January 9, 2023

Dear St. Raphael School Families and Friends, 

This weekend we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is one of the oldest Christian feasts; though, throughout the centuries, it has celebrated a variety of things. Epiphany comes from a Greek verb meaning "to reveal," and all the various events celebrated by the Feast of the Epiphany are revelations of Christ to man. 

Next Sunday, we will celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, when the Season of Christmas officially ends and then we move on to the next phase in the liturgical year, which is called the “Ordinary Time.”  Ordinary Time is called "ordinary" because the weeks are numbered. The Latin word ordinalis, which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English word order. Thus, Ordinary Time is in fact the ordered life of the Church—the period in which we live our lives neither in feasting (as in the Christmas and Easter seasons) or in more severe penance (as in Advent and Lent), but in watchfulness and expectation of the Second Coming of Christ.  In this season of endings as well as of new beginnings, we are assured of God’s ever-abiding presence. He remains to guide and protect us.  

Catholic Schools Week is January 29 – February 4. Our schools throughout the United States celebrate the uniqueness of these wonderful institutions. On Tuesday, January 31^st, we will have annual Mass at Bishop Diego High School. All the Catholic school students in Santa Barbara will celebrate Mass with many of our priests from our local parishes. We look forward to this wonderful opportunity and are so blessed to have this special school community gathering. 

Important Dates:

January 16: No School. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

January 19: School Mass at 10:45 am

January 23: Jeans for Jesus

January 30 – February 4: Catholic Schools Week

February 1: Global Day of School Play

February 17: No School for Teacher In-Service

February 20: No School for President’s Day

February 25: School Auction at the Santa Barbara Carriage Museum

In Mary’s Love,

Ms. Michelle Limb, Principal 

Prayer for the Baptism of Our Lord:
Open the heavens almighty Father and pour out your spirit upon your people.  Renew the power of our baptismal cleansing and fill us with zeal for good deeds. Let us hear your voice once again, that we may recognize in your beloved Son our hope in inheriting eternal life. Grant this through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendor of eternal light, God forever and ever. Amen.