March 27, 2023

Dear St. Raphael School Families and Friends, 

As we continue through our Lenten journey, I reflect on the significant rain we’ve received recently. Even though the rain brings chilly weather and can cause us issues in our community, it also revitalizes the flowers just waiting to blossom in the springtime. Rain also washes away built-up dirt and grime. Gratefully, Jesus promises us vitality and gives us the gift of Reconciliation to wash away our own “dirt and grime.”  

Monsignor Jon and Father Raj spent four days this past week with our students in grades 2 – 8 in confession. We want to congratulate our 33 students that received their First Reconciliation last Thursday. It’s amazing to receive God’s grace through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  

This Sunday, we will celebrate Palm Sunday as the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorate the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before He was crucified.  Palm Sunday is known as such because the faithful will often receive palm fronds which they use to participate in the reenactment of Christ's arrival in Jerusalem. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey, and to the lavish praise of the townspeople who threw clothes, or possibly palms or small branches, in front of Him as a sign of homage. This was a customary practice for people of great respect.  Palm branches are widely recognized as a symbol of peace and victory; hence, their preferred use on Palm Sunday.  The use of a donkey instead of a horse is highly symbolic, representing the humble arrival of someone in peace, as opposed to arriving on a steed in war.

Please join us each Friday in Lent as the 8^th graders present the Stations of the Cross for our community at 1:15 p.m. in the church. 

Every Friday during Lent, we are selling $5 grilled cheese sandwiches served with fruit. You can also purchase tortilla chips with homemade salsa for $2. Please make sure to send your child/ren to school with money for lunch. Remember you can always come for a grilled cheese sandwich and enjoy lunch with your child, too! Lunch is served from 12 - 12:35 pm.

Important Dates:

March 28: Report Cards Go Home

March 31: Stations of the Cross at 1:15 pm

April 6: Holy Thursday. Noon Dismissal.

April 7 – 16: Easter Vacation 

In Mary’s Love,

Ms. Michelle Limb, Principal