Dear St. Francis Families,
Lent is a time to slow down, evaluate, and recommit to your spiritual fitness.
During the advent season, we should pray, fast, and alms give.
During the advent season, we should pray, fast, and alms give.
- Through prayer, we encounter Christ, present in the faces of every member of our human family, so often still walking that long road to Calvary.
- Through fasting, we encounter our own obstacles, those things about ourselves that prevent us from loving God and neighbor.
- Through almsgiving, we encounter our brothers and sisters around the world, asking what we can give up so that others might have life to the fullest.
I know in our busy lives this is challenging but we are called to try. Here are some suggestions:
- Park at the very back of the parking lot. While you walk to your destination, pray.
- Get to know a neighbor. As a family make a meal or cookies for a neighbor and go deliver.
- As a family clean out closets and drawers and go donate unused clothing.
- Leave a post-it note with a positive saying wherever you go
- Take a photo everyday of something you are grateful for. You will have a nice collage after 40 days.
- Grocery shop and donate the food to a local church or food bank
Some great apps for the Lent season are
- Catholic Relief Services rice bowl.
You can find the app at crsricebowl.org - Xt3.com
I pray for you and your families to have a meaningful Lenten experience.
February 13 is Fat Tuesday:
February 13 is Fat Tuesday:
Fat Tuesday is the day before the Lent Season begins. It was the day people would “get rid of” items not used during Lent like meat, eggs, milk. Today, Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, is the day we indulge. Campus Ministry will host Fat Tuesday by having a dessert table during lunch. All proceeds will be given to Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowls.
Students may be out of uniform on this day to partake in the festivities. Shirts must be the predominant color of Purple, Orange, Green or Yellow and must be seen (no wearing under a sweatshirt). Pants or shorts can be any solid color. No rips in the clothing and no sweatpants, yoga pants, or leggings. If students choose not to come dressed in the spirit of the day they are to wear regular school uniform.
Ash Wednesday:
February 14 7:50 AM
All are welcome to join us at 7:50 AM in the BAC for mass presided by Fr. Beto Chavez.
Operation Rice Bowl:
Catholic Relief Service rice bowls are a way to share the Lenten journey with members of our human family around the world, and commit our prayers, fasting and almsgiving to deepening our faith and serving those in need. Each student will be given a rice bowl at our Ash Wednesday mass. The hope is to use these bowls for almsgiving during the Lenten season. All bowls are due back to St. Francis on March 26.
LA Religious Education Congress:
March 14-17
The trip is filled to capacity. Permission slips and information to those who are registered will be coming home soon.
Sophomore Retreat:
February 28, 7:50 AM - 2:37 PM
The Sophomore retreat is a day of Community Service. Sophomore students come to school at the regular time and report to the BAC. We will depart from school at 8:30 AM to our different work sites. Students will work at their sites with a school representative from 9 AM - 12 PM. At noon students will return to campus for lunch and reflection on their experiences from the day. The day concludes with a mass at 1:00 PM.
Students should wear Shark-wear. Please bring a sweatshirt because many sites are outside and could be cold in the morning. Also wear tennis shoes. I recommend wearing a hat and bringing a water bottle.
Some of the students will get to the service sites with the school vans but I am in need of additional parent drivers who can drive in their personal cars. Please let me know ASAP if you are able to drive too [email protected]
Prayer Wall
Would you like to see what is going on in the hearts of our young people? Campus Ministry created a prayer wall on the window of the gym foyer. The cards are what our young people want to turn over to God. If you are on campus, please stop by the “wall” and help lift up in prayer. Let our young people know we are here to support them.
Ash Wednesday:
February 14 7:50 AM
All are welcome to join us at 7:50 AM in the BAC for mass presided by Fr. Beto Chavez.
Operation Rice Bowl:
Catholic Relief Service rice bowls are a way to share the Lenten journey with members of our human family around the world, and commit our prayers, fasting and almsgiving to deepening our faith and serving those in need. Each student will be given a rice bowl at our Ash Wednesday mass. The hope is to use these bowls for almsgiving during the Lenten season. All bowls are due back to St. Francis on March 26.
LA Religious Education Congress:
March 14-17
The trip is filled to capacity. Permission slips and information to those who are registered will be coming home soon.
Sophomore Retreat:
February 28, 7:50 AM - 2:37 PM
The Sophomore retreat is a day of Community Service. Sophomore students come to school at the regular time and report to the BAC. We will depart from school at 8:30 AM to our different work sites. Students will work at their sites with a school representative from 9 AM - 12 PM. At noon students will return to campus for lunch and reflection on their experiences from the day. The day concludes with a mass at 1:00 PM.
Students should wear Shark-wear. Please bring a sweatshirt because many sites are outside and could be cold in the morning. Also wear tennis shoes. I recommend wearing a hat and bringing a water bottle.
Some of the students will get to the service sites with the school vans but I am in need of additional parent drivers who can drive in their personal cars. Please let me know ASAP if you are able to drive too [email protected]
Prayer Wall
Would you like to see what is going on in the hearts of our young people? Campus Ministry created a prayer wall on the window of the gym foyer. The cards are what our young people want to turn over to God. If you are on campus, please stop by the “wall” and help lift up in prayer. Let our young people know we are here to support them.
Catholic Men’s Group
The SF Catholic Men’s group meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month in the Aptos area. All men are welcome. For more information contact Chris Croghan at [email protected]
World Youth Day
Salesian Youth Movement will be taking a group of Salesian youth ages 18 and older to World Youth Day in Panama January 18-28, 2019. The total cost is $3,500 and there are fundraising options available. For more information contact Ms. McLeod at [email protected] CLICK HERE FOR FLYER
Go Sharks,
Ms. Shannon McLeod
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
Coordinator of Youth Ministry