The Rhodes Ahead

At Sacred Heart of Jesus, gathering for Mass is a cornerstone of our faith life and community. Currently, our students attend Mass twice a week: one all-school Mass and one daily Mass with individual grade levels.

As we plan for next year, we want to approach our Mass schedule with deeper intentionality. Rather than simply adding another weekly Mass, we have decided to focus on attending Mass on important feast days in the Church and on the feast day or birthday of the saints who represent our school’s community houses.

This approach allows us to celebrate with greater purpose and meaning, highlighting the significance of these special days in the liturgical calendar and connecting our students more deeply to the saints and traditions that inspire our school community.

Here are some details about how Mass will be scheduled for your children:

• When an all-school Mass occurs due to a feast day or other holy day in the Church, it will be in addition to our Wednesday all-school Mass and the second scheduled grade-level Mass for that week. This additional Mass applies only to students in grades 3–8.

• For students in grades K–2, if an additional all-school Mass occurs during the week, they will attend Wednesday's All School Mass and the additional all-school Mass. They will not attend their second scheduled grade-level Mass that week.

  For example, if Kindergarten normally attends Mass on Wednesday and Friday, and there is an additional all-school Mass on Tuesday, Sept. 8, for the Birth of Mary, Kindergarten would attend Mass on Tuesday and Wednesday, but not on Friday that week.

• These additional all-school Masses will be planned by the parish, just as daily Masses are, rather than by student classes.

• If an additional all-school Mass falls on a day other than Wednesday, middle school will follow their Thursday schedule, the same schedule they currently use on their additional Mass day, which still preserves recess and study hall.

We look forward to sharing these celebrations with your children and continuing to nurture their faith in ways that are both thoughtful and joyful.

In Christ,

The School Leadership Team

Fr. Joseph and I were meeting the other day to talk about how his classroom visits have been going. Together we created a schedule so that he will have time to visit each classroom every month. As Fr. Joseph continues to grow in his role as chaplain for Sacred Heart of Jesus School, it is important that our students have the opportunity to get to know him and learn from him.

It is hard not to smile when you see the joy during these visits. The students light up with his singing and dancing, and he delights in their personalities. After a recent lesson about recognizing and appreciating each other’s talents, Fr. Joseph shared, “What is so beautiful is seeing them look at each other and recognize the gifts they see in one another.” It was a wonderful reminder that we all have different gifts, and that is exactly how God intended it.

I think both sides agree when the class session ends — they can’t wait to do it again! As Fr. Joseph said with a smile, “They are so lovely.”

Blessings,

Kathy

Please see the letter below regarding the resignation of Dr. Vince Cascone, superintendent of our Archdiocesean Catholic Schools. In there is a link to give your input on what is important in the search for a new superintendent. This needs to be completed by March 16.

Snow days are a tricky thing. I like to build them in because I don't think that remote days are effective for our students. However, when these get built in and not used, the teacher's don't get compensated for them (I do not require the staff to work on snow days either). The leadership teams have agreed that we use on of these days one Holy Thursday, April 2 and then move the last day of school to May 15. Field day will be on May 14 and the 15 will be a half day. We have used one snow day and still have another that we can use if Mother Nature deems necessary.

Alisha Caton is currently getting her masters in special education and Amie Pendergast will be starting this summer from Embrace Grants. This year the school also received a grant to help off set costs of resource room help for next year. Embrace works with all our Archdiocesean schools to help us be inclusive of students with exceptionalities. We appreciate them and how they they help us. Let's show this by supporting them!

March

3/16 - 3/20: Spring Break!

3/23: No School - Teacher Work Day

3/24: 1st-8th Grades return (no Preschool or Kindergarten) / Kindergarten Screening

3/25: Preschool and Kindergarten return, Reception with Mr. Herzet after All School Mass

3/26: Rosary Club, 3:30-5pm / Open House for Prospective Families, 5:30-7pm

3/27: Living Stations, 2:40pm in church

A Look Ahead to April (please note, we will not have school on Holy Thursday):

4/2: No School - Holy Thursday

4/3: No School - Good Friday

4/6: No School - Easter Monday

4/8: Skate Party

4/9: SMART Families Dinner - more info to come!

4/11: First Eucharist Mass

4/19: Quo Vadis

4/20: No School - School of Faith (Staff)

4/26: Confirmation Mass

There will be an open house for families interested in learning about SHOJ on Thursday, March 26 before our parish penance service from 5:30-7. If you refer a family and they write your name on the interest form and enroll, you will be in the drawing for a $500 tuition credit. Get the good word out.

UPDATES

QUO VADIS

Quo Vadis is an evening of faith, fellowship, and celebration, including a cocktail reception, plated dinner, prayerful reflection and testimony, culminating in a keynote address from Archbishop Shawn McKnight! Proceeds from this year's gala support the continued growth of our endowment, which helps ensure the long-term vitality of our mission. We have individual, table and VIP ticket options.

Register by April 12th.

Register

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

To learn more about our Mission Investment Campaign—or to make a gift - click the link below.

Capital Campaign

UPDATES

Introduction to the Mass Booklets: If you would like help participating more fully in the Liturgy of the Mass, you are welcome to use the Introduction to the Mass booklet, which includes the Mass responses and prayers. Copies are available at the information desk in the narthex. Please return the booklet after Mass, or feel free to keep it as a personal copy

OCIA Year-Round: Interested in learning more about what the new year-round OCIA entails for both those seeking the sacraments and sponsors? Checkout the flyer here or find it at the information desk.

Palm Sunday Mass: Palm Sunday Mass times will be 7:30 am, 9:30 am and 11:30 am.

Confession Update: March 28th confessions will be dedicated to the OCIA candidates who will be coming into the Church this Easter. Parishioners are encouraged to attend the Lent Penance Service on the 26th. Please keep the candidates in your prayers!

Holy Week Schedule: There will be no confessions April 2 - 5

• Holy Thursday, April 2: 7 pm Mass only
• Good Friday, April 3: 7 pm Mass only
• Easter Vigil, April 4: 8 pm Mass only
• Easter Sunday, April 5: 7:30 am, 9:30 am, and 11:30 am Masses

EVENTS

Stations of the Cross: Mother’s Circle will once again lead the Stations of the Cross “Mother’s Walk” on Friday, March 20 at 7pm. This is a beautiful reflection through Mary’s eyes. Sign-up to help read.

Wills & Trust Workshop: Come learn more about wills and trusts at Catholic Foundation’s workshop on March 25 at 6:00 PM in the Meeting Rooms. Come learn how you can leave a legacy behind! Register here.

Lent Penance Service: Join us on March 26 for our parish wide Advent Penance Service at Sacred Heart at 7 pm! Prepare your heart for Easter through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There will be no 5 PM Confessions or 6 PM Mass.

MINISTRY

OCIA Sponsors: We have candidates currently wanting to enter OCIA process and are in need of a parish sponsor! Please prayerfully discern walking with them. Contact Char Mies @ charlene.mies@shoj.org to sign up or to ask questions.

40 Days for Life: Join 40 Days for life Spring campaign through March 29. Find more details here.

Pizza & Parenting: Because parenting is holy work — and none of us are meant to do it alone. Parents with kids of all ages are welcome to join us on Mondays from April 13 to May 4th at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM in the Meeting Rooms. We’ll share a meal, connect with other families, and explore approaches to raising children in today’s world through a new topic each night. Cost is $50 with dinner and $10 for the sessions only. Students will receive a FREE Dress Day when parents sign up! Register here!

YOUTH

Vacation Bible School: Registration for Vacation Bible School is open! Our week-long Parish Summer Catechetical Program for preschoolers to 4th graders assists in catechizing children about the love of Christ. Register today!

St. Benedict Rosary Prayer Group will meet on the little playground at 3:06 each Wednesday to pray The Rosary (or at least part of it) for SHOJ school. All are welcome, even littles can come play while you pray. Please join us.

Email: kathy.rhodes@shoj.org
Website: school.SHOJ.com
Location: 21801 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 9134225520
Facebook: facebook.com/SacredHeartCatholicSchool