Campus Ministry Newsletter

Our St. Thomas More community continues to take a major role in the Edmund Rice Beyond Borders Initiative. We are in the process of connecting with schools worldwide to promote the values of an Edmund Rice Christian Brother education.

(EREBB) is an International network of Catholic schools educating young people from many different faiths and cultures. In over 20 countries EREBB endeavours to promote global solidarity and offer a transformational education for justice and liberation.

For more information
you can logon to http://www.erebb.org/

Dear STMC Families,

Welcome to the Fall edition of the Campus Ministry Newsletter. At St. Thomas More Collegiate we continue to foster our spirituality and faith life by offering a variety of opportunities for students to live the message of the Gospel. Throughout the year I will be sending information regarding various events, opportunities and how our Knights strive to make the world a better place for the Earth and its people. Please don't hesitate to contact me anytime if you have any questions, concerns, ideas or want to volunteer.

As we begin this month of November in a time of remembrance let us take time to remember those in our lives who have passed. We remember all those who have contributed to the St. Thomas More Vision especially Mr. Bernie Kully. Throughout his time at St Thomas More, Mr. Kully played an integral role in campus ministry in addition to teaching Religion classes. Mr. Kully was always involved in collecting and distributing Christmas hampers to the needy through the Purpose Society. He was a regular on retreats and service trips, and his classes often led our school in mission collections. Faith and the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers were always an important part of his life.

Sincerely,

David Mattiazzo
Director of Campus Ministry

(604) 521-1801 ext 127

dave.mattiazzo@stmc.bc.ca

PERU SERVICE TRIP
July 2017

My experience on the Peru trip this past summer was an experience I will never forget. This year was different than any other year as we had a smaller group of 12 students as well as 3 teachers. Collectively, we helped build a new home for a woman in Canto Grande, worked with multiple families experiencing what their jobs were like, and worked with the Third-World Eye Care Society (TWECS) to help give glasses to people in need. The sense of community and gratefulness the people of Peru showed was humbling. This Peru trip helped me learn so much about myself and has created a bond with friends that couldn't be created in any other way.

Justin Ng Grade 12.

Our St. Thomas More community has been involved in the Peru Service Trip for the past 10 years. The next trip is planned for the first two weeks of July 2019. Information will be available this Spring. Please note that Brother Casey and the Christian Brothers have opportunities for members of the community to experience this trip if they have not had a chance during their time at St. Thomas More.

Below is a photo of the house our STMC Knights built in Canto Grande.

Below is a photo from the first STMC Peru Trip in 07.

Archbishop Michael Miller to Celebrate STMC Advent Mass
Thursday December 21 @ 10:45am

We are excited to announce that Archbishop Michael Miller will be celebrating our Advent Mass on Thursday December 21. We welcome you to join us on this festive occasion. It is always special with Archbishop celebrating mass and he is known for his inspirational homilies.

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

STMC Liturgy Schedule

Advent Mass: Thursday, December 21, at 10:45am

Winter Grade Level Masses TBA

Ash Wednesday Mass: Wednesday, February 14 @ 10:45am
Adoration Service: February TBA
Mother's Day Mass: Friday, May 12 @10:45am

Grad Mass at OLM: Thursday, May 24 @7pm

STMC Annual Toys For Kids Drive Back for Another Year!!

Tuesday December 19

The Toys for Kids Drive is back for its ninth consecutive year. Initially launched by St. Thomas More Collegiate graduate Miguel Ramos ('13) as part of his planning 10 initiative, thousands of toys have been collected and several thousand dollars have been raised for the Salvation Army and local Burnaby schools. Donations will once again also go to Nelson Elementary and 12th Avenue School. Last year we also donated several gifts to newly arrived Syrian families in Burnaby.

This year the Toy Drive will take place on Tuesday, December 19 from 7-8:30am at the STMC foyer. In years past CTV and the Burnaby Fire Department helped to launch this event. Students are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to put under the Christmas tree either that morning or anytime leading up to this day. Cash donations and gift cards are also accepted. Please note that students who donate a toy will be invited to a pancake breakfast that morning in the cafeteria.

Looking for Volunteer Hours
Students are encouraged to sign up for opportunities

Local MP Peter Julian Joins STMC Students serving at Holy Trinity Cathedral during Connect Day!

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the service opportunities offered at STMC. Opportunities are listed on the service board located outside the library and signup sheets can be found outside the Campus Ministry office. Please remember that while the Campus Ministry department will do its best to accommodate all students, spots are limited and students are encouraged to find volunteer options on their own. At any time, if a student needs recommendations they can meet with Mr. Mattiazzo for support.

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 throughout the week. Meeting time is at 7:55am with Mr. Mattiazzo and students will miss part of their first block. Sign up outside 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 also are in need of volunteers.

Permission forms and sign up can be found outside the Campus Ministry Office. Please see block below for photos of the program.

Candy Wrapping Event

Students will be needed to wrap candy for the Good Shepherd Ministry as well as write various prayer cards. There will be an after-school event for students to sign up. Information can be found on the Service Board TBA.

Good Shepherd Ministry

Beginning in November, grade 11 and 12 students will have the chance 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 will run twice a month and students will leave at 6:30pm 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 15 our community will be hosting Hyuga School from Japan for a full day. We will need student buddies for each of our visiting guests. Grade 10-12 students are requested to sign up.

More information TBA.

In-house STMC Volunteer Opportunities

Parent Teacher Interview: November 23
Christmas Craft Fair: November 25th-26
Open House Tour Guides: January 17
Chancellor Basketball Tournaments: December and January

Please sign up in the front office to volunteer for any of these events

Alpha Program Student Leaders

Grade 10-12 student leaders are needed to help run in the Alpha program in Religion 9 classes. Please speak with Mr. Mattiazzo if you are interested. The Alpha program will begin in January.

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 needy in Burnaby. Please speak with Mrs. Silveira if you are interested.

Report from Mission Control

A special thanks to our community for their continued support of our STMC Missions. The STMC Missions program helps support a variety of charities both locally and internationally. Funds raised have assisted many of our Edmund Rice Christian Brothers around the world and has gone towards local initiatives as well.

We have raised close to $1000 from our last Jeans Day collections. In addition last month we sent $5000 from our Missions to our Christian Brother's school in Dominica for their hurricane relief fund.

Mark your calendars, bring a toonie, and participate in our next Jeans Day on February 23rd.

The Blessed Edmund Rice Team 2017-2018

S TMC students take on various initiatives to promote the Essential Elements at STMC.

The STMC Blessed Edmund Rice Team is excited for a new year! The BERT team is comprised of four sub groups who work together to promote the Essential Elements of an Edmund Rice Christian Brother Education at STMC.

1) Faith and Liturgy

The primary role of this group is to assist with the organization of masses and the prayer life at STMC. This group is currently working on a prayer intention box for our community as well as lunchtime faith talks for students. More information TBA.

2) Planning and Action

The planning and action team is currently working on a few initiatives such as the candy drive and our Annual Toys for Kids Drive in December.

3) Justice and Life

The Justice and Life club began the year collecting umbrella's for the needy attending Holy Trinity Cathedral. With a focus on social justice and pro life, this club is excited to initiate a Values Week later this year.

4) Beyond Borders

On Tuesday November 9, the STMC Beyond Borders had an online conference with St. Laurence in Chicago, Blessed Edmund Rice College in Wollongong Australia and Vancouver College to connect and initiate a domestic violence awareness program.

Candy Collection for the Good Shepherd Ministry

A special thank you to all those who have collected 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 Min istry, the Good Shepherd serves people living in the Downtown Eastside by handing out candy bags and prayer cards. Beginning in November grade 11 and 12 students will have the opportunity to join in this ministry with Mr. Mattiazzo and Mr. Zimmermann.

If you have any left-over candy or chocolate from this Halloween, we encourage you to drop them off to Mr. Mattiazzo in the Campus Ministry 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

Values Week December 4th -8th
BERT TEAM in conjunction with Signal Hill to promote special week

We are living in a value crisis. Our culture treats human beings like commodities and values possessions and status over relationships. We are constantly being fed the message that we are not beautiful enough, not smart enough, not strong enough.

Young people see the fallout from this value crisis every day at school and in their own personal lives. Because they experience these problems on an everyday basis, we believe that these young people are in the best position to find a solution and communicate the message of Value Every Person to their peers. During the week of December 4th to 8th, we will be running a values week at STM with the help of Signal Hill.

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/

Grade 10 Students Volunteer at Third World Eye Care Society

Early in October, Grade 10 students had an opportunity to volunteer at the Third World Eye Care Society (TWECS), a volunteer registered BC charity. Run by Derrick and Marina March (parents of Evan and Emma March in grade 10.)

This past July, TWECS and our STMC Knights worked together to provide hundreds of people with eyecare in Lima, Peru.

The TWECS are optometrists, opticians, medical doctors and other volunteers who collect old eyeglasses and recycle them for the poor as well as conduct eye clinics. The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 45 million blind people worldwide, with an estimated 135 million visually impaired simply because they lack a pair of eyeglasses. In the developed world we throw away millions of eyeglasses because they no longer provide us with adequate vision.

These eyeglasses are priceless gifts for tens of thousands of underprivileged in the Third World. In the 20 years that TWECS has existed, they have completed eye projects around the globe in Mexico, Philippines, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Bolivia, Grenada, Cambodia, Peru, Malawi, Ecuador and Nicaragua and have provided restored vision to 80,000 underprivileged men, women and children. In that time they have collected over 250,000 pairs of eyeglasses from compassionate Canadians. For every person they see, at least 10 pairs of eyeglasses need to be found to match a patient's prescription.

Throughout the year we plan on taking various groups of students to assist with this excellent initiative. If anyone is interested in volunteering outside of school hours please speak with Mr. Mattiazzo.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Wednesday December 6

Students will have an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday December 6. Numerous priests will be at Our Lady of Mercy for the occasion and every student in the school will have a chance to receive the sacrament. In addition, Fr. Smith offers confession each Thursday in the school chapel usually from 10:45am to 1:30pm.

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