The Lord's Baseball Game
Author Unknown
Bob and the Lord stood together, watching a baseball game. The Lord's team was
playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero,
and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. Bob and the Lord continued
to watch as the batter, Love, stepped up to the plate. Love swung at the first pitch
and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single
because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and
threw the first pitch; Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass, because Godly Wisdom does not
swing at Satan's pitches. Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly
wisdom never swings at Satan's throws. The bases were loaded.
The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate
stepped Grace. Bob made a face... Grace certainly didn't look like much to him! Apparently Satan's
whole team agreed: they all relaxed and laughed a little when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the
game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To all but one's amazement, Grace hit the ball harder
than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder, the Prince of the air, let very
few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him
crashing to the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run!
And so the Lord's team won.
The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom
could get on base but could not win the game by themselves. Bob, looking a
bit sheepish, admitted that he didn't know. The Lord explained, "If your
love, faith and wisdom could win the game, you would think you could win
it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My grace can get you home. My
grace is the one thing Satan cannot stop."
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+Dear Parents,
May 18, 2015
I found this reflection a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was a good story for this time of the year.
Then, I read a summary about a homily Pope Francis gave on Friday, May 15. The author stated,
In the prayer at the opening of Mass, the Pope recalled, “We asked the Lord for the grace to lift
us up toward Christ seated at the right hand of the Father”. This “contemplation of Christ”,
Francis stated, “will give us courage, give us joy, take away our fear and help us to avoid falling
into a superficial and lighthearted life”.
“With this intention to lift up our spirit toward Christ seated at the right hand of the Father”,
Francis concluded, “let us continue our celebration, by asking the Lord: lift up our spirit, take
away all of our fears and give us joy and peace”.
Just as our baseball story illustrated, we need God’s grace to get us to where we need to be at this time,
to get us through the challenges we face on any day. May we be open to God’s grace throughout this
week. Let us always be open to ask for and rely on God’s grace every day!
Have a great week! God bless you!
Sister Catherine Irene, IHM
Looking Ahead for the Rest of the Year:
May 18
Pre-K 4 Trip
May 19
Bands and Chorus Concerts, 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
May 20
SAFE ENVIRONMENT LESSON #2:
Please review, sign and return enclosed letter, if necessary
May 21
Grade K In-School Field Trip; Grade 2 Class Trip
District VI Principals’ Meeting at the CCIU
Parish Council, 7:00 p.m.
May 22
School Holiday!
May 25
Memorial Day: No School
May 27
SMART TUITION PAYMENT PLAN PRESENTATION, 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
May 28
Kindergarten Screening
May 29
Grade 5 Class Trip; Grade 8 Bowling Trip
Pasta Dinner and Art Show
June 1 – 4
Grade 8 Final Assessments
June 2 – 5
Grades 1 to 7 Final Assessments
June 3
Parish Staff Meeting at 1:30 p.m.
June 4
Altar Serving Training at 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
June 5
Kindergarten Closing at 10:00 a.m.
Bishop Shanahan Graduation
June 8
Faculty Meeting and Workday: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
June 9 – 11
NOON DISMISSAL with busses and CARES
June 9
Grade 8 Dance
June 10
Grade 8 Graduation at 7:00 p.m.
June 12
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Closing Liturgy at 10:15 a.m.
NOON DISMISSAL with busses – NO CARES
June 16 – 20
St. Joseph Parish Festival
June 22 – 25
St. Joseph Parish Vacation Bible Adventure (VBA)
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Educational Fund for Mrs. Welsh’s Grandchildren
As you know from our emails and from your children’s prayers, Mrs. Welsh’s daughter, Jennifer Kness,
died very suddenly on Monday, May 11. She leaves behind two
children, Kathryn, Grade 4 at St. John School and Anthony, age 4. Our
faculty, staff, and families have asked how we can help. We would like
to start an educational fund so that Mrs. Welsh and her family can
continue to provide Kathryn and Anthony with a good education. If
you would like to contribute to this educational fund, please send your
donations to the main office. Checks may be made out to St. Joseph
School, with Donation to Education Fund in the memo line. Please put
Donation to Education Fund on the envelope as well.
I want to share this image with you. It was on the funeral mass booklet
for Jennifer. May we use this image in our prayers as we ask God to
continue to watch over Kathryn and Anthony and to give Mrs. Welsh and her family all of the strength
and support that they will need every day! Thank you!
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Link to our new school video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adMaCEEWfGM
Thank you to Mrs. Ducassoux, the Chorus, and the Grades 5 to 8 Band for performing at the
Reading Phillies game on Saturday night. Thank you to all who attended the game as well. My
brother Jim was at the game. He had heard the band and chorus perform. He sent me a text
after he saw our musicians. I asked him how they sounded and his response was “GREAT.” Thank you!
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We thank Mrs. Ducassoux, Mrs. Cardine, and Mr. Alex Meixner for a great Artist in
Residence program. Mr. Meixner fully engage the audiences in his assemblies and he
was so enthusiastic throughout the concert on Tuesday evening. Thank you to all of the
families who attended the evening concert, too! We are grateful to Target and to our
music teachers for this unique opportunity!
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Archdiocesan Elementary String Festival: We congratulate Adam Morys for his participation in the
Annual Archdiocesan String Festival for Elementary Schools. He was the fourth chair. We are grateful
for his participation in this festival and for his years of commitment to playing the violin!
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CYO Registration: It is important that you go to this site to register now. Some sports fill up quickly!
Please go to https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B475HnvVgtLvQ1dEOUhJVmVrTm8/view?pli=1
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Reminder: The Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project is a good program for those students who
like to write and excel in the English Language Arts. Go to www.pawlp.org
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CCIU Tutor List: We have posted the CCIU Tutor List on the Principal’s Page if you are looking for tutors
over the summer. Thank you!
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Student Placement for 2015-2016: At this time of the year, parents begin to ask about student
placement for the following school year. If you have questions or concerns for the next year, I ask that
you make an appointment to discuss these with me. It is very awkward if to speak to the teachers and to
the CCIU specialists about other teachers. I have always found it most helpful when parents speak to
me about their children’s needs, learning styles, or the like and not about a teacher preference. While
the current teachers work together in dividing classrooms for the next year, I will review all of the class
lists. At times, I have to make adjustments as students leave over the summer and new families move
in. For this reason, class assignments are not given out until the end of August. Thank you for your
assistance and I look forward to meeting with families, if there is such a need.
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IHM Nun Run: For those who love to run or at least walk for a cause - on Saturday June 6 the annual
IHM 5K Nun Run will be held. Cost $25 for an individual, $40 family of 4 or less and $50 family of 5 or
more. No race day registrations are accepted. To register go to www.ihmnunrun.org. For more info
contact Sister Mary Jo at 610- 889-1553 or [email protected].
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Catholic Charities Night at the Phillies will be held this year on Friday, June 26th. Game is at 7:05 pm.
Proceeds go directly to supporting the great work of the Catholic Charities Appeal. If 500 tickets are sold,
Mick Hanes from Our Lady of Confidence Day School will throw out the first pitch of the game and
children from Catholic Community Choir will sing the National Anthem! To purchase tickets, visit
phillies.com/catholiccharitiesnight.
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This week: I will email you the Summer Reading List and information about a Summer Reading
Program through Fordham University.
TO BE RETURNED ONLY IF CHILD/CHILDREN
WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE
SAFE ENVIRONMENT LESSON IN SCHOOL.
340 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335
(610) 269-8999
Fax (610) 269-2252
SAFE ENVIRONMENT LESSON #2
**PARENT/GUARDIAN REQUEST TO EXCUSE STUDENT FROM LESSON**
In the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Article 12 calls for all dioceses to
establish “safe environment” programs at all grade levels. This ongoing education is presented to the
students in the parish and regional elementary schools of the Archdiocese as well as in the Parish
Religious Education Programs (PREP or CCD) two times during the instructional year. This is a mandated
obligation from the Archdiocese with the two lessons provided for our teachers. The lessons are
available for you to review by visiting
http://www.catholicschools-phl.org/our-schools/safe-environment .
In the event a parent or guardian does not want this instruction for his/her child, we are required to
have the parent/guardian sign off as a result of this request. Your signature on this form indicates your
request to remove your child(ren) from this instruction.
If your child is not going to attend the Safe Environment Lesson, then he or she will go to the library and
be monitored by one of our librarians while his/her classmates are receiving the instruction.
Parent/Guardian Signature ________________________________________________
Date _________________________________________________
Safe Environments lessons are scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, at the end of the day for most
grades and on Tuesday, May 19, for Pre-K 3.
Location: St. Joseph School
Student Name(s)/Grade Level(s)
Prayerfully,
Sister Catherine Irene Masino, IHM
**Please return this form only if your child or children will not receive instruction in the Safe
Environment Lessons.