The Shepherd - 9/22/23

TheST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD

FORMERLY THE FRIDAY FOCUS GUIDANCE FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

EACH WEEK THE ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD

provides all the information you need to know and links to things that you might need to cross off your list. Stay organized by reading it every week and making sure that you add events and deadlines to your calendar!

LET'S DO IT!

FROM THE DESK OF MR. CHICK

Hello St. Columba Families:

We are grateful to be off to a new school year! After a few weeks, the newness is thankfully wearing off. Students are settled in, and teachers are growing in positive classroom relationships with our students For those who attended our back-to-school nights in August, you heard my message of refocusing our community efforts on our students' proper behaviors and performance I also shared I would be giving updates on our progress with this goal throughout the year

We have observed that the learning environment is calm, focused, and positive for learning We are grateful for our students' attentive, responsive attitude thus far. In many areas of behavior and performance, we have seen an excellent response from students and parents

In the middle school, we are receiving positive responses from parents regarding communication and understanding of academic work production and performance expectations for our students Please remember all the homework policies and procedures are available by viewing the videos posted by classroom teachers

It is an exciting and active time for middle school because we are in the midst of multiple middle school retreats 8th Grade just finished their retreat to Sante Fe. 7th grade is going to the Great Sand Dunes and a life-sized walking station of the cross at San Luis 6th Grade will be going to Cross Bar X These retreats are all overnight excursions filled with fellowship and prayer.

In the elementary school, we are seeing outstanding cooperation and behavior across all grade levels We have seen particular improvement during transitions and a more tempered behavior in the hallways As a whole group, the lunchroom too has been a calm and temperant environment to eat and converse with friends. This year, we have focused on restaurant manners and table etiquette Please continue to help us at home by encouraging proper table manners

All of us at St. Columba thank you for your continued support of our expectations for the highest standards for maintaining a safe, healthy, happy, and holy learning environment.

Grateful for all of you,

Mr. Chick

CONGRATS!!

The following students were 1st place state winners for the Catholic Daughters of America Contest:

Aiden Green - Photography

Luke Martyn - Art

Claire Huang - Essay

Scarlet Jones - Computer Art

Iris Gamble - Essay

Molly O’Brien - Art

St Columba graduate Mariah Zufelt also got first place in poetry

SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR

Now open for K-4th Grade!

Wednesdays from 3:15 - 4:15pm, Wed. September 20 - Wed. Dec. 13th

Classes are currently covering Environmental Sciences Sessions are $60 per month or $15 per class (months with less than 4 classes will be prorated). Sign-ups are offered on a monthly basis.

Click HERE to register now. Class is limited to 18 students

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Attendance Line: Please call our attendance line, 828-9356, to excuse your child’s absence.

School Masses on Youtube: Please join us every Wednesday at 8:15 for our school Mass The 5th grade will be leading the liturgy next week If you can’t join us in person, you can always stream the Mass on the St. Columba Youtube Channel HERE

Service Hours: All students should have brought home a list of Service Hours opportunities this week to help you complete your family commitment of 20 hours The list can be found HERE and are only suggestions. If you have a talent that would help the school please let us know As you complete your hours, please remember to track them HERE for them to count towards your family total. We can’t do it without you!!

Tuesday September 26th at 5:30 pm: First Parents Association meeting of the year. We will be meeting at Zia Taqueria North Rooftop This will be a happy hour mixer for new and returning parents. We are really looking forward to the chance to meet with you all Please send a quick “I will attend” email to parentsassociation@stcolumbaschooldurango.org

St. Columba Octoberfest! 10.28.2023. Save the date. Fall fun, food, drinks, pumpkin carving and painting! Need we say more? Details coming soon.

Teacher/Staff Birthday Collection Deadline is Friday, September 29th: As we begin a new school year, we give you the opportunity to contribute a single monetary amount to provide one impactful monetary gift to each of our teachers and staff for their birthdays this year The suggested amount is $25 per family (or any amount you choose). This ensures that the entire staff is celebrated equally as it takes a village to run the School. Giving to the fund is completely voluntary. For the collection to be successful this year, all donations need to be made by Friday, September 29th: Contribute to the Birthday Fund

THE PRESCHOOL CORNER

St. Columba Montessori Preschool will be holding free faith based parenting workshops each month. All are welcome!

Our first workshop is Thursday September 28th at 5pm. Childcare is provided for all workshops Kat Altieri, a teacher at St Columba Montessori will be speaking at our first workshop. This workshop will share more about the Montessori philosophy and how to integrate aspects of it into your home life to help create structure and discipline There'll be time to share experiences and understand how to personally apply the method.

Sherry Herrin, our preschool director, will be speaking on October 19th at 5pm. The topic is The Art of Inner Discipline. What does supporting the development of your child's inner discipline look like in practice, in the classroom and at home? It means discipline isn’t about taking away something; It’s about repeatedly teaching the child what to do instead, as well as illustrating the natural consequences of actions.

MASS MOMENTS (FROM MR. CHICK)

Christians are called to place our faith and trust in something greater than our understanding. We give ourselves over to live in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus; to abide in Him as He abides in us. We are called to a life greater than our own. A purpose greater than ourselves. And an active worship that places us in Christ’s presence with each other as the body of Christ. We do all of this when we join in celebrating the Eucharist, the source and the summit of our faith.

In simple terms, the Eucharist is the Christian celebration in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed and commonly referred to as Eucharist, Holy Communion, and Supper at the Lord's Table. There is a broad spectrum for how Christian denominations view and celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist:

There are some Christian denominations that do not view the Eucharist as a sacrament at all.

Many Protestant churches see the bread and wine as communion, as one sharing in the reenactment or commemoration of the disciples' last supper with Christ. The bread and wine are seen as symbolic of Jesus’ death.

Baptists and many born-again denominations believe that bread and wine are symbols that can be used to bring people together as a community. They use non-alcoholic wine, and the bread is offered from person to person, taking place once or twice a month.

Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus is mystically present in the bread and wine.

THE SOURCE AND THE SUMMIT THE NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

MASS MOMENTS (CONTINUED)

While the Anglican church celebrates Eucharist every week and believes that the bread and wine hold the spiritual presence (consubstantiation) of Jesus but do not become His body and blood.

Catholic Christians celebrate Mass daily; the solemnity is Sunday. We believe that by transubstantiation the whole body, blood, soul, and divinity is really and truly substantially present in the bread and wine, the Most Blessed Sacrament of Euacharist.

I share these distinctions with you because the Catholic Church is currently engaged in a three year National Eucharistic Revival to draw the attention of our Church and our Christian community to Catholic teaching of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I have attached a link to the Sunday Spotlight with an invitation to an upcoming Eucharistic Revival event

If you would like to experience and learn about Catholic teaching and devout adoration of Christ’s real presence by transubstantiation, contact the church office to ask any questions and RSVP. (970) 247-0044

THE PARISH CONNECTION

AT ST. COLUMBA CHURCH, WE ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING A VIBRANT AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS SEEKING FAITH FORMATION. HERE ARE SOME OF THE EXCITING ACTIVITIES THAT WE OFFER EACH WEEK. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR THESE EVENTS AND EXPERIENCE THE WARMTH AND HOSPITALITY OF THE ST COLUMBA COMMUNITY

Calling all 6th - 8th graders!

Bring your enthusiasm, curiosity, and friends - as we kick off middle school VITA on Sunday, September 24th after 10 am Mass in the Parish Center, 11:15am - 1pm. Lunch provided!

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

FR KEVIN PROVIDES WEEKLY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION QUESTIONS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ENRICH THEIR FAITH BY CONTEMPLATING SUNDAY READINGS.

Based on the readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Readings: 55:6-9/Phil 1:20c-24, 27a/Mt 20:1-16a

God’s thoughts, far beyond what we can understand, are manifested in the mercy and forgiveness that he offers. This does not correspond to our systems of justice, where it is our contention that people should get what they are due. Have you ever experienced the mercy and forgiveness that are totally undeserved?

St. Paul has so aligned his life to Jesus that he is trapped between the desire to die and so to be with him, or continue in his ministry so as to draw others to Christ. St. Paul has conquered his fear of dying. Have you ever experienced this total freedom? Has death looked welcome to you as the doorway to eternal joy?

Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard seems to turn our understanding of distributive justice around. Servants receive from the master of the harvest what they need, not what they are owed, in the strict sense of justice. Our system of “fairness” is challenged by the master’s generosity. Have you ever received more than you deserved? Have you witnessed others receiving more than their due while you received what you had agreed to? How should this parable color our response to those that we give to?

CONGRATS TO LUKAS & JACK KLEVA ON YOUR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION!!