Dear Parents,

This coming Sunday we begin a new liturgical year with the beginning of Advent. These four weeks are a special time of prayer and preparation. Advent is a time to prepare our hearts and souls to celebrate the birthday of the Messiah. One way to spend time in prayer and preparation as a family is to light a family Advent wreath each evening before dinner. As a school family we start each school day by praying and lighting a candle on the school Advent wreath.  

Our Home and School has been busy planning several fun activities for our students and staff during the month of December. Our volunteer parents will help us to celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas next Wednesday. This December 6th feast day provides a teachable moment to share the story of St. Nicholas, who is known for generosity and secretly gifting those in need. We will be on the lookout to see if St. Nicholas will stop by our school on his horse and (with the assistance of our Home and School) deliver candy canes for all of our students!

In this same spirit of generosity, our Home and School Outreach Committee is working with our 8th grade Service Committee led by 8th grade members Makenna Stone and Kat Benjamin to help support a local organization called A Kid Again. Their mission statement is to serve children with a life-threatening condition. One way they support children is by providing family baskets for when a child goes into the hospital. On Wednesday, following a visit by Saint Nicholas, students will be meeting with their buddies around the school to create a prayer bracelet for these family baskets.  Thank you to Home and School for helping to fund this service project! 

During Advent our parish and school are offering many additional opportunities for prayer, reflection and joy! The complete listing of parish offerings is available at this link: https://stbrigidofkildare.org/advent-christmas/ 

This week our 2nd graders will be celebrating a very special event in the development of their faith life. On December 2nd our second grade students, with the support of their parents, will be making their First Reconciliation. Please keep our 2nd grade children in your prayers.

Planning ahead to Tuesday, December 12th, our 5 - 8 grade choir students will be presenting for school families a Christmas Choir Concert at 7:00 pm in the Gym. I am looking forward to a beautiful evening of prayer and music.  

In closing, I would like to give a short update on the progress with EdChoice. Of the 435 applications that Saint Brigid has submitted only 162 have been awarded. You can be assured that the Ohio Education Department will keep working on this until they are all reviewed and you will receive the full amount regardless of the timeline in which you receive the award. Families that have been awarded should be receiving a letter to accept the EdChoice grant from the Department of Education. Just in case, we are also going to email you an acceptance form to help expedite the process. You can use either letter. Tuition accounts will be adjusted when we begin receiving the funds from the State of Ohio. So continued patience is the name of the game….it will all work out in the end! If you have further questions, please contact Andrea O’Reilly at [email protected].

Advent Blessings,

Kahty O’Reilly

Photo Newsletters: Kindergarten

Click the link below to view a photo album and learn what the students have been up to in class.

Sign Up for Ski Club by Friday

Is your 4th-8th grade child interested in joining St. Brigid Ski and Board? No experience is needed! To register, please look for the winter sports registration email coming soon.

Winter Ski & Board Club will run on Tuesdays from January - February. The deadline to sign up is this Friday, Dec 1.

For all dates, pricing, and details, click the link below.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact:

Stacie Williams [email protected] 614-718-8025

Aileen Hoffman, [email protected] 614-204-3302  

Jessica Hoffman, [email protected] 614-296-9000

Spirit Wear - Morganheimer Premier Open Until Thursday

Good news…..Our long-time vendor for St. Brigid spirit wear options (non-vintage) is staying open for one more week. If you missed the cut off for orders, Morganheimer Premier is opening their spirit wear store for one more week. They had a few requested new items come in last minute and will be accepting orders until November 30th. Use the link below to shop their sale, which includes a few new items! *As a reminder, if you are looking for items in a certain color, click on the item to see all available color options. 

Check out the link below to order:

https://saintbrigid.itemorder.com/[saintbrigid.itemorder.com]

Prospective Families Open House

Sunday, January 28 from 3-5 PM

This is the perfect time for interested friends, family or neighbors to explore our three-time Blue Ribbon School. Prospective families can tour our school and see first-hand how Saint Brigid of Kildare School provides a quality Catholic education in a warm environment. There will be representatives from Saint Brigid of Kildare School’s many programs available to answer questions.

Spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested in applying to Saint Brigid of Kildare School for the 2024-2025 school year!

Our new family application and the open house RSVP open on Monday, December 4. Anyone interested in applying for the next school can learn more about the process here.

Alumni on Honor Roll

Congratulations to our St. Brigid of Kildare School alumni at Bishop Watterson High School and St. Charles Prep who earned 1st quarter honor roll.

Click below to view the list.

8th Grade Service Committee Project: Parent Volunteers Needed Dec 6

Last year, St. Brigid of Kildare School partnered with Home and School to create stockings filled with goodies for kids. All the younger grades worked with their older grade buddies to make the stockings together. Everyone had so much fun and we really enjoyed helping The Ronald McDonald House!

The current 8th grade service committee would like to follow in their footsteps by helping a LOCAL organization called A Kid Again. Their mission statement is to serve children with a life-threatening condition. This organization helps families participate in fun activities like the Columbus Zoo, Christmas Parties, Kings Island, and Buckeye games.  

A Kid Again also provides family baskets for when a child goes into the hospital. On Wednesday, December 6th, after St. Nick’s visit to school, students will be meeting with their buddies around the school to create a prayer bracelet for these children.

Thank you to Home and School for helping fund this service project!

Any parents willing and able to come in and assist us during this service project, please sign up on the Sign Up Genius below.

To Learn more about the A Kid Again Organization and how you and your family could help, please visit this link.

Together, at the Table, we are serving God and the Community!

Emmaus Road Scholarship Program

Reduce your Ohio income taxes...and help make an authentic Catholic education affordable and accessible for all!

It’s true! As an Ohio taxpayer, when you make a donation to the Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund, you could receive a dollar-for-dollar credit* against your state income tax liability while creating scholarship dollars for students to attend Our Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Columbus. Even with the recent expansion to Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship program, financial need still exists for many families. Your gift helps bridge the gap between state scholarships and the cost to educate a child while reducing your Ohio tax burden.

*Ohio tax credit is up to $750 per person, or $1,500 if married filing jointly. Based on tax rates posted by the Ohio Department of Taxation, an individual with an annual income of $40,000 has an average state tax liability of $750. Consult a tax advisor for guidance on your specific situation. The Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund is a certified scholarship granting organization (SGO) in the state of Ohio.

TO GIVE: visit the link below (www.emmausroadscholarship.org) to donate online, or give by check by mailing a check made out to Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund to Office of Catholic Schools, 197 E Gay St., Columbus OH 43215 (note “St. Brigid of Kildare School” to designate dollars to our school). 

You will receive a mailed receipt from the Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund. Keep that receipt and submit when filing your 2023 Ohio taxes.

SPiCE Spotlight: What is SPiCE?

The Purpose of SPiCE at St. Brigid:

The purpose of SPiCE is for the benefit of the entire school and parish community.  SPiCE will provide support to the philosophy and efforts that everyone is special and that St. Brigid of Kildare School and Religious Education programs are committed to work towards meeting the needs of each of its student parishioners.

How does SPiCE benefit our school and parish community?

All of our students and staff benefit from SPiCE through staff, services, materials, and more!

Who benefits from SPiCE?

Everyone who comes to St. Brigid can benefit from SPiCE.

Corks for a Cause 2024 - Planning Meeting

We are excited to hold our 17th annual Corks for a Cause Silent Auction and Wine Tasting for SPiCE on Saturday, March 2, 2024. We can't wait to celebrate Music City with our Nashville Nights theme!

We will continue the planning with our next meeting on:

• Wednesday, December 13 at 12 noon in Hendricks Hall Immke Room (lunch will be served at this meeting)

Children are welcome if babysitting is a challenge. If you'd like to learn more about the event, how you can help, or share your ideas please join us for one or both of these meetings!

RSVP to Sarah Moore at [email protected].

Eucharistic Adoration this Friday

You are invited to spend time in the presence of God on Friday, December 1st for First Friday Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:00AM Mass and concluding at 4:00PM with Benediction.

Regular adorers of the Eucharist say Adoration is a good way to prepare for Christ’s return. Just as Advent is in a sense waiting for the Lord’s return, adorers sit and wait with God. Advent can be a very busy time, but the time in Adoration requires us to be quiet and still.

As you prepare for Advent, Jesus invites you to set aside your to-do list and come spend time with him. All are welcome, including families with children. If you wish to sign up for an hour, please email Shelly Cocumelli at [email protected] or use the link below.

Family First Advent Series: Behold

Mom to Mom & Sisters in Christ will be watching and discussing the book Behold. There will be copies available for $8.25 during Mom to Mom.

Join Mom to Mom on Wednesdays 9:45-11am in the Church Basement with free childcare in Carr Nursery.

Sisters in Christ meet on Wednesdays from 1:15-2:45 PM in the Deacon’s room.

https://www.avemariapress.com/products/behold 

Advent Series on Behold

November 29– Behold Motherhood

December 6–  Behold Fatherhood

December 13– Behold Childhood

December 20– No Meeting – Finish 4th week at home with family

Giving Tree Project: Gifts Due This Weekend

The Giving Tree Project has been a parish tradition and demonstration of generosity for many years. Last year, over 600 gifts and >$10,000 in donations were provided by your generosity, making a significant difference in the lives of others.

This year, our parish will be collecting a variety of items for Bishop Griffin Resource Center, Gladden Community House, Heinzerling Community, Kentucky Mission, St. Lawrence Haven/St. Vincent de Paul, St. Stephen’s Community House, and the St. Brigid Emergency Fund.

The Giving Trees with ornaments will be in the gathering area of the church on Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12. There is also a list of gifts on the Giving Tree SignUpGenius, or you can make a monetary donation online at www.stbrigidofkildare.org or by check to the Parish Office.

Jesus and the Eucharist

This seven-session series will immerse participants in the gospel proclamation (Sessions 1-4) and unveil God’s saving work in the Eucharist (Sessions 5-7).

Session 1: What’s Our Story?

Session 2: Who Is Jesus?

Session 3: Am I Saved?

Session 4: Why a Church?

Session 5: God Is With Us

Session 6: The Story of the Eucharist

Session 7: Bread for the Journey

Learn about the many ways you can participate and sign up at the link below.

Thinking About Becoming Catholic?

There's still time to join RCIA!

• Have you ever thought about becoming Catholic?
• Do you think you might like to look into the Catholic way of Life?
• Do you know someone interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith?

 You are invited to join us!

All classes will be held on Tuesday evenings, from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Berry Room. The calendar for this coming year is on our website at www.stbrigidofkildare.org/rcia. For more information contact Kim VanHuffel at [email protected] or complete the form on the website above.

Requirements to Volunteer with our Children

If you are 18 years or older and interested in volunteering with youth activities at SBK, attending PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN is required before you can volunteer. Register under the Diocese of Columbus at 

www.virtus.org

The Diocesan Safe Environment Department will be offering Virtus Protecting God's Children (PGC) sessions: 



11/30/2023 St Peter (Columbus) 6pm

1/4/2024  Zoom PGC (Columbus) 6pm

1/10/2024 DeSales HS (Columbus) 6pm

All volunteers with our children and youth must complete PGC, a St. Brigid volunteer application, submit the signed code of conduct, copy of photo ID, and complete a criminal background check prior to volunteering.

Full details and forms can be found at https://stbrigidofkildare.org/safe-environment/