Hello St. Catharine Families:
On this feast day of St. Matthew, I see how with God's grace, someone could leave the luxuries that a tax collector was accustomed to, drop everything, and follow Jesus. As someone who changed careers 4 times after turning 40, I know the anxiety change can cause. I also know firsthand how different a life can be when you follow Jesus Christ.
There are so many lessons and parables In Matthew's Gospel that have become the foundation of catechesis and Christian teaching. The Beatitudes in chapter 5, the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, and the origin of the Corporal Works of Mercy in Matthew 25 are all important in learning about who Jesus is and how we can get to heaven.
There are also verses in Matthew that are particularly meaningful to me, personally. In addition to the foundational teachings in Matthew gospel, there are also verses that I turn to often, including:
Matthew 6:5
Matthew 10:34
Matthew 18:6
Matthew 22:20-21
Matthew 23:4
May Saint Matthew and all of the Saints watch over us and our School Community.
COVID-19
One of the factors the Diocese is monitoring is the 7-Day Average Case Rate in Franklin County per 100,000. As of now, we are at 328. Once that number get below 100 (like it was before school started), the Diocesan task force will make a decision on how to move forward.
We will continue to take the necessary precautions to keep everyone healthy and safe. Please keep doing the following.
Symptoms
- Keep your child home if they are sick.
- If they have COVID symptoms, please request a home test and have them tested immediately.
- They can return to school if they tested negative and are asymptomatic for 24 hours.
Exposure
- Notify the school as soon as possible if you have a positive case in your household
- Try to have the positive case isolate from the rest of the familiy (if possible).
- If your child was exposed to someone that tested positive for COVID, they can take a test for COVID 5-7 days after last exposure (3-5 if vaccinated) and return to school on Day 8 (as opposed to day 11.
Parent-Student Handbook
Photo Release Form
Music Reminder:
Both Choir and Jazz Ensemble will start on September 22nd and September 23rd respectively.
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Student Choir: Wednesdays at 7:15 AM in the Music Room
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Jazz Ensemble: Thursdays at 7:15 AM in the Music Room
Please drop your child off no later than 7:15 at the back of the school. Students should enter through the left doors (closest to the parish center).
Please contact Dr. Ross Williams at rwilliams@cdeducation.org
Education in Virtue
Our Virtue for this week is Generosity. Generosity is one of the related virtues of Justice.
Generosity means giving oneself in a willing and cheerful manner for the good of others.
Generosity in Scripture
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” - Mark 12:41-44
May God Bless all of you and your families during this time.
Yours in Christ,
Mark Watts
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. – Isaiah 43:2
