From Sr. Joanne

January

According to the interpretation of the Mayan calendar, 2012 will prove to be a year filled with change. There is a lot of hype connected in particular to 12-12-2012. The hype is not always so positive. Since the members of the Mayan civilization are not around to explain what the calendar means then, we, like others, can add a rod into the fire of conjecture and add our two cents.

I would like to concentrate on the power of Christ that can transform us if we let it. Year after year we go through the motions of the church year, marking the liturgical seasons with various prayers and practices in hopes that we will become better for having known Christ in his church. Spiritual Change is a sign of growth, life, continuance. And that is what we want. We want to be different, better for having known Jesus. We want the world both near to us and widespread to be better because WE have known Jesus. We want each day to bring us a step closer to this goal. BUT IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF WE GET TO KNOW JESUS BETTER! We have to let him in! We have to let him touch our day to day living!

In looking at 2012, or 2013, or 2014 etc. let us look at our journey towards Christ, with Christ.

We are already but not yet! We are wanna be’s!

We wanna be in heaven!

We wanna be at the right hand of the Father!

We wanna be the best we can be!

We wanna be there for others!

We wanna be the change maker in the world!

We wanna be the hands, the feet, the eyes of Christ in the world!

We wanna be Christ like!

We don’t need the Mayan civilization to tell us this. We need Christ.

December

It’s not Christmas until December 25^th!

What are you doing?

Preparing?

That is what Advent is all about.

But not what YOU are thinking!

With every cookie you make;

With every present you purchase;

With every gift you wrap;

With every swipe of the dust cloth;

With every window you decorate;

With every Christmas bulb you hang;

Your thoughts are to be set on PREPARATION

…But not of your house or your external you – but of your internal you.

Your heart!

‘I bring you glad tidings of great news.’

He comes.

What will Jesus find when he comes into your heart?

On behalf of the Boys and Girls, Faculty and Staff of Holy Redeemer School:

We wish all a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with blessings.

October/November

If it is not the crunching of leaves under your feet then it is the rustling trees as the fall winds overtake the leaves and the branches. The wind makes its way through the cracks in the window pane. It dances before you as a whirling dervish in the streets. There is popping of chestnuts heralded by the smells of roasting and open fires. And what does it keep singing to us? “Summer is fading. The shadows of chill are nigh. Soon the blanket of winter will be upon us.”

Did you notice that this yearly demonstration of nature happens very gradually? Almost under the cover of night? Without our help? Ignoring our protests? Our clamor for summer to stay longer? How many have we gone through? Yet every year it is the same story. We don’t want to let go of the past summer and face the future winter head on. We are afraid. So it is in life.

Letting go to grab hold is a constant state of our existence. Like the trapeze artist, we need to let go of one swing to grab another otherwise we hold on to both sides and get no where fast.

And where are we going?

Everyday we are moving closer and closer to eternity, a place where we want to be yet we don’t want to let go of the here and now to be, to arrive at our destiny. Lucky for us we have the Saints and the Souls to show us how it is done. And what is that magic formula? What is it to make the letting go, go easier? Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do the right thing. Let go and let God into your life. Winters seems warmer when the fire of love lives with in you, enfolds you in its grasp.

Yes, the Saints and the Souls show us how it is done. What is the difference between us and the saints? Nothing, absolutely nothing! It gives one hope to know if they can do it, I have a chance. And for this we give thanks: “Eternal rest grant unto them O, Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.”

We ended the year with 107 and we are starting at 110. And we will continue to register. It is never too late to accept the invitation to receive a Catholic School Education.

We have new students in every grade except 6^th and 3^rd which means we have new families that need you old families to be there seeing them through!

The entire parish was impressed with the volunteer-giving during the Festival in the Park and the Parish Bazaar – the newbie’s wasted no time becoming part of the action. I have never heard such POSITIVE comments on how wonderful our school parents are as I did this summer. All I keep hearing is “Sister, you have a good group there!” And that is what Holy Redeemer Spirit is all about. Thank You!

As the year unwinds it is so important to be in communication with the office so that we can fix what needs to be fixed, address what needs to be addressed, heal the hurts, clear-up the misunderstandings, reformulate policy. The point is, as it is with the children: There are no such things as dumb questions.

· Mr. James Hackett – Music. Mr. Hackett is an alumni and a parishioner. His musical interests were spotted and promoted by Ms. Giancola almost 30 years ago. Mr. Hackett used to cantor at the student mass standing on a stool next to Sr. Joanne with her guitar. Mr. Hackett is currently the Music Director for Mary Mother of Hope in New Castle. We are very fortunate that we have Mr. Hackett at this time. His expertise will help the children and staff learn the new Mass parts correctly.

· Sr. Jean Gaeta, MPF is our new Librarian. Sr. Jean is a techno geek, an avid reader, an accomplished artist, specializing in land and seascapes and I hear she does a mean breakfast brunch. Sr. Jean has been a Religious Teacher Filippini for over 50 years. Although Sr. Jean is newly stationed in Ellwood City she is no stranger to Holy Redeemer, often seen in the company of Sr. Betty Jean and Sr. Barbara Takacs over the past 10 years. Sr. Jean will also be working in the Parish as a home visitor.

· Sr. Barbara Takacs, alumna and native Ellwoodian will also be joining us shortly. Sr. Barbara is recuperating after cancer treatment and as soon as she can she will join us.

· Mr. David Pritts is the new daytime custodian. He is an alumni Dad going back about 20 years and is currently a Grandpa of two of our students.

· Anthony and Karen Woloszyn are our new evening school custodians and alum parents. Many of you are familiar with Mr. Tony as a photographer at sporting events and currently as a “BE SAFE” Fire/Police Photographer.

WELCOME BACK ONE AND ALL! Let’s plan to make 2011-2012 a year filled with good for our children.