I would like to express my profound gratitude to all our parishioners and community for the very successful dedication of our Church. I thank the members of the Building Committee, especially Frank for stepping up to lead the group at the critical moment when help was highly needed. I thank him also for building and installing the Altar, Ambo, Main Cross, and other furnishings as well as installing the tabernacles in the main Church and Chapel. I thank Deacon Ed for his leadership in the Building Committee and pray for his complete recovery. My special thanks to the Templeton family for their leadership in the Art and Environment Ministry. I thank the Liturgy Committee and all the ministry leaders, parish staff, St. John Bosco School community, and everyone who gave donations or helped in different ways to make the dedication possible. 

I consider this weekend as our Homecoming Weekend as we resume all our Liturgies in the new Church. Mass schedules and Confession times will remain the same. We have six external doors in the new Church. Please feel free to use any of them during weekend Masses and use the main entrance and Chapel door for daily Mass in the Chapel. The main entrance will remain open during office hours (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-3pm) and other services during the week. We have two Confessionals located on the south-side of the Church. Please form the Confession line sitting on the pews. Please give us a call (480.961.1610) if you have any questions. 

National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) has been celebrated at Catholic schools throughout the country every year since 1976. This year, it kicks off on Sunday, Jan 27th and runs through Fri, Feb 2nd. The theme for CSW this year is: “Catholic Schools: Unity in Faith and Community.” This theme embodies the core values found in Catholic schools across the country; that is, to train the child academically, morally, spiritually, and socially so they can become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples, and good citizens. The overall goal of CSW is to showcase what makes Catholic schools distinctively different from other schools, and to help schools connect with prospective families looking to find the right school for their children, donors, educators, and other community members.  

 

We have several activities lined up each day throughout the week here in our St. John Bosco community. We will kick off the CSW with a celebration of Mass on Sunday. Students, parents, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend any Mass this weekend. Other events and activities include: school-wide Rosary/Prayer Service, Penny Wars, Cans Across the Campus, Field Day, a St. John Bosco play, and more. Click here for full schedule of events

 

One of the major events during the CSW in our St. John Bosco School (SJB) is the Open House on Wed, Jan 31st from 5:30-7pm, and Thurs, Feb 1st from 9am-11am when we will showcase our entire school from Preschool through 8th grade. If you have any friends or family members looking for school options next year, please tell them to save this date and RSVP here if they plan to attend. Our School Board members and Campus Ambassadors will be ready to give them a personal tour. All current parents and students are also invited to attend. My special thanks to our dedicated teachers, staff, students, and families who chose a Catholic education. Thanks also to our School Board, Dad’s Club, P.T.O. and the entire school community for your prayers and support. 

I wish everyone a happy Feast Day as we celebrate the Feast of St. John Bosco on Tuesday, January 31st.  On Thurs, Feb 1st, the 5th-grade class will perform The Life of St. John Bosco play at 2pm in the courtyard. John Bosco is the Patron Saint of schoolchildren, editors and young people, especially youth living in poverty. It is no wonder that the annual Catholic Schools Week is always celebrated on the week of the Feast of St. John Bosco. We are so blessed to have him as the Patron Saint of our school. 

I am sorry to inform you that our Religious Education Coordinator for Children’s Program, Heather Mooney informed me that she has accepted another job offer somewhere else. Her last day with us is Saturday, February 3rd. On behalf of the St. Benedict parish community, I thank Heather for her excellent service, dedication and commitment to our Religious Education program and for her commitment to our parish and school community. We will miss her here on our campus but I am glad she will be nearby and we look forward to seeing her at our Masses and parish events.