Dear St. Raphael School Families and Friends,
Oh, what a night! A heartfelt thank you to Shellee Castillo and her amazing auction committee for making this year’s auction one for the record books! We also want to thank Valerie Oesterling for all of her work on the program and posters for the event! We are thankful for all of the attendees and families that made donations to this year’s auction. Thank you!
We also want to thank Karen Christman and her team of Science Fair judges for our 7th and 8th graders. We want to congratulate Angela Solodkin, Siena Urzua and Alejandro Aguilar from 8th grade and Norah Ferguson, Violet Chrsitman and Alina Rodriguez from 7th grade for being our top participants. They will go on to compete at the Santa Barbara County Science Fair!
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, so please join us at 10:00 am for Mass. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians also observe it. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest or layperson applies the ashes to a person's forehead, they speak the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Or they will say, "Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass.
Registration for the 2019-2020 school year is on March 20th. The Catholic Education Foundation Tuition Assistance applications are now available. You can download the forms from the e-newsletter or pick up a copy in the office. Applications are due no later than March 15th. Late applications will not be accepted. Don’t forget to be a part of the Refer Program and earn $100 off tuition. Use this link for your referrals: CatholicEd.com/Refer.
Important Dates:
March 6: Ash Wednesday. School Mass at 10:00 am
March 8: Stations of the Cross at 1:15 pm
March 15: First Reconciliation 1:00 pm (No Stations of the Cross)
March 20: Registration from 1-5 pm in the Parish Hall
March 22: Stations of the Cross at 1:15 pm
Prayer for Ash Wednesday
Gracious God, today begins a period of inner reflection and examination. The days stretch before me and invite me inward to that silent, holy space that holds your Spirit. This special time beckons me to see my life through Christ's eyes and the truth and reality of your love incarnate. Give me the grace to enter the space of these days with anticipation of our meeting. And, when I open my soul to your presence, let your loving kindness flow over me and seep into the pockets of my heart. I ask this for the sake of your love. Amen.
Download Newsletter (Fall/Winter 2018)
