Principal’s Message 12/1/18

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!  God knows, we all have so much to be grateful for when we truly look at our lives honestly and openly.  It is totally correct and appropriate that we take time to give thanks to God, not only at Thanksgiving, but every day of the year.  And just when you think that all the leftovers are gone and you can begin to lose some of the Thanksgiving weight, here comes another holiday season!
 
You all know the season I’m speaking of………the one that is the reason for so many New Year’s resolutions……...that’s right, it’s Advent!  I bet you all thought I was going to say Christmas, didn’t you?  Well, it’s that too.  But I really want to focus on Advent and the proper approach to this liturgical season.  The Catholic Resource Education Center defines Advent in this way.  “The liturgical season of Advent marks the time of spiritual preparation by the faithful before Christmas.  Advent begins on the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30 ^th).  It spans four Sundays and four weeks of preparation, although the last week of Advent is usually truncated because of when Christmas falls”.  (For instance, this year, the fourth Sunday of Advent is obviously on Sunday, and then that evening is Christmas Eve.)  And yes, the season is about giving and receiving gifts.  But it truly is a chance to prepare for the greatest gift of all in the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 
Here at Saint Mary School, we will embrace all the season has to offer, but front and center in our daily interactions, thoughts and prayers will be the impending celebration of the birth of Christ more than 2,000 years ago.  It is also an opportunity for families to embrace and teach the traditions of Advent such as the significance of the Advent Wreath and, believe it or not, the candy cane.  Attend mass every week, as a family, as the weekly scripture readings lead us through the Christmas story to the joy of Christmas morning.  It is possible to relive your own childhood memories of Christmas through your children while you keep family traditions alive and create new ones that your children will share with their own families someday.  The hardest thing to avoid is getting overwhelmed by the busyness of the season and miss out on the many blessings that come with it. 
 
It truly is a time of wonder as we prepare for the birth of the Christ child.  Enjoy the Advent Season by taking advantage of all the Church has to offer.  Attend mass weekly, pray as a family at home, give of yourselves freely to others, share your happiness with those who’ve been through difficult times and let the anticipation of the joy of Christmas morning be on our hearts and lips all the year ‘round!  
    
Please check our website, Facebook page and the Church bulletin for updates and upcoming events that you can enjoy with us.  Please continue to pray for our school, its staff, students and families, and our clergy as we strive to provide an education that is unapologetically Catholic, family centered, caring to others and respectful to all.
God bless,
 
Craig Palmer
Principal