Campus Ministry Newsletter

This year's Life Conference will take place on Thursday December 5th at Sacred Heart Parish in Langley. The cost of the event is $20 which includes transportation and a catered meal. Some of the topics this year will include topics on Gender Identity, using Social Media effectively, dealing with peer pressure, environmental stewardship, addictions such as gaming and talking about controversial topics. Any students interested in attending please speak with Mr. Mattiazzo. Spots are limited so first come first serve.

Photos from Grade 10 Students Volunteering at the Third World Eyecare Society

Photos from Students Volunteering During Homelessness Action Week

STMC Alumni Father Ducharme 95 celebrating a Grade 8 Mass

STMC Students Volunteering with the Japanese International Program

Dear STMC Families,

Welcome to the Fall edition of the Campus Ministry Newsletter. As we approach the Season of Advent, we are reminded from the words of Pope Francis who urges us to prepare ourselves by being humble and trying to build peace in our soul, in our family and in the world through humility. We can also look to Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers who have exemplified this humility.

At St. Thomas More Collegiate, our theme for this school year has been centered around the Essential Element, To Celebrate the value and dignity of each person and to nurture the development of the whole person." We strive to carry out this Esssential Element in our deeds, words and actions. Please take a moment to read about some opportunities for our students and how are Knights are making a positive difference for the earth and its people.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

David Mattiazzo
Director of Campus Ministry

(604) 521-1801 ext 127

dave.mattiazzo@stmc.bc.ca

Brownsville Texas Service Trip
Darren McCormick

Immigration is obviously a hot topic in today's political world. There are countless attitudes and beliefs about the ongoing immigration situations in Canada and the United States. As part of an immersion/service trip, ten students from STMC (along with 2 students from Bergen Catholic in New Jersey) spent a week in Brownsville, Texas in early November. Brownsville is the most southern city in Texas, right on the Mexican border, and is a major port of entry for immigrants coming from all over South America.

Right across the border, on the Mexican side, is where hundreds of people are being held in a tent city. Some of these people do make their way to the USA where they need and use social services provided by various charities. The students of STMC spent time volunteering at some of these charities, doing a number of chores and most importantly, interacting with the people. It was stressed to the students to hear their stories and put a human face on immigration. They met individuals and families from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, and even Cuba and Zimbabwe. In all their interactions the students were willing and happy to do anything to make the next phase of their life easier. It was a powerful seven days and a valuable educational experience. Being with the people trying to immigrate as well as those that work with them on a daily basis, the students came to realize the struggles it takes to make a better life.

In our nightly reflections we talked about our own families and our own immigration stories and some of the struggles our families endured to make a better life. Making that connection between the people we met and our families really helped put a face to immigration. There are no simple answers to the immigration crisis around the world. All we can hope is that every person is treated with humanity and that was the message received by a great group of STMC students.

STMC Annual Toys For Kids Drive Back for Another Year!

Tuesday December 17th

The Annual Toys for Kids Drive organized by the Blessed Edmund Rice team is back for another year. On the morning of Tuesday December 17th, studets are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the front foyer. We are in need of toys from very young children to teenagers, many who are new to our country. Donated toys will go towards both the Salvation Army and to students from local Burnaby schools. Please note that students who provide a donation will be invited for a pancake breakfast in the cafeteria.

Thank you in advance!

Join us for our STMC Advent Mass and Christmas Sing-a-long
Thursday December 19th @ 11:00am

We are excited to announce that STMC Alumnus and Vicar General, Father Gary Franken (1980) will once again be celebrating our Advent Mass on Thursday December 19th. We welcome you to join us on this festive occasion. It is always special with Father Franken celebrating Mass as he is known for his inspirational homilies and his special connection with the congregation.

Following mass we will have our Annual Christmas Sing-a-long led by our talented STMC Staff.

Upcoming Masses:

Please join us for any of our upcoming school Masses:

Grade Level Masses TBA

Ash Wednesday Mass: Wednesday, February 26th @ 10:45am
Vocations/Easter Mass: Thursday April 23rd @ 10:40am

Mother's Day Mass: Friday, May 8th @10:45am

Grad Mass at OLM: Thursday, May 21st @7pm

Every Thursday in the STMC Chapel for rotating Religion classes

Purpose Society Christmas Hamper Drive Continues

Over the past 25 years our STMC community has participated in a Christmas Hamper Program that has connected us with needy families in our community. Through this program our students have been able to enrich the lives of families and has helped to bring a little happiness to them during Christmas. A special thank you to the various Religion classes including all grade 9 students are currently collecting food items, toys and monetary donations. Hampers are scheduled to be delivered to the families on Thursday, December 19. For more information please contact either Mr. Spanjers or Mr. Zimmermann.

Looking for Volunteer Opportunities

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the service opportunities offered at STMC. Opportunities are listed on the service board located outside the Campus Ministry office in the Multi-Purpose Room. Please remember that while the Campus Ministry department will do its best to accommodate all students, however spots are limited and students are encouraged to seek volunteer opportunities on their own. At any time, if a student needs recommendations they can meet with Mr. Mattiazzo in the Campus Ministry office.

The following are a list of upcoming student service opportunities:

12th Avenue Breakfast Program

Students help prepare and serve breakfast at the 12th Avenue School on various days. Meeting time is at 7:55am with Mr. Mattiazzo and students will miss part of their first block. Sign up at the Campus Ministry office.

Holy Trinity Breakfast Program

Students help prepare and serve breakfast for over 100 people in New Westminster every Thursday morning. The program is run throughout the winter and summer breaks as well. Please note that during vacation time we are also in need of volunteers.

Permission forms and sign up can be found outside the Campus Ministry Office.

Good Shepherd Ministry

Grade 10-12 students have an opportunity to be involved in a new ministry serving the people living in the downtown east side of Vancouver. Based out of the Door is Open, the Good Shepherd is where students will hand out candy bags and prayer cards. The program runs on various Monday evenings at 6:15pm from STMC.

Canada Scores Soccer/Poetry Program

Students help run an after school soccer and poetry program for elementary students. Please read article block below for more information.

Japanese Student Visit Volunteers

On December 9th our community will be hosting 41 students from Hyuga School for the morning. We will need student buddies for each of our visiting guests. Grade 9-12 students are requested to sign up with Mr. Mattiazzo. An information meeting will be held in room 212 at lunch on Wednesday December 4th and Friday December 6th. Students will need to attend at least one of those meetings and sign up on the google classroom. The google classroom code can be found outside the Campus Ministry office.

Harbin Academy International School Visit

On Tuesday February 11th we will be hosting 42 students from Cambridge Academy in Harbin, China. More details to follow in the New Year.

STMC Open House Tour Guides: January 14th

Student ambassadors are needed to assist with our Open House on Tuesday January 14th. An information meeting and sign up will occur the first week after Christmas Break. Students can sign up on the google classroom.

Chancellor Basketball Tournaments

Please sign up at the front office to volunteer for any of these events or speak with Mr. Borthistle.

Burnaby Progressive Housing

Periodically Mrs. Silveira from the business office is in need of students to prepare lunches for the Burnaby Progressive Housing Society that assists the needy in Burnaby. Please speak with Mrs. Silveira if you are interested.

Special Olympics Sports Day

We plan on helping to run another Special Olympics Camp in conjunction with BC Special Olympics. The tentative date is Saturday May 9th.

Report from Mission Control

A special thanks to our community for their continued support of our STMC Missions. So far this year we have already raised over $7000. The STMC Missions program helps support a variety of charities both locally and internationally. Funds raised have assisted many of our Edmund Rice Christian Brother programs around the world as well as local initiatives. Members of the Edmund Rice Team have been looking for creative ways to sell and fundraise money for missions.

Mark your calendars, bring a Toonie, and participate in our next Jeans Day on February 21st.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Tuesday December 3rd

Students will have an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday December 3rd from 9:30am to noon. Numerous priests from our local deanery will be at Our Lady of Mercy to offer confession. In addition, Fr. Smith offers confession each Thursday in the school chapel usually from 9:30am to 12:45pm

This sacrament, by its very nature, gives us graces that help us to live a Christian life.

Good Shepherd Ministry

Tuesday evening walks on the DTES

A special thank you to all those who have donated candy for the Good Shepherd Ministry.

The Good Shepherd is a Catholic Ministry based out of the Door is Open. Similar to the Agape Street Mini stry, the Good Shepherd Ministry serves people living in the Downtown Eastside by handing out candy bags, gloves, socks and prayer cards. Students in grade 10-12 interested in attending any of the walks can sign up outside the Campus Ministry office. Volunteer days for this ministry begin at 6pm at STMC and conclude around 9:00pm.

Please note that we are extending our candy collection due a candy shortage this year. If you have any left-over candy or chocolate from this Halloween, we encourage you to drop them off at the Campus Ministry or front office.

Join the Canada Scores Program

Gr. 11/12 Students needed to assist with after school program

St. Thomas More Collegiate has once again teamed up with Canada Scores to help run a complimentary after-school program for students from 12th Avenue School and possibly Edmonds Community, and Stride in Burnaby. The program was inspired by USA Scores which was first initiated out of Los Angeles. This unique program combines soccer, poetry (reading/writing), and community service as well as on-going mentoring relationships with students. Several senior students have volunteered for the fall program this year.

Any senior student still interested in being part of the fall program or who would like to be part of the spring program beginning in February please speak with Mr. Mattiazzo.

Students are required to commit to one to three days each week from 3-4pm.

For more information please read the Service Board outside the Library or check out their website at http://www.canadascores.org

Reflections from a Grade 12 student
Michelle DeSouza

It's often a pivotal and life-changing moment that leaves us re-evaluating the important things in life... the things we often otherwise take for granted. You know the ones - our health, our families, having a place to live, or even the sheer fact that we open our eyes to yet another beautiful day of life. I volunteer with the Good Shepherd Ministry, an organization that gives candy and winter clothes to people in need. I can remember one particular night. It was my first time going and I had never done anything like that before. It didn't help that we had to sign a waiver in case of injury or attacks. Nevertheless, I went.

It was a cold and miserable night. Typical of Vancouver weather, it was raining. Needless to say, we were not a happy group. However, the first thing I noticed was how the homeless were dressed. None of them had proper weather attire. I felt so guilty. Here I was complaining about the cold with my three layers of pants, sweaters, mittens and scarf. But I didn't hear a single complaint from them.

This was when we met Robert. He was having problems with substance abuse and was hoping to get accepted into a rehab center. As we were talking to him another lady came up asking for a second bag of candy. As much as we wanted to, we couldn't because of the sheer volume of people. Robert, seeing the lady walk away, asked if we would hold on. We watched as he walked over to her and handed her his bag. I was shocked. Here he was - hungry, cold and sleeping on the street; yet his thoughts were not on himself, but on others. Robert returned and instead of asking for another bag of candy, he asked us to pray over him. I'm happy to say that he did get into that rehab center.

That night I had a wake up call. I realized that there are many things in my life that I take for granted. Maybe you do too. However, it wasn't until I saw the people who live on the Downtown Eastside that it really sunk in. They are hungry, they are lonely and they are rejected. But even though they have so many things to complain about, I have never seen such genuine gratitude for something as little as a candy bag. It was not the candy that they were grateful for, but the human interaction. It was that we took the time to look them in the eye and notice them.

Every choice we make has consequences. You can choose to smile at that person on the street, you can choose to open the door for your classmates or say good morning to your bus driver. Take the time to thank God for all your blessings, love your friends and family and be kind to those around you because as Mother Teresa said, there is a beauty in doing little things with great love.

Blessed Edmund Rice Team

The mission of the Blessed Edmund Rice Team is to lead, serve and help to promote the Essential Elements of an Edmund Rice Christian Brother Education at St. Thomas More Collegiate. Members of the Blessed Edmund Rice Team set out to pursue excellence and seek to live out the gospel message in their lives and in the STMC community. Students from the BERT team are in the processes of organizing a number of initiatives

Keep your eyes open for some up and coming initiatives!

1) Share the Warmth Clothing Drive:

Beginning on December 2nd, we will be asking our community to donate any clothing

2) Continued collaboration with Vancouver College and our Christian Brother

schools through Beyond Borders

3) Christmas Toy Drive

4) Distribution of Candy and prayer cards to people in the Downtown

Eastside.

5) Candy Bag wrapping

6) Values Week led by the Justice and Life Club in February

Peru 2021

This past summer we had another successful Peru Service Trip in conjunction with the Christian Brothers and Third World Eyecare Society. The Peru Service trip runs every two years and students entering grade 11 and 12 are welcome to apply. The next Service trip will take place from June 27th- July 11th, 2021. Applications will be available in April. Please don't hesitate to contact Mr. Mattiazzo if you have any questions.

Alpha Faith Program
Grade 9 Students to take Alpha Program in Religion Classes

Beginning in January, all grade 9 students will be involved in the Alpha program led by senior students who went through this program last year.

Through episodes filmed in Vancouver, London, Paris and Jerusalem, the Alpha Youth Film Series explores timeless questions about life, faith and God for a new generation.

The series offers compelling stories, images, questions, and discussion topics well spread throughout each episode to better engage youth, helping them think about how these issues relate to their lives as they discuss with their friends and leaders.

For more information please check the alpha website at https://www.alphacanada.org/

Wellness Friday Movie Knight
Blessed Edmund Rice Justice and Life Team

All Knights are invited to attend a Christmas Movie Knight on Friday December 13th. As the busy season before Christmas approaches what better way to unwind with some friends by watching a movie and being involved in some wellness activities.

The event will begin at 3pm in the Multi-Purpose room with wellness activities followed by a movie at 4pm. Students will have an opportunity to vote for which Christmas movie to watch. Some of the wellness activities will include service oriented initiatives such as writing Christmas cards for the homeless and prisoners. Treats and pizza will also be available for a small cost with all funds going to missions.