Dear HFCS Families & Friends,
As we journey together through this sacred season of Advent, our hearts are filled with anticipation and hope. This weekend, we celebrated Gaudete Sunday—a profound moment of rejoicing that illuminates our path toward Christ’s coming. The rose-colored candle on our Advent wreath symbolizes the joy that permeates our spiritual preparation, reminding us of God’s infinite love and mercy.
A Time of Reconciliation and Spiritual Renewal
In the spirit of preparing our hearts for the miraculous birth of Jesus, we invite you to embrace the transformative Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. This beautiful sacrament offers us a sacred opportunity to cleanse our souls, seek forgiveness, and draw closer to God’s boundless grace. Our parish bulletins provide detailed times for individual Confession, and we encourage every family to participate in this profound spiritual practice.
Our students have been actively engaging in this spiritual journey. Our third through fifth-grade students have already participated in a beautifully orchestrated Reconciliation Service, while our sixth through eighth-grade students will have their opportunity this Thursday. We pray that this experience will nurture their understanding of God’s mercy and love.
Advent: More Than Mere Preparation
As the world around us becomes increasingly focused on holiday shopping and decorations, we gently remind our families to keep Advent at the center of our hearts. This is a time of spiritual anticipation, of quiet reflection, and of preparing our souls to welcome Christ.
Community Generosity and Love
We are deeply moved by the extraordinary generosity of our Holy Family Catholic School community. The second-grade students’ coin collection for the St. Vincent de Paul Warming Center and the presents collected for needy families demonstrate the true essence of Christian love and compassion. These acts of kindness reflect the light of Christ shining through our school community.
Upcoming Celebrations and Gratitude
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated students and Mr. D’Angelo for their hard work on the upcoming Christmas program. We are excited to witness the fruits of their labor this Thursday evening. Our PIE volunteers, who will be providing Cookies, Cocoa, and a visit from Santa, continue to make our school events truly special.
We also extend our profound gratitude to Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Fowlkes, and Mr. Conley of the Safety Committee for their diligent work on the Safety Grant and Supplemental Safety Grant. We ask our community to keep our school in their prayers, trusting in God’s providence.
Safety Protocols: Protecting Our Little Ones
In our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of our children, we kindly request that:
- Parents remain in the office/lobby when picking up a child early
- The office will call the student and release them to the parent
- For pickups by someone other than the parent/guardian, please send a note or email to confirm
Winter Break: A Time of Family and Faith
As we prepare for our school break from December 21st through January 5th, we pray that each family will cherish this time together. May these days be filled with the special gifts of Christmas: hope, joy, and most importantly, an unwavering faith in God’s love.
Advocacy Opportunity
The Diocese is seeking families willing to share their testimony about School Choice and the refundable tax credit. If you feel called to advocate for Catholic education, please contact pa****@hf******.org” rel=”noreferrer noopener” target=”_blank”>sstyren+pa****@hf******.org.
Blessings and prayers to you and your family in this holy season.
Pax et bonum,
Sue Styren, M.Ed.