President's Update
Dear Families,

Since the beginning of the pandemic, my wife and I have been very careful to do everything we can to avoid getting COVID-19. Our hygienic regiment had included masking, washing hands, vaccines and booster shots. If I ever developed cold symptoms, I would test right away. When I received my last booster recently, I shared with the pharmacist that I had avoided COVID-19. She replied, “Everyone gets it eventually.”

I developed a respiratory cold two weeks before Christmas. Thankfully, it wasn’t COVID, and the timing of the cold would allow me to be healthy just in time for Christmas. We had plans to travel and see family, and wanted to be healthy so I could enjoy seeing others and celebrate the holiday. I even worked from home a few days the week before Christmas to minimize my chances of exposing myself to others.  

I woke up Christmas Eve with a sore throat and congestion - and tested positive for COVID-19. The fever and aches made me feel like Santa brought me a lump of coal. My wife was my nursemaid for one day, and she then developed the same symptoms and tested positive. It was a different Christmas than we had planned. 

In my spiritual maturity, I complained to my wife about the timing of getting COVID and its impact on this special time of the year. With all my preventative steps, I could not understand how both my wife and I were experiencing a COVID Christmas. I had even written a prayer for health in my Prayer Journal over the holidays. How could this happen?

I had hoped to attend a Christmas Eve Service at a small chapel which has become a tradition over the years. Despite my illness I was fortunately able to attend remotely. The message began with, “Christmas is a combination of the beauty of Our Lord’s birth and the reality of family drama, illness and those things that take away from our expectations of a perfect celebration. We get frustrated when things don’t go our way.” My wife elbowed me in chest.   

The message reminded those of us who were in attendance that our Lord’s birth was in less-than-perfect circumstances and God can perform miracles in even the most challenging conditions. This experience reminded me to open my heart to Him, who can do all things. My COVID Christmas taught me that I am not in control of my circumstances, and regardless of what happens, there is One that understands and is there to help. It was a different kind of Christmas this year, but one where I learned more about my faith. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 14:6

May you have a happy and healthy 2023!

John K. Thornburg
At a Glance
Monday, January 9
Day A

Tuesday, January 10
Day H
Second Quarter Ends

Wednesday, January 11
Day G
Third Quarter Begins
Praying of the Rosary - 7:25 AM
Grade 10 Boys Retreat - 8 AM
Parent Club Meeting - 6 PM

Thursday, January 12
Day F
Grade 10 Girls Retreat - 8 AM

Friday, January 13
Day E
Delayed Start - 9 AM
The first class of the day will begin at 9 AM. LBK transportation will run on its normal schedule. 

Please Note:
Monday, January 16
No Classes - Martin Luther King Day
MC Attendance Policy
Due to an increased number of absences and tardiness, MC Administrators ask that you review the Attendance Policy. We have included additional details regarding the policy and proper procedures for contacting the Main Office. 

Dismissal Policy
Students who do not feel well need to report to the MC Nurse’s Office. One of the nurses will call parents if a student’s condition warrants dismissal. MC students should not be calling their parents to come and dismiss them if they feel ill. Students must be seen by one of the MC Nurses first.
January Lunch Menu
We are providing the MC weekly dining menu in the President's Update to make it easier for students to plan lunch throughout the week. The menu is also available through the Malden Catholic Mobile App along with easy access to the online portal for adding money to student lunch accounts. Search for "Malden Catholic" in the app store on your phone.
What's New?
Grade 10 Student Retreat - 1.11 and 1.12 at 8 AM
Next week, Grade 10 students will experience a Retreat Day. The Girls Division will participate in the retreat on Thursday, January 12 and the Boys Division will experience the retreat on Wednesday, January 11. Students will not attend classes these days, and the retreat will provide students with a day of reflection, prayer, games and community interactions. Students will participate in a set of forums designed to help them understand the Xaverian Mission, the school and know each other better, while strengthening their relationship with God.
MC Parent Club Meeting - 1.11 at 6 PM
The Malden Catholic Parent Club January Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 11 at 6 PM in the cafeteria. President Thornburg and Principal Smith will provide an update regarding the state of the school and share sample upgrades to the MC brand colors, look and feel. Parents will also be able to discuss plans for a parent social and sign-up for a host of exciting MC spring events including the Rolling Rally, Women's Day of Recollection and the Gala.
Winter Coat Drive - through 1.17
Malden Catholic's Campus Ministry department has teamed up with Malden Warming Center, Salemwood School and Coats for Kids and Families for the annual Winter Coat Drive. Students are encouraged to bring in gently used coats for kids, long underwear and handwarmers from January 3 - January 17, 2023. Collection boxes will be located in the lobby and in the Campus Ministry Center. This is an ideal time to look in your closet and donate a coat that you no longer wear.
Junior Class College Planning Kick-off and College Admissions Panel - 1.19 at 6:30 PM
The Junior Class Parent/Guardian College Admissions Panel and Kick-Off event will be held on Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 PM in the MC cafeteria. This event will feature a question-and-answer session with a college admissions panel that will provide a framework of the admissions landscape, an overview of the entire college application process, as well as other information that will make applying to college easier.
Malden Catholic Alumni Get-Together - 1.27 at 6:30 PM
The MCAA will be hosting an Alumni Get-Together on Friday, January 27 at 6:30 PM. The alumni group will first attend the Boys Varsity Basketball game at MC and then meet for dinner at the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Division No. 12, 259 Charles Street in Malden. The cost to attend the event is $20/person which covers admission to the game and dinner. There will be a cash bar at the AOH. Please R.S.V.P. through this link and submit payment via Venmo to Chris Caprio @cappa22.
MC Parent Book Club - 1.31 at 6:30 PM
The MC Parent Book Club Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 31 at 6:30 PM at MC in the Campus Ministry Center. The January MC Book Club will be discussing The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, a 2015 New York Times #1 Bestselling novel which follows the lives of two Southern women in the 1800s as they navigate the different restrictions placed by society on women and slaves.

Please contact Vange Egizi at: vangiemassagain@yahoo.com or Brother Puccio tpuccio@maldencatholic.org if you are interested in attending.
Women's Day of Recollection Co-chair and Committee Members Needed - 3.5 at 11 AM
The annual MC Women's Day of Recollection will be held on Sunday, March 5 from 11 - 3 PM. Campus Ministry along with the moms of Malden Catholic traditionally plan and host the event. The Day of Recollection features a speaker, a Mass and luncheon along with relaxing opportunities to pause to socialize, reflect and pray. Brother Puccio is currently organizing this year’s planning committee. If you are interested in Co-Chairing the committee or being a member, please contact Brother Puccio by 1.13 at tpuccio@maldencatholic.org or 781-475-5307.
What's Happening Around MC?
Lancers in College Day
Senior College Panel
Harvard MEDscience Class
Malden Catholic recently collaborated with Harvard MEDscience to coteach Anatomy and Physiology class during spring 2023. Part of this partnership will include students working in the MEDscience labs occasionally and them visiting our labs. Lead instructor Erin Martin along with Nabeeha Haq visited Mr. Pelosi's Anatomy and Physiology class to teach a unit on "Introduction to Patients and Vitals."
Sports
Christie Serino Hockey Tournament
Alumni Hockey Game
Winter Sports
The MC Winter 2023 Spirit Store is open until Tuesday, January 10. Many items are customizable with the addition of a name, number or sport! You may visit the school store through this link.
Senior Banners may be purchased from Dracut Threads until January 6 through this link.
Monday, January 9
3:30 PM Girls Freshman Basketball @ Bishop Fenwick HS
5:00 PM Girls JV Basketball @ Bishop Fenwick HS
5:00 PM Girls Varsity Indoor Track @ Reggie Lewis Center
6:30 PM Girls Varsity Basketball @ Bishop Fenwick HS

Tuesday, January 10
3:30 PM Boys JV Ice Hockey @ Catholic Memorial School
3:30 PM Boys Freshman Basketball @ Catholic Memorial School
4:00 PM Boys Varsity Swimming @ O'Bryant School Math/Science
5:00 PM Boys JV Basketball @ Catholic Memorial School
6:30 PM Boys Varsity Basketball @ Catholic Memorial School
 
Wednesday, January 11
4:30 PM Girls JV Ice Hockey @ Winchester HS
6:00 PM Boys Varsity Wrestling Home vs St. John's Prep School
7:10 PM Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Home vs Arlington Catholic HS
7:00 PM Boys Varsity Ice Hockey @ Xaverian Brothers High School

Thursday, January 12
4:15 PM Girls JV Ice Hockey @ Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading

Friday, January 13
3:45 PM Boys Varsity Swimming @ Catholic Memorial School
3:30 PM Boys Freshman Basketball Home vs Xaverian Brothers High School
4:00 PM Girls Freshman Basketball @ Everett HS
4:30 PM Boys Varsity Indoor Track @ Catholic Conference Indoor NB Track Meet
5:30 PM Girls JV Basketball @ Everett High School
5:00 PM Boys JV Basketball Home vs Xaverian Brothers High School
6:30 PM Boys Varsity Basketball Xaverian Brothers High School Home
7:00 PM Girls Varsity Basketball @ Everett HS

Saturday, January 14
9:00 AM Boys Varsity Wrestling @ Woburn Tournament
9:20 AM Boys JV Ice Hockey Home vs St. John's HS
10:30 AM Boys Freshman Ice Hockey Home vs St. John's High School
12:10 PM Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Home vs Bishop Fenwick HS
2:00 PM Boys Varsity Basketball Home vs Tech Boston Academy Varsity Only

Sunday, January 15
1:00 PM Boys Varsity Ice Hockey @ St. John's Prep School
Stay up to date on all athletic events, changes and postponements by signing up for alerts at: maldencatholichighschoolma.bigteams.com