From the desk of Sister Stella
PWC President
Parish News
Traffic Duty Assignments
Weekly Readings/Reflections
From the School Nurse
Miscellaneous

" We pray, not because God needs it, but because we do. Prayer is a sacrament, an outer, visible expression of an inner, invisible grace---or intention."
Sam Keen

From the Desk of Sister Stella:

During the Lenten season each year we are reminded by the church to take a deeper look at our faith journey. How are we doing? Is there any noticeable difference in us from our Lenten journey last year? You may find the following reflection by Philip Harden helpful

Traveling Light

Twelve hundred years ago in china, a middle-aged man named P’ang Yun loaded everything he owed onto a boat and sank it all in the Tung-t’ing Lake. After that, we are told, "he lived like a single leaf." See him there in the early morning, treading water in the middle of the lake, watching the last bubbles rise from the depths. The air crisp and quiet. The lake misty and as still as sky. Then he turns, stroking toward the shore.

What would it mean to live like a single leaf? What would it mean to make one’s life a journey of simplicity----- a journey unencumbered, with out distraction/ A journey of focus and intention? A journey of lightness and light? Quakers say divine flame shines within each being. To see that Deep Light---- in ourselves, in others-----must we first sink the boat?
By Philp Harnden

MEMO REGARDING PARKING

Parents, just a reminder: new street parking signs will be posted on Selby in front of the school soon. There will be NO PARKING from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. If you stop to just run in, you will be ticketed. Please cooperate. All the traffic changes are for the safety of all the children.

Thank you.
Sister Stella & Teresa McDugald

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PWC President

Dear SPA Parents,

Past Presidents Luncheon

I want to thank Tina Cathcart and her committee of Jackie Brooks, Jackie Mason and Leslie Reback for a most wonderful luncheon held at the Bel Air Country Club on Saturday. It was a beautiful tribute to the Past President of the Parents Working for Children Organization.

Third Grade

Third Grade, thank you for a lovely Ash Wednesday Prayer Service.

Science Fair

Parents, the 7th and 8th Grade Science fair will be next week. Find the time to see all the wonderful experiments and projects the children have accomplished.

Caroline Moynagh – PWC President

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Parish News

Roman Catholics in Action*

Two weekends ago, February 23, most of the people at the 11:30 mass walked out of church like they were participating in a fire drill, why?
Then, gathered in the plaza they began to do strange things, like sing, and extend their hands in blessing.
Then, even stranger, people going by in their cars watched, extended their hands and even honked as they saw something happening in front of our parish church building.
So what was going on? Catholics were living up to their birthright. Not the birthright of being born, but the birthright of being a baptized Christian, because the test for a Christian is their willingness to show and share the faith with others.
A different look at that day will tell you, there were ten people gathered outside: Claudia, Johann and Jana have never been baptized, and they are seeking to discover what this whole "Church" business is about, and they stood with companions/sponsors who represent our community and will serve as their guides. Then Joel and Jacky stood with their sponsors - but they've been baptized and are seeking to complete their initiation with Confirmation and Eucharist.
We spoke to, prayed over, and blessed each of them. We asked them to accept the cross in their lives and accept the gospel as a way of life. Only then, with great musical festivity we brought them into the church (our hearts and the building), and we all listened to God's Word. After listening to the word of God, they were then sent to pray with the word, and prepare for a day in the future they would join with us at the eucharistic table.
But the week wasn't over on Sunday. In the days following we had another person join the ranks of the catechumens, Karen. Karen comes into the RCIA* in exceptional circumstances, whereas those who came in on Sunday were regular circumstances.
For those of you who don't know, the RCIA* is not a program but a series of celebrations of coming to faith. The journey in the RCIA* is not standardized. At St. Paul's we try to recognize where each person is at in their faith journey and try to adapt our method to the needs of each individual. Other parishes do run the RCIA* as a program, with start and end dates clearly defined. So people who don't quite fit (they start late, or begin early) miss out. We try to accommodate to the individuals - background, regular participation in a faith tradition, regular participation in Sunday mass, all count and make a difference on the length of the faith journey.
But what each person is called to is individual conversion, and the texts of the *Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults give clear expectations for those seeking initiation.
The reason for the title today (which is really explained in the preceding sentence) is that all of us who are Church members are called to know what the Rites are and be the role models and explainers of the faith. So as we enter Lent, and enter the other Rites of Christian Initiation, don't forget that you aren't spectators - you are the community that brings our seekers into the home of the Church.
Fr. Brad

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Traffic Duty Assignments

For the month of March is 2nd Grade Traffci Duty

Morning Shift: Arrive no later than 7:20. Selby driveway director should be positioned at the driveway. If you don’t understand this procedure, please contact me.

Afternoon Director: Cars may enter at 2:55 ONLY if the gates have been opened. Do not allow cars to line up prior to this time.

Please DO NOT use cell phones while working your position.

For Substitutions:
Thurs. Morning only: Janet Pregler
Otherwise consult your room parents or call me.

Teresa McDugald

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Weekly Readings/Reflections

Next Sunday, March 9, is the First Sunday in Lent
Please read and reflect on these readings during the week (alone or with family and friends), and come to next Sunday’s liturgy prepared to listen attentively to the proclamation of the Word of God..

READING I Genesis 9:8-15

God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
"See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark.
I will establish my covenant with you,
that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood;
there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth."
God added:
"This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds,
I will recall the covenant I have made between me and you and all living beings,
so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all mortal beings."

READING II 1 Peter 3:18-22

Beloved:
Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit.
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient
while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark,
in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water.
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God,
with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

GOSPEL Mark 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (March 9)

READINGS The rainbow reminds us of God’s covenant with us - a promise for God and for us to keep;the flood prefigures baptism, which saves us now:the Spirit drives Jesus into the desert where he is tempted by Satan - he returns and calls all to change their lives and believe in the gospel.

WHAT I HEAR What confronts me in the flood or desert times, when I feel overwhelmed or desolate?

MY FAITH JOURNEY How can I simplify my my life to focus on being spiritually healthy?

FOR CHILDREN ‘Covenant’ means a promise made between two people.
God promises to love us and wants us to believe in God and do what is right.
‘Gospel’ means ‘good news’.
What good news does Jesus tell us, to help us change our lives?

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From the School Nurse

PARENTS:

Please remember children must be 24 hrs. fever free! A child ill with a fever today, may not return to school the next day! Thank you for your consideration to your child and others
Sincerely,

Miss Van V. Anderson/RN.

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Miscellaneous

A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE

Pre-Registration packets are due TOMORROW!
Please send or drop-off your packet to the school
office by the end of the day March 7th. If we do
not receive your packet or hear from you your
child's space will be given to an applicant. If you
have any questions call Patty Stokx, Registrar at
(310) 474-1588 ext. 220. Thank you for your prompt
attention.

_____________________________________________________________________________

"SPA GOLF CLUB"

REMINDER:

Registration forms needs to be sent in for the golf club.
First match is April 7. Should you need a registration form or have questions please call Mark McDonald listed in the school directory.

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