January 19, 2010

Dear St. Mary’s School Families,

I am writing to give you an update on where we stand with the Meitler study recommendations. As we told you previously, the St. Mary’s School Board put together a response to the recommendations, which we submitted to the Diocese just prior to Christmas. St. Mary’s Parish Council also reviewed the recommendations and put together a separate response, which was aligned with the School Board’s response.  Both responses were also aligned with the Diocesan recommendations (with a few suggestions for minor changes).

Unbeknownst to both the Council and the School Board, Fr. John put together a separate response with his own thoughts. We have just recently found out that his response was very different from our response. Fr. John recommended that we close the school, focus the mission on the poor in the parish, and reopen the school on a smaller scale with less financial risk.  We are saddened that Fr. John did not share his true thoughts and ideas so we could collaborate on a unified response.  We have been in contact with the Bishop’s office to let them know of our deep concern with this process and have asked to meet with the Bishop.  We would like a chance to figure out a solution that will benefit all. In addition, the School Board is meeting tonight with the Diocesan Chief Financial Officer to discuss this further.  We will follow-up with another communication after this meeting.  Like all of our School Board meetings, this meeting is open to parish and school families if you would like to attend.

As of right now, we don’t know what all this means for St. Mary’s School. The Bishop will review all recommendations this week, and we should have an answer by the end of this month as to how they would like us to proceed.  We are hoping that he will give us a chance to implement our proposed recommendations.

In the meantime, we are asking all of you to pray for our faculty, our students, and our parish/school families. It is important that we all stay positive and not lose our faith in this process. We need to keep moving forward and spreading the good news about our school. The School Board is committed to an open and transparent process.  I encourage you to reach out to any of the School Board members for additional discussion or questions.  You can contact me via email at mike.bullock@stmarywc.org or call me at 630-377-9817.

Sincerely,

Mike Bullock

School Board President

El ministerio del Proyecto Gabriel esta al servicio de la mujer embarazada que necesita apoyo en su decision de tener a su bebe; para ver a Cristo en Su Bendita Madre en cada mujer y niño que El envia en nuestro camino. En una manera de construer una relacion con una mujer embarazada en necesidad, el Proyecto Gabriel prove la oportunidad de mostrarle el amor y la misericordia de Dios. Este proyecto se describe a si mismo usando tres fundamentos principales: pastoral, educacional y evangelico. Es en el pastoral en el que la Iglesia asiste a mujeres embarazadas cubriendo las necesidades espirituales y materiales de la madre. En el educacional, la Iglesia tiene un canal para explicar el valor y la dignidad de toda la vida, especialmente la no nacida. Y al final, el evangelico es en el que la Iglesia llega a todas las mujeres embarazadas necesitadas, no importa su fe o creencias religiosas. Si usted quisiera mas información sobre este proyecto, venga auna sesión de entranamiento que ofreceremos en Santa Maria el domingo 7 de febrero, de 1 a 3 p.m. en el Centro Parroquial. Venga después de la Misa a saborear del almuerzo que proveeremos. Por favor llame al (630)788-6382 o en Debbie@womanschoiceservices.com para confirmar su asistencia.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19: 11-12, KJV

National Vocation Awareness Week

January 10th-16th

Father Burke Masters, the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Joliet,  is a particularly inspiring example of how a young man falls “in love with the Eucharist and the Catholic Church, ” as he puts it in his excellent blog, and begins to feel and ultimately act on the call to a priestly vocation.

Discernment of our vocations can be difficult in a world that moves quickly and often seems to push us toward secular concerns.  This week, let us pray together that all of us might find the peace and serenity we need to listen to God’s still, small voice, and to follow His guidance as we choose how best to be of service to Him, to  each other,  and to our communities.

Prayer for Vocations

West Chicago Essay Contest Winners Announced

West Chicago, Illinois: December 3, 2009–Holiday excitement will come early to three West Chicago elementary school students when City of West Chicago Mayor Mike Kwasman pays a classroom visit to congratulate the winners and commend all the participants of a City sponsored essay contest, My Favorite Things About West Chicago, one of the elements of the City’s Frosty Fest event. Mayor Kwasman will also extend a personal invitation to each of the winners to help him light the official tree in downtown West Chicago at the Fox Community Center, located at 306 Main Street on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.

Please join us in congratulating fourth grade student Matt Dupasquier for his winning entry in the “My Favorite Things About West Chicago” essay contest.

Sweet Home, West Chicago

West Chicago is a great place to live.  There are friendly people, places to work out, a library, museums, and one of my favorites – lots of restaurants.

In downtown West Chicago, I like going to the Art Gallery to look at lots of art and take some of their classes.  I’ve taken a pottery class there and I am going to take a Christmas plate class on the morning of Frosty Fest.

Downtown West Chicago also has really great pizza at Dominicks and the waiters are awesome.  I like the owner.  He’s always funny and kind.  They also have great garlic bread while we wait.  It’s worth the wait because they have the tastiest pizza that I’ve ever had.

The West Chicago library is fantastic!  I sometimes go there when my mom works out at the Fitness Center across the street.  They have awesome books like the Hardy Boys and Super Fudge.

Live Nativity and Cookie Walk, 2009

Thank You!

The St. Mary’s Parish School Family thanks all of the generous volunteers whose contributions made this annual event so special and so successful!  We thank you for

• Coordinating
• Organizing
• Baking
• Serving
• Singing
• Decorating
• Acting
• Donating
• And so much more!

Your combined efforts provided us all with a warm, wonderful, spirit-filled start to the holiday season.

Merry Christmas to All from the St. Mary’s Parish School Family!

]]> http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/12/11/photo-friday-live-nativity-and-cookie-walk/feed/ 0 http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/12/08/adventangelsangelesdeadviento/ http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/12/08/adventangelsangelesdeadviento/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:17:22 +0000 St. Mary's Voices http://stmarywc.org/voices/?p=117 Just when it is clear to all of us that a New Year promise should include slowing down, the families at St. Mary’s Parish School are busy making other peoples’ lives a little warmer. Our families’ efforts at making love come alive for our resident-friends at West Chicago Terrace Nursing Home have become a tradition over the years. The program called, “Advent Angels,” brings warmth and love to each one of our friends there. Sometimes people are rarely remembered or seldom receive visitors. This gift-giving time offers them hope for new friendships, peace in their hearts that they are loved and sheer joy during the holiest time of the year.

Each year, every school family is asked to purchase special items for a resident-friend. Moms and dads,brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, hand deliver the Christmas gifts to their friends at the Terrace Nursing Home on Christmas Eve morning. The enthusiasm in our students and their resident friends leaves you in awe as you watch the faces of both young and old come together in the shared moment of Jesus Christ’s hope for us…to love and be loved.

The administrators at the Terrace Nursing Home are thrilled by everyone’s generosity and this holiday tradition. Just around Thanksgiving, the director visits each and every resident-friend and asks them, “What do you want for Christmas?” These ideas are then given to our school so that everyone at the Terrace receives something special they hoped for.

Often times our project needs a little extra help in the way of gift cards from local stores such as Jewel, Kohl’s, Target, and Borders. At the last moments just before Christmas Eve, new resident-friends join the Terrace and we want to make sure we have gifts for them, too. So our school committee will do last minute shopping. If you would like to donate to this important program, please drop off any gift card or monetary donation to the school office or the parish office.  If you would like a name of resident-friend so that you can make their Christmas special with a gift, please call the school office at 630-231-1776.

May we be ever thankful for the blessings that surround us and in Christ’s peace may we find our kneeling places before the newborn King. From all of us at St. Mary’s Parish and School, we wish a Merry Christmas to our resident-friends.

Justo cuando se nos aclara que una nueva

Promesa de Año Nuevo debe incluir el ir mas despacio, las familias de la escuela parroquial de Santa María están ocupadas haciendo mas tibias las vidas de otras personas. Esos esfuerzos traerán una vez mas alegría a los residentes del asilo West Chicago Terrace, como ha sido nuestra tradición en los últimos años. El programa denominado “Ángeles de Adviento,” lleva calidez y amor a cada uno de nuestros amigos del asilo. Algunas personas residentes del lugar, raramente son recordados y visitados. Este regalo de tiempo que se les brinda les inspira esperanza para hacer nuevos amigos, paz en sus corazones y les hace sentir amados y alegres en esta santa temporada del año.

Cada año, las familias de la escuela compran artículos especiales para esos residentes-amigos. Mamas, papas, hermanos y hermanas, familiares y amigos, llevan y entregan personalmente regalos navideños a los residentes el día 24 de diciembre. El entusiasmo de nuestros estudiantes y de los amigos de los residentes nos dejan sorprendidos al mirar sus rostros tanto de los jóvenes como de los viejos uniéndose y compartiendo un momento con Jesucristo y su esperanza de amar y ser amados.

Los administradores del lugar están maravillados por la generosidad de todos en estos tiempos de tradición. Cerca del Día de Acción de Gracias, la directora visita a todos y cada uno de los residentes y les pregunta “Que quiere usted para Navidad?” Entonces se hacen sugerencias a los padres de la escuela para que los residentes reciban algo especial que ellos esperaban.  Continuamente nuestro proyecto necesita de ayuda extraordinaria en la forma de tarjetas de regalo de las tiendas locales como Jewel, Kohl’s, Target, y Borders. Antes de la Nochebuena, de ultimo momento, se reúnen amigos de los residentes de la Terraza y queremos asegurarnos de tener algo para ellos también, así que el comité de nuestra escuela hace compras de ultimo minuto. Si usted quisiera donar para este importante programa, puede llevar tarjetas de regalo o donativos monetario a la oficina de la escuela o a la oficina parroquial. O si quisiera el nombre de alguno de los residentes a quien pueda usted hacer un regalo especial, por favor llame a la oficina de la escuela al (630)231-1776.

From the St. Mary’s Parish Bulletin, December 6th, 2009

Calling All Cookie Bakers!

(And Everyone who Loves to Eat Christmas Cookies, Too!)

On December 6, 2009,  St. Mary’s will hold its Annual Live Nativity, Christmas Concert, and Cookie Walk. Join us for an evening of Christmas spirit! Mingle near the live animals as you watch our 8th graders and a St. Mary’s family perform the Live Nativity. Savor delicious cookies while sipping hot chocolate or hot apple cider. Enjoy the lively caroling as our students sing some of your favorite Christmas songs

The Cookie Walk is a big fund-raiser for our PTO. In addition to our school families, we are also asking parish families who would be willing to participate to donate home-baked cookies for the event. If you are interested in donating cookies, please drop off your cookies (in disposable containers) at the School Office during the school day on Friday, December 4, or bring them to St. Francis Hall (the church basement) on Sunday, December 6 between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

For those of you who are interested in buying cookies during the event, you can pay $10 for the first bakery box ($5 for each additional box) and fill the box up with delicious holiday cookies. The Cookie Walk is from 4pm to 6:30pm on Sunday, December 6 in St. Francis Hall. We will also have hot cocoa and apple cider available.

Live Nativity presentations are at 5:15 and 6:00 p.m. and Christmas caroling by the students is going to be performed in between presentations.

If you have any questions about the Cookie Walk please contact us at cookiewalk@stmaryswc.org.

DID YOU KNOW? In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi, having a great love for Christmas, felt that people had lost the real meaning of Christ’s birth and the celebration had become too materialistic (sound familiar?). St. Francis came up with what he hoped would put the spotlight back where it belonged: on Jesus’ birth. He asked a friend who owned some wooded land in the little town of Greecio, Italy, to recreate that night in Bethlehem when the Infant Jesus was born. His friend agreed to do so and set up the first nativity scene, using live animals and people. It was said on that night that Francis’ message was so powerful that when the people looked into the empty manger, they saw the Christ Child.

]]> http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/11/23/livenativitycookiewalk/feed/ 0 http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/11/23/spotlight-volunteers/ http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/11/23/spotlight-volunteers/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:21:43 +0000 St. Mary's Voices http://stmarywc.org/voices/?p=104 Shining the Light on People who Make a Difference!

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular services.”

1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

Every day at St. Mary’s School, we are blessed to have opportunities to serve and be served – to make a difference in the lives of students, teachers and families in ways that are not easily measured. The gifts that we receive from the Holy Spirit allow us to have an impact on our world, in our classrooms and with each other. And we’re proud to say that at St. Mary’s, it’s always a season for giving and receiving. At any given moment, on any given day, volunteers are using their time and talents in small ways that collectively make a big difference!

To highlight the significance of our volunteers and their acts of kindness, the St. Mary’s PTO will shine a spotlight on various individuals throughout the year and introduce each as “someone you should know.” The new Volunteer Spotlight program will include: a certificate of recognition to the designated volunteer, an announcement flyer (to go home with students), recognition on our PTO Web page, and a special feature on the St. Mary’s Voices Blog.

We recognize the value of each and every volunteer–from auction organizers and class party helpers to Market Day sorters and yearbook editors. Together they help foster the spirit of giving and the sense of family that are so uniquely St. Mary’s. They are the reason we can say with pride: St. Mary’s School volunteers don’t only make a difference, they make the difference!

Please join us in celebrating our September and October Spotlight Volunteers!

Congratulations to our September 2009
Volunteer Spotlight Recipient:

Christina DiCiaula

We recognize and applaud Christina for all of her many gifts and talents. We spotlight her generosity and creativity in fashioning a custom food service for the Teacher’s Tea event and for the Bishop’s Luncheon hosted for Bishop Sartain’s visit to St. Mary’s School.

We recognize and applaud Susanne for all of her many talents and gifts of time to the St. Mary’s school community. We spotlight her dedication to students through her work with the Junior High Project and Girl’s Volleyball. She has made a difference in the lives of many of our children, and we are thankful.

Behind-the-scenes, Suzanne coordinates a myriad of critical school functions, including (but not only) the School Directory, the Lunch Parents Program, The Volunteer Program and the St. Mary’s School Auction.

Thank you, Susanne–we are blessed!

Angelina Flores earned the Student Council's "I Make a Difference" Award, which gave students the opportunity to recognize and thank each other for making a difference through daily acts of kindness and support. Congratulations, Angelina!

In October, our students helped to make a difference by raising money in support of breast cancer research and treatment.

]]> http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/11/12/photo-friday-students-making-a-difference/feed/ 0 http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/11/03/and-then-the-bishop-said/ http://stmarywc.org/voices/2009/11/03/and-then-the-bishop-said/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:22:16 +0000 St. Mary's Voices http://stmarywc.org/voices/?p=86 AND THEN THE BISHOP SAID…

The bishop’s visit was awhile ago and as all thoughtful boys and girls would do, each grade wrote a thank you to him.  He took special time in his busy schedule to come visit; he took special time with each class, making the visit unique for them.

Here are a few of their messages back to him:

“We are very happy that you think snack is important, too.  Here is on one of our favorite snacks.” –from the Pre-schoolers, who sent him pretzels.

“It was fun to sing the Alphabet Song.  Thanks for joining and singing along.” –from Kindergarten

“We are sending you Flat Stanley and we hope if you have time, you will take him on an adventure.  We would love for you to send him back when you are done…with pictures.”–from the Second Grade

“Thank you also for asking us about the history of the Venn diagram.  Our teacher had us use the computer to research all about it.  There is a report with this note…” –from the Fourth Grade

“We think St. Mary’s is the best school in the world.  We’ve learned a lot from your teachings.” –from the Sixth Grade

“We are still thinking about our graduation wall we are going to paint.  We haven’t decided where we are going for our class trip.  Our parents are working hard to organize it.  Hope you find time to say a quick prayer for us.” –from the Eighth Grade

The bishop has responded to one grade already.  To our first grade class, he says:

“I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for your kind letter and Halloween wishes.  I thoroughly enjoyed visiting your school and I would enjoy it if you would show me your other learning activities the next time I visit.  I promise to keep all of you in my prayers, and may the Lord fill you each day with peace, good health, and joy.

It is these things that make daily life in a Catholic school special.  It is these things that make St. Mary’s Parish school special, well loved, and fondly remembered.

Nancy Coughlin, Principal