Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Catholic Schools Week begins this Sunday, January 26 and runs till Saturday, February 1. We will be highlighting our parish school, Epiphany, this week, and there will also be an Open House at Epiphany next Sunday, February 2, from 9:30 AM till 11:30 AM. This is a great opportunity to meet the teachers and tour the school to determine the right place for your children. Open registration will begin February 1. Registrations forms will be available at the school and the parish rectory office.
Also, on Sunday, February 9 at 3 PM we will have people with laptops in the Parish Hall to help fill out the online FACTS application for scholarships in either English or Spanish. This current year many families were able to receive scholarships from the Diocese (often with the help of the Virginia State Tuition Tax Credit program), and we were also able to offer some limited parish scholarships.
As one way of supporting Catholic education, we continue to fundraise for our third parish/school activity bus. Every day it brings 14 children to and from our school who would otherwise not be able to attend. It is great to be able to offer transportation for our community, not only for attending school, but also for Mass attendance and outreach activities such as field trips and visits to assisted living facilities. So far, we have raised $8016, so we have $41,984, left to raise. Thank you for your support for our school, and this future generation for the world and the Church which our school educates.
A special blessing of candles and a procession will take place at the Masses on Sunday, February 2 (and of course the Vigil the night before at 5 PM) to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the day when Jesus was presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph 40 days after his birth. When you arrive for Mass please take a candle. Then you can either go to your pew, or if you would like to take part in the procession, you can remain near the parish foyer. Finally, the 2020 Bishop’s Lenten Appeal (BLA) will be mailed soon to all homes registered in our diocese. After reflecting upon the blessings that God has given you, please prayerfully consider making a pledge to this important appeal that funds many programs and ministries that serves thousands of people in our diocese. Together, through the BLA, let us renew our personal commitment to furthering the Lord's work in our diocese.
Shalom,
Fr. Kevin
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