Dear St. Raphael Families,
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the beauty of the autumn season. As we enter another exciting week, I’d like to share a few important updates and reflections with you:
Today, our teachers are gathering with educators from other local Catholic schools for a special day of learning and renewal. The theme of this day is "Renewing Your Vocation," where they embrace their mission as bearers of light, joy, and hope in Catholic education. This is a wonderful opportunity for our teachers to be inspired, recharge, and further strengthen their roles in shaping the hearts and minds of our students. We are truly blessed by their dedication!
On Friday, October 18th, we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Luke the Evangelist, a significant figure in the history of Christianity. Saint Luke, author of both the Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles, gives us invaluable insight into the early Christian church following Christ's Resurrection. His writings also provide us with some of the most beautiful stories of the Blessed Virgin Mary, including the Annunciation, the Visitation, and the Magnificat. In fact, much of the Hail Mary prayer is drawn from Saint Luke’s Gospel.
As a family, reading the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles can be a wonderful way to reflect on his message of inclusivity, mercy, and hope for all people. Let his teachings inspire us to care for the marginalized and to see God's boundless love in our daily lives.
Looking ahead, our annual Halloween Parade will take place on Tuesday, October 31st at 1:15 pm on the school quad! Students will be able to change into their costumes during lunch to ensure comfort throughout the day. After the parade, we will be hosting our much-anticipated Fall Festival! Our teachers and Student Council are hard at work to make this a fun and memorable experience for everyone. Please remember that we do not allow scary costumes or those with weapons, as we aim to ensure a safe and joyful celebration for all.
I am excited to report that we are making fantastic progress toward our Annual Fund goal of $50,000! Your continued generosity and support mean the world to us. If you haven’t had a chance to donate or share our Annual Fund information with family and friends, there’s still time! Your participation is essential, as it helps us secure grants that benefit all our students. Please consider clicking here to contribute and help us reach our goal and 100% participation!
Thank you for your continued dedication to our school community. We are so grateful to journey with you as we nurture our students’ hearts and minds in faith and love.
Wishing you a blessed and joyful October!
Important Dates:
October 14: No School. Teacher In-Service
October 19: School Clean-Up Day from 8 am – 12:00 pm
October 31: Halloween Parade
November 1: All Saints Day. School Mass at 10:45 am
November 11: No School for Veterans’ Day
November 20-22: Parent/Teacher Conferences with Noon Dismissal
In Mary’s Love,
Ms. Michelle Limb, Principal
During the next five weeks, please pray the rosary as a family. Each newsletter will contain one of the joyful mysteries.
The Third Joyful Mystery – The Nativity Spiritual Fruit: Poverty in Spirit
The time for the birth of Christ has come. Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem where they find there to be no room at the inn. Mary is left to give birth to her Son in a modest and meager stable. Along with the interminable glory of Christ’s birth, Christ’s entrance into the world is marked by poverty and suffering. This mystery teaches us the virtue of poverty in spirit. Christ calls us to continual detachment from earthly things, and in so doing; we move closer to Christ and join our sufferings with His.