December Cathedral Kids Messages

December 27, 2007

Dear friends,

Please include in your prayers a family who asks for strength and hope during a medical procedure.

-Spencer Allen

December 24, 2007

Doris O'Rourke, one of our student's grandmother, has been diagnosed with cervical cancer and will have surgery Wednesday, December 26.  Please keep her in your prayers during Christmas.

December 20, 2007

Dear friends,

As your family gathers in prayer during Christmas, please keep the following intentions in mind:

Please pray for Fr. Edwin Cole, pastor of the Shrine of St. Patrick in Laurie & uncle of faculty member, Flo Minor, as he begins medical treatment for cancer.

Also pray for Leann Jarrett and her family (including two sons at our school) during her struggle with cancer.

May God guide them through this difficult time.

In Christ,

Spencer Allen

December 19, 2007

Dear friends,

I just wasn't able to seal enough envelopes for each of you, so I have an electronic Christmas card waiting for you (click here).  Hopefully it holds you over until we have some more real snow!

I wanted to also call attention to the Christmas spirit of some of our kiddoes, such as Cole Haugen and Nick Kroeger, who collected numerous new and nearly new stuffed animals for the Salvation Army and children at the Rape and Abuse Center.  They were so sucessful that we had to stop the announcements because we were out of storage space.  Deacon Rackers said prayers over the animals that they would be a blessing to the recipients of the soft, cuddly toys.  Great job!!

Next month Cydney Lucio and Brian Oxenhandler will have a fundraiser to fulfill some of the wishes on the wish list at the Special Learning Center.

Have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

-Spencer Allen

Principal

December 18, 2007

Dear friends,

I am adding a prayer request section to the Cathedral Kids e-newsletter.  As with calendar and important events, I will rely on your e-mail requests so that I don't overlook a particular intention and so I don't invade a family's privacy with an unsolicited event.

That said, I would like to ask for your prayers for Mr. Bruce Connor's step-son Mark, who is in the hospital right now and has taken a turn for the worse.  Mr. Connor is the band teacher shared among all three Jefferson City Catholic Schools.  Not having all the details myself, I will refrain from explaining all that has happened in the past few days, but Mark has recently entered an extremely critical condition and the family is spending most of its time with him.  Please include Mark and his family in your prayers.  Additionally, we are taking up a collection as a staff to help with some of the expenses that aren't typically covered by insurance, such as hotels stays while in Columbia.  If your family would like to contribute, you may do so through the receptionists at our main office.

In Christ,

Spencer Allen

Principal

December 17, 2007

Dear parents and community,

We are revamping the school brochure.  The company who is producing our parish directory will also produce, as part of that deal, 2,000 brochures for our school.  If you have a knack for artistic detail or are good with the written word, please drop me a line.  I will put you in touch with the committee working on this.  We want to produce a great product, so please get in touch if you think you can add to this special project.

-Spencer Allen

ps. First Communion Outfits are 20% on sale at Divinity until the end of December for those of you who are in the market for one.

December 17, 2007

Contents:

• Welcome


• Cathedral Parents - Purgatory


• Class Size and Dress Code Updates


• Ice Storm Damage – Your Help Needed


• Preschool Aid Position Open


• Important Notes


• Upcoming Events

Welcome

Dear Parents and Parishioners,

First off, there was an ERROR in the bulletin.  The Christmas program is at 1:30 today, lasting until between 2:30 and 3:00.  The bulletin listed the time as beginning at 12:00.  Hope to see you there!

                On our school website, the Advent wreath now shows three candles lit, including the pink Guadete Sunday candle, when we turn our minds from repentance in preparation for Christ to an attitude of rejoice (hence the lighter color).  Just under that wreath, you will find a letter from Senator Christopher (Kit) Bond thanking Mrs. Gina Bailey and her 3rd grade class for the Christmas cards they made for soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  What a great way to celebrate the birth of Christ by connecting with the greater body of Christ.  Many of our students also stepped up and made cards for the project with Joy 92 FM, which also went to injured soldiers, as well as those currently serving oversees.

                Our Catholic Schools Week Committee is busy making preparations for this celebration of our great, Christ-centered schools.  One component is the recognition of a distinguished graduate of St. Joseph Cathedral.  This individual needs to be someone who graduated at least 10 years ago.  If you would like to nominate someone, please drop me a note with a paragraph of explanation concerning his/her contributions to the church and society

Pax vobiscum,

Spencer Allen

Principal

St. Joseph Cathedral School

Cathedral Parents – Penance         

One of the first objections with which Catholics are hit when we bring up Purgatory is that the word does not appear in Scripture.  True enough.  Nor does the word Trinity, which all Christians adhere to; however, the concept could not be clearer in the inspired text of the Bible.

To begin, consider a wedding analogy.  A new bride and her groom are standing before the priest, and as he is asking the bride for her vows, she seems distracted and distant.  After the wedding, the groom asks her what the deal was.  She tells him, You asked me to be your wife and I accepted.  I will love you until death do us part ... but I just can't get my old boyfriend Hank off my mind.

Ouch.

Christ is our bridegroom, and when we become Christians, we accept his proposal of marriage.  However, all of us are sinners and know that no matter how much we give ourselves to Christ, we still selfishly cling to earthly things, loving them more than him on occasion.  Perhaps we love sleeping in more than we love Mass on some Sunday.  Perhaps we love TV more than prayer.  Yet, for a marriage to be truly perfect, we must be purged of these distractions to the love we have for our spouse.

Purgatory is not some second chance, as many mistakenly believe Catholics understand it to be.  When we die, we are on our way to Heaven or to Hell. However, some of us will die still attached to those things of the flesh. While Christ made the perfect sacrifice for our sins, and while we have forgiveness for even the worst transgression, our sins damage our souls and body.  If we sin once, say by indulging in pornographic material, it becomes easier to sin in that way again, even after God has forgiven us.  If you doubt this (and I don't think anyone honestly could), talk with someone who has battled with an addiction, and he will tell you how giving in to the
temptation once made it easier to do it a second time, and then a third, and then ...

Purgatory is the place where God, because he loves us so tremendously, allows us to break from our earthly desires and sinful attachments before entering into his glory.  There are many who believe Purgatory to be a place of punishment and torture, which are misunderstandings of the strong Biblical imagery.  Will there be suffering in Purgatory?  Of course, just as there is suffering any time we break ourselves of something unhealthy.  My body aches when I start an exercise routine, but it is a good pain because I know I am toning those muscles and reducing that fat.  A drug addict sweats and shakes in a rehabilitation center, but this is a good suffering because it is a sign of the body purging itself of the poison and healing.  Any suffering we feel in Purgatory will be the consequence of stripping from ourselves all that is unhealthy to our marriage to Christ.

An important point to remember is that not all of us will need to experience Purgatory.  Surely some of us are working out our suffering here on Earth, such as might have been the case for the good thief who confessed belief in Christ before his crucifixion.  Some of us might have completely stripped ourselves of earthly attachments and will have no need for this purging, such as is the case for many of our recognized saints.

And, as Christ is our bridegroom, I truly believe that, for those of us who go to Purgatory, it will be something we desire, just as a bride wants to be pure and beautiful on her wedding day.  After all, Rev. 21:27 tells us that nothing unclean will enter Heaven, and that Christ intends to make us Holy and without Blemish (Eph. 5). 

Digging deeper into Scripture, we see that in the parable of the three servants, when master returns on that unexpected day and unknown hour, the servant who obeys is rewarded; the servant who disobeys is punished; the servant who disobeys out of ignorance is punished, but only lightly. We see three fates here, one which is clearly symbolic of damnation, one of Heaven, and a third (light punishment) signifies a third place, which cannot be Hell because that is surely not a light punishment, nor Heaven where no punishment occurs.

In 1 Cor 3:15, Paul discusses how we must build on the foundation of Christ.  Those who do not will go to Hell, of course.   Of those who do, some will build with valuable materials and precious metals, while others will chose more common materials.  Paul writes that each man's work will be tested with fire, and if it [each man's work] is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.  Now, consider this - we are not saved in Hell, yet we suffer no loss in Heaven, so where is this place in which we suffer loss but are still saved? 

The answer – Purgatory – has been a part of Christian belief for 2,000 years.

            For more on this topic, click here.

Class Size and Dress Code Update

The Advisory School Board met on Tuesday, December the 11th to discuss several items.  Two, however, have been of particular interest for many of you, and I wanted to get an update out regarding these.

Class Size - The board members have received any input that you have sent in my direction.  In addition, we viewed photographs demonstrating what classrooms would look like with the class sizes we have been discussing.  The consensus among the board is that we need to follow school policy in our decision.  On that note, board members made two written proposals, one that class sizes for intermediate and junior high be officially limited at twenty-five, with considerations, such as a classroom aid or an extra classroom implemented at the discretion of administration.  The other proposal keeps class sizes at their current levels.  The board will discuss and vote on these proposals at the January meeting.  Each proposal contains a slight revision of current wording, which made both necessary.

Dress Code – The dress code subcommittee of the advisory school board made a presentation to the board suggesting three options for our dress code.  The overall goal of the committee was to clarify and revise the code to help with consistency and enforcement, making dress choices easier for students, parents, and staff.  They have put many hours into this work, and I appreciate all that they have done.

The first of the three options calls for a clarification of the existing dress code, including dress-up days and dress-down days.  Some elements of our current code have been removed under this option, while new specifications have been added.

                The second option includes the revision done in option one, but also implements a uniform shirt with a school logo.

                The third option includes the specifications from options one and two, but calls for uniform pants, as well.

                The school advisory board members made recommendations on these three options, and the administration has since accepted the recommendation of option one.  The advisory board will officially vote to approve this policy at the January meeting, and the specifics of this policy will be published for parents immediately after this meeting on the website and through the Friday folders.

Ice Storm Damage – Your Help Needed

The Building & Grounds Committee of the Advisory School Board is looking for your help in cleaning up the Parish grounds after the recent ice storm.  We are looking for people with chain saws, trailers & ladders.  Our work party will be gathering at 8:30 am Saturday Dec. 22 and Friday, Dec. 28.  Our hope is to get this work done on Saturday to have the grounds looking great for Christmas.  Please contact Denis Gladbach, 634-2864, if you can assist, specifying which day you are available.  Al Rush, Head Custodian, will be coordinating the activities.

Preschool Aid Position Available

One of our preschool aids needs to adjust her personal schedule in order to take care of a relative.  At the start of the New Year, we will have an opening for a part-time position with morning three-year-old preschool, working with Mrs. Friggle.  Please drop me an e-mail if you are interested.

In the Classroom

Both of Mrs. Bailey's third grade Science classes will be doing animal projects. Students had to pick a threatened, endangered, or extinct animal. Then they will research the description of it, the habitat, the food it eats, and any other interesting facts. They will then make a poster of their animal. Look for them in the hallway by third grade rooms.

On December the 19th, 7th and 8th grade students will participate in a program by Melissa Morrow, a Supervisory Special Agent with the FBI in Washington D.C., on internet safety and abuse.

7th grade religion classes have completed their Jesse Tree projects.  Ms. Minor writes that the students never cease to amaze her in the symbolic representations they choose for their ornaments

7M students have been participating in Advent Angels by giving a small gift each week of Advent, along with performing random acts of kindness and praying for their person.  They will reveal their identities on Thursday with a final gift exchange.

Miss Minor's 7th grade math students are finishing up a chapter on number theory, prime factorization, least common multiple (LCM) and greatest common factors (GCF).

6th grade math is beginning an extensive unit of study on decimals, including operations with decimals.

Miss Minor's 8th grade pre-algebra class is continuing their work with integers, expanding this concept to exponents and order of operations.  The students have been working very hard to improve in-class behaviors and as such, earn a "free day."

Upcoming Events

• 12/17 Christmas program from 1:30-2:30


• Please note that the Bellarmine speech meet tryouts will be held in Ms.
  Stokes' room Wednesday, 12/19 from 3:10-3:30. Any 5th-8th graders is
  eligible for the meet, which will be held Saturday, January 19. It will
  take place at St. Stanislaus-Wardsville from 9:00-12:00. Only tryout if
  you are available this date!


• 12/20 Last day of school before Christmas break


• Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 at 7:00 PM  there is an 8th grade parent meeting for incoming Freshman at HHS in the Rackers Fieldhouse.


• Next rehearsals will be Wed 1/9 at recess and Tuesday 1/15 from 3:15-4:00.  Also, a big thank you to everyone who helped get our Advent/Christmas Program!  Stacy


• Saturday, January 12, 2008 from 8:30 – 11:15 AM a placement test will be given at HHS


• Adult Catechesis – The Priesthood - January 13th at 6:30 in the Catholic Center


• Instructional Mass – January 14th (elementary) and January 16th (junior high) at 1:30


• Make up date is Thursday, January 17 from 4:30 – 7:00 PM


• Adult Catechesis –Baptism - January 27th at 6:30 in the Catholic Center

December 14, 2007

Dear parents,

Friday is not the normal day for the Cathedral Kids e-newsletter, but I wanted to drop a note about the dress for the Christmas program on Monday, and so I will take the opportunity to mention a few other important notes, as well.

1) Many of the students have special Christmas outfits that they were looking forward to wearing at our program, and they need the opportunity to showcase these.  For that reason, students may wear whatever Christmas outfits they had planned to wear on Sunday.  Our program is still being video-taped, in case you ordered a copy.  Recess will be indoor on Monday out of respect for these outfits.  School uniforms are also fine.  Again, this program is on Monday the 17th at 1:30 (going until around 2:45).

2) Our school cancellation also affected our opportunities for reconciliation, as Tuesday was the day for 3rd and 4th graders.  I have been informed that we will not have an opportunity to reschedule this, so please find an opportunity to bring these students along to one of the Advent penance services offered locally so that they can greet Christ with a clean conscience.  I know many of you plan to do so, and this spiritual leadership is one of the best Christmas gifts you can offer your child.  These services are offered at various locations:

• Sunday the 16th at 2:00 here at the Cathedral.


• Monday the 17th at 7:00 at Immaculate Conception


• Tuesday the 18th at 7:00 at St. Peter


• Wednesday the 19th at 7:00 at St. Micheals in Russelville

3) With two snowdays already this year, and plenty of winter still ahead, we have looked at the calendar and decided that it would be prudent to make up one of our missing days by coming back from Christmas break on the 2nd of January instead of the 3rd.  Many of you who travel will need next Friday to get to your destinations, but will have to be back by the 2nd because of work or because you have students at Helias.  If you have already arranged travel plans that will keep your child from returning a day early, please do not change these.  Let us know if such a conflict exists so that we can help your child upon return.

4) I am excited about an opportunity we would like to offer upon our return from Christmas break.  I know how important it is for parents to spend time with their children, and it seems there should be more opportunities for that during the school day.  Beginning in January, a section of one of the cafeteria tables will be set aside for parents to have lunch with their children (other relatives may come only with prior approval from parents).  I know we already do this on a larger scale during Catholic Schools Week, but I would like to have it be a regular part of the students' lives to see the connection between school and family.  If you take advantage of this, please check in at the main office and be here on time for your child's lunch.  It would be appropriate to send a note to the homeroom teacher to help with lunch count.  No fast-food or restaurant food may be brought.  You may either bring a lunch from home or have a tray prepared in our cafeteria for $1.95. 

5) A reminder of the aid position available for the Tuesday/Thursday 3-year-old preschool position.  Respond to this e-mail if interested or for more information.

6) Mrs. Gramlich would like to invite all to the 5:30 EDGE Mass on Saturday night, followed by a free appreciation chili supper.

Pax vobiscum!

-Spencer Allen

Principal

December 12, 2007

Sorry,

It has really been a hectic day and the e-mail had to be sent quickly, but the date is DECEMBER the 17th.

Of 2007.

December 12, 2007

The program is on the 17th, not the 24th.  Sorry for the miscommunication.

December 12, 2007

Contents:

• Welcome


• Cathedral Parents


• Speech Screening


• Instructional Mass


• Preschool Aid Position Open


• Student Recognition


• Important Notes


• Upcoming Events

Welcome

Dear Parents and Parishioners,

Note: this e-newsletter is packed with important announcements and such, so please read the entire mailing.

            First off, I hope that all of you are doing okay after our bout with the ice.  I know that some of our families are still without power or are dealing with fallen tree limbs, and my prayers are with you.

            I could not be more disappointed that our Christmas program had to be cancelled due to the lack of electricity and abundance of ice on Sunday.  The kids have been practicing very hard, and I know they are excited about showcasing the fruits of their work.  Unfortunately, as we have looked at the calendar, there are no good times to reschedule outside of regular school hours.  Parish and community events, church preparations, and other conflicts make for a packed calendar.  Our program will now take place on Monday, December 24th, during the school day, from 1:30 until sometime around 2:30.  I hope that many of you will be able to join us, though I know it is difficult to get off work this close to Christmas.  Regrettably, there appears to be no reasonable alternative without scheduling well into the New Year.

            I have also just received word that, due to missed school days and a family illness, Mr. Connor has cancelled the interparish band performance tonight.  He notes that it will not likely be rescheduled anytime soon.

            On a lighter note, last week I sent out an e-mail listing a few things that were happening in the classrooms.  One I did not mention was that one of the teachers found a vocabulary program called Free Rice, through an organization that sends to needy countries an amount of rice proportionate to the success one achieves on the game.  The next time the ice traps you at home (provided you have power), check it out (click here).  How often can you improve your vocabulary and perform a corporal work of mercy at the same time?

            Finally, some of you have written to me indicating that you do volunteer work, and need to know dates for the next opportunity to receive VIRTUS training.  The next opportunities are at the Chancery on January 24, 2008, at 6:30, and on February 21, 2008, at 6:30 (you only need to attend one).  It is very important that anyone who works with our students receive this training, and you can always view new sessions by visiting www.virtus.org, clicking on Registration, viewing List of Sessions, and selecting Jefferson City Diocese.

Pax vobiscum,

Spencer Allen
Principal

St. Joseph Cathedral School

Cathedral Parents – Penance

Last week we examined the need for the sacrament of reconciliation for any of us who have fallen into a state of mortal sin, and next week, the last e-newsletter of this year, will examine Purgatory.  In order to transition between the two, it is important to have a clear understanding of the role of penance.

As can be seen in this link, penance has always been a part of the life of the church.  It is natural for people to desire to find physical ways to express sorrow over the tragedies of their sins.  In addition, through penitential acts such as fasting, we develop a strong sense of temperance.  A man who can learn to ignore his hunger pains has built up a strength that will serve him well when impure temptations confront him.  Yet, there is a deeper reason for penance which necessitates its place in our participation in the sacrament of reconciliation.

Some object to penance because, if Christ has atoned for our sins, it seems to them superfluous (if not insulting) to suggest that we need to do something additional as a consequence for our behavior.  What one should remember is that, when we sin, not only do we separate ourselves from God, but we do temporal damage as well.

Scripture gives us examples of individuals who suffer temporal consequences, despite having received forgiveness.  David’s baby died because of adultery (2 Sam. 12) and Moses was refused entry into the promised land (Nb. 20:12, Dt. 34).

To understand how God can forgive us while consequences remain, consider the analogy that, if I forget to pay the electric bill and our power gets shut off, my wife may forgive me for my delinquency, but I still have to deal with the fact that our lights will not turn on.

One temporal effect of committing a sin is that it becomes easier to sin again.  A teenager who gives in, once or twice, to a temptation to shoplift a candy bar finds it much easier to take a wallet from an unattended purse.  Paul acknowledges this, which is why he drove and trained his body, so that after preaching to other, he would not lose his salvation (1 Cor. 9:23).

Scripture is rich with suggestions concerning the purpose of penance.  Hebrews 12 tells us that we should not disdain the discipline of the Lord for he disciplines those whom he loves (5-6).  Peter writes, in his first epistle, that whoever suffers in the flesh has broken with sin (4:1), and the poetry of Psalm 20 assure us that blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being (30).

While the penance that a priest assigns, usually prayer and reflection, is of a much more mild form than suggested by the words of Scripture, we can be assured of the effect, which is to allow us to express sorry for our sins, to petition God for grace in avoiding additional sin, to build the temperance needed to resist temptation, and to repair the damage our sinful acts have inflicted upon our fragile human nature.

Speech Screening

One of the new things that we have tried this year is to provide speech screening for all of our students, from preschool through 2nd grade.  Mrs. Pat Grothoff, who is certified in this area, provided this service.  Parents were notified if their child would benefit from additional help in language development. 

This screening will help you, as parents, make the most informed decision regarding the education of your child and will help our teachers provide the best instruction for the needs of each child.

Instructional Mass

We are very excited to announce the upcoming Instructional Masses, which will become a regular part of the school year.  These Masses will be accompanied by narration to help those in attendance understand the various parts of the Mass and the best way to participate in them.

One January the 14th at 1:30 we will have a Mass for the elementary and intermediate grades, and on January the 16th, we will have one for the junior high.  While these Masses are being designed for the students, I am hopeful that anyone who attends will benefit, so please join us if you have those dates free and would benefit from these explanations.  The junior high Mass will have a more detailed narration.

Preschool Aid Position Available

One of our preschool aids needs to adjust her personal schedule in order to take care of a relative.  At the start of the New Year, we will have an opening for a part-time position with morning three-year-old preschool, working with Mrs. Friggle.  Please drop me an e-mail if you are interested.

Student Recognition

Congratulations to the following students, who were accepted into Lead-America and were invited to the National junior Leaders Conference:

Cole Baumgartner

Kyle Dorge

Maria Donovan

Cole Haugen

Nick Kroeger

Cydney Lucio

Allie Mitan

Brian Oxenhandler

Mallory Sone

Becca Stokes

Criteria for acceptance include: academic achievement, involvement in extracurricular activity and leadership potential.

Important Notes

         On December the 19th, 7th and 8th grade students will participate in a program by Melissa Morrow, a Supervisory Special Agent with the FBI in Washington D.C., on internet safety and abuse.

·         With all of the talk about avoiding the movie The Golden Compass, I wanted to pass on the recommendation I have received of the movie Bella, which presents a positive, inspiring pro-life message.  The movie has received great reviews.  Unfortunately, I am getting this out too late for you to enjoy the very brief show times last week, but the movie will soon be available for rent.

Upcoming Events

• 12/12-13 Reconciliation for students in grades 3-8


• 12/16 Adult Catechesis talk with Fr. Shetler and Spencer Allen (Original Sin and Original Justice)


• 11/17 Christmas program from 1:30-2:30


• 12/20 Last day of school before Christmas break


• Instrutional Mass (elementary) (junior high)

December 9, 2007

Due to the severe weather, our Christmas program will need to be rescheduled for another date and time.  We will look at our calendars during the next school day to determine the most practical alternative.

Also, I neglected to mention in my Friday post that Mrs. Gramlich requests that junior high students wear their EDGE shirts on Monday to gear up for the EDGE event on our early-out day.

-Spencer Allen
Principal

December 7, 2007

Dear friends,

Should our school have any cancelations because of weather, these will be announced through the regular channels, both in television and radio.  However, I will also make the announcements through this e-newsletter for those who check your e-mail frequently, but don't always have the weather turned on.  This weekend is our Christmas pageant, and I am hopeful that the weather will cooperate and we will have a great opportunity to listen to the students perform the music of this joyous season.

Since I am already sending out a mailing, here are some tidbits the teachers have sent about what is happening in the school for you to enjoy as we prepare to wind down for another weekend:

Primary:

The Second Grade classes have been working on fractions in math.  They have found it interesting to see how you can divide a shape into equal parts and that more pieces doesn't always mean a larger whole. 

Intermediate:

 Fourth grade has been learning about the sacraments, focusing on Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. They are also preparing to visit the Highway Patrol Museum and go caroling at the Villa Marie next Thursday.

In English they are starting the writing process by writing ""A story about Yourself"

Jr. High:

Both 7th grade classes will be working on a service projects for prisoners. Hy-Vee has donated cookies for us to decorate, which will then be sent to the area prison, along with cards.

Both 7th grade religion classes are preparing a Jesse Tree project by researching and then preparing a brief presentation on a particular person or event, along with an ornament symbolizing that topic.

6th grade Religion classes are working on a saints powerpoint presentation.  They researched our saints and are now completing the powerpoint in computer lab, which they will be presenting to our class sometime before Christmas.

The junior high English classes are working very hard! They have a few weeks left in our grammar units, then they will turn our focus onto writing.  Ms. Stokes writes that she is excited to see what kinds of fun things the students can do with their writing skills in the near future.

Ms. Stoke's homeroom class is preparing to celebrate Christmas. They are doing an Advent Angel gift exchange and are offering small gifts and prayers throughout the Advent season for each other.

Math 7th the students are working on decimals addition, subtraction, multiplication, division; and will work into equations with decimals and integers.

Math 8th is focusing on central tendency, and will be beginning geometry. Lines, Planes, Circles, Area, Perimeter, Circumference Pythagorean Therom etc...

In 8th religion, students have just finished Chapter 5.  Studied The Trinity, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Nicene Creed, Arius and the Arian Heresy, Central mysteries of our faith,  And in preparation for Advent we plan on watching "The Ultimate Gift"

Social Studies 8th is working on Geographic Skills with the Jr. Scholastic.  Next week they will begin the Classroom Geography Bee. This will be followed by Chapter 19 Late 1800s industrialization in the U.S. 

On Monday, 8th grade will partake in Team Challenge at the Blue Armory.

Specials:

In music, grades 7 & 8 will be starting a project on writing the music for the TV commercial.  Grade 6 will be creating music games after the first of the year, grade 5 will be studying the Underground Railroad and spirituals, and grade 4 will be continuing study on American folk songs. 

December 4, 2007

Dear friends,

First off, I need to apologize for getting a name wrong yesterday.  Deacon BOB Rackers is performing our Advent blessings.  His service is a wonderful contribution during this season of preparation.

Also, we have added some pictures to our website.  Just for your information, the diocesan policy prohibits us from putting up pictures of actual students.  While it is unfortunate that we cannot show many of the great potential pictures that would be available in the absence of this policy, one can never be too safe in this day and age, especially with the mostly unchecked virtual world of the internet.  Still, we have a goal of adding more pictures to capture the life of St. Joseph Cathedral, and what has recently been added is a small step in that direction.  You can view them here.

Next, in addition to the Christmas program this Sunday, there will be a 4-year-old preschool program at 9:30 (for the morning class) and 1:30 (for the afternoon class) on Friday the 14th.  I have heard great things about this tradition.

Also, this Sunday, the blueprints for the school will be on display in the Undercroft after the morning Masses.  The input of many stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and construction experts, has been sought and the plans look great.  Our architect, Tim Harlow, has done a wonderful job of incorporating so many great ideas and practical solutions.  Please join us in the Undercroft, where representatives from the stearing committee will be on hand to explain the new plans.  There will also be a Knights of Columbus Breakfast/Bake Sale after Masses.

The specific times for the showings are:

 7:45 - 9:00 am
 9:00 -10:00 am
10:00-11:00 am

Last, congratulations to the 5th grade students who were recognized for their essays in the DARE graduation ceremony.  We are very proud of them.  These students are:

5F- Savanna Hoelscher
    runners up- Mary Alice Howser and Nick Westermann
5H- Ethan Kolb
    runners up- Morgan Rundle and Rylee Cornelius
5S- Victoria Veit
    runners up- Gretchen Rauch and Anna Porting

Pax,

S.A.

December 3, 2007

Contents:

• Welcome


• Cathedral Parents


• Artwork and Maryknoll Essay Contest


• Important Notes


• Upcoming Events

Welcome

Dear Parents and Parishioners,

Happy Advent!  I have added a wreath to our website (click here), and I need to run somewhere after school and pick up another for our house.  Our current one has seen better days, but I think that the kiddoes really benefit from a home rich in traditions, especially those centered in prayer.

Deacon Gary Rackers joined us this morning for our blessing of the Advent candle, as well as the lighting of the first candle.  The first candle, a purple one, is called the prophets candle as it symbolizes the role of the prophets in heralding the coming of God-made-flesh.  In addition, we celebrated the fifth grade D.A.R.E. graduation.  Congratulations to these young men and women for committing themselves to a life of good and healthy choices.

I am avoiding the kids as much as possible today as I have come down with a cold and want to keep the bugs to myself.  It is that time of year for this type of thing to go around, of course, as the cold weather keeps us cooped up inside and the holidays bring much more interpersonal interaction, so we are emphasizing the importance of such precautions as frequent hand-washing at school.

Last, as many of you are probably aware, our Holy Father has recently published his second encyclical since taking the helm of the barque of Peter.  His first encyclical, published in 2005, was entitled Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), and this one is entitled Spe Salvi (Saved in Hope).  With a careful look at the titles, one could probably make a good guess as to the subject of his next encyclical in a few years (hint: I Cor. 13:13), though there is no reason to assume for sure this will be the case.  With a careful reading, this encyclical will take you approximately two hours, but I cannot emphasize more highly the spiritual and intellectual rewards of prayerful consideration of what Pope Benedict has written to flock that has been entrusted to his care.  You can find it here.

Pax vobiscum,

Spencer Allen
Principal
St. Joseph Cathedral School

Cathedral Parents – Confession to a Priest?          

Last week our second graders participated in their first reconciliation.  I can remember the anticipation, nervousness, and excitement that I experienced when I made my first confession as a child, but also as an adult when I came back to the church after haven fallen away several years ago.

For many Catholics, the sacrament is one of the first practices to go as elements of our childhood faith fall away.  There are many rationalizations that people tend to make to keep themselves out the confessional, and I will look at a few of these:

Why can I not just confess straight to God?

The short answer is because this is not the way that God planned it.  Paul writes that Christ gave them the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18), and we witness this happening in John 21:21, when Christ told the leaders of his Church that what sins they forgive are forgiven and what sins they retain are retained.  We simply do not have a right to tell Christ that we prefer to do it a different way.  Christ understood that, as physical creatures, we have a need for physical interaction.  Think about Peter, after all – he was not repentant of denying Christ until he looked across the crowd, saw the eyes of the Lord and wept (Luke 22:60).  Christ understood the power of actually sitting down and humbling oneself before another individual, hearing another human voice tell us that we are forgiven.

The priest is a sinner, just like I am.

Pope John Paul II went to confession weekly.  If he was this conscious of his sins, we can be assured that our parish priest is conscious of his.  Yet, this does not invalidate the sacrament of reconciliation anymore than having an overweight doctor invalidates the medicine he prescribes.  The power of the sacrament comes through the grace of Christ, not the merits of the confessor.

I am not aware of any serious sins.  I have not killed anyone.

The three conditions for mortal sin are that it must be grave matter, one must have knowledge of this and consent to the act.  While killing a person is certainly a grave sin, so is missing Mass on a Sunday or Holy Day of obligation.  Contracepting a marital act is also a grave sin.   Once we have participated in a mortal sin, we have removed ourselves from a relationship with God and put our soul in danger of eternal separation from him in Hell.

And if we receive communion while in this state, our condition becomes even worse.  Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 11:27 that to partake in communion without examining ourselves is to sin against the body and blood of Christ.

The good news is that, no matter what sin we have committed, the sacrament of reconciliation is always ready to bring us back into a right relationship with Christ.  Not only do we receive forgiveness for our sins, but we receive graces that help us from sinning again.  In addition, when we sin, we have wronged the entire body of Christ, which means even our most private sins affect those around us, and the priest sits as a representative, not just of Christ, but of our fellow man, and we can offer him our apologies in that regard.

I was reluctant to return to the sacrament of reconciliation for some time after coming back to the Church, and I offered a number of excuses and arguments for why I did not need to.  In time, however, I realized the real reason I was resisting had everything to do with personal shame and that my intellectual arguments were only distractions from that.  When God finally called me back into the confessional, though, I realized the magnificence of his grace and left feeling a hundred pounds lighter.

I think that many of our second graders had a similar experience.  One girl in particular got home with her parents and, two hours later, told her mother she wanted to go back again … that night!

If you have not been to the sacrament of reconciliation in a while, please do so before receiving the Eucharist this Saturday, which is a Holy Day of Obligation, recognizing the Immaculate Conception of Mary.  While the rest of us were not conceived immaculately, what better way is there to celebrate the Advent of Christ by striving for her holiness by having our sins wiped away and presenting ourselves pure and without blemish to receive our bridegroom Christ in the Holy Eucharist?

Artwork and Maryknoll Essay Contest

Two students from St. Joseph have artwork on dispay in shop windows downtown for the "Take A Seat Art Auction".   The auction will be held on January  12, 2008.  Grace Chen (8th grade) has done a piece that resembles Japanese artwork and Erica Prasad (7th) has done a drawing of a tree that celebrates the four seasons.  The money raised by the auction will go to the Arts Council of Jefferson City. 

Also, congratulations to the following students, who were chosen out of their English classes to be entered into the 2007 Maryknoll essay contest:

6C:
Allyson Burkemper
Jordan Poire
Andrew Pierle
Lauren Nichols
Rachel Feldmann

6M:
Marcus Woodruff
Lauren Brune
Sam Donovan
Victoria Keller
Amanda Patino

7M:
Ashlee Hernandez
Haley Bax
Katelyn Bradshaw
Jackie Fox
Lindsey Gordon

7S:
Justus Schulte
Anthony Woodruff
Rachel Porting
Mackenzie Mertens
Morgan Steifermann

8K:
Hannah Burnett
Robbie Husting
Brian Oxenhandler
Kyle Dorge
Julia Asmar

8S:
Cody Fisher
Mallory Sone
Tyler Luebbert
Katelyn Hoelscher
Allie Mitan

Important Notes

·        The vocations committee would like to invite all in the community to join us for the adoration and benediction that takes place on first Fridays.  It would mean a great deal for your children to see you there.

Upcoming Events

• 12/9 Advent/Christmas program at 1 p.m. for grades k-3 and 2 p.m for grades 4-8


• 12/11-13 Reconciliation for students in grades 3-8


• 12/16 Adult Catechesis talk with Fr. Shetler and Spencer Allen