Volume III | April 2019
A message from from Fr. Mike and Fr. Mark
Dear Carroll Community,

 40 days! How is our Lenten journey going so far? Some days to make those sacrifices and follow through with our Lenten promises are easy and some are very difficult! 

Those cravings for a Chick Fil A sandwich on a Friday in Lent are real! Sometimes we are strong; sometimes we fall! Why does the Lenten season feel so long? So dull? So sad? We want Easter! We are ready for joy, resurrection, and new life! It will be here sooner than we think!

It is no coincidence and a great analogy that winter shifts to spring during this Lenten to Easter journey. Everybody enjoys the warm weather, the flowers in bloom, those nice evening walks. Nobody enjoys the shoveling, the freezing cold and the "dead" of winter. 

But just like Lent, you need the winter to get to the springtime! We need to go through Lent so we can appreciate Easter even more! 

In the song “Seasons” by Hillsong Worship (we recommend the song; it's worth a listen; our homework assignment to you; haha), there's a lyric that makes this connection:  "Though the winter is long; even richer, the harvest it brings! From Bethlehem's soil grew Calvary's sequoia." 

There's always light at the end of the tunnel! That's what Lent teaches us. This is what Jesus lived out! In the cold of a manger, the darkness of betrayal, the physical struggle, the spiritual battle, the mental anguish, Jesus endured and was rewarded with Resurrection. We must do the same but just not during a liturgical season but persevering every single day! 

We are going through Lent as we speak but we all have personal lents throughout life! Keep in mind that Lent leads to Easter! Seasons change, remember that! Don't get stuck in a season! We are an Easter people! Rejoice and be glad! Follow always the example of Jesus - the Way, the Truth, the Life and the Resurrection! Have a blessed Lent and a joyful Easter! Know of our prayers for you and your special intentions!

Blessings,
Father Mike Speziale
Director of Campus Ministry
Father Mark Cavara
Religion Teacher
Club Overview - PatrioThon Service Club

By Kate Maginnis '19
 
PatrioThon is 12-hour dance marathon hosted by Archbishop Carroll each year.  Every penny raised goes right back into our community and benefits the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Catholic Charities, and Catholic Relief Services. We dance from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., the next morning, all in solidarity with the children and their families supported by these charities. Each hour has a different theme like karaoke, knockout, dodgeball and Disney sing-along! This year, we were able to have five families from CHOP tell their story and keep our dancers motivated for the cause. 

Throughout the year, the PatrioThon Executive Team organizes weekly meetings, monthly fundraisers and fun events for our dancers to stay involved. From outdoor Halloween movie nights to our very own wing-bowl, our team strives to raise as much money as possible for these wonderful charities. In the past two years, our events have been incredibly successful because of the student and family commitment to our event. We cannot thank you enough for  your hard work! 

This spectacular event is completely funded by donations and we depend on the generosity of our community. This year alone, we had nearly 1,000 wings, 200 pizzas and hundreds of other vital  donations that made our event such a huge success. We surpassed our fundraising goal by nearly $20,000 and raised $68,004.33, all for the kids! During Best Buddies week, we were able to donate $12,000 right back to our very own Saint Katherine’s Day School, who are a pivotal part of the Carroll community. 

PatrioThon has become Carroll’s largest outreach event in only four short years, and its legacy will impact our community for many years to come. Since 2016 and the beginning of this event, we have raised over $200,000 for our wonderful charities. Giving back and doing good for others is central to our Catholic mission and PatrioThon is an amazing way to get involved. If you are interested in joining the PatrioThon executive team, please contact Mrs. Bourgeois, Mrs. E. Volpe, or Mrs. Buchanan. For the Kids! 
April Service Calendar of Events
School Events

Thursday, Apr. 4 - Junior Ring Mass, 6 p.m.

Friday, Apr. 5 - Junior Service Retreat in the morning (ends at noon)

Mr. Kirsch & Pro-Life Club meetings

Every Saturday - Prayer Vigil in front of a local abortion clinic; meet Mr. Kirsch at Carroll at 6 a.m. - confirm with Mr. Kirsch prior

Friday, Apr. 5, 12, and 19 - in the Carroll Chapel for a prayer service and Stations of the Cross.

Friday, Apr. 26 - Room 200

Catholic Athletes for Christ meetings:
Tuesday, Apr. 9 & 23 - in Room 110 during 6th period (lunch included) 

Holy Week plans:
Monday, Apr. 15 - Lenten Confessions in the Auditorium for the entire Carroll community
Tuesday, Apr. 16 - Outdoor Stations of the Cross blessing at 9:15 a.m., for entire school community
Wednesday, Apr. 17 - "Were You There" assembly (Passion play) for the entire school
Thursday, Apr. 18 - Church Search & Cheesesteaks - begin the night by going to the West Chester University Newman Center for Holy Thursday Mass at 7 p.m.
Friday, Apr. 19 - Walking Stations of the Cross at St. Denis, Havertown at 12 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 20 - Easter Vigil Mass at Sacred Heart in Havertown at 7 p.m. (we welcome six new Carroll Catholics into the Church)
 
Wednesday, Apr. 24 - Best Buddies general meeting after school in Room 200. 

Wednesday of the month - Diversity Club in Ms. Ginn's classroom, Room 308 (students should listen to announcements to find out which date it is )
 
Tuesday, Apr. 9 & 30 - Genesis (Eucharistic Adoration prayer group) in the Carroll Chapel at 6:45 p.m.; tentatively teaming up with Cardinal O'Hara ministry team.

Wednesdays in April: we will head to Martha's Market from 4:15-6:30 p.m., in Norristown to help feed the poor at St. Paul's Church. Meet in ministry office at 3:45 p.m! 

Stations of the Cross every Friday in Lent!
Student Witness: Living Our Faith
Best Buddies impact
by Maria Montanez '19, President of Carroll Best Buddies club

Being a part of Best Buddies for the past four years is one of the greatest blessings in my life. The community is so warm and so loving and fills my heart with so much joy. They have shown me that I am perfectly perfect the way I am. Best Buddies is something that will always and forever have a special place in my heart. I cannot thank them enough for including me because without them I would be lost.

Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that spans across the United States and internationally. It is a program that creates friendships with people with intellectual disabilities. Those who take part in this club strive to create a society of inclusion. They hope that one day the world will see the ability and not the disability. At Carroll, we are blessed to have this program and participate in the message of truly loving one another. We have monthly meetings and events such as bowling, Dave and Busters, scavenger hunts, pizza parties and more.

Just recently, we celebrated Best Buddies Week! We started the week with a surprise assembly to promote the message that, “We Rise to Lift Others Up.” We surprised the St. Katherine’s Day School community by telling them what we love about each and every student and faculty member and how important they are to Archbishop Carroll. We sold t-shirts, and had a bake sale! Theology classes got to go to St. Katherine’s classes for the day to see what they were learning. Carroll students were able to bring their buddies to one of their classes. It was a fun filled week full of happiness!
Opportunities to Support Our Mission

We received a $250 donation towards the Best Buddies program and an additional $250 towards the Campus Ministry fund. We thank our anonymous donors for their generous support of Carroll's Campus Ministry program! We are grateful for their continued support and for the difference they are making for our school and students.

Pro-Life March bus and student support          
$3,000   

Best Buddies Monthly Activity                          
$250      

Best Buddies Prom                                               
$2,000   

Steubenville Support sponsor a student                    
$250 per student

Kentucky Service Project                                   
$5,000
   
Kairos Retreat Sponsor                                                     
$300 per student

Holy Thursday Dinner Event                             
$300  
    
Genesis Dinner Sponsor
$200 per event (twice per month)

Service Project                                                     
$5,000 
  
Kairos Retreat Sponsor                                                     
$300 per student

Genesis Dinner Sponsor                                     
$200 per event (twice per month)

Click here to make a tax-free donation. Thank you!
The Carroll Padre Post is a publication of
Archbishop John Carroll High School's
Office of Campus Ministry