Here's what's happening at GSC from January 30 through February 5, 2021:
Saturday and Sunday, January 30-31: Celebrating Our Parish • Student speakers at weekend Masses at Queen of Peace Church Due to a Winter storm and "Snow Day" school closing, Monday's events are cancelled or postponed. Monday, February 1: Celebrating Our Community • Crazy Hat Day • Annual Mass for GSC volunteers and community first responders at 9:00 a.m. in Queen of Peace Church; first responders are invited to attend virtually via the Queen of Peace Live Stream: https://masslivestream.com/churches/qofpeacechurch. • GSC will deliver cards and treats to local police stations and fire houses Due to the school building being closed for virtual learning, Tuesday's events are cancelled or postponed. Tuesday, February 2: Celebrating Our Family and Special Friends • Students may dress as a first responder, nurse, doctor, or famous STEM/STREAM personality • Students will send special virtual messages to grandparents and special friends Due to the school building being closed again, Wednesday's events are cancelled or postponed. Wednesday, February 3: Celebrating Our Faculty and Staff • Teacher Appreciation Day • Teachers will enjoy a lunch provided by the Home and School Association • Classroom games ("Minute To Win It") arranged by homeroom teachers After three days of snow cancellations, we will reopen our doors to students on Thursday! It is a "dress down" and Crazy Hat Day! Thursday, February 4: Celebrating Our Students • Student Appreciation Day • Crazy Sock Day • Students may wear GSC "Spirit Wear" or gym uniform • Each student will receive a pretzel at recess time • Students and teachers will demonstrate STREAM Activities • NED's "Mindset Mission" virtual performance at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 5: Celebrating GSC • Dance For Education! • Students may wear gym pants with their favorite team shirt • Food collection for a local food pantry • Games and dancing in the afternoon Two students from area Catholic schools were selected as winners in the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) 2019-2020 National Christmas Artwork Contest. Andrea Verch, a seventh grader from the Regina Coeli Academy in Abington, and Toni Frank, an eighth grader at St. James Regional Catholic School in Ridley Park were among the 24 contests who submitted their artwork and won. The MCA’s annual Christmas artwork contest calls upon elementary aged students in Catholic schools to submit artwork depicting Scripture-based scenes. Typically, depictions submitted showcase the Nativity scene. It has been a few years since winners have been selected from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In normal circumstances, winners would be invited to a ceremony held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The December 16 event was instead held online, with Alixandra Holden,mission education coordinator for the archdiocesan office of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and Auxiliary Bishop John McIntyre providing pre-recorded congratulatory messages. The archdiocesan MCA office named other local winners in addition to Verch and Frank. Hannah Pozz of St. Peter the Apostle School in Philadelphia, Pari Amin of Maternity B.V.M. School in Philadelphia, Rachel Weigand of Notre Dame De Lourdes in Swarthmore and Nathan Gotto of St. Francis of Assisi in Springfield also won in the local competition. The MCA was founded in France in 1843 by Bishop Charles de Forbin Jansen. The mission of this organization promotes “children helping children.” To this end, the MCA encourages children to reach out to their friends and classmates in order to supply spiritual guidance in mission dioceses across the globe. These mission diocese are active in 110 countries, and help raise funds to build schools, implement nutritional and health programs and expand access to educational resources. January 1 marks the Solemnity of Mary. This feast day celebrates Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ. January 1 is the eighth day of Christmastide in the Catholic Church leading up to the Epiphany on January 6. On the Epiphany, we celebrate Jesus as the incarnate of God. Christmas does not end on December 25 for Catholics. We celebrate the birth of Christ and the revelation of Jesus as God for days after.
One week after we celebrate Jesus’ birth to our mortal world, we take the time to cherish His mother. Mary’s vocation from God was to carry His son and bring peace to our world. We know it is difficult for some of our Good Shepherd family to attend Mass in person, but we hope you are able to take the time to pray together with your family during this joyous Christmas season. Happy New Year, Good Shepherd family! We wish you happiness, health and better days in the new year! The last year has been unlike any year we have experienced, but together we can bring about a joyous new year!
Enjoy the holiday safely and we will see you soon! Merry Christmas to the Good Shepherd School community! We hope you enjoy the holiday with family and friends in a safe and COVID-friendly manner!
We also must remember and be thankful for the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ. He brings peace to our lives and watches over us everyday. Lord God, we praise you for creating man, and still more for restoring him in Christ. Your Son shared our weakness; may we share his glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Merry Christmas! God bless you all! Since March, we all have discovered new ways to bring some semblance of normalcy to our everyday tasks. We work and learn from home. We use Zoom and other online video and streaming technology for work, schooling, holidays, Mass and much more.
Young adults within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are using Zoom to journey through Advent together. Sponsored by the Office of Cultural Ministries, the Religious of the Assumption, St. Francis de Sales and St. Agatha-St. James Parishes in Philadelphia and the Penn Catholic Newman Community at the University of Pennsylvania, and with the help of spiritual guides and parish partners, participants are readying themselves for the birth of Christ and the Christmas season through weekly video chats. These chats include exploring scripture and take place on Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Advent season looks much different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under social distancing guidelines, some are not comfortable attending Mass in person (in addition to limited capacity allowances) but want a new and innovative way to celebrate and reflect upon the Advent season. In the Christmas season, young people are looking for guidance and connection to God and the opportunity to turn to spiritual leaders for inspiration and hope. Christmas is the perfect time to “[discover God in our own lives, and [be] able to continue nurturing that relationship with God,” said Brother Patrick Travers of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae and director at the Penn Catholic Newman Community. For those interested in journeying through the remainder of Advent, you do so by accessing Zoom and enter meeting ID number 899 9777 6073 and password ADVENT, or visit www.facebook.com/PCMRPhilly or www.facebook.com/HispanosPhilly. Those still looking to send the perfect Christmas card to their loved ones can look no further. Spread Christmas joy to friends and family near and far, and help your local community at the same time.
The Nutritional Development Services (NDS) within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is offering their annual custom Christmas cards sold in packs of 10 or 20 for $15 and $25 respectively. The 5” x 7” cards are printed on high quality paper and come in eight different designs created by local artist Patty Smith. You also may choose variety packs if you like each design. Designs range from Nativity scenes to angels to Christmas trees with scripture verses and Catholic themes inside to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. All proceeds directly benefit NDS’s Community Food Program. This program provides support to the network of food pantries within the Philadelphia region, benefiting the community as a whole. Christmas may be rapidly approaching, but there is still time to support NDS and send Christmas cheer to everyone on your list. For more information or to purchase the NDS Alternative Christmas Cards, contact Denise Hopkins, Administrator, NDS Community Food Program at 215-895-3470 ext. 77823 or dhopkins@ndsarch.org. View the 2020 card collection here. |
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January 2024
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215-886-4782 (Main Office)
215-884-1591 (Business Office) 215-887-9241 (Business Office Fax) 215-886-0126 (Advancement Office) Email: advancement@gscregional.org |