From the desk of Sister Stella
PWC President
Parish News
PWC Function
Traffic Duty Assignments
Weekly Readings/Reflections
Student School Activies
Golf Club information

" God has entrusted the message of Reconciliation us." (2 Corinthians 5)

From the desk of Sister Stella Maria, Principal

Reflection on readings for the fourth Sunday of Lent.
MARCH 21 Fourth Sunday of Lent

                 The prodigal son wasted his inheritance and squandered his advantages. The moral and physical bankruptcy of his lifestyle left him in rages on the brink of starvation. Then he chose a different path: he decided to go home.
                  He would ask to be treated as a servant, nothing more. Did he hope for a better fate? Probably not. From today's readings, we should.
                  In the first reading the Israelites' years of wandering in the desert come to an end. The "disgrace of Egypt" is taken away. They taste the fruits of the Promised Land. Then, Paul tells the Corinthians that through Christ we are reconciled to God.
                  Will it be as hard for the three-quarters of humanity--the developing world--to welcome us as it was for the elder son in the parable to celebrate the return of his prodigal brother? They have witnessed our profligate use of the World's resources. They have seen our wanton disregard for the global common good.
                  Despite our life-destroying choices, if we turn to our Father, we know welcome awaits use. We can choose to live a lifestyle based on gospel values. Will we try only when forced to? When will we finally choose to go home?
Michael Dougherty, Whitehorse TY

                  As of Sunday March 21st. we are half way through Lent. This may be an appropriate time to review with children how they are continuing to work on their Lenten promises. Time is flying by and we are busy about many every day activities and before we know it we will be celebrating Holy week. Just to remind you on Holy Thursday at 11:00am we will have a very beautiful prayer service in which the second graders will guide us. This is not a Mass as on Holy Thursday there is only one Mass in each church----the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

                 On Good Friday the Stations of the Cross that have taken place at St. Paul's in the morning at 10am will take place this year at twelve noon. These Stations are specially written by Chris Walker, our music director, to speak to children, youth, and adults. It is my prayer and deep down hope that the parents of St. Paul the Apostle School will bring their entire families to pray as we remember the sufferings and death of Jesus on the Cross.

                 On Monday March 15, we began our third trimester. Most of our students are doing very well, but there is always room for growth. Please take time to discuss with your children where they think that they can do better. Allow the ESLRS---Expected Schoolwide Learning Results to be your guide for review. You will find the ESLRS in your Parent /Student handbook.
Where appropriate discuss correct uniform especially skirt length and shoes---no bright green or bright red shoes. Help!!

                 Report Cards will be sent home on Friday March 26th. As the teachers evaluate the students through the report cards, they will consider students who may need summer school in a particular subject. You will receive notification in the mail shortly after you have received the report card letting you know if Summer School is:
Encouraged
Recommended
Required

                 We offer our congratulations to all of our seventh and eight grade students on their outstanding Science Fair Presentations. Please see the list of students who earned achievement awards and the list of students who earned Merit Awards for excellence in this year's Science Fair. We offer our most sincere thanks and congratulations to Ms. Beckett for her dedication and hard work. Very, very special thanks to her husband Ron for his incredible hours of service. How blessed we are to have such a team. Because of security reasons we can not print the names of the students online the winners will appear in next weeks hardcopy of the Epistle.

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PWC President

Dear SPA Families,

Online Calendar

It appears that many people are unaware of one of the features of the School’s Online Calendar. Listed under each day are the scheduled events for that date. If you are interested in the "details" of an activity, you will need to "click" on that activity. A list will pop up with the time, location and any other pertinent information relative to the event. I hope this is helpful.

Spring Sing and Luncheon

Wednesday, March 24th at 11:30 AM, JCPC. Grades 5-8 perform. Meet the new Board officers. Next luncheon is the Installation Luncheon on Wednesday, May 12th at 11:30 AM, JCPC. Grades 1-4 perform

.Karen Knott
PWC President

 

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Parish News

Altar Servers

We still have spaces available for Easter Sunday and the Triduum. If you would like to serve at any of the services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday Mass, please call the Parish Office (310-474-1527, ext 240). Thank you

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PWC Funtion News

SPA ENDOWMENT FUND DONOR APPRECIATION DINNER!
SAVE THE DATE ~ Thursday, April 29, 2004!

In appreciation for their generosity, a special dinner will be held for all donors to the St. Paul the Apostle School Endowment Fund who have donated in the Founder’s Circle, Patron’s Circle and Benefactor’s Circle levels! Look for your invitation, which will be mailed at the end of March!

 

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Traffic Duty Assignments

March Traffic Duty Assignments (2nd grade)

Everyone Please Remember:
When doing the Selby Driveway Director position: please stop cars at driveway so that you are blocking the driveway. This way children are protected from cars trying to enter the driveway without your permission.

Do Not ever get out of your car while dropping your children off. Let the traffic volunteers assist your children with their things.

Never park in the driveway after letting your children out while exiting to Ohio.

Shared Days;
*Wednesday- Selby Driveway Door #1- 3/3-McLaughlin, 3/10-Shalloe, 3/17-Shalloe
3/24- Ossanlo
*Monday- Ohio Handicap Door #1- 3/1-Kovacs, 3/8-MacLaughlin, 3/15-Kovacs,
3/22-MacLaughlin, 3/29-Kovacs
*Monday Afternoon- 3/1,8,15-Duerr, 3/22,29-Ferrer

PLEASE ARRIVE FOR TRAFFIC DUTY AT 7:20 FOR AM POSITION AND 2:40 FOR PM POSITION.

Thank you,
Teresa McDugald

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Weekly Readings/Reflections

Next Sunday, March 21, is the Fourth Sunday of 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 Joshua 5:9a, 10-12

The LORD said to Joshua,
"Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you."
While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,
they celebrated the Passover
on the evening of the fourteenth of the month.
On the day after the Passover,
they ate of the produce of the land
in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.
On that same day after the Passover,
on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.
No longer was there manna for the Israelites,
who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

READING II 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Brothers and sisters:
Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
And all this is from God,
who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

GOSPEL Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
"A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
'Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.'
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
'How many of my father's hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.'"
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.'
But his father ordered his servants,
'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.'
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
'Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.'
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
'Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
He said to him,
'My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.'"

Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 21)

READINGS The Israelites eat the produce of the promised land;
If we are in Christ, we are a new creation; Even if we feel we have gone far away from God’s love, God’s loving arms are always open to welcome us home.

WHAT I HEAR ‘Which person in the parable most reflects who I am today?

MY FAITH JOURNEY When have I felt God couldn’t possibly love me? When have I felt assured of God’s love?

FOR CHILDREN Why did the boy decide to go home?
The father was so pleased to see him again - God is like that with us too.
Why do you think the older son was not happy? Was the father fair?

 

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Student School Activies

Saints advance to Sweet Sixteen in C.Y.O. Archdiocesan Championship Playoffs in Basketball.

The Boys 7th & 8th Grade Varsity basketball team this past weekend won both their playoff games. This past Saturday they defeated St. Dominick and on Sunday they defeated St. Lucy, in both games the Saints cruised to victory.

This weekend the Saints will play their 3rd round opponent @ 11a.m at Serra H.S. in Gardena on Saturday 3/20 /04. Serra H.S. 14830 S. Van Ness Ave. Gardena, CA. 90249 if they win on Saturday 3/20/04 they will play a quarterfinal opponent on Sunday 3/21/04 at 12:30p.m. @ Salesian H.S. 960 S. Soto St. Los Angeles, CA. 90023.

Saints Boys 5th & 6th Grade "B" Combo Team Wins Championship at St. Jeromes League in Westchester. On Saturday 3/13/04 the Saints ended a perfect season winning two playoff games to cap an undefeated regular season. First they defeated St. Marks in the morning Semi-final and in the afternoon by taking the Championship in a well played final between the Saints and the hosts from St. Jeromes.

 

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Golf Club Information

SPA Golf Club
REGISTRATION NOTICE
First Date – Monday, April 5th
Registration Packet Available by Calling Mark McDonald
(Phone Number in SPA Directory)

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