From the desk of Sister Stella
PWC President
PWC Function
70th Anniversary
Traffic Duty Assignments
Weekly Readings/Reflections
SPA Cub Scout Activies
Playground Volunteer
Hot Lunch Volunteer

FROM THE DESK OF SISTER STELLA MARIA, PRINCIPAL:

              The following excerpt, THE TRUE FACE OF CATHOLICISM, is a commentary on Pope Benedict's first encyclical. His first letter to the world helps us to get to know a very different side of the man we knew as Cardinal Ratzinger.

When I read the encyclical I was reminded of the vision of our beloved John XX111 when he wrote "...the best way to change the world is to change the people in it. Bring the light of Christ to human hearts and society will change. Bring the word of God the human hearts and society will change."

THE TABLET 28 January 2006

THE INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY
FOUNDED IN 1840

THE TRUE FACE OFCATHOLICISM

POPE BENEDICT XVI's first encyclical confirms him as a man of humour, warmth, humility and compassion, eager to share the love that God "lavishes" on humanity and display it as the answer to the world's deepest needs. On his election last spring, the former Cardinal Ratzinger was widely assumed to have as his papal agenda the hammering of-heretics and a war on secularist relativism. subjects with which he was associated as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Instead he has produced a profound, lucid, poignant and at times witty discussion of the relationship between sexual love and the love of God, the fruit no doubt of a lifetime's meditation. This is a document that presents the most attractive face of the Catholic faith and could be put without hesitation into the hands of any inquirer.

   Unlike his predecessor, Benedict is not instantly comfort-able as the focus of a huge crowd. But John Paul II, so charismatic in the flesh, was often hard to follow when he turned to the word. His encyclicals were wonderful intellectual journeys that repaid the great effort needed to understand them. Benedict's Deus Caritas Est is by comparison an easy read full of well-turned arresting sentences. "The epicure Gassendi used to offer Descartes the humorous greeting: '0, Soul!' And Descartes would reply: 'O. Flesh!';' the Pope remarks. "Yet it is neither the spirit alone nor the body alone that loves: it is man, the person, a unified creature composed of body and soul, who loves. Only when both dimensions are truly united, does man attain his full stature."

  About the only flaw in the English text, indeed it its non-use of inclusive language, for “man” read “man and woman”. But he makes no other sexist point; there is no attempt to distinguish female sexual love from the male version, no flirting with the madonna-whore dichotomy, no judgemental talk of what sexual love is ordained for, nor even of exploitation and sexual sin. Men and women who leave eros in the domain of their animal natures, without regard to the spiritual, are simply told that they are missing the true greatness that God intended for them; a lost opportunity rather than the road to perdition.

   The second part of the encyclical, which is said to owe something to an unfinished project of the previous Pope, ties up a loose end in Catholic social teaching by addressing the question how, in a world seeking social justice, there is still room for charity. The answer is a compelling one. But this is still Ratzinger rather than Wojtyla, with his warning that it is not for the Church to take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. "She cannot and must not replace the State," he insists. Yet at the same time she must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice. Thus is a careful line drawn with regard to efforts by Catholic prelates, most notably in the United States in the last presidential election, to tell politicians which laws they may or may not pass.

This is a remarkable, enjoyable and even endearing product of Pope Benedict's first few months. If first encyclicals set the tone for a new papacy, then this one has begun quite brilliantly.

To read the Encyclical check: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html

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PWC President

Dear Parents,

Past President/Alumni Luncheon

This Saturday, February 11th, the PWC will honor all of its past presidents during a luncheon at the Bel Air Bay Club.  Thank you to first Vice President, Debbie Battaglia and her committee for planning this event.

  

PWC Nominating Committee

The PWC Board nomination is underway for next year’s slate of officers.  February 28th is the deadline for submission for Nominations for the slate of officers.  PLEASE take a minute to think about if you would be interested in serving on the board or nominating someone you think would be a good candidate.  Please complete nomination forms and return via “Black Bag” attention Susan Reed.  Questions should be submitted to Susan Reed, PWC Parliamentarian.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Feb. 11th:  Past Presidents/Alumni Luncheon
Feb. 15th: 7th grade Pot Luck (Postponed)
Feb. 20th: Presidents day NO SCHOOL
Feb. 27th: No SCHOOL Faculty In-service
Feb.25th –27th:  SPA Ski Trip

Have a great week!

Julie Chait

PWC President

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PWC Funtion News

Sign up NOW to serve on the PWC Nominating Committee as a member of the SPA Community at large.  Additionally, nominations for all PWC Board positions for next school year are currently being accepted and we encourage you to self-nominate and/or exercise your right to nominate others.  Please fill out the form attached to the epistle, obtain the form from the round file by the Main Office, or call me!  The Nominating Committee will meet on Friday, March 3rd at 1:30 p.m.  All Nominating Committee  forms must be received at school no later than the morning of February 17tht. All Nomination Forms must be received by February 28th.   If you have any questions, please contact Susan Reed, PWC Parliamentarian.

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70th Anniversary News

The 70 year reunion of St. Paul the Apostle School is approaching and Allison Butler is looking for people to form a committee to handle all historical pictures to be displayed at the event on April 28th – 30th.  If you are interested in looking through wonderful old pictures, yearbooks, and photo albums, please contact Allison Butler (in the school directory-email or phone).

Thank you for your support.

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Traffic Duty Assignments

For the month of February 3rd Grade Parents:

         PARENT TRAFFIC RESPONSIBILITIES.  

SANTA MONICA TRANSIT PARKWAY PROJECT:

From February 4-March 4 Century Park East at Santa Monica Boulevard and Veteran Avenue at Santa Monica Boulevard will be closed for curb construction.  North/South traffic at both of these intersections will be closed during this period.  Please note and plan an alternate route!!!

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Weekly Readings/Reflections

 

February 12, 2006
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I
Lv 13:1-2, 44-46

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
“If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch
which appears to be the sore of leprosy,
he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest,
or to one of the priests among his descendants.
If the man is leprous and unclean,
the priest shall declare him unclean
by reason of the sore on his head.

“The one who bears the sore of leprosy
shall keep his garments rent and his head bare,
and shall muffle his beard;
he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean,
since he is in fact unclean.
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”

Reading II
1 Cor 10:31—11:1

Brothers and sisters,
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God.
Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or
the church of God,
just as I try to please everyone in every way,
not seeking my own benefit but that of the many,
that they may be saved.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Gospel
Mk 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning the him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

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SPA Cub Scout Activies

The Cub Scout Bake sale is Friday, February 17th  during recess.  Please remember to send a few dollars with your children so they can join in on the tasty treats.  Since fruit and yogurt choices were popular last year, we will make them available again this year, as well as healthy drinks.  There  will be something for everyone!

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Playgound Volunteer

Help our coaches supervise our children during lunchtime recess! We need two parents each day. Questions? Contact Kathleen Felesina

KINDERGARTEN GRADE: 11:45-12:15
February

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Hot Lunch Volunteer

February Volunteers

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