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Standing in a Person's Shoes
Harper Lee, author and Pulitzer prize winner, died this past week. Lee was the author of the 1960 American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. Our kids' bedroom shelves still have paperback copies of this book, nearly 10 years after their American Lit. classes. Every once in a while, I will pick up a copy and reread a few chapters. It is full of imagery, metaphor, and characters who never get old, even when I wish we no longer needed to be reminded about race, social class, and prejudice.
Upon hearing of Lee's death, I picked up the book again. In one of her most famous lines, she reminds us about the power of being empathetic and the power of teaching our children empathy: Atticus says to his six-year old daughter Scout, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view....Until you climb in his skin and walk around in it."
Empathy is one of the most important lessons we teach in school. When interrupting a playground kindergarten squabble, we ask, "How do you think that made Johnny feel?" After our 8th graders serve breakfast on the streets downtown, we ask them to pray for those they served. We ask our students to consider others' points of view in a history class debate when we instruct, "Take your opponent's position now," and again, when asking 5th graders to consider "Who is an outcast to Jesus, and why did he talk to the woman at the well?"
Standing in another's shoes is never easy, rarely comfortable. It is, however, part of our mission at Saint Patrick's. We have our model in Jesus, who is incarnate God-the Word made flesh. Jesus walked in our skin and lived amongst us, experiencing what it is to be human. Those of us who follow Him are called to work for justice here on earth, to be empathetic.
When remembering what her Dad said well after the trial, Scout said, "Atticus was right." Jesus said it a different way, when he promised those who trial on the behalf of his Father, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."
Peace, Chris
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Blue Ribbon Event
See you Thursday! Don't forget to bring a friend! For more information, click here.
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Upcoming Events
February 25: Primary/Intermediate Mass, Blue Ribbon Event
March 2: Free Dress, Dr. Seuss Day
March 3: All School Mass
March 10: Reconciliation Service
March 17: Grandparents Day
March 18: Fish Fry for the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma
March 23: Kindergarten Preview Night - Save the Date
April 16: REACH Reunion Auction
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REACH Reunion
We are excited to share more information about the REACH Auction, to be held on April 16 from 6-10 PM in the Skip Butler Gym at St. Patrick Catholic School!
Visit our Auction Website today to purchase tickets, sponsor, donate, and find out more about the event.
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Fish Fry
Save the Date for this new event, benefiting the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma!
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Global Service Free Dress
On Februry 19, the school participated in our 2nd annual Global Free Dress Fundraiser. Teachers and students in Pre-K through 8th grade shined their light for Jesus by sporting neon free dress and together raised nearly $1,700 for international causes.
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5th/6th Grade Camp
For years, one of the main pillars of the sixth grade experience at St. Patrick's is Sixth Grade Camp.
Students return with a better understanding of the environment, a tighter bond among classmates, and a stronger sense of themselves and their faith. This year, we began a new tradition of taking our fifth grade to camp. In order to transition to the new tradition, our fifth and sixth graders attended together.
Highlights of camp include: -
Explore and learn about their relationship with God and His creation.
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Developing scientific investigation, critical thinking skills, and conservation strategies.
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Increase their understanding of environmental science concepts.
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Experience personal, communal, and spiritual growth.
We appreciate all the teachers, chaperones, and volunteers that made our camp week a success.
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Grandparents Day
We will be celebrating Grandparents Day on March 17. Please ask your guests to save the date. More information about the event will be available soon.
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Community Ministry
Question of the Week:
"What do you think about hope? Why is a person who hopes in God like a tree with deep roots that is planted near a stream?"
Join us on Thursday, February 25 for Primary and Intermediate Mass at 8:45 AM.
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Grounds Work
School Grounds Work Session on Saturday, March 12 from 9am to 1pm. As usual, wear your work clothes and bring work gloves; refreshments provided.
General weeding and cleanup is needed all around the campus. Bring lawn/garden tools if you have them and remember electrical power is limited so gas powered tools are best - blowers, trimmers, etc.
Any questions please reply or call/text Rob Silva at
253-592-0865.
Grounds Work counts for double commitment hours. Thank you for you continued support!
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CYO
Volleyball
Our teams played their first games this weekend. They all did an amazing job! Here are the game summaries:
The 8th grade team took the first two sets and dropped the third set to Cabrini. They were many very exciting rallies and they set up some really amazing bump, set and spike plays.
The 7th grade girls won their season opener volleyball match against St. Frances on Saturday. They took the first the game 20-18, lost the second game, and were down in the 3rd game but rallied back to win the game and match. They worked together and never gave up.
The 6th grade volleyball team did a great job on Saturday against St. Charles. St. Charles won the first set, but St. Pats stepped it up for the second set. St. Charles won the second set which meant they won the match, but the team captains agreed to play one more set. St. Pats was victorious in the final set! It really showed how quickly the whole team learned to work together!
The 5th grade team split sets with All Saints and dropped the 3rd set. They played very well and fun was had by all.
Here are the schedules for this weekend, all games are at St. Charles:
8th grade plays All Saints at 9:15 am
7th grade plays Visitation at 12:15 pm
6th grade plays All Saints at 1:00 pm
5th grade plays All Saints at 2:30 pm
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Alumnus of Interest
Prayer Life from a Young Parishioner Perspective
Terese is a parishioner at Saint Patrick Catholic Church and 2012 Saint Patrick Catholic School graduate. Terese has a great story to tell. She shared very concrete and personal ways she stays present to God's presence in her life with the parish faith community at all Masses during the weekend of February 20 - 21, 2016. The link below is to the Youtube audio recording of a Mass that she spoke at. Listen to Father John's homily on prayer then Terese's witness talk starting at the 9 minute mark. You can also read Terese's Witness Talk by clicking here.
Audio Link
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Lost and Found
Lost and found items will be removed on February 29. Please retrieve your items before then. Thank you.
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Yearbook Deadline
Photo submission for the yearbook is Monday, February 29. If you have any pictures of your child(ren) participating in any extracurricular activities (i.e. Drama, dance, sports, etc) please email them to Mindi Marsh at swampclan@hotmail.com. They might be included within the yearbook. Thank you!
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From the Parish
Click here for our parish's plans for Lent
The Pope Series: Laudato Si- On Care for Our Common Home
The second talk in the series is presented by Professor Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, the Director of the Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at Seattle University at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 in the Parish Center. It focuses on the Pope's encyclical on the environment- Laudato Si.
Click here for more information
Holy Door Pilgrimage
On March 6, 2016- parishioners are invited to a Parish Pilgrimage of Mercy- to walk together through the Holy Doors of St. James Cathedral. A bus will leave from the parking lot of Saint Patrick Catholic Church at 2:00 P.M. with the target of a 3:00 P.M. arrival in Seattle to hear a description of Holy Doors and a walk through followed by a tour of St. James Cathedral.
The day will end with Vespers, which includes Exposition, Lenten Vespers and Benediction. There will be time for personal prayer in the Cathedral or an opportunity to participate in a self-guided Way of Mercy through the Cathedral, beginning at the Doors of Mercy and continuing with prayer stations at important places throughout the Cathedral for 15-20 minutes. The return to Tacoma is targeted for 6:00 P.M.
Youth Group Saint Patrick Youth group meets every other Sunday from 4-5:30 PM in the Parish Center. We have fun, great fellowship, games, food, and grow in our faith. Come every time we meet or whenever you can make it. Bring a friend and join us.
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It's time to get excited for JR. HIGH RALLY 2016!
This is an awesome opportunity for youth in grades 6-9 to celebrate God, our faith, and all the blessings that come from gathering young Catholics from around the Archdiocese & beyond! For more information, click here. |
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The mission of St. Patrick Catholic School is to nurture in its students an abiding Catholic faith while pursuing academic excellence and modeling honesty, respect, and service as dynamic members of our world community.
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St. Patrick Catholic School | 1112 N G Street, Tacoma WA 98403 | 253-272-2297
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