catholic School Council is an integral part of our school community. Through the active participation and collaboration of parents/guardians, we strive to ensure that all students reach their full potential in a faith filled environment
Catholic Education Week Theme: Walking Forward Together
Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society.
April 30 – May 5 is Catholic Education Week.
The theme for Catholic Education Week 2017 is “Walking Forward Together”. The five sub-themes are:Monday: Walking forward together with GodTuesday: Walking forward together with our familiesWednesday: Walking forward together with others Thursday: Walking forward together with creationFriday: Walking forward together in hope
During Catholic Education Week families are invited to join us for a variety of classroom activities showcasing Catholic Education. Our week culminates with a school wide retreat day where students participate in faith based activities based on each sub-theme.
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Faith Formation:
Forming ourselves in our Catholic faith is a foundational element in helping each of us understand and live in the example of Christ.
*The Rosary Apostolate group visit our school monthly, teaching our students about the rosary and praying sections of the rosary. In May we celebrate Mary with a culminating liturgy.*We have an active youth faith ambassador group at the school.*School Wide Retreat Day – Advent and Catholic Education Week
Sacramental Preparation:
As Catholic we understand sacraments to be "outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace." Together in partnership with our parish, we support the preparation of God’s children in receiving the sacraments.
Mass classes to followFirst Holy Communion April 29, 2017 @ 1:00Communion Classes Feb. 19, Feb. 26, Mar. 5 @
9:30 Mass classes to followSacrament of Confirmation March 4, 2017 @ 1:00Confession December 19, 2016 @7:00Confirmation Classes Nov. 19, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec.
10 @ 5:30 Mass classes to follow
Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and share in prayer.
Celebration Date
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Thanksgiving Mass October 6, 2016 @ 1:30Advent Mass December 5, 2016 @ 1:00Lenten Mass March 3, 2017 @ 1:00Ash Wednesday Mass March 1, 2017 @ 9:00 (Community Mass)Year End Mass June 6, 2017 @ 1:00Class Masses Individual classes attend 9:00 mass
throughout the year.
Social Justice / Outreach Activities / Charities:
Catholic Social Teachings of the Church root our actions in supporting human dignity and the preferential option of the poor which calls us to serve the most vulnerable in the world.
*Our school supports Share Life through our Toonie Tuesday Activities and our spirit week.*Our Youth Faith Ambassadors organize food drives during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter seasons.*We hold an annual Terry Fox Walk to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation .
Recognizing Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations:
Framed by the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE), our graduates will be effective communicators, reflective thinkers, lifelong learners, collaborative contributors, caring family members, responsible citizens and discerning believers formed in the Catholic faith community.
The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations are highlighted in our monthly newsletter.
We have included recognition awards for grade 8 graduates who exemplify each of the OCSGEs.
Celebrating Virtues:
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A virtue is a habit or established capacity to perform good actions according to a moral standard. When we practice these virtues we strengthen them and thereby make the presence of God more and more visible in the world around us.
We have monthly assemblies where we acknowledge students who have demonstrated the virtue of the month and highlight the key messages for the upcoming virtue. On our daily morning announcements we share messages about the monthly virtue; giving students ideas on how they can demonstrate the monthly virtue in our day to day lives at school, home and in the community.
Visible Signs of our Faith:
Through symbol and service, we are instruments of God’s love whose work within our communities stands as a witness to our faith.
We have sacred spaces in all classrooms, library and office. These spaces are meant to be living spaces that change throughout the year to reflect the liturgical seasons and themes students are focusing on in the religion and family life curriculum. Some core items in the space include cross, bible, prayers, cloth (white, green or purple to reflect the liturgical season) along with student created items. As you enter the school we have a stained glass window above the front doors that was designed by our graduating class to reflect our patron saint and school. Throughout the year student work is displayed reflecting the liturgical season and themes from the religious education and family life curriculum.
Resource List for Parents/Guardians:
Religious Education Curriculum - Ontario Religious Education Curriculum
Family Life Curriculum - Ontario Family Life Curriculum
Fully Alive Program information - Ontario Bishops' information on Fully Alive
Resource List for Schools:
Board
Vocations UnitsWe have Vocations units as part of the Grades 2, 5, and 8 curriculum. The goal of these supplementary units is to deepen one’s understanding of God’s call – the “vocare” – to various forms of life within the Church.
History of the ParishThrough the resource book Our Story, Our Tradition, Our Journey, grade 7 students have the opportunity to learn about the history of our parish.
Enduring Gift Video
School-Based
St. Anthony Parishwww.stanthonyofpadua.ca
The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectationshttp://iceont.ca/resources/ontario-catholic-school-graduate-expectations
