September 20, 2021

Dear Families,

This week is all about our Grandparents! Usually, we honor our grandparents in late September with a mass, reception, and classroom visits. Due to the pandemic, we cannot hold our usual celebration. However, we can honor our grandparents virtually and plan to do so this week. Please be on the lookout for some special videos made just for our grandparents and grandfriends.

Sincerely,

Each month students learn a Bible verse and recite it together during our morning prayers. We also pray a particular prayer each month. The bible verse for the month of September is:

Proverbs 3:5  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

Our prayer focus is the Our Father.

We would love for you to work with your students at home.

We have been introducing the Education in Virtue program this year to our students. This program focuses on the development of the whole person and equips our children to strive for holiness, which is where we will find true happiness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines virtue as “a habitual and firm disposition to do the good.” Virtues are essentially those habits of doing good that lead us to Christ. The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity. The Cardinal virtues are justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance. Flowing from these 7 core virtues are countless other virtues that help us to be in a relationship with God. Everyone is born with a capacity for virtue, but we need education and practice to become truly virtuous people.    Each week, we are focusing on a particular virtue as a school. Students have been learning the definition as well as what living the virtue looks and sounds like in our actions and words.

The Cardinal Virtue we are focusing on is Justice, and the related virtues we will focus on in the next two weeks are Kindness and Loyalty.

Meaning - Expressing general concern for the wellbeing of others and anticipating their needs.

Ways to Cultivate

Prayer - Dear Jesus, You are kindness itself. I desire to show charity toward my neighbor through my thoughts, words, and actions. When others meet me, let them meet YOU in me!

Meaning - Accepting the bonds implicit in relationships, defending virtues upheld by Church, family, and country.

Ways to Cultivate

Prayer - Dear Jesus, Help me to be steadfast in my relationships and faithful to the duties those relationships entail, even when this may be difficult.

Students in grades K3-8 will have their school pictures taken tomorrow, Tuesday, September 21. These are in-uniform pictures; ties are required for middle school boys. K2 pictures will be at a later date, to be announced. There will be a makeup day for all on October 12.

Thank you to all who donated to the Hurricane Ida relief effort organized by our PTO. Your donations were delivered on Friday, September 10th and were so appreciated

Our 8th-grade class is participating in the 75th annual CYO Toy Bowl and raising money for the CYO sports program. There will be an out-of-uniform day on September 30, wearing your team colors with a suggested donation of $1.00.

The School Advisory Council provides overall guidance and input to the principal and pastor, meeting on a bimonthly basis. Our School Advisory Council is made up of several committees:

Below is the list of council members along with a breakdown of committees. Committees are not limited to SAC members. If there is a committee that you are interested in volunteering for, please contact one of the SAC members.

Kristy Martin (Principal)

kmartin@ccscatholic.com

Fr. Pat Arensberg

pastor@corpuschristiparish.com

Renee Wittendorfer (President)

reneewittendorfer@gmail.com

Laura Rahmel (Vice President)

lrahmel@gmail.com

Leslie Youkey (Secretary)

lbyoukey@mcpss.com

Judy Laurence

jlaurence828@gmail.com

Alice Grantham

alice.grantham@att.net

John Naughton

jwnaughton@gsblsu.org

Sharon Schwarz

sharch47@gmail.com

Katherine Spadafora

katnobles@gmail.com

Abby Woodard

jonabb@live.com

TECHNOLOGY

Alice Grantham

Kat Spadafora

Leslie Youkey

FACILITIES

Judy Laurence

John Naughton

Laura Rahmel

Renee Wittendorfer

Leslie Youkey

ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION

Judy Laurence

Sharon Schwarz

Abby Woodard

FINANCE

Aimee Meyers

John Naughton

Laura Rahmel

Sharon Schwarz

As a reminder, please be patient when dropping off your children in the morning and when waiting to pick your children up in the afternoon, especially in inclement weather. Sometimes inclement weather makes the process take longer, but our priority is to keep our children safe at arrival and dismissal.

The 2021 - 2022 yearbook is currently at its lowest price of the year - $30. In addition, if you purchase your yearbook before Friday, September 24th, you can get 4 free icons with the personalized book. Here is the link to place an order: Jostens

Our teachers put their "heart and soul" and a lot of creativity into making their classrooms a place that inspires learning. In addition, many teachers spend some of their own money on supplies...all for the benefit of their students. But, there are always a few "wishlist" items that would be an added bonus to a classroom. We've compiled the teachers' wishlists onto our website. If you would like to purchase something from a wishlist, the link is below. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Over the summer, our campus became a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation! The certification is part of the NWF's Garden for Wildlife program. A certified habitat supports birds, butterflies, bees, frogs and other local wildlife. Our campus provides natural sources of food, water, cover, and places to raise young and it is maintained in a sustainable way that incorporates native plants. Throughout the year, our teachers will have lessons and projects that support the mission of the Garden for Wildlife movement.

Mrs. Mansfield donated three birdhouses that have been installed on both playgrounds. We can't wait for the houses to have "residents" living in them!

The annual Life Chain at Corpus Christi Church will be on Respect Life Sunday, October 3 from 2-3 PM. Meet at 1:45 PM in the Corpus parking lot nearest to the Parish House. The group will walk down Evergreen to Airport and spread out with the signs (provided for use). Bring the whole family. Refreshments will be provided by Rehm/Porr families.

You can view our school calendar for the entire year on our school website (you may need to scroll down to see it): https://school.corpuschristiparish.com/calendar-1

September 27 - Oct 1

Book Fair Week

September 30

Out of Uniform - Toy Bowl Fundraiser

October 7

Food Pantry (Out of Uniform)

October 14

Crazy Hair Day Fundraiser for St. Jude

October 15

End of 1st Quarter

Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.- 5 pm.

Saturday Vigil Mass:

5:30 p.m.

Sunday Morning Masses:

7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

6:30 a.m. Monday - Friday

8:15 a.m. Monday - Saturday

The Parish Office has moved to the 2nd floor of the Community Center.

If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, please call the Parish Office at 251-342-1852, or add the name to the list in the chapel.

Confessions are heard 30 minutes before each Mass.

Gather each Thursday at 3:00 p.m. to reflect on the Sunday Gospel and pray together. Meetings are held in the Parish House. All are welcome. Contact Sister Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M. 251-753-4872

Our purpose is to help all men become the spiritual leaders of their families. All

men are welcome to meet for prayer, Gospel reflection, and fellowship.

Tuesday Mornings, 7-8 am, 2nd floor Conference Room.

Info: Jay Cox at 401-6070 or Auburn50@hotmail.com.

Wednesday Evenings, 7-8 pm, 2nd floor Conference Room.

Info: David Sheffield, 423-5666 or David.sheffield@uniti.com

Join us in service, grow in spirituality, and open your heart in friendship to neighbors in need. The St. Vincent de Paul Society responds to local individuals and families with food, clothing, and emergency financial assistance. Your help will feed children, prevent evictions and so much more. Financial donations can be placed in the brass poor box in the church vestibule, and clothing and food donations can be left at the St. Vincent de Paul Society table. If you are in need of assistance, call 251-366-6443. To find out how to join us, contact Ann Mackie at annmackie10.am@gmail.com. For more info go to www.svdpccc.org or follow St. Vincent de Paul Corpus Christi Conference on Facebook.

All women are invited to join us on Thursdays from 9:15-10:45 am in the conference room, 2nd floor of the Community Center. We will be studying Psalms: The School of Prayer, which can be ordered through Ascension Press. Info: Patti Hughes at 251-401-9623 or pm.hughes@comcast.net

We are excited to return to providing child care for moms in need of this service in order to join us! If you are considering joining us and are in need of child care please contact Cynthia Wentworth, 251-767-0532 or cynwen@yahoo.com

Grades 9—12, meetings are on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 in the Parish House.  For more information contact Fr. Crow: frcrow@corpuschristiparish.com

Volunteers are needed to donate food, serve, and clean up. For more information, contact Millie Quinones, Chairperson, 808-425-7100 or

Ophelia Gillespie, Co-Chairperson, 251-610-6503.

6:30 p.m., Tuesdays in the Parish House. Contact Dave Burchette, 367-6660 or davebur1955@gmail.com

Beginning September 21 we will begin a new series titled "A Biblical Walk through the Mass" which is a five-part video series taught by Edward Sri.

Please join us!

The CCWC is a group of women in our parish that helps our community through fundraisers which include the Angel Tree, an area nursing home, and Penelope House. We also have meetings on occasion at area restaurants to discuss ideas and planning. All ladies in the parish are welcome to attend. Contact info: Lois, 251-209-2163

All are welcome in the Atrium after each Mass for a cup of coffee and fellowship. If you would like to volunteer to prepare coffee, serve, or clean up, please call Glenna Cannon, 251-666-6552.

Meetings on the last Monday of the month 7:00 pm, at the parish house. Contact: Chad Pugh 251-232-0648.

Help the Knights raise money for our Seminarian, Andrew Wentworth. Purchase a smoked Boston Butt pork roast. Order forms in the vestibule or after masses. Place forms in dropbox, parish office, or contact Bob Wheat, 251-490-9350. Pick up at Parish House Sept 25th, 10:00am- 12:00pm.