St. Mary’s School
129 St Mary Street Phone 419.943.2801
Leipsic, Ohio 45856 Fax
419.943.3555
Website: ls.noacsc.org
Echoing God’s Love !
As a significant ministry of St. Mary’s Parish, St. Mary’s School exists to aid in the development of the whole child: spiritually, academically, socially and physically.
As part of a Catholic community living out the Gospel message, the school and family collaborate to nurture self-worth, respect, and an appreciation of the pursuit of knowledge.
Faith-Based ~ Hope-Filled ~ Gospel-Driven
Parent Newsletter
February 20, 2015
#20
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
I Will Establish My Covenant with You!
The story of Noah and the Great Flood assures us that destruction is never God’s final word.
Whatever “death” we experience – whatever “death” He brings into our lives – is always followed by
the promise of new life. Or, as many motivational speakers would tell us, there’s always a rainbow
after every storm.
This is a good thing to keep in mind as we celebrate the first Sunday in Lent. It’s helpful
to recall that the culmination of these forty days is not Good Friday; it’s Easter. Yes, God
asks us to die to ourselves and resist temptation. But he is asking this so that we can clear
out more space in our hearts for Him and for His grace. The discipline and self-sacrifice we
take up during Lent are not ends in themselves. They are not here so that we can prove
our strength or increase our skills. Rather, we take them on so that we can become more
fully alive in Christ, more able to reveal His love to the people around us.
Are we still trying to decide what to give up for Lent? Try answering that question
by looking at this season as a journey of love. What is hindering us from loving more
fully? Perhaps gossip, overwork, dwelling on resentments, or self-isolation? Find a
way to give them up, or at least reduce their influence. Try to find life-giving substitutes
for them. Take a walk with a friend. Stop in and visit the Blessed Sacrament between
errands. Make it a point to find something upbuilding to say in every conversation.
Whatever we choose, we ask the Holy Spirit to work creatively with us.
This Lent, we keep our eyes on the prize: new life in Christ. It’s a life that begins right
now, every time we receive or give love. It’s a life that springs up from every kind of death
to self we embrace. It’s a life that will lead us to the final prize: eternal life with Jesus.
“Here I am, Lord. I’m ready to journey with You toward Easter.”
[taken from THE WORD AMONG US, Lent, 20125 p. 27]
WEEKEND MASS GIFT BEARERS:
Sat. Feb. 21 -- 4:30 PM Ottie Weis Family
Sun. Feb. 22 -- 8:00 AM Leo Ellerbrock Family
Sun. Feb. 22 -- 10:00 AM Duane Schroeder Family
WEEKEND MASS SERVERS:
Saturday, February 21 – 4:30 PM
Kacey Dulle, Olivia Ickes, Alexis Ickes
Sunday, February 22 – 8:00 PM
Brooke Brown, Kurt Schroeder, Lorenzo Walther
Sunday, February 22 – 10:00 PM
PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION:
Mon. Feb. 23
Tues. Feb. 24
Wed. Feb. 25
Thurs. Feb. 26
Fri. Feb. 27
-- Dee Berger & Susan Maag
-- Amy Proctor & need one more
-- Need two people
-- Need two people
-- Ann Evers & need one more
Mitchell Schroeder, Trent Schroeder, Josh Schroeder
Remember
To save!
Each year we save and save and save the
Boxtops for Education. It’s time again to pack
up a set and send it away for redemption. Last
Fall we received $895.40 for the boxtops you
saved for us the year before. Those monies
were put into our Technology Fund and we are
now able to purchase a few more iPads for the
upper grade students. Every little bit helps.
We appreciate your support. Thank you!
DO YOU KNOW?
Last week our large, industrial size, paper
shredder “died.” If you know of any business
that is replacing one that is still in good working
order, please let us know.
USED INK CARTRIDGES: We also save
used ink cartridges (not toner cartridges!).
Mrs. Brinkman packs them up and sends them
off to the recycle company. Last year we
received a check for $966.44. These monies
are also put into our Technology Fund. Thank
you!
WHAT A YEAR!
Can You Believe It?
There have been only two
weeks that we’ve been in school
for all five days of the week
since Christmas break!
You may have noticed in the Leipsic
Messenger the other week that Leipsic
Schools will be making up the day they
lost two weeks ago on May 26th – that
does not apply to us because we have
the “blizzard bag” system. HOWEVER,
IF we have more than two more snow
days, we will need to make them up at
the end of the year. Two hour delays do
not constitute a “free day.”
KASH for KIDS WORKERS
THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, February 21 – 4:30 P.M.
*Kathy Rieman
Sunday, February 22 – 8:00 A.M.
*Ann Evers
Sunday, February 22 – 10:00 A.M.
*Tami Wensink
(L) Jodi Niese
(O) Joan Schroeder
KASH for KIDS WORKERS
IN TWO WEEKS
Saturday, March 8 – 4:30 P.M.
*Scott Schroeder
Sunday, March 9 – 8:00 A.M.
*Karen Schroeder
Sunday, March 9 – 10:00 A.M.
*Ashley Mangas
(L) Amanda Ellerbrock
(O) Christa Lammers
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(as known at the time of this printing)
February 21 & 22 - - First Communion enrollment at
each of the weekend Masses
Wed. Feb. 25 -- Join us for Mass @ 8:30 planned
by Grade 2
Thurs. Feb. 26 -- Seventh Grade Archery
Wed. March 4 -- Join us for Mass @ 8:30 planned
by Grade 4
March 5 & 6 -- External Validation Team will be
at St. Mary’s School. What do
they do? They will be working
these two days to assure us that
we are following all the state and
diocesan standards for an
elementary school and will study
our five-year plan to advise us
on our educational and Catholic
Identity progress for the next five
years. We would appreciate
your prayers.
Wed. March 11 -- Spring Pictures
-- Join us for Mass @ 8:30 planned
by Grade 1