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Volume 8, issue 32
Please contact the school's main office for information regarding announcements.
Photos, personal phone numbers, full names, and students' names
are omitted online.
More information is available in the Daily Bulletin section of your PowerSchool account.
REMINDER
Turn in your volunteer hours ASAP. The cut-off date is to be included in the raffle for a free tuition is fast approaching. Also, if you know that you have not reached the 25-hour minimum, remember to help out with the Carnival this week --- a GREAT opportunity to pick up hours!
Campbell's Labels
Please turn in your Campbell's Labels for Education that you may have at home to school now. The deadline for label submission for the 2007-08 school year is almost here, and we want all of your clipped labels to count! Thank you!
Mother's Day Thoughts
It's All About the Love...
As I sat listening to a homily in a church out of my own home parish, the priest was discussing the 10 Commandments and the ways to love
God.
The word love is so very complex that the Greeks had numerous names for it!
One was eros, another philia,
and more commonly used agaoe.
How carelessly and casually we employ this word LOVE. It is used to describe our frivolous feelings as well as our innermost emotion.
On occasion, I have heard myself say how much I love a pair of shoes. Obviously, I am not really in love with shoes, but the words do
easily trip from my own tongue. However, when I speak of my three marvelous grandchildren with love, it certainly can't compare with
a pair of Christian Louboutin's famous res soles. It's not even on the same planet or galaxy. So, when it came to writing a Mother's
Day message, it's all about the love.
As part of oue religion, we are taught that God is Pure Love. After seeing Pope Benedict XVI at Yankee Stadium, Mrs. Hillhouse reminded me
that God loves me as much as the Pope. His vicar on eath, the most powerful religious leader in the world, this learned theologian,
this holy man and God loves me as much as He loves Pope Benedict XVI! Never had I thought of His love in that measure.
The Agape type of love is that of the worship of God, the awesome, mouth-dropped adoration of the highest, holiest being.
Eros was a mythological god similar to Cupid. The type of love that this embodies is that of passion and personal gratification.
Philia is the love that we speak of in the Commandment, "Love thy neighbor as thyself," the treating of each person as a brother or
sister. "As the Father has loved me, so I will love you."
So, which is the love that we have for our mothers and mothers' for our children?
Until a few weeks ago, I would have told you that this love was un-nameable. Recently, at our faculty/staff retreat, Father Rusk, our presenter
said that "two parents named their love when they named their child/ren."
My husband and I named our love Meredith and Cynthia. How beautiful!
Perhaps a mother's love might be all of the names of love rolled up into one cataclysmic explosion of joy, resepct, hope and faith?
For to love with one's whole heart would insist upon every heart, nook and cranny filled to the nth degree seven times seven fold.
On Mother's Day, we attempt to say the words, to do the deeds of love, find the exact gift of love, share memories of love. How is it,
though, that the best signals of love can be in a rich, warm smile, a bright-eyed look, a slow tear drop, a strong hug, or a home-made
drawing?
So, on this Mother's Day, we remember this very special love; we celebrate its beauty, pray for its continuance, mourn its losses, revel in
its joys and appreciate its gift.
May you be blessed with the special love of this memorable day and may its warm glow remain with you throughout the year!
***God Bless You Always***
IN LOVING MEMORY OF BRENDAN P. OPDYCKE.
WHISPER IN GOD'S EAR FOR US.
YOUR SSPJ FAMILY.
In Rememberance of Brendan
Last year, the Brendan P. Opdycke Memorial Graduation Scholarship Fund
was created in honor of Brendan. This gift is presented to a graduating 8th grade boy planning to attend Bethlehem Catholic High School.
Also this year, we established the Brendan P. Opdycke SSPJ Memorial Scholarship Fund. The purpose of this fund is to assist families
of our elementary school students who experience a change in circumstance during the school year. This scholarship was set up because
Brendan loved being at SSPJ and it made a huge difference in his life.
With graducation fast approaching, if, after prayerful thought,
you decide to make your charitable donations to either of these funds, please write either 'graduation' or 'elementary school' on the memo
line of your check.
God Bless you and thank you for all you have done for my son -- it is because of your kindness and love that
he loves on in our hearts.
God Bless my SSPJ Family,
Barbara & Dana Opdycke
8th Grade Graduation
Each year at our Eighth Grade Graduation, gifts of $50.00 or $100.00
are awarded graduates based on merit. Some groups (HSA, Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, etc) award gifts that are determined by
the faculty and administration, but individuals may also assist a graduate. Individuals may choose an academic subject/title for which
they give money. However, please do not indicate a specific graduate by name for your gift.
If you wish to have a gift awarded at graduation, please complete the form in your packet or call the main office before May 28, 2008.
Checks may be made payable to Saints Philip and James School.
Thank you for your support of a graduating student.
Sincerely,
Irene D. Sena
Principal
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