“Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It’s a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.” (according to usbcc.org)
It is our goal this year at SJJ to fully immerse our students in all aspects of the true meaning of Lent. The children will be able to participate in a variety of spiritually strengthening activities that we are encouraging the families to participate in as well. In addition to any fasting the students may choose this year, the school will be attending several stations of the cross services and have a very unique opportunity for an amazing alms-giving experience as well.
Saint Joseph Parish has recently taken part in helping to bring a refugee family from Ukraine to the US. Currently, the family is getting settled in a home and beginning to adjust to their abrupt, new normal. Many collections have been taken to support the meals and everyday needs of the family, however, having 3 young children, there poses a need for recreational, outdoor supplies (bikes, toys, funding for sports).
Our service project, WHICH IS TOTALLY OPTIONAL, will simply include a weekly monetary donation each Friday. Any one may donate any amount on any Friday during Lent. It is NOT NECESSARY to give each week. All of the funds raised will be given to the chairpersons of the Ukraine Welcome Circle through Saint Joseph Parish to use to support the further needs of the family.
In addition to our weekly collections, the children will have the opportunity to participate in creating and participating in spiritual bouquets for the family in their Religion classes, and creating pictures and cards for the three children as well. We want them to feel loved and welcomed by our school community and feel that this way of children helping children is an awesome chance!
Please put any donation your family is comfortable making in an envelope marked “Ukrainian Welcome Circle” and send it in with your child to their homeroom teacher any Friday during Lent. Please see the link below for further information about this wonderful family that we are praying for!
