Mater Dei Catholic School 934 SW Clay Street Topeka, Kansas 66606 Phone: 785-233-1727 Fax: 785-233-1728

December News

Mater Dei News December 2017 Newsletter

Things to remember

Monday Night Bingo

at Hayden High School Proceeds go to

Mater Dei Parish

Sweet Shoppe Saturday, December 3

Holy Day Thursday, December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of obligation. Mater Dei Catholic School is in session.

Fundraising Night Tuesday, December 13 Please join Mater Dei PTO at Spangles at 21st & Gage - 4:00-8:00 pm.

Half Day Tuesday, December 20 out at noon.

No School Christmas Break begins on Tuesday, December 20. Classes will begin Wednesday, January 4, 2017.

Confirmation Retreat Monday, January 2 and Tuesday, January 3.

MATER DEI CATHOLIC SCHOOL

934 SW Clay Street

Topeka, Kansas 66606

Phone: 785-233-1727

Fax: 785-233-1728

8:00 am to 2:00 pm Sweets & Crafts

8:30 to 10:30 am Breakfast

9:00 am to noon Santa Visits MD

9:00 am to noon Ornament Workshop

11:00 am to 2:00 pm Lunch

Mater Dei Advent Reconciliation Service Thursday, December 15th School - 8:30 a.m. MDHN Parish - 7:00 p.m. MDHN

WE PREPARE OUR HEARTS AS WE WAIT IN HOPE , FAITH , AND LOVE

Receiving Advent by Tom McGarth

One year during Advent, our parish priest invited us to write down on a slip of paper a word that named something that is keeping us from getting closer to God. He suggested it might be a fear, a resentment, or an attitude that shuts us off from the love God so wants to give. We were to fold the paper over a few times, grasp it tightly in one hand, and make a fist around it while he began to

preach on the Scripture readings.

After a minute, my hand began to ache. At two minutes, my hand grew numb. At three minutes, the hand started shaking uncontrollably. He told us to open our hands. I found how hard it was to do that. After grasping the piece of paper so

tightly, my hand had stiffened and seemed to have a mind of its own.

I can’t remember what else he said that day, but I have never forgotten that lesson. Hold on to a resentment, fear, or bad attitude long enough and you will

become paralyzed.

As I begin Advent every year now, I start with the realization that I need to let go of any and all spiritual impediments I’m hanging onto. Advent is a time of receiving. It’s hard to receive if your hands are clasped shut. So I begin Advent once again with this prayer: Holy Spirit of God, open my hands, my eyes, my ears, all my senses, and all of my heart so I will be ready to receive your Advent

blessings.

And then I sit there in the Advent darkness, my hands open before me, waiting on God.

Mater Dei Catholic School 934 SW Clay Street Topeka, Kansas 66606 Phone: 785-233-1727 Fax: 785-233-1728

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 8:00 am All School Mass by 6G Madeline

G.; Kayla S.; Elijah J.

Set up for Sweet Shoppe - gym is unavailable

3 Sweet Shoppe

4

5 7:00 pm Christmas Concert MDHN

6

8:00 am All School Mass by 3B Ethan S.;

Justin J.; Sarah S.

Feast of Saint Nicholas

Hour of Code 3:30-4:30 pm in computer lab

7 Reservation for Floral Arrangement Class due today.

8 8:00 am All School Mass by 8W Alaura S.;

Eli T.; Nate W.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

9 4th Grade Field Trip to Nutcracker 9:15 am Feast Day of St. Juan Diego

10 Floral Arrangement Class 10:00 am or 1:00 pm

11

12 8:15 am 3rd Grade Field Trip to OLG to celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe Gifting Tree donations are due

13 8:00 am All School Mass by Faculty Eli W.;

Sandy A.; Mary B.

Feast Day of St. Lucia

4:00-8:00 pm PTO Fundraiser at Spangles

Christmas Sale Set-up in the gym. Gym is unavailable for

evening activities.

14 Children’s Christmas Sale

Spirit Day

15 8:30 am Advent Reconciliation Service for grades 3-8

7:00 pm Advent Reconciliation Service for Parish MDHN

16 8:00 am All School Mass by 2M Sean W.;

Miranda H.; Andy S.

17

18

19

20 8:00 am All School Mass by 5R Mary M.;

Ian M.; Danielle S.

Noon Dismissal 8th Gr. Fundraiser - Daycare 12:00-5:30 pm

End of 2nd Quarter

21 22

23

24 Christmas Mass 4:00 p.m. MDA 6:00 p.m. MDHN 10:00 p.m. MDA

6:00 pm

Christmas Eve Mass

Mater Dei students are invited to participate in the

Christmas Eve liturgy Mass

25 Merry Christmas 9:00 a.m. MDHN

26

27

28 29 30

31 New Year’s Eve

December

Christmas Break

Christmas Break return to school Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Christmas Concert

December 5th

7:00 pm MDHN

Mater Dei Catholic School 934 SW Clay Street Topeka, Kansas 66606 Phone: 785-233-1727 Fax: 785-233-1728

All meals are served with a choice of 1/2 pint of 1% white, chocolate skim, and strawberry skim. Menu is subject to change without notice.

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

1 beanie weinies green beans corn bread

fruit

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Casey C.; Anna F.

2 deli style sandwich

raw vegetables baked beans

fruit

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Cecilia F.; Abigail S.

5 nuggets ‘n nachos

green beans salsa

oranges Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Madeline G.; Jaylan F.

6 BBQ meatballs peas/carrots

buttered noodles roll

applesauce Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Andrew K.; Martin G.

7 spaghetti

salad garlic bread

peaches

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Cooper M.; Mary G.

8 cowboy dinner

corn chips baby carrots

fruit

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Iysis S.; Salma Q.

9 corn dog

smiles raw vegetables

apples

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Olivia S.; Josulyn S.

12 teriyaki chicken cooked broccoli cooked carrots

rice mandarin orange

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Ethan S.; Kayla S.

13 chili

crackers raw vegetables cinnamon rolls

mixed fruit Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Brandon T.; Erick T.

14 hot dogs

potato wedges raw vegetables

apples

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Ian W.; Eli W.

15 stromboli

salad cottage cheese green beans pineapple

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Austin W.; Sandy A.

16 Mr. Ribb

smiles baked beans

peaches

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Emma B.; Maribelle B.

19 pizza sticks

salad corn

pears

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Megan C.; Logan C.

20 1/2 day of school No Lunch Served

January 2

No School

January 3

No School School of Faith

January 4

taco salad salsa rice

mixed fruit Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Sophia F.; Mia F.

January 5

pizza salad corn

peaches Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Miranda H.; Nicholas K.

January 6

deli style sandwich raw vegetables

dessert fruit

Lunch Servers/Cross Guards: Gabbi M.; Jacob M.

December Menu

Christmas Break begins at noon on December 20th. School lunches will resume on Wednesday, January 4, 2017. Merry Christmas! from Mrs. White, Mrs. Lee, and Mrs. Calvin

Mater Dei Catholic School 934 SW Clay Street Topeka, Kansas 66606 Phone: 785-233-1727 Fax: 785-233-1728

MATER DEI CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Our mission: Based on the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church, in partnership with the family and parish community, Mater Dei Catholic School will provide each child the opportunity to reach his or her potential and to develop the academic, technological and social skills necessary to become a lifelong learner who serves God in our community and the world.

Prayer List Every morning the students and staff of Mater Dei Catholic School begin the day with prayer. Please join your prayer with ours for: Andrew Piazza, Blake Cazier, Bea Rocha, Marsha Conell, Yvette Brooks, Jeremy Cromwell, Ashley Brock, Gina Dodd, Benny Lopez, Toby C., Joe Frederick, Addie Tanking, Gene Ralston, Jeremy Main, Myrt Falk, Melis-sa Turner, Xavier Vega, Isaiah Roeder, Lynee Davis, Leslie Wartick, Michael Stovall, Frank Vargas, II, Cindy Cook, Rosemary Adams, Charlene Liddeke, Denise Mead, Jeff Calvin, Keely Longstaff, Parker Monhollan, Mike McDaniel, Jerry Wicker, Joan Hood, John Carter, Dana Jessup, and Francis Shea. For intentions you hold within the silence of your heart. Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.

From your humble servant

Looking for some comic relief this Christmas? Come on out to Helen Hocker Theater in Gage Park to see Dear Santa. It is a Helen Hocker Theater Youth Production. You will see performances by Isaac Mead, Ian Mead, and a debut performance by Katie Mead. Also assisting with the Dear Santa production are Emily Mead, Liz and Clare Emmert. Tickets are $10 plus tax at helenhockertheater.com or box office 251-5990. Performance Dates

Friday, December 2 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 3 7:00 pm

Sunday, Decemeber 4 2:00 pm

Friday, December 9 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 10 7:00 pm

Sunday, December 11 2:00 pm

Mater Dei PTO Fundraiser

Spangles at 21st and Gage December 13, 2016

4:00 - 8:00 pm Come join us for at Spangles for an evening meal. When ordering, let the staff know you are with Mater Dei Catholic School. Spangles will make a donation after our PTO event.

Kindergarten Advent Service Project

Please help our kindergarten class with their Advent service pro-ject by bringing in needed items. A list was posted in last week’s newsletter. Or you may see a list posted in the main hallway. Due date: December 12th

The Gifting Tree: each year, our school adopts families in the Topeka

community for Christmas. This year we have adopted 7 families and we have placed ornaments on our gifting tree. With your permission, your student(s) may take an ornament and purchase

the gift that is indicated. We also have tags requesting $5 donations for those items (such as clean-

ing supplies and household goods) that we provide for our families but are not traditional “gifts.”

Please return gifts wrapped with the tag on the outside of the gift

by December 12, 2016. We understand that you may already participate in an activity like this

through a different organization. If you are able to participate, we ap-preciate it.