Did you know? Halloween originates from All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day, when Catholics honour those we acknowledge as Saints who have passed on to their heavenly home. Following this, on November 2, the Church observes All Souls Day to remember all the other faithful departed and offer prayers on their behalf for the Angels to lead them safely to their heavenly home.
St. David School recently hosted Joan Yawney-Matz, Religious Education and Faith Consultant for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, to discuss the Catholic significance of Halloween. Joan engaged students in a presentation, highlighting the connections between Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day.
Her presentation focused on the importance of saints in the Catholic Faith, paying particular attention to St. David, the school’s namesake. Overall, the session enriched the class’s understanding of the holiday and deepened their appreciation for the saints who have preceded us.
Thank you to Ms. Yawney-Matz for contributing to our student’s learning experience and holiday celebrations!
This September, St. Anne School kicked off the school year by celebrating their incredible school spirit! Students and staff came together to proudly wear their school colours, showcasing the pride and unity that make their school community so special.
“At St. Anne, our faith reminds us of the importance of coming together as one family, supporting and uplifting one another in all that we do,” said Principal Megan Murphy. “Our school spirit celebration was a joyful reflection of these values, as we demonstrated our love for our school and the community we’ve built together.”
The school would like to thank everyone who participated and made this celebration a success. The enthusiasm and vibrant spirit of students truly brought the school to life! St. Anne hopes to carry this energy and sense of togetherness throughout the rest of the school year.
We thank our Board of Trustees, Senior Administration, staff, students, families, volunteers, community partners, and our parishes for their continued support and commitment to Sudbury Catholic. Together we are providing a caring, progressive, high quality Catholic school system that is nurturing our students – mind, body, and spirit.
December 24 marks the fourth Sunday of Advent for 2023. Together, we all await the birth of a baby boy, the light of the world, coming to transform us, so that we can transform the world. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season of Advent and are represented by the colour purple. During Advent it is fitting that we celebrate the virtue of patience, for we recognize that we are patiently awaiting Jesus’ coming.
Advent Prayer
Dear Lord,
Send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel down and led me when I feel lost. I may stumble at times, but I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth–a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life and death helped secure.
Amen.
Candle The Fourth Sunday of Advent represents the Angel’s candle and symbolizes peace.
December 17 marks the third Sunday of Advent for 2023. Together, we all await the birth of a baby boy, the light of the world, coming to transform us, so that we can transform the world. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season of Advent and are represented by the colour purple. During Advent it is fitting that we celebrate the virtue of patience, for we recognize that we are patiently awaiting Jesus’ coming.
Advent Prayer
Dear Lord,
Send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel down and led me when I feel lost. I may stumble at times, but I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth–a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life and death helped secure.
Amen.
Candle The Third Sunday of Advent represents the Shepherd’s candle and symbolizes joy.
December 10 marks the second Sunday of Advent for 2023. Together, we all await the birth of a baby boy, the light of the world, coming to transform us, so that we can transform the world. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season of Advent and are represented by the colour purple. During Advent it is fitting that we celebrate the virtue of patience, for we recognize that we are patiently awaiting Jesus’ coming.
Advent Prayer
Dear Lord,
Send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel down and led me when I feel lost. I may stumble at times, but I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth–a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life and death helped secure.
Amen.
Candle The first Sunday of Advent represents the Candle of Bethlehem symbolizes Faith and Love.
December 03 marks the first Sunday of Advent for 2023. Together, we all await the birth of a baby boy, the light of the world, coming to transform us, so that we can transform the world. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season of Advent and are represented by the colour purple. During Advent it is fitting that we celebrate the virtue of patience, for we recognize that we are patiently awaiting Jesus’ coming.
Advent Prayer
Dear Lord,
Send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel down and led me when I feel lost. I may stumble at times, but I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth–a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life and death helped secure.
Amen.
Candle The first Sunday of Advent represents the Candle of Prophecy and symbolizes Hope.
November 28 is Giving Tuesday and it is the world’s largest generosity movement. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a stranger, or giving to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.
At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we foster a culture where both staff and students embrace the idea that Giving Tuesday is not merely a single day but a transformative movement that sparks positive change on a global scale. Let us reflect on some ways Sudbury Catholic Schools have come together as a community this month to make a lasting impact.
SCC Students Shine in Annual Canned Food Drive for Sudbury Food Bank
St. Charles College students lead the way with their annual Canned Food Drive, supporting the Sudbury Food Bank. They’ve gone above and beyond by collecting cans at grocery stores and organizing canvassing nights where students hit the streets, gathering non-perishable foods and donations. A hockey buyout at Garson Arena with St. Benedict CSS and a Dress Down Week have also contributed to their incredible efforts.
Sudbury’s Smallest Santas: Holy Trinity and Pius XII Launch Crib Campaign for Infant Food Bank
Holy Trinity and Pius XII schools are participating in the “All I Need for Christmas Campaign” for the Infant Food Bank. The annual campaign helps raise funds and supplies for Greater Sudbury’s most vulnerable: babies and toddlers. Together with the support of their school communities, they will fill a crib with baby necessities to support families throughout the winter and the holiday season.
Spaghetti with a Side of Support: St. Benedict CSS Holds Fundraiser for Sudbury Food Bank
On Thursday, Nov. 30th, St. Benedict is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser to support families in need during Christmas. Students, staff, and community members will raise their forks and funds to receive delicious spaghetti dinners. In return the donations raised from this event will support the Sudbury Food Bank.
St. John’s Moe-vember Challenge: A Hairy Tale of Giving
The student council at St. John school organized a fantastic Moe-vember challenge to raise money for prostate cancer research. Mr. Martin, the school’s Gr. 2/3 French Immersion teacher, volunteered to grow a moustache for Movember, and St. John provided weekly updates on his progress by posting pictures on social media.
Together, students and families were encouraged to donate throughout November, and in return, students would receive a moustache to participate in the school’s first Moustache Day on Nov. 24th. According to St. John, the school raised 1,191.00 for prostate cancer research.
Sweet Actions: St. Albert Students Support Church of Christ the King Bake Sale
On Nov. 26, St. Albert Learning Centre students in the Peace Program were busy cooking up a storm for the Church of Christ the King bake sale. The parishioners throughly enjoyed the delicious treats prepared by all the students, and it was reported that all their confections quickly sold out. We are proud to see our students participating in fundraising activities supporting our strong partnership with parishes.
Conclusion
The above list of activities is only a small sample of the acts of giving that have taken place in our school system this month. We encourage you to check out our school’s social media profiles to stay current on what’s happening. As we wrap up November, let us plan to continue to demonstrate the power of our community on this Giving Tuesday and all year long. Together, we can make a difference!
On June 16, 2023, the Immaculate Conception Cougar Family participated in the Crush Cancer/Relay for Life Event. Their fundraising goal was $5000 and the school is ecstatic to announce that this amount was doubled!
Through the sale of Crush Cancer t-shirts and hoodies, collecting pledges and the sale of luminaries, our Cougars stepped up to the task we set out for them just a little over a month ago.
The day started off with a superhero-themed ‘Playday with a Purpose’. Students enjoyed the outdoor stations and the school spirit was amazing.
The Relay for Life took place in the afternoon as staff and students gathered for an important assembly. Student-decorated luminaries lined the front of the gym to pay tribute, honour lost loved ones and support those living with cancer. What a touching tribute!
After recognizing the efforts of all the organizers, student volunteers and everyone involved in planning this day, they acknowledged our important guests of honour, the Cancer Survivors, who are family members of our school community. They so courageously led the walk outdoors. The Immaculate school community followed, cheering on our Survivors and then joined in by walking big laps around the schoolyard. We topped off the day with Crush freezies for all to enjoy.
A final big THANK YOU goes out to the many volunteers, the Survivors, the students, parents & staff at Immaculate Conception!
