From the Pastor
July/30/2009
The Knights of Columbus are back from Ak’Tenamit! It was an exciting nine day trip to our mission in Guatemala, and we came back quite healthy and with no broken bones, scorpion or snake bites (just mosquitoes – Florida’s state bird!) having accomplished quite a bit of work. During that time, the men built 10 picnic style tables with benches. Each will hold ten students for study periods outside of the classrooms of the school.
Additionally, several bunk beds were built for the efficient use of sleeping space in the boys’ dormitories, and we built a large cement outdoor basketball court. Though a bit tired each night from the long days’ work in the heat, the men were able to “kick back” a little after Mass and supper, and reminisce about each day’s activities. The food was good, the views were fantastic, and the people are very gracious. The weather was very cooperative – almost no rain in the “rain forest” that week – and the local people helped us on the various construction projects. There’s no question about it—the local population is very appreciative of our work with and among them, and they are getting to know us more each year that we return. They look forward to the visit as much as we do. We happily distributed over 1,000 Rosaries to the students and villagers we met, and celebrated Mass in one of the remote villages, crossing over the swampy lake edge via a quarter-mile long boardwalk.
The chapel was filled with people and beautiful singing in the local dialect, as I offered Mass in Spanish and had the homily translated on-the-spot by a local leader into their native Q’ek-chi. Obviously, the Catholic people were overjoyed that they could have one more Mass this year than the usual three times. Thank you for
your support of our efforts, through your prayers and sacrificial giving in the annual appeal for our Guatemalan mission, especially the parish council of the Knights of Columbus and the numerous people who provide annual sponsorships.
“School days, school days, good ol’ back to school days….” It’s not far off, and some of the excitement at our school begins with a new program called “SCRIP.” It’s a fundraising program that works while you shop. It really means “substitute money.” In other words, SCRIP will be the gift certificates from many national and local retail stores. They’re the same gift certificates that you buy at the store, only they will benefit St. Vincent School if you buy them through the SCRIP program. Some of the more popular retailers are Wal-Mart, Albertson’s, Winn-Dixie, Shell, Pizza Hut, JC Penney, The Gap and Red Lobster. There are many more, too!
Scrip-participating retailers agree to sell gift certificates to our school at a discount. Families, such as yours, buy the certificates for full-face value, then, redeem them for full-face value, and our school keeps the difference as revenue. Everybody wins in this program! The beauty of SCRIP is that you put your regular household shopping dollars to work for you and us. You earn money for our school and your family account without spending a single extra penny! The retailer gets cash “up front” and repeat business…. You get a powerful fundraising alternative that involves no selling….Our school gets a regular source of revenue, and will split it with you 50/50, which you can then turn around and use towards tuition, registration and/or fees. Our school will hold two brief informational meetings about our new SCRIP program, and we urge you to attend one of them: August 19 at the “Welcome Back Breakfast” (Kellaghan Hall) after drop-off, or September 1st at “Meet the Teacher Night.” We’ll go over all of the facts about SCRIP, provide enrollment forms and answer your questions. Get ready to earn money towards your child’s tuition as you shop for everyday necessities!
As we promised, we will have a special Mass and blessing of the numerous renovations that have taken place on our campus over the past three years. Bishop Barbarito will celebrate our 5:30 p.m. Mass on August 15th, and then bless the Crucifix over the main altar, the new stained-glass memorial side doors and the
Perpetual Adoration Chapel (and the new roof!) of our church. Then, he will bless the St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Mary houses, the Youth Center and the 2nd floor of the Old Convent (which houses the Diocese of Palm Beach Counseling Center and the Family Promise Program). This Mass will mark the beginning of the new
school year and our own new beginnings – signs that we are “moving ahead” after some difficult times that are now behind us.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
Additionally, several bunk beds were built for the efficient use of sleeping space in the boys’ dormitories, and we built a large cement outdoor basketball court. Though a bit tired each night from the long days’ work in the heat, the men were able to “kick back” a little after Mass and supper, and reminisce about each day’s activities. The food was good, the views were fantastic, and the people are very gracious. The weather was very cooperative – almost no rain in the “rain forest” that week – and the local people helped us on the various construction projects. There’s no question about it—the local population is very appreciative of our work with and among them, and they are getting to know us more each year that we return. They look forward to the visit as much as we do. We happily distributed over 1,000 Rosaries to the students and villagers we met, and celebrated Mass in one of the remote villages, crossing over the swampy lake edge via a quarter-mile long boardwalk.
The chapel was filled with people and beautiful singing in the local dialect, as I offered Mass in Spanish and had the homily translated on-the-spot by a local leader into their native Q’ek-chi. Obviously, the Catholic people were overjoyed that they could have one more Mass this year than the usual three times. Thank you for
your support of our efforts, through your prayers and sacrificial giving in the annual appeal for our Guatemalan mission, especially the parish council of the Knights of Columbus and the numerous people who provide annual sponsorships.
“School days, school days, good ol’ back to school days….” It’s not far off, and some of the excitement at our school begins with a new program called “SCRIP.” It’s a fundraising program that works while you shop. It really means “substitute money.” In other words, SCRIP will be the gift certificates from many national and local retail stores. They’re the same gift certificates that you buy at the store, only they will benefit St. Vincent School if you buy them through the SCRIP program. Some of the more popular retailers are Wal-Mart, Albertson’s, Winn-Dixie, Shell, Pizza Hut, JC Penney, The Gap and Red Lobster. There are many more, too!
Scrip-participating retailers agree to sell gift certificates to our school at a discount. Families, such as yours, buy the certificates for full-face value, then, redeem them for full-face value, and our school keeps the difference as revenue. Everybody wins in this program! The beauty of SCRIP is that you put your regular household shopping dollars to work for you and us. You earn money for our school and your family account without spending a single extra penny! The retailer gets cash “up front” and repeat business…. You get a powerful fundraising alternative that involves no selling….Our school gets a regular source of revenue, and will split it with you 50/50, which you can then turn around and use towards tuition, registration and/or fees. Our school will hold two brief informational meetings about our new SCRIP program, and we urge you to attend one of them: August 19 at the “Welcome Back Breakfast” (Kellaghan Hall) after drop-off, or September 1st at “Meet the Teacher Night.” We’ll go over all of the facts about SCRIP, provide enrollment forms and answer your questions. Get ready to earn money towards your child’s tuition as you shop for everyday necessities!
As we promised, we will have a special Mass and blessing of the numerous renovations that have taken place on our campus over the past three years. Bishop Barbarito will celebrate our 5:30 p.m. Mass on August 15th, and then bless the Crucifix over the main altar, the new stained-glass memorial side doors and the
Perpetual Adoration Chapel (and the new roof!) of our church. Then, he will bless the St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Mary houses, the Youth Center and the 2nd floor of the Old Convent (which houses the Diocese of Palm Beach Counseling Center and the Family Promise Program). This Mass will mark the beginning of the new
school year and our own new beginnings – signs that we are “moving ahead” after some difficult times that are now behind us.
Very Rev. Canon Tom