The Rhodes Ahead

We celebrated Mr. Billquist on March 13. He expressed his gratitude, "I wanted to be sure to thank everyone for the gratitude and celebration at the assembly on Friday. It was over the top and I thank whomever for the poem, the top 10 items booklet, the preschool ‘cards’ and the money. I thank everyone associated with the school for putting up with me over the years." Then he shared a poem he wrote for everyone:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Who is the first to go boo-hoo?

With all the great teachers
And a lot of your best friends,
It should never be you.

I have to say thank you
From the bottom of my heart,
Because in my last chapter of work,

You've been the best part.

From saying hello in the morning
To goodbye in the afternoon,
The smiles and the laughter
Always filled every room.

The halls full of chatter,
The prayers said out loud,
The energy here
Would make anyone proud.

Some days were silly,
Some days were tough,
But the kindness you showed me
Was always enough.

So if someone goes boo-hoo
When this chapter is through,
It might just be me
Thinking fondly of you.

Because schools are for learning,
And growing up smart,
But the best lessons here
Came straight from the heart.

We know that Mike will be missed but are sure that we will see him at the parish.

Blessings,

Kathy

April:

4/2: No School - Holy Thursday

4/3: No School - Good Friday

4/6: No School - Easter Monday

4/8: 8th Grade Parent Reception after All-School Mass / Skate Party, 6pm

4/8-4/10: Scholastic Book Fair - see flyer below!

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

4/29: St. Catherine of Sienna Feast Day

May

5/1: No School - School of Faith (Staff) / MS First Friday Club, 8:05am Mass

5/6: May Crowning

5/7: Talent Show

5/11: 8th Grade Graduation Dinner

5/12: 8th Grade Graduation / Mass

5/14: K-8 Field Day / Preschool (Afternoon) Last Day!

5/15: Pre-K (Morning) Last Day / K-8 Last Day, 11:30am Dismissal

The presenters from Smart Families will be visiting the students again soon. The spring parent event will include the family coming together and includes a free Chick-fil-A dinner for your family. Participation will unite our community through common expectations of technology, especially smart phones and social media - protecting our children from many harmful effects such as depression and anxiety.

• LINK TO EVENT RSVP FORM: https://forms.gle/uq2z32tm8ktnnVje8

Orders are due by March 31 at 8:00 pm. Here is the Smoothie King Link for April: https://web4u.forms-db.com/view.php?id=2984982

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

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.

Visit the SHOJ Book Fair in the school library on 4/8/26 from 9am-6pm, 4/9/26 from 7am-6pm, and on 4/10/26 from 7am to noon. You can visit https://www.scholastic.com/bf/sacredheartofjesusschool now to set up your child’s eWallet and browse books. Sign up to volunteer at the fair and get a free dress day at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4FABA62DAAF49-62988824-shoj

If you refer a new family and they share your name when they enroll, you will be entered in a drawing for a $500 tuition credit. Get the good word out for your chance to win!

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Sacred Heart Parish Community Update

On the move from Mission Investment to Reinvesting into our Mission

Here is the March update on progress of Phase 1:

Progress on Phase 1 Projects:

• 100% complete on Design Development documents.
• Updated exterior renderings and pencil drawings of each project can be found on our website on the “capital
• campaign” page!
• City of Shawnee Planning Commission: received approval on our site plan on March 16

Mission Investment Campaign:

• 640 pledges: $7,543,053
• 45% of pledges have been redeemed
• Quarterly statements will be sent in early April
• $2.7 million in our Capital Campaign savings
• $646,000 in our Endowment

What’s Left to Do

• Finalize 100% Construction Documents – by April 2026
• Seek Archdiocesan approval after Design Development and Construction Document stages, including
• requesting bid permission by mid-April
• Release Phase 1 for official bid
• After bids are received, evaluate cost for all projects to proceed
• Work with the City of Shawnee on permitting after bids are received
• Request official contract approval and signature by Archdiocesan officials after the bidding process
• Realign space usage to allow for construction
• Continue to solicit pledges and encourage families to redeem their pledge commitments as promised

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

Capital Campaign

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

UPDATES

Easter Flower Envelopes: Easter flower envelopes are available in the Narthex.

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

Parish offices will be closed April 2, 3 & 6.

Adoration: In conjunction with the Holy Week observances, the Adoration Chapel will close at Noon on Thursday, April 2nd and reopen at 7 am on Sunday, April 5th.

EVENTS

Building Resilience In Families: Are you a parent or grandparent looking to help the young people in your life grow strong in their faith? Join us on April 14 at 6:30 PM in the Rectory for an inspiring evening with JP DeGance, leader of the national organization Communio, to learn the critical role that regular faith conversations at home play in passing the faith on to the next generation. Register here.

Mother Daughter Tea: Join us for our 3rd Annual Mother Daughter Tea, on May 3 at 1 PM, in the MPC, to reflect on Growing with Mary’s Grace, as we look to our Blessed Mother as a model. Together we will enjoy a charming Tea Party complete with sipping tea (or lemonade), sharing dainty treats, creating a simple craft, and capturing a keepsake photo. Tickets are $12 per person. Sign-up here.

MINISTRY

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

Mother's Circle: Mother's Circle will be meeting Thursday April 9th at the rectory. We will begin at 7:30. Please park on the south side of Monticello parking lot and take the sidewalk to the backdoor.

Life Giving Wounds Retreat: Join Life Giving Wounds for a retreat in Kansas City April 24-26. The retreat focused on helping young adults and adults with divorced and separated parents give voice to their pain and find transformative healing in Christ. Register here.

DASH Family Camp: Join DASH for a family camping trip at Clinton Lake, May 29-31. There will be meals, campfires, and Mass. Families are welcome to come for the day or both nights. Sign-up here.

Medjugorje Pilgrimage: Join Fr. Will Carey and Deacon Tom Doyle for a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Medjugorje on June 22-30. Tens of thousands will be present for the 45th anniversary celebration. An informational night will take place on April 8 at 6:00 PM in the Rectory. Find more information 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!

Prayer & Action: Get a headstart on your service hours this summer with Prayer & Action! Prayer & Action is a mission trip June 7-12 helping homeowners in Marysville, KS. Open to all incoming 9th grade to graduating 12th grade Sacred Heart students and friends! Register before cost increases on April 2!

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