Campus Ministry Family Newsletter
February, 2024
February 14 - Ash Wednesday Mass
This day is an Irish PM Block Schedule.
Please remind your students to participate in Mass. We are so blessed to be able to gather together to worship the God who made us! Reverence means to show not just respect but also an awareness that something great is happening here.
Upcoming Sacraments/Marianist LIFE Dates
March 11 & 13: Sacrament of Reconciliation
Reconciliation will be offered during Lent on March 11 & 13. Students may attend during their Theology, Study Hall, or Lunch. (Please note there is ACT and IOWA testing on March 12, so these two dates are opposite colored class days.)
Feb. 21: Marianist LIFE Meeting
Join us on Weds., Feb. 21, from 6-8pm in the LRC for faith, food, fellowship, and fun as we discuss how Christ-Centered, Healthy Relationships can help us make the most of LENT and everyday!
March 26: Marianist LIFE Meeting
Save the date for the March 26 (Tuesday) Marianist LIFE Meeting from 6-8pm in the LRC. Topic to be shared later.
Lent Resources / Hallow Pray 40 Challenge
Lent is a beautiful and penitential season of the Church. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, when the holiest days of the year begin the Triduum: Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
Lent is a time of Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. It is a time to repent. The word repent evokes some negative emotions for people, like they are doing something wrong and better make it right, when really, the way repent is meant during Lent is to turn away from or old way of life to radically reorient ourselves to Christ.
Here are some Lent resources:
Fr. Mike Schmitz VideoIdeas for kids and teens during Lent
I also hope that all of you will join me and encourage all of your students to join the Hallow Pray 40 Challenge. It would be truly amazing if we could all dive deeper into prayer this Lent with Hallow. Please click this link to join the challenge.
Around the Area: Please check out the bulletins at local parishes to find out all the incredible opportunities you can do to PRAY, FAST, and GIVE during LENT.
Kairos Updates
March 18-22
The application deadline for March Kairos is February 23, but SOONER IS BETTER. There were some rumors going around that the March Kairos is already full and that is NOT TRUE. There is still room, so senior parents/caregivers, please encourage your students to take this last opportunity to attend a Kairos retreat. Please also share that the cost should not be prohibitive. If that is a concern for them, please have them see me. Applications are in Campus Ministry and with Theology Teachers.
Weekday Prayer Opportunities
Monday
Pray an Examen to see how we can turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. (Reminder given through Instagram)
Tuesday
On Tuesdays, faculty come together to pray in the Chapel from 3:05 - 3:15. We will be focusing our Lenten prayer on praying for others, especially Alex.
Wednesday
On Wednesdays, students pray the 5 Minute Prayer right after school (3:05) in the LRC.
Thursday
Divine Mercy Chaplet - Join digitally on Hallow at any time, but especially at 3pm.
Friday
On Fridays, we pray the Rosary with Marianist LIFE at 7:30am, (except for March 1, when there will be First Friday Mass at 7:15am). Both Rosary and Mass are in our STVM Chapel.
PHONE FREE FRIDAY! Students may place your phone in the caddy in my office and collect it at the end of the day. Please encourage your students to take part in this fast.
Service Update and Mobile Serve
Has your student claimed their MOBILE SERVE ACCOUNT and are they logging hours? This account was emailed to them in August and was discussed with them in Theology by Mr. Larlham. Students need to claim their account and log their hours. Please also encourage your students to be sure to log their service hours in Mobile Serve. As a reminder, every student needs 25 hours per year, and they need to complete at least 15 of those hours outside of STVM. They are only able to long 10 hours (even if they do more) for STVM.
Support/Care/Resources for Alex Palmer
Thank you to our Irish family for the outpouring of love and support for Alex Palmer and her family as they navigate her cancer diagnosis. There are already many things in place and will be many more, but listed below are some of the current efforts. If anyone has a great idea, please email me (jgoshe@stvm.com) or Assistant Principal Mrs. Rebecca Busey (rbusey@stvm.com), and we will work with the school and the family to determine which support is needed/desired by the family.
- Prayer Service: February 2, we hosted a small prayer service for Alex. Fr. Jeremy Merzweiler led us in praying for and over Alex and gave her the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
- Prayer Chains: Our Theology staff is assisting our students in creating prayer chains for Alex.
- Tie blanket: a blanket that will be personalized by her classmates is in the works.
- T-shirt fundraiser: Starting Feb. 5, the bookstore is accepting donations for preorders of #AlexStrong T-shirts. 100% of proceeds will go to Alex's family to offset costs of treatment. See the school's social media accounts for more info. Here is the link to the bookstore's page where you can preorder: https://st-vincent-st-mary-bookstore.mybigcommerce.com/alexstrong/
- GoFundMe: Friends of the Palmers have started a GoFundMe. Here is the link for that if you would like to donate and/or share the link on your social media or with friends.
Upcoming Events
February 2 - First Friday Mass 7:15am in STVM Chapel
February 7 - 5 Minute Prayer after school in the LRC
February 9 - Rosary in the Chapel at 7:30am/Phone Free Friday
February 14 - Ash Wednesday - School Mass at 1:40pm in the Arena
February 14 - 5 Minute Prayer after School in the LRC
February 15 - Phone Free Thursday instead of Friday because of No School
February 21 - 5 Minute Prayer after School in the LRC
February 21 - Marianist LIFE Night 6-8pm in LRC (date may change)
February 23 - Rosary in the Chapel at 7:30am/Phone Free Friday
February 28 - 5 Minute Prayer after School in LRC
March 1 - First Friday Mass at 7:15am in STVM Chapel/Phone Free Friday
March 6 - 5 Minute Prayer after School in LRC
March 8 - Rosary in the Chapel at 7:30am/Phone Free Friday
March 11 - Sacrament of Reconciliation
March 13 - Sacrament of Reconciliation
March 15 - Rosary in the Chapel at 7:30am/Phone Free Friday
March 18-21 - Kairos 48
March 19 - Feast of St. Joseph - Marianist LIFE activity TBD
March 24-30 - Holy Week
March 26 - LIFE Night 6-8pm LRC
March 28 - Holy Thursday Prayer Service at 12:45pm
Marianist Moment
Marianists believe that Mary is the perfect model of discipleship. She shows us how to love, trust, and follow Jesus better than any other human being. She also encourages us to "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5
We just celebrated the Feast of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade and also our other Marianist Founders; Blessed Adele, and Marie Therese with a Mass with Father Bob Jones, S.M. the Chaplain at the University of Dayton. Please click here to learn all about these Founders.
February 2, was the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which commemorates the anniversary of the first lay Marianist consecration in 1801. Let us pray:
God of light, Your Son shared our flesh and blood and built us into a living temple where you might dwell. Like Simeon and Anna, our eyes behold your salvation. Guide us by the Spirit to welcome your Christ as the gentiles' light and Israel's glory, by whose sacrifice we are presented before you to be the people of your covenant. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God is with us, Your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
We also invite you to download the Marianist App for lots of great resources and information. It is also important to understand why we, as Catholics, hold Mary in high esteem, call her our Mother, and ask for her intercession. This short video with Fr. Mike Schmitz gives a good introduction and explanation to help us to understand our relationship with Mary.
