Dear Parents,

We are fast approaching Spring (we seem to have skipped Winter!).  We will Spring forward next weekend and turn our clocks an hour forward (March 8).  The Fourth marking period will begin at the end of March (March 31).

We are still finish up the movie on the life of Pope John Paul II.  I am only putting the movie on for about 20-30 minutes.  It is great to see Karol Wojtyla standing up to injustice in his world and in a non-violent way.  We also see him using the sacraments to discern deep questions in his life, such as how to resist evil and finding his life’s vocation.  The students also see how a Pope is elected and introduced to the World.  This week we will see how JPII uses his life’s experience to resist governments that limit religious freedom  during his papacy and spread the message of the dignity of every human person.  We will also see how JPII handles suffering in his old age and allows the world to see him suffer with grace.  We see him struggle to come to grips with his suffering and also his conviction that his suffering is for the greater good of the Church.  Indeed, the world saw how God gives grace when we suffer.

All of these themes are emphasizing the graces in the Sacraments of Healing (Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick).  Next week, we will discuss the Sacrament of Reconciliation in two lectures (attached to the Class Page, under “Important Files” in the right margin of the home page).  Also, we will have a Bible Activity emphasizing the scriptural foundations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and other worksheets.  Lastly, we will have a Vocabulary quiz next week for Chapter six Vocabulary words.  It is scheduled on the class page for Day B, Thursday, March 5; Day A, Friday March 6.

Have a Great Weekend!

Mr. Martini