PSR Families: New Check-In Location!
From now on, pull up to the sidewalk near the North Door of the main building. This is the covered entrance that faces the playground near the dining hall.
Children have quicker access to a covered area during inclement weather and this avoids potential conflicts with 8:00 am Mass parking.

Pick up process is unchanged. Children in Heider Hall can meet their parents at either the front or back doors.
In the First Reading, Isaiah shares God's words about the pagan King Cyrus. Though he didn't know or follow the God of Israel, through Cyrus, God saved the fallen-away Jewish people and led them to a restoration of faithfulness and return to Jerusalem.

The Psalmist properly gives to God the glory from Whom originates all that is good. He is pleased to work through man, who becomes a cooperator with God in bringing good to others,
acting properly as one made in the Image and Likeness of God.
To Him should be given all glory and honor.
Kingdoms of men who build based on their own power will fall.
Kingdoms of men who build based on their faith in God will succeed.

 In the Second Reading, St. Paul begins his letter to the church in Thessalonia by first greeting them with a
reminder of their commonality in relationship with God-
what they both have in faith came from God, the Holy Spirit.

In this often-quoted Gospel story,
those being led by the ways of the world confront Jesus.
He sets them right, reminding all of us that God
has given us earthly responsibilities to which we need attend,
but these need to be fulfilled in reference to God.
Would we rather serve that which is not alive
or which is not founded on the true Good,
or let God be our king?
Newsy Notes
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Current 8th grade Confirmation
Keep working through Decision Point Lessons at home!
And remember December 12th is the Retreat!

Current 2nd grade First Reconciliation
Watch for updates on sacramental preparation.
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October

18 - Food Drop-off between 11:00 am & 2:00, Picnic Shelter
20 - Memorial Service for Children Born and Unborn
at 7:00 pm Church
21 - Monthly Rosary in Church - 6:30 pm, Church

November
1- Daylight Savings - sleep in!
1 - All Saints Day! - Celebrate especially those saints
who are a special part of your family's life
18 - Monthly Rosary in Church
26 - Thanksgiving Day
29 - No PSR

December
12 - Confirmation Retreat
16 - Monthly Rosary in Church
25 - Christmas Day
27 - No PSR

January
3 - No PSR
Meditations
"When lovers are together, they spend hours and hours repeating the same thing: ‘I love you!’ 
What is missing in the people
who think the rosary monotonous is Love;
and everything that is not done for love is worthless."
- Sr. Lucia who saw and spoke with Mary, Our Lady of Fatima
Greetings Parents!
            My boys are fascinated with a youtuber who makes "Pitch Meeting" videos. It's one guy who pretends to be two people having a discussion. One persona presents an idea for a movie and the other is the person who gives the go-ahead to make the movie. It fascinates them because he pitches real movies already made. As the idea-man presents his idea, the other guy asks about questionable plot elements, usually inconsistencies or unbelievable story lines. While my first impression was that it was humorous, but silly, it's grown on me. His observations tend to be dead-on, but his justifications can be laugh-out-loud funny. Even better, I've have noticed that my boys no longer accept what they see in media at face value.

            It's a bit reassuring to hear them comment on every show, especially, "They wouldn't do that! No one acts that way!" or maybe "OK, one person might do that, but not ALL the people." Visual stories (television, movies, youtube, the internet) can so easily be perceived by youth and adults, as the reality of today, so having them compare the reality posed by these media with their personal lived experiences - this gives me hope!

           It's a reminder to keep them connected with people of faith so that their lived experience of faith in God is normal, embraced, cherished, and celebrated in the reality of people around them. We don't need grand miracles to believe, we see the little miracles everyday in the coincidences of life that come through ordinary people doing ordinary acts of kindness - or avoidance of unkindness. People who imitate the life of Christ and His Apostles and saints - simply living by the inspiration of God, through their everyday experiences, be it preaching or "simply" as parents raising children of character who know they are loved and cherished because they exist, not because of accomplishments. Their gift for God might be in cheering strangers through a brief conversation or by cleaning up after others without ever saying a word.

            In all of these my children see kindness for kindness sake, not via superhero powers, but through normal everyday lived experiences. This, they learn, is the norm and they witness the happiness and small satisfactions it brings the giver - a contentment not from a purchase or earnings, not through recognition for their action, but simply knowing they added a light to someone else's day.

            Hug your children tight, say prayers together, especially at night, and recall the lights they saw and the lights they were to others in their days and weeks. Help them revel more in the joy of doing good that comes from God than in accomplishments they believe come solely from themselves.

-- Linda Bader, Coordinator of Religious Education

P.S. Did you know... St. Lucia was one of three small children to whom an angel appeared in preparation for their meeting with the Blessed Mother. Mary, as Our Lady of Fatima, appeared on the 13th of the month from May - October in 1917, predicting a miracle for the last month that was witnessed by over 70,000 people and reported on in Portugal papers. Her cousins died young, as foretold by Mary, but Lucia lived to meet St. Pope John Paul II. Mary asked people to pray the rosary to meditate on the life of Christ to receive many graces for themselves, their families, and for peace in the world. Through it we are strengthened in faith and against temptations.
The world IS changed through our prayers in the rosary.