With the arrival of the Lenten season, we would like to take the opportunity to offer our families some ideas that can help spark conversations and strengthen the spirituality of your household.

Each week of Lent, we will be offering a Scripture passage, Lenten quotation, or prayer activity for your family to share together. We hope these suggestions will enrich your family’s journey through Lent, ending in a more blessed and joyful Easter.

 

For this week’s Living Lent family activity we encourage you to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.  The Rosary is a wonderful prayer for families because it is a simple, repetitive devotion that tells a story.  The sorrowful mysteries are prayed during Lent to help us meditate on the story of Jesus’ passion and death.

We suggest the following websites to enrich your family’s prayer time:

This website provides child-friendly narratives that tell the story of each mystery. http://www.ainglkiss.com/rosary4kids/sorfu.htm

For younger children, coloring pages may help keep them engaged.  Printable coloring pages can be found here. http://www.thecatholickid.com/sorrowful-mysteries-rosary-coloring-pages/

General information on how to pray the Rosary can be found here. https://childrensrosary.org/?page_id=2049&lang=en

 

In honor of Lent, Saint James School will be collecting toiletries and needed supplies for the non-profit group Community Partners in Action.  If you would like to contribute, requested items are as follows:

Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten:  toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, men’s shaving cream

Grades 1 & 2: men’s soap, body wash, shampoo

Grades 3 – 5: towels & washcloths

Middle School: men’s socks, t-shirts, sweatpants (various men’s sizes)

Please bring items in by this Friday, March 29th.

 

LENTEN PRAYER SERVICES

All students, faculty, staff, parents and other guests of our students are invited to join us in Ms. Oleasz’s room (top floor, B207) for Lenten Prayer Services on the following dates from 7:30am – 8:00am:

March 15, March 22, March 29, April 5, and April 12

Please take this time and/or encourage your child/ren to join us in prayers for family, friends, peace and other special intentions. We look forward to seeing you and/or your child/ren there.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Saint James School students will attend Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent at 1:00pm as follows:

March 29: Grades 2 & 8
April 5: Grades 5 & 7
April 12: Grades 6 & 8

All SJS parents/grandparents are welcome to join us!

LENTEN RICE BOWLS

Members of the SJS Student Council visited the classrooms earlier in the month to discuss the Lenten Rice Bowl program through Catholic Relief Services and hand out information.  During Lent it is our responsibility to give Alms, or raise money for charity.  Children were given the option to earn money over the next several weeks to put in their Rice Bowl or perhaps sacrifice a small portion of money they have saved.  After April Break, Student Council members will collect the bowls and tally the donations by homeroom.  Additional information regarding the Lenten Rice Bowl program is included with what is being sent home today or you can visit www.crsricebowl.org for a complete overview of this initiative.

We are anticipating a great turnout for our Soirée event on Saturday as we celebrate and raise money for our great school!!

The event begins at 7:00pm in the Saint James School gymnasium.  Attire for the event is dressy casual.  

A HUGE shout-out to Highland Park Market for the amazing food that our guests will be able to enjoy on Saturday:

*Beef tenderloin slider station (with gluten free rolls)
*Lobster Mac and cheese
*Coconut shrimp
*Raspberry and Brie
*Chicken potstickers
*Mini pastry station

We will also have a CASH BAR from Lucky Taco with a signature drink called the “Saber Smash” (Tito’s Blueberry Cooler).

Please remember to bring CASH and your CHECKBOOK!

Also, the school will accept a credit card for auction items (only), however, there is a fee for each transaction, meaning less money goes to our school so cash and checks are preferred.