934 SW Clay St Topeka, KS 66606 Phone: 233-1727 Fax: 233-1728

MATER DEI CATHOLIC SCHOOL

March 2014 Parent Newsletter

“Christ is the reason for this school. He is the unseen but ever present teacher in its classes. He is the model of its faculty and the inspiration of its students.”

Website: materdeischool.org . E-mail: materdei@materdeischool.org . Facebook: Mater Dei Catholic School—Topeka

Our Mission: Based on the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church, in partnership with the family and parish

community, Mater Dei Catholic School will provide each child the opportunity to reach their potential and to develop the academic, technological and social skills necessary to become lifelong learners

Mater Dei Catholic School Confirmation Candidates

Sebastian Anguish

William Ash

Anna Burnett

Anthony Calvin

Madison Carr

Carlos Chavez

Emilio Chavez

Austin Crow

Mackenzie Giefer

Demetrius Hodge

Emilio Jaramillo

Sarah Keck

Katherine Kennedy

Adrianna Mead

Kensley Ortega

Isaiah Roeder

Ethan Sams

Cecilia Schmitz

Lauren Stous

Kelly Terrill

Isabella Wamego-

Martinez

Mason Wietharn

Noah Williams

March 31, 2014

7:00 pm

Mater Dei Assumption

PTO NEWS

MDS News

Prayer List: Please join your prayer with ours for: Beatrice Rocha, Bryce Kalas, Chase Ensley, Cheryl Domme, Gloria Byers,

Jakob Askins, Janis Griffin, Karis Selk, Sal Esquibel, Kent LasKares, Lydia Schmidt, Mardine Wilson, Marilyn Scott, Mitchell Johnson, Mary Meier, Peggy Howe, Tom Heath, Jeff Calvin, Amy Rose Meier, Sidney White, Donna Sams, Virginia Ramos, Tianna Wilkenson, Genna Salsbury, Becky Welch, Jenny Burghart, Jenny Valdivia, Faith Nyswanger, Betty Neal, Mary Ann & Ed Lambrecht, Julie Kra-mer, Charlie Herman, Grace Gillgannon, Marion Atwood, Andrew Baum, Barbara Rutherford, Harry Webber, Edward Laute, Wil-liam Bassett, Jim Hillebert, Sarah McLinn, Dr. Sarah Barnes, McKenna Thortnon, Lucy Korber, and Mason Eilert. For the family of

Jakob Ferguson. For the special intentions we hold in the silence of our hearts.

Sports Corner School Corner

A message from Mater Dei Athletic Director:

Thank you supporting the boys basketball season.

Track season is quickly approaching. Track coaches for the 2014 season will be Chris Schulz, Tressie Hurley, and Gary Meidinger.

John Anguiano

Visit http://materdeischool.org/athletics for scores

and schedules.

Lunch Aides/Crossing Guards

for March 3 - 7

March 3

Sarah Keck, Addy Mead

March 4

Isaiah Roeder, Ceci Schmitz, Laura

Burenheide, Riley Champney

March 5

Isabella Wamego-Martinez,

Noah Williams

March 6

Samantha Calvin, Eric Cooper

March 7

Matt Daigler, Roni Raines, Emery Eakes

Let your inner artist be displayed at the 2nd Annual Mater Dei Art Walk, March 4. Parents and staff of Mater Dei Catholic School are welcome to submit art for the show. More infor-mation will be in the week at a glance.

PTO Meeting ~ March 4 ~ following the Art Walk.

Casino Night

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Rossiter Hall

Doors open at 6:30

Adult only event.

Ash Wednesday Mass, March 5th at MDHN 8:05 am

Sunday March 9th 2:00 am

Daylight Savings Time

Thank You Coach!

Thank you to Mr. Jaramillo and Mr. Dennis for coaching

the 6th and 7th grade Boys Basketball Teams.

Thank you to Mr. Schulz and Mr. Dodds for coaching the

8th grade Boys Basketball Team.

Runners to your marks…

Get set…

Go!

Track practice will begin Monday, March 3rd.

Practice days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Practice Location & Time:

First Week: Mater Dei School 5:30-6:30 pm

Following Weeks: Hayden 5:30-7:00 pm

Coaches: Chris Schulz

Tressie Hurley

Gary Meidinger

We are so lucky to have Watch D.O.G.S. in our

building.

www.fathers.com/watchdogs

NO

STUCO Snack Cart

on

Ash Wednesday!

Entry forms are in the school office for

ages 8-14.

Posters due March 11th.

Have you submitted your entry form for the Art Walk? MD Cub Scout Den 2 did! Go Bears!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Shop, Swap, & Sell

MDCCC

Cinnamon Roll Sale After 5 pm Mass Casino Night 7 pm

2 Cinnamon Roll Sale after Masses

3

4

6:00 pm

Art Walk PTO Meeting following the Art Walk. 7:30 pm Hayden Dance

Meeting for incoming 8th

Grade Girls

5 8:05 am - Gr 1-8 Mass by 8W

6 7/8 grade will attend Dress Re-hearsal for Little Women

7 8:05 am - All School Mass by 3H End of the Third Quarter

2:45 Stations of the Cross MDHN

8 Spring Read-a-thon

9

Daylight Savings

Time Begins

10

11

8:05 am - Gr 1-8 Mass by 4F Knights of Columbus Poster Due Date

5:30 pm

School Council

Meeting PMR

12

13

14 Pi Day

8:05 am - All School Mass by 2M

2:45 Stations of the Cross MDHN

15

Irish Fest

Irish 5K & Fun Run

Leprechaun Leap

16 17

18

19 20

21

22

9:00 am Hayden High School Dance Team Auditions Radiant Dance Studio 1401 SW Gage Ste B

23 24 In-service School of Faith No School

25 Classes Resume

8:05 am - Gr 1-8 Mass by Faculty

26

27 28

8:05 am - All School Mass by 7K

2:45 Stations of the Cross MDHN

29

SUM Day Competi-tion at Washburn

Rural Middle School

MARCH 2014 ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

Spirit Day

30 31

7:00 pm

8th Grade

Confirmation

MDA

March 2014 MDS Breakfast & Lunch

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Menu is subject to change without notice.

1/2 pint of 1% white, chocolate skim, and strawberry skim offered with each lunch.

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 3 B—pancake/waffle, juice, milk L—cheeseburgers, smiles, baked beans, oranges

4 B—biscuit sandwich, juice, milk L—biscuit and gravy, sausage patty, hash rounds, mixed fruit or

juice, king’s cake

5 Ash Wednesday B—cereal, pastry/bagel, juice, milk L—tuna casserole, peas/carrots, roll, rosie

applesauce

6 B—pancake on a stick, juice, milk L—chicken nuggets, mash potatoes, gravy, green beans, mixed fruit

7 B—Cook’s Choice, juice, milk

L—fish, salad, smiles,

muffins, pears

10 B—pancake/waffle, juice, milk L—teriyaki chicken, broccoli/carrots, green beans, rice, mandarin

oranges

11 B—cereal, pastry/bagel, juice, milk

L—chicken enchiladas, fideo, refried beans,

peaches and strawberries

12 B—biscuit & gravy, juice, milk

L—hot dogs, smiles, raw

veggies, apples

13 B—pancake on a stick, juice, milk

L—Cook’s Choice

14 B—breakfast pizza, juice, milk

L—pizza sticks, salad,

corn, pears

17

18

19

20

21

24

No

School

25

B—cereal, pastry/bagel, juice, milk L—nuggets and nachos, green beans, salsa,

oranges

26

B—biscuit sandwich, juice, milk L—BBQ meatballs, peas/carrots, buttered noodles, roll, rosie ap-

plesauce

27

B—pancake on a stick, juice, milk L—sloppy joe, smiles,

corn, mixed fruit

28

B—Cook’s Choice, juice, milk L—cheese pizza, sal-

ad, carrots, pears

31

B—pancake/waffle, juice, milk L—chicken sandwich, cooked carrots, cooked

broccoli, smiles, fruit

April

1 April Fool’s Day

8:05 am All School Mass by 6G

5:30 pm PTO Board Meeting

3 8:05 am All School Mass by 3B

2:45 pm Stations of the Cross MDHN

4 No School Teacher In-Service School of Faith

8 8:05 am All School Mass by 5R

5:30 pm School Council Meeting PMR

10 Mater Dei Spirit Day

11 8:05 am All School Mass by 8W

2:45 pm Stations of the Cross MDHN

13 Palm Sunday

16 8:05 am All School Mass by 4F

17 Holy Thursday No School

18 Good Friday No School

20 Easter Sunday

21 Easter Monday No School

22 8:05 am All School Mass by Teachers

25 8:05 am All School Mass by 3H

Track Meet at Santa Fe Trail

27 1:00 pm First Communion Mass at MDHN

29 8:05 am All School Mass by 2M

Future Dates

Fill up the attached Box Tops for Education sheet & return it to school.

We receive 10¢ for every box top we send in so keep them coming!

This information pertains to Hayden. This is a courtesy for

the families that have children at Hayden and Mater Dei.

March

3 No School ~ Staff Development

5 Ash Wednesday Liturgy 9:55 a.m.

7 Spring Musical “Little Women” at VA performance time 7:30 pm

8 Spring Musical “Little Women” at VA performance time 7:30 pm

11 Spring Music Concert 7:00 pm

13 Parent Teacher Conferences

14 No School

17-21Spring Break

28 No School

29 PACE AUCTION

PACE Bingo

6:30 Thursday & Saturday

MATER DEI CHILD CARE CENTER NEWS

Great Opportunity

March 1st is fast approaching. Enroll your child by March 1, 2014 and the

$50 registration fee will be waived.

For more information contact Margaret Lachowsky at 232-1603.

Shop, Swap, and Sell

Date: March 1, 2014 Location: Mater Dei Child Care Center Start Time: 10 a.m.

Looking for Child Care during Spring Break?

Call Margaret Lachowsky at 232-1603 or talk with Miss Ronda.

Look for future information on MDCCC Summer Fun.

Library Connection

Library Hours

Mon.-Fri. 9 am-9pm

Saturday 9am-6pm

Sunday 12pm-9pm

www.tscpl.org

Dr. Seuss was born on March 2nd. Let us honor his work by reading one of your favorite Seuss

book.

Read it here…

Read it there…

Read it anywhere.

If you can’t serve when you’re assigned, please find a replacement.

March Altar Servers: Mater Dei Parish News

A Manna form is attached to each monthly newsletter. If you n e e d m o r e , v i s i t t h e s c h o o l w e b s i t e (http://materdeischool.org/forms.html). You can also get forms from the school and parish offices. Manna is a truly great pro-gram that benefits our parish. When you buy Manna cards, the parish receives a portion of the cost (the percentages are listed right after the name of the business). Please consider helping by purchasing these cards! Once you begin participating in this program it is really easy to make the change from cash, credit card or debit to Manna card. Most of the businesses listed are places you already shop. If you don’t see what you need on the

form, call Shawn (232-7744) to see if he can get it for you.

To order Manna, simply complete the form and return it with cash or check. As with all things sent to school, place it in an envelope with your student’s name, grade and what’s inside. We will fill it

and get it back to you.

Use the Manna program! Manna is for sale after all Masses the first week-end of every month and after school on Fridays.

March 1-2: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sat. 5:00 pm (MDHN) Logan Crow, Robert Meidinger, Kate Storrer

Sun. 7:30 am (MDA) Allison Baum, Roni Raines Sun. 9:00 am (MDHN) Madeline Gearhart, Jacob Keen, Dahlton Logemann Sun. 11:00 am (MDHN) Sophia Friess, Claire & Mary Schmidt

Sun. 5:00 pm (MDA) Jordan Diaz, Emily Metzger, Peter Oberle

March 5: Ash Wednesday All School Mass 8W

Fri. 8:05 am (MDHN) Landen Doty, Avery Hobbs, Laura Bernheide

March 7: All School Mass 3H

Fri. 8:05 am (MDHN) Martin Gray, Jordan Diaz, Saige LasKares

March 8-9: First Sunday of Lent Sat. 5:00 pm (MDHN) Aidan Renyer, Ryan Selk, Eli Wardner Sun. 7:30 am (MDA) Andrew & Nicholas Kirmer Sun. 9:00 am (MDHN) Eric Hutley, Isaac Mead, Ethan Spindler Sun. 11:00 am (MDHN) Martin Gray, Genna & Josulyn Salsbury

Sun. 5:00 pm (MDA) Rosie & Sandy Anguiano, Jessica Smith

March11: Gr. 1 - 8 Mass 4F

Tues. 8:05 am (MDHN) Mackenzie Giefer, Katherine Kennedy, Roni Raines

March 14: All School Mass 2M

Fri. 8:05 am (MDHN) Ethan Spindler, Dahlton Logeman, Kate Storrer

March 15-16: Second Sunday of Lent Sat. 5:00 pm (MDHN) BreAnna Droge, Emilio & Santiago Jaramillo Sun. 7:30 am (MDA) Allison Baum, Jacob Keen Sun. 9:00 am (MDHN) Mary McGuire, Addy & Emily Mead

Sun. 11:00 am (MDHN) Cody Cooper, Isabelle Muñoz, Claire Schmidt

Sun. 5:00 pm (MDA) Reina Gonzalez, Ben & Emily Metzger

March 22-23: Third Sunday of Lent Sat. 5:00 pm (MDHN) Darian, Gabe, & Miranda Hillebert Sun. 7:30 am (MDA) Andrew Kirmer, Roni Raines Sun. 9:00 am (MDHN) Drew & Ethan Spindler, Jacob Tritsch

Sun. 11:00 am (MDHN) Tanner Ramirez, Kayla Simons, Jonathan Wickstrum

Sun. 5:00 pm (MDA) Jordan Diaz, Peter Oberle, Jessica Smith

March 25: Gr. 1 - 8 Mass Faculty

Tues. 8:05 am (MDHN) JT Tetuan, Isaac Mead, Sophia Friess

March 28: Gr. 1 - 8 Mass 7K

Fri. 8:05 am (MDHN) Addy Mead, Alex Meier, Zoe Roth

Pi Day 5 Day Challenge

Pope Francis calls us to feed the poor in his support of the Wave of Hun-ger Campaign. The Pope has set a goal to eradicate global hunger by distributing food more fairly around the world and has called on all Catholics to help. Each day, the Mater Dei students will bring the follow-

ing items:

March 10 canned soup (please no packaged soup)

March 11 Boxed Macaroni and Cheese (only boxes - no single servings)

March 12 Canned Fruits and Vegetables

Match 13 Canned Spaghetti Sauce and Spaghetti (please only canned sauce)

March 14 Health Items i.e. toothpaste, shampoo, bars of soap

Or you may just donate $5 for the whole week and let us do the shop-ping. If all students participate, we will collect over 1000 food items.

That is over 318 pi! The food donated will stay in Topeka.

Mass Schedule Weekdays: 8:05 am MDHN;

12:05 pm MDA

Saturday: 5:00 pm MDHN

Sunday: 7:30 am & 5:00 pm MDA

Sunday: 9:00 am & 11:00 am MDHN

Saturday, March 15, 2014

MATER DEI MUSIC MINISTRY Do you want to fall in love with Jesus and his Church? Do you want to grow in love and knowledge of the Mass? Would you like to get more from the Sunday Liturgy? Wherever you are on your spiritual journey now may be a great time to consider sharing your time and talent in the music ministry at Mater Dei Parish.

Please call Theresa Wicker at 221-6030 for more information.

Mater Dei Catholic School

Pi Day 5 Day Challenge

“When I was hungry you gave me

something to eat.” Matthew 25:35

Mater Dei Pi Day Project will answer

the call of Jesus and Pope Francis.

For more information, read page 6

of this newsletter.

Ash Wednesday

Mass Schedule

8:05 am MDHN

12:05 pm MDA

7:00 pm MDHN

Date : Total Order $

Child's Name/Grade: Check #

Phone Number: Zip Code Cash

GROCERY VENDORS % AMT QTY Sub total Filled % AMT QTY Sub total Filled

Dillons Reloadable 5 $5 Hyvee 5 $25

Dillons Reloadable 5 $25 Hyvee 5 $50

Dillons Reloadable 5 $50 Hyvee 5 $100

Dillons Reloadable 5 $100

RETAILERS % AMT QTY Sub total Filled RESTAURANTS % AMT QTY Sub total Filled

Amazon 4 $25 Arby's 8 $10

Barnes & Noble 9 $5/$10/$25 Applebee's 8 $25

Bath & Body Works 13 $10/$25 Burger King 4 $10

Bed, Bath and Beyond 7 $25/$100 Carlos O'Kelly's 9 $10

Best Buy 3 $25/$100 Chipotle 10 $10

Best Buy 3 $250 Chili's 11 $25

Cabela's 11 $25 Chuck E Cheese 8 $10

Claire's/Icing 9 $10 Coldstone Creamery 8 $10

Dicks Sporting Goods 8 $25 Cracker Barrel 9 $10

Dillards 9 $25 $10

Eddie Bauer 10 $25 $25

Gap/Old Navy 9 $25 Hardee's 5 $10

GNC 8 $25 KFC 8 $5

Gordman's 7 $25 Landry' Restaurants 9 $25

Home Depot 4 $25/$100 Little Caesar's 8 $20

iTunes 10 $15/$25 Dardens - Longhorn,

JC Penney's 5 $25/$100 Red Lobster &

Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores 6 $25 Olive Garden

Kohl's 5 $10/$25 Old Chicago 6 $25

Kohl's 5 $50/$100 Outback Steakhouse 8 $25

Lands End(Sears/Kmart) 16 $25/$100 Panera's 9 $10

L.L. Bean 15 $25 Papa John's 8 $10

Lowes 4 $25/$100 Pizza Hut 3 $10

Lowes 4 $500/$1000 Quiznos 10 $10

Michaels 4 $25 Red Robin 9 $25

Office Depot 4 $25/$100 Starbucks 7 $5/$10/$25

Office Max 5 $25/$100 Steak-n-Shake 8 $10

Old Navy/Gap 9 $25 Subway 3 $10

Payless Shoes 13 $20 Texas Roadhouse 8 $25

Pier 1 9 $25 Wendys 4 $10

Talbots 8 $25 Texas Roadhouse 8 $25

Target 2 $10/$25/$100 Wendys 4 $10

TJ Maxx 7 $25

Toys-R-Us 1.5 $20

Walgreens 6 $25/$100

Wal-Mart 2.5 $25/$100

Wal-Mart 2.5 $250

revised 11/07/2012

Name:

Glory Days Pizza

Reloadable10

$259

Attach your Box Tops coupons over the Irish Fest logo– each is worth

10¢ for Mater Dei Catholic School. To see more ways to earn cash for

your school, go to btfe.com.

FOR COORDINATORS ONLY:

Total # of Box Tops on this sheet: _____

Mater Dei Catholic School Collection Sheet

Irish Fest is Saturday, March 15th. Contact Mimi Gardner to volunteer for the run at gardnerm@materdeischool.org or call 862-3245. Contact Kelly Eakes to volunteer for the Irish Fest at materdeiirishfest@gmail.com or call 233-3354.

Upcoming Events School

Mater Dei Catholic School

Parish

Casino Night March 1, 2014

Rossiter Hall

(Adult only event)

Shop, Swap, and Sell

Date: March 1, 2014 10 am

Location: Mater Dei Child

Care Center 911 SW Clay

Friday Lenten Fish Fry Serving every Friday during Lent, starting March 7th. See bulletin for a volunteer

sheet.

Serving from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Rossiter Hall

Cost: $8.00 Adults (13 and above)

$4.00 Children (6-12)

5 and under free

March 15, 2014

Irish Fest is rapidly approaching, your help is needed. This year, both the Irish Fest and the 5K Irish Fest Run will be held on Satur-day, March 15th. Please consider the generous gift of your time and talent to make this day a huge success for our parish. Shifts

will be available from 8:00 am-6:00 pm.

Contact Mimi Gardner to volunteer for the run at gardnerm@materdeischool.org or call 862-3245.

Contact Kelly Eakes to volunteer for the Irish Fest at materdeiirishfest@gmail.com or call 233-3354.

Altar Society

Cinnamon Roll Sale

March 1, 2014 after 5:00 pm

Mass MD School

March 2, 2014 after the 7:30 am

Mass (RH)

and 9:00 am Mass

(MD School)

Ashes to Ashes March 5th, 2014...Lent

Three pillars of Lent.

Prayer Fasting Almsgiving

Stations of the Cross 2:45 pm MDHN each Friday of Lent

5:30 pm MDA each Friday of Lent

Fasting: eat one small meal or no meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

Abstinence: to go without, i.e. no eating meat on Friday during Lent

Children know that Lent is when we “give something up.” But Lent is also the Church’s gift to us to help us grow in love for God by the time Easter morning dawns.

Clear the path for love. During Lent we check to see if we are still on the path Jesus laid out for us. Can others tell by our actions that we are followers of Christ? Are we honest, caring and giving? Are we spreading God’s love? This is the time to clear out whatever is in the way so that we can answer, “yes!”

Sacrifice for love. Giving up favorite foods, televisions shows, and special toys during Lent is a way to join our sacrifice to Jesus’ loving sacrifice on the

Cross for us. This shows our sorrow for the times we have

failed to love him but also reminds us

to give him our whole hearts from now on.

Listen for love. During

Lent we can do more prayerful

listening. Sharing Scripture with children

helps them to hear God’s voice. For example, reading the gospels and meditating on Jesus’ words is a sure way to teach children the words of love.

Show love. Next to loving and worshipping God, Jesus really wants us to love each other. Performing acts of kindness during Lent shows our love as well as expresses penance.

Lent is about love

© Copyright 2014 Success Publishing & Media, LLC

ThoughtfulMoments

St. PatrickSt. Patrick was just

a teen when he was seized by marauders from his home in Scotland and enslaved in Ireland. He worked as a shepherd for six years before escaping. Back in Scotland, he became a priest but asked to return to the land of his captivity as a missionary. While many legends are told about him, we do know for certain that St. Patrick eventually became bishop of Ireland and is credited for having established the Church there.

Penance vs. punishmentDon’t let children confuse

penance with punishment. Punishment is something forced on us when we commit wrongdoing. Penance is an act we offer to God of our own free will out of sorrow when we turn from him.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights …” (Matthew 4:1-2).

Why do Catholics avoid meat on Fridays during Lent?

Partners in

FAITHFAITH™

Helping our children grow in their Catholic faith. March 2014

Catholics who are at least fourteen years old are required to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. This practice is meant as a reverential sacrifice in honor of Christ’s sacrifice on Good Friday. It is also an outward, penitential

sign of our faith. The Church still

recommends abstinence on all Fridays of the year, not just during Lent. In fact, if we don’t abstain from meat on non-Lenten Fridays, we’re asked to substitute some other form of penance.

?Why Do Catholics Do That

Mater Dei Catholic SchoolInspiring Our Future, Celebrating Our Traditions

Partners in Faith TM March 2014 Page 2

Scolding doesn’t always produce good behavior. Add earned praise to your parenting toolbox during Lent and you may even find your children have better behavior when Easter comes around.

Notice small improvements. Pick two or three behaviors you would like your child to improve, set goals, and praise even slight progress. “I only had to call you once to set the table today. Thanks for starting to take responsibility for your chore.” Your

child will look at himself in a new way – as someone who is responsible instead of forgetful – and may repeat this

behavior hoping for more praise.Focus on the positive. Instead of “You

call this a clean room? What about all stuff on the floor?” try to focus on what

was done well. “You made your bed and hung up all your clothes. Now all you have to do is put your books on the shelves and your room will look great.” She will feel good

about the job already done and be motivated to finish.

Positive products of praise

Each year my children give up chocolate, arguing, eating desserts, watching television for Lent - all good choices but things they shouldn’t do much of anyway. I thought we would take a different approach to Lent this year.

I put out two large jars, an empty one and one full of jelly beans. Whenever we perform an anonymous good deed or sacrifice during Lent, we can move a jelly bean into the empty jar to fill it up. On Easter we will share the candy as a symbol of the sweet reward of Heaven when we do what Jesus asked.

Then we made tissue paper flowers and put them in a box. Each time we pray a decade of the Rosary during Lent we can put a flower in the vase on the kitchen table. We get to see our spirits “blossom” during the season as we prepare for Easter.

O u r M i s s i o nTo help parents raise faithful Catholic children

Success Publishing & Media, LLCPublishers of Growing in Faith and Partners in Faith

(540)662-7844 (540) 662-7847 faxwww.partnersinfaith.com

(Unless noted, Bible quotes and references are from the Revised Standard Version and New American Bible.)

ParentScriptureLESSONSeeing Jesus for who he was, a blind

man came to him for healing. Jesus spread a paste made of clay and saliva on the man’s eyes. Then he told the man to wash the dirt from his eyes so he could see. Sometimes God allows us to become uncomfortable before he reveals his truth to us.

The Pharisees were incensed by this miracle and that’s how we know that they were false shepherds. Seekers of the truth ask questions

sincerely with a willingness to find God. The Pharisees were so anxious

to hold on to their positions that they proclaimed silly conclusions such as, “if this man were from God

he wouldn’t heal on the Sabbath.” In fact, all they did

and said led people away from Jesus – a very serious error.

What can a parent do? Encourage children to ask questions so that they can know God better. When we

seek God sincerely with a willingness to obey him, he will always lead us to

the truth.

John 9:1-41, A blind man saw clearly

March is the month in which we honor St. Joseph (March 19), Jesus’ earthly father and husband to the Blessed Mother. He is a model of fatherhood and protector of families.

March 7 – Sts. Perpetua and Felicity (203). Perpetua was a young mother and beautiful noblewoman of Carthage who refused to renounce her faith. Felicity was a slave and expectant mother who also refused to deny her Christianity. Felicity gave birth and then both women were executed three days later.

March 23 – St. Toribio de Mogrovejo (1606). A brilliant scholar, he was a professor of law when chosen to lead the archdiocese of Lima in Peru. He was ordained priest and bishop and worked with intense fervor to strengthen his diocese.

March 25 – The Annunciation (first century). The angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin Mary with the extraordinary news of her role as the mother of God. Even at her young age, she had complete confidence in God’s grace and trusted in his wisdom.

&FeastsCelebrations

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