This past week we celebrated National Catholic Schools Week. With two snow days mixed in, we had to pack all of our festivities into the final three days, but the students rose to the occasion.
On Wednesday morning, our school community gathered for our annual Patriotic Assembly. Our Pre-K students sang several patriotic songs, honoring active duty service members and veterans among our school families.
Thursday of Catholic Schools Week focuses on vocations. That afternoon, students in grades 2–6 gathered for a fun assembly and welcomed several priests and religious sisters for a friendly round of “Minute-to-Win-It” games—religious vs. students. We were blessed to be joined by Fr. Leonard, Fr. Paul Born (parochial vicar in Carver/Plymouth, where some of our students attend Mass), Sr. Therese Maria of the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light, and Mother Mary Aeiparthenos with one of the sisters who serve at St. Anthony’s and Immaculate Conception in New Bedford.
It turns out I am surprisingly good at lifting cotton balls with a straw. The competition was close, but with the Lord clearly on our side, the priests and sisters managed to clinch the victory. Many thanks to our religious friends for joining us and showing our students how joyful a life devoted to God can be. And thank you to Mrs. Rogers for organizing such a fun afternoon!
I invite you to pray the prayer for vocations shared below, asking the Lord to raise up future priests, religious, and generous servants from our own parish family.
Thursday also brought the annual Catholic Schools Challenge at Bishop Stang, with 7th and 8th graders from Catholic schools across the Fall River and New Bedford area. After winning the title the past few years, St. Francis Xavier fought hard and proudly brought home second place. Congratulations to our students.
Today we wrapped up the week with our annual Fun Run. Students worked hard gathering sponsorships from family and friends to support this year’s special project, Fields and Fences, which will help replace our soccer field and install new perimeter fencing to improve security. Our goal was $30,000, and as of yesterday afternoon we were still about $6,000 short. I’m happy to report that as of this afternoon, we have raised nearly $35,000! Thank you to everyone who supported our students so generously.
This afternoon, our middle school students, organized through the National Junior Honor Society, partnered with the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society to assemble winter survival packs for individuals experiencing homelessness in the New Bedford area. With donations collected from students in every grade, the packs were filled with practical essentials including granola bars, gloves, juice boxes, toiletries, fruit cups, winter hats, socks, and beef jerky.