Dear St. Raphael School Families and Friends,
Happy New Year! I hope that all of you enjoyed your Christmas vacation!
The Catholic Christmas season begins with the Christmas Eve Vigil Masses, celebrating the Nativity of the Lord, and ends on Sunday, January 8, the Sunday Mass celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord.
This weekend we celebrated the feast of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. This feast highlights the significant role that Mary played in the life of Jesus. Mary was with Jesus throughout His life, as He performed His first miracle, and at the foot of the cross as He suffered and died for 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 31st, 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 3: School Resumes
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
In Mary’s Love,
Ms. Michelle Limb, Principal
Prayer for the New Year
O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen.