"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?"
PS 27:1
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Monday, December 9:
Red Day | Runathon Dress Down Day [
Runathon participants may wear their Runathon shirt with jeans or sweats]
Tuesday, December 10:
Black Day | Penance Service
Wednesday, December 11:
Red Day | 2:00 pm Dismissal
Thursday, December 12:
Black Day | All-School Mass | Spanish National Honor Society Induction
Friday, December 13:
Red Day| Tender Loving Christmas [TLC] Telethon | Jeans & Ugly Sweater Day [Student Council] | 8th Grade Movie Night
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Out of hundreds of seniors from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Eli Bush and Elena Closser were chosen to present the gifts to Archbishop Thompson at Monday's Senior Mass at St. Malachy.
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Academic Rising Stars
Announced
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The Indiana Association of School Principals, through its Department of Student Programs, is proud to recognize Olivia Ruble, Wina Aaron, Mark Baker, and Ethan Lettich as Academic Rising Stars of the Class of 2021. Congratulations!
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Mark Baker & Timmy Godsil Attend West Point Conference
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Juniors Mark Baker and Timmy Godsil attended the West Point Leadership and Ethics Conference in Indianapolis this past week. While at the conference, students explored the foundations of ethical leadership and their own personal values. Small group discussions led by Cadets from West Point, the premier leadership school in the country, was the highlight of the conference. The West Point curriculum utilized at the conference has been used around the country at high schools and colleges to help develop leaders of character.
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Thanks to everyone who attended our annual Christmas concert last night, and thank you to Ms. Leyba and Mrs. Summers for the hard work they put into the production.
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Mrs Sperry’s biology classes toured research and development site for Corteva Agriscience.
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From IT
Recently you may have received emails about Google Classroom and your current guardian status. As you know, this is our first year using Google Classroom and we were having an issue with some guardians being dropped automatically. The emails you received are part of my effort to resolve this issue. I appreciate your patience while I work through it! If you received a new invitation to manage the Google Classroom summary, please accept it, even if you already have and already are receiving summary updates. Kudos to those who reached out! It is great to see the engagement as we bridge technology and education together and work to provide more tools for you to access and view your student's progress.
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SCRIP Update
We will be ordering scrip cards (physical cards in addition to e-certificates) on December 16. Make your Christmas shopping easier, and earn tuition credits on top of that. Orders received by 8:00 AM on Monday will be ready no later than the following Thursday. You can order online at
shopwithscrip.com
or send an order form in with your student. Remember, you can pay with a check either way. In addition, Great Lakes has added credit cards as a payment option for a small fee, however, you need to order online in order to use that option. As always, thanks for supporting Scrip!
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Volunteer Opportunity
There are many opportunities to get your volunteer hours at basketball games this winter. CRHS is looking for ticket takers and concession stand workers. Please contact
Jim Martin
if interested.
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Service Hours
Parents, if you need more information about the requirements for service hours, have your child show you the Cardinal Ritter Service Google Classroom page. If your child has not yet joined, the code is 75g4wb.
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WEEK THREE
Wherever He is to be found, let us serve Him.
Let us prepare for the coming of the Word made Flesh by pondering the Word of God in
Scripture.
In this Sunday’s first reading the Prophet Isaiah foretells the coming of a descendant of Jesse, one upon whom the Spirit of the Lord will rest. This Spirit, Isaiah says, will pour out upon Him an abundance of gifts - the same gifts that animated the Apostles at Pentecost - the very same gifts that we receive from the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation: wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.
Guided by these spiritual gifts, Isaiah writes that this “shoot of Jesse” will be an advocate for the poor and the afflicted. In their favor he will rule and on their side he will stand. Further, those who are wicked and ruthless he will punish and His rule will usher in a supernatural peace which will settle over the land and all nations will seek to dwell in his Kingdom.
The Psalm, 72, carries over this theme of Justice & Peace flourishing, while the afflicted, the lowly, and the poor will be rescued from their perils.
St. Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, extols endurance, encouragement, harmony, & unity. He knew the challenges that Christians would face in his day (which are not so very different from those in our own). He admonishes us to not only endure these trials and struggles, but to bolster one another and to fortify one another in hope. Knowing that Our Lord earnestly desires us to “be one, just as he and the Father are one” St. Paul admonishes us to dwell in harmony with one another, in communion with God & our Neighbor.
The Gospel reading introduces St. John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus, who is in the desert calling people to repent of their sins and prepare for the coming of the Messiah and His Kingdom. As his name indicates, John was baptizing people, but as he himself notes, his baptism was not one of forgiveness, nor was it sacramental. It was merely a sign of repentance, not unlike our use of Ashes on Ash Wednesday to indicate our turning from sin. John tells us that the Messiah will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. John warns us of the reality of Judgment and reminds us of the need for repentance.
Having pondered The Word in Scripture, let us now turn to how we can Respond:
Advocacy for the poor, the lowly, and the afflicted is woven throughout these readings. It is apparent, then, that to respond to this theme requires turning our attention to the needs of the poor, the marginalized, and the disadvantaged in our society. Doing so is the heart of Christian Service, which is quite distinct from a general idea of community service. When distinguishing the two, it is important to note that community service is a good and noble thing, one that is essential for the common good, and is the hallmark of good citizenship. However, Christ said that “from those who have much, much is expected”. We, who have the benefit of the Gospel and the grace of baptism, are not merely members of an earthly nation, but are also citizens of a heavenly kingdom. This calls us to a higher form of service, what one might call “Christian Service.”
Christian service is done after the model of, and in obedience to Jesus Christ. The model that He has given us is a profound Love and Humility - the Church uses the Greek word
kenosis
, which denotes a sacrificial self-emptying. We see this self-emptying preeminently in the Cross, but it is clear in other places as well: When Christ washes the feet of His Apostles He is lowering Himself to the role of a servant. When Christ insists that his cousin, John, should baptize him, this too is an act of humility, for as John points out, “I am not worthy to untie his sandals.” We also see this self-emptying in the manger - where the Messiah, the Son of God chose to lower Himself to take on human nature, and to be born into earthly poverty. Any act of Christian service should involve this type of self-emptying and humility.
So if self-emptying is the model, so what, then, is the command that Christ has given us to serve? Here we look to a
great parable found near the end of Matthew’s Gospel
in which Jesus describes the judgment of the nations. He says that all people will be separated, just as a shepherd might separate sheep and goats. The sheep, in the parable, represent those who are welcomed into heaven. Surprised, they ask what they might have done to deserve God’s favorable judgment, and Christ replies:
“When I was hungry, you gave me food. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me. When I was ill, you cared for me. When I was in prison, you visited me.” Further shocked at this they ask, “When did we ever do these things for you, Lord?” To this he says, “Whatever you have done for the least of these my brethren, you have done for me.”
Christian service, then, is not only done with charity and self-emptying, but it is also done for the good of those who are on the margins of society: those battling poverty and the lack of basic human necessities that come with it, those who are disenfranchised and vulnerable, those who live in chronic fear and anxiety, who are deprived of the basic dignity that is fitting for all of us made in the image and after the likeness of our God.
Attributed to St. John Chyrsostom, the great patriarch of Constantinople, the “golden-mouthed” preacher, is the statement, “If you do not recognize Christ in the beggar at the door, then neither will you recognize him in the Eucharist.” To this we might add, that “if we do not recognize Him in the least of these, His brethren and ours, then neither will we recognize Him in the manger... nor when He comes again in glory.
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WEEK TWO
Beginning the Liturgical Year with the End in Mind
In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah tells of a day in the future when great throngs of people will stream toward the “mountain of the Lord” referring not only to the city of Jerusalem, but that heavenly Jerusalem that is the Church. Arriving at the mountain of the Lord will bring a great peace in which weapons of war will become farming implements - swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Perhaps today we might say “Tanks into tractors and guns into lawn trimmers”.
If Isaiah depicts this adventure to the heavenly Jerusalem, then the Psalm, 122, is the hymn of the throngs as they march along their way to the “House of the Lord”; it is the fight song of people on an epic journey that will end with rejoicing and prosperity and peace.
We hear St. Paul give us instruction in his epistle to the Romans, preparing us for this great adventure. He tells us to conduct ourselves properly, to put on Christ and the armor of light, so that we might vanquish the darkness of sin and death.
Finally the readings culminate with the Gospel theme: “The end is near!” Jesus is foretelling His own triumphant return - a return that we profess in the Creed each Sunday: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” He tells us about the coming of the “Son of Man” - an ancient Jewish phrase referring to the Messiah. In warning us of the reality of The End Christ is reminding us of the inescapable fact that it comes for all of us, and with it comes judgment. There is little comfort to be found in any discussion of the Last Things (Death, Judgment, Heaven, & Hell). If this message is an unsettling jolt to those whose minds have turned already toward the Christmas themes of Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men, how much more so is it disturbing to those whose minds have turned only as far as Black Friday deals and Christmas wish-lists?
Why does the Lord jolt us so? And to what end does the Church choose this message to begin the season of Advent? Christ plainly says that His purpose is to help inspire and motivate us - to help save us. Seeing how easily we are lulled into a spiritual slumber he admonishes us to “Stay awake.” Knowing how readily we can put off our spiritual health, He calls us to “Be prepared.” In his rule, St. Benedict wrote that his monks should “keep death daily before their eyes,” not as a macabre and somber dwelling upon death, but a reminder that “time flies, life is short.” Christ is calling us truly seize the day, to live deliberately in the fullest sense, to choose the narrow path that leads to salvation. It is not a one-time choice, but rather one that, with God’s help, we must make daily. Let us “encourage each other daily while it is still today.”
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WEEK ONE
Advent: Wait, Ponder, Prepare
A few weeks ago we all experienced a little “hiccup” in time when we turned our clocks back, “gained” an extra hour of sleep, and with it a brighter morning commute. In the Spring we will experience a similar hiccup when the clocks are moved forward, that precious hour is lost, and we will be headed to school in darkness yet again. Indiana did not adopt Daylight Saving Time until 2006, becoming the 48th state to do so. This leaves Alaska as the lone hold out; What the clock reads makes little difference in the “Land of the Midnight Sun”.
Culturally, American society has experienced its own recent hiccup of sorts, and like Alaska, the Church continues to hold out. For most Americans Thanksgiving marks the “official” start of the Christmas season. The signs of it are everywhere: neighborhood Christmas lights help stave off the late autumn darkness, stores of all sorts are decked in Christmas decor, and at least one local radio station is playing Christmas music around the clock. The Church does not follow this broad and well-traveled path. As the culture shouts “Merry Christmas!” (or rather, “Happy Holidays!”) the Church whispers in reply, “Not yet… not yet.” The Church’s delay of Christmas exuberance is not born out of stubbornness, much less is it a sign of any sort of Scrooge-like humbuggery. Rather, it is a recognition that some things are worth waiting for, even if, as the late Tom Petty lyrically lamented, “the waiting is the hardest part.”
As parents we have learned that the zeal and eagerness of youth can be disastrous if not tempered by the virtue of Prudence. We don’t want our children to rush into things without properly thinking them through and preparing for them: Driving, dating, college and career choices, living arrangements, and marriage are all things that we want our children to discern and deliberate about before jumping into them. We know that thinking through these choices helps them appreciate their complexity and their consequences. That is where Prudence comes in: The ancient Greeks described Prudence as the “charioteer” of the other virtues, holding them in check lest the chariot go careening off, out of control. Prudence is at the heart of the often heard and oft-repeated classic parental question, “If all of your friends jumped off a bridge would you jump too?” So like a wise mother, the Church sees the culture rushing headlong into Christmas while Thanksgiving leftovers remain in the fridge, and she says, “Wait. Ponder. Prepare.” The Church gives us the season of Advent for this very reason, and Advent is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year. It calls us to start the year in anticipation. Wait. Ponder. Prepare.
[Advent Blog posts were written by Mr. Anthony Basso.]
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Want to give back to the Cardinal Ritter community with Coca-Cola Give? Simply go to the
Coca-Cola Give website
, select Cardinal Ritter High School as your school of choice, and enter the code found on the inside of Coca-Cola packaging.
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SKIP THE SCISSORS
IT'S TIME TO GET THE NEW MOBILE APP!
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In case you haven’t heard, the collection of Box Tops is moving away from the traditional clipping. Eventually the Box Tops program will become digital-only. Participating brands are starting to change their packaging from a traditional Box Tops clip to the new Box Top label.
It's the easiest way to earn for CRHS: Simply download the Box Tops for Education mobile app from the app store, and be sure to choose Cardinal Ritter as your school of choice. Once you scan your store receipt, the app automatically finds participating products. 10¢ per Box Top will be added to CRHS's earnings online. Thank you for supporting Cardinal Ritter High School, and please let us know if you have any questions!
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Senior Retreat Leader Opportunity
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We need your help! If you are a college-aged graduate and are interested in serving on senior retreat, click
here
. If you know a college-aged graduate who is interested in serving on a senior retreat, send them the link as well!
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Open Cafeteria Position
SAVE 25% OFF TUITION by working with a great and hard-working team of cafeteria specialists! The Cardinal Ritter Cafeteria is looking for a dedicated and dependable employee. One who is passionate about our kids and their health and wants to be part of our drive to offer the delicious and nutritious meals kids need to be at their best in school every day. Be home when your kids are home in the morning, and be home when your kids are home in the afternoon. For more information, visit
CardinalRitter.org/careers
or email
Art Bouvier
.
Open Maintenance Position
CRHS has a part-time, 20-25 hour per week maintenance and housekeeping position open. Please contact
Joe Anderson
for more information.
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Junior Job Shadowing
Junior job shadowing is a requirement for every junior to complete at Cardinal Ritter. We are in need of parents who would be willing to take a student shadow. Please contact Lindsay Thomas at 317-924-4333 ext. 421 or
lthomas@cardinalritter.org
if you are interested.
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Yearbook Community Upload
Want to submit photos for the 2019-20 Yearbook? Please use the button below to share your photos with the CRHS Yearbook Class.
Thank you for supporting Cardinal Ritter!
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Senior parents: Are you interested in placing a senior ad in the 2019-20 Yearbook? Click
here
for ad information.
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8th Grade Graduation Volunteer Sign-Up
The 8th grade graduation reception is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2020, and we need approximately six volunteers to help with this event. If you choose, these volunteer hours can count toward the 2020-2021 school year. If you have questions, please contact Tiffany Dix at tndix10@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your help!
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SCRIP Information
Instructions for Ordering Online
1. Go to
shopwithscrip.com
and create an account. Our organization code is FE97AB26258L.
2. Once your account is created, click on "Shop" and browse the hundreds of products available
3. After your order is complete, choose your payment method - either check or PrestoPay. You DO NOT have to use PrestoPay to order online. If you choose check, just send your payment in with your student on Monday morning.
4. Look for your order to come home on Wednesday or Thursday-unless you ordered ScripNow (e-certificates) or Reloads. Those will be available as soon as the order is processed on Monday if you pay by check, or almost immediately if you pay with PrestoPay.
5. Click
here
for more detailed instructions.
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Amazon Smile
Don't forget to select Cardinal Ritter High School as your charity of choice at
smile.amazon.com,
and a portion of your purchase will be donated to CRHS!
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Earn rewards for CRHS every time you shop at Kroger!
New Number: LL023
Support CRHS every time you shop at Kroger! Log in to your Kroger account and click "My Account" at the top of the homepage to get to your Account Summary page. Click the "Add Card" button under "Plus Card and Alt ID(s)." Type your 12- or 13-digit Kroger card number into the "Plus Card-or-Alt ID Number" field. This number is at the back of your Kroger Plus card. Then you can click on community rewards on the side bar and type Cardinal Ritter High School into the search space. CRHS will earn money every time you swipe your Kroger Card.
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Non-Discrimination Policy
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All schools operated by schools and parishes under the guidance of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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The West Deanery Unified Catholic Schools are Roman Catholic schools that provide an academically rigorous education for our diverse student population. Students are challenged to grow in Mind, Body, & Soul and to engage in charitable stewardship of their unique talents and abilities.
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