This morning before heading out for
their Christmas break, our students and staff celebrated the Fourth Week
of Advent by lighting the last candle on our wreath. This culminated
four weeks of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Savior. As
with each of the months so far this year, December has been a busy time
here at school. The nice thing about having our Christmas Family Night
on December 1st was that it left a lot of time to focus in
the classrooms on the true meaning of Christmas. Weekly in-class Advent
celebrations allowed students time for gathering, reflection, and
discussion on how best to prepare for Christmas. Acts of Social Justice
also were prominent during the month of December with collections for
the Lurana Shelter, St. Francis of Assisi School, and the St. Vincent de
Paul Food Bank. As well, the St. Leo tradition of students delivering
Christmas greeting cards to local residences extended our feelings of
hospitality to our neighbors in the Newton community. And on December 9th,
our own students got a dose of hospitality from the Spirit of Christmas
organization which provided a breakfast and gifts for all of the
children. It has been quite a month!
As we now take a few weeks to enjoy
family and friends during this Christmas season, let us not forget the
real “reason for the season”— the birth of a baby in a humble stable
over 2000 years ago. This event is the fulfillment of a promise by God
foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament: God’s love for us, His
people, in the birth of His son Jesus to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem.
The Redeemer has come! Emmanuel! God with us!
On behalf of all of the students and
staff of St. Leo School, we would like to take this opportunity to wish
all of you and your families a very blessed, happy Christmas and holiday
season! As well, we wish you all the best in happiness, health, and
prosperity for the New Year of 2012! We will see your children back on
Monday, January 9th.
A first century philosopher observed:
“When I light a candle at midnight,
I say to the darkness: ‘I beg to differ.’
As we light our Christmas candles, we, too, say
to the darkness in our world and in our hearts,
‘You have no final power over us, for the first and final word is
eternal light.”
(2012, A Book of Grace-Filled Days)
