Dear Families, Parishioners, and Friends,
Lord, send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel discouraged, leading me when I feel lost. Though I may stumble at times, I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth—a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life, and death helped secure. Amen.
This weekend, as we entered the second week of Advent, we are called to focus on peace and preparation. This sacred season invites us to reflect deeply on our lives and embrace the challenge of becoming better versions of ourselves as we prepare our hearts for Jesus’ coming. During this time, we remember the faithful journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. As you walk through these days, consider: What has your journey toward Christmas been like so far?
Preparing Our Hearts Through Reconciliation
As we continue through Advent, preparing ourselves for the celebration of Christ’s birth, we are invited to experience the healing grace of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Numerous opportunities for individual Confession are available, with times listed in your parish bulletins. Through this beautiful sacrament, we open our hearts more fully to receive the gift of Jesus at Christmas.
Our students will have special opportunities to encounter God’s mercy this month. Grades 3–5 will participate in a Reconciliation Service this Thursday, December 11th, followed by grades 6–8 on Thursday, December 18th. Priests from our three parishes will join together to offer this sacred sacrament to our children. We encourage families to help prepare your children for this grace-filled experience and to continue embracing this sacrament together throughout the year. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers an excellent resource for preparing children: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/sacrament-reconciliation-children-examination-conscience
Gratitude and Celebration
A heartfelt thank you to our talented students and Mr. D’Angelo for the wonderful Christmas Concert last Friday evening. The joy and beauty they brought to our community was truly a gift!
We also extend our deepest gratitude to our amazing PIE volunteers, led by Sara Wiedemann, for the magical Cookies & Milk with Santa event that followed the program. The festive decorations, delightful snacks, engaging activities, and of course, the big guy in the red suit who listened so attentively to all the children’s Christmas wishes made for an unforgettable evening. Special thanks to:
- Sara Wiedemann
- Christina Nelson
- Dominik Wiedemann
- Annie French
- Whitney Beck
- Samantha Fox
- Hilary Whipps
- Danielle Lothrop
- Danelle Boylan
- Meghan D’Amore
- Veronica Winrod
- The Galliher Family
- The Mitchell Family
- The Maksen Family
- Danii Gleason (Balloon Arch)
HFCS Service Club
A heartfelt thank you to Jillian Caires for her wonderful work organizing our Service Club! This month, the group visited Renaissance Nursing Home to spread Holiday cheer to the residents. Students and families sang Christmas carols, played board games, and spent quality time visiting with residents. It was a meaningful experience that brought joy to everyone involved, and we’re grateful to all the families who participated in making this special event such a success.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
This week brings the valuable gift of Parent-Teacher Conferences. If you have not yet scheduled a meeting with your child’s teacher, please reach out soon to reserve an available time slot. Our middle school teachers are offering “Quick Meets” on Thursday, December 11th, with no appointment necessary. Drop-in visits will be available in individual homerooms from 12:30–6:00 p.m. (limited to 15-minute conferences on a first-come, first-served basis).
May this Advent season bring you and your family closer to the true meaning of Christmas—the gift of Emmanuel, God with us
Pax et bonum,
Sue Styren, M.Ed.
P.S. Parents please address emails to sstyren+pa****@******da.org so that I don’t miss a single parent message. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.