Why is 2025 a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church?
The concept of “Jubilee” has its origins in the Book of Leviticus (chapter 25) as a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and coming home. Pope Francis has designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as “Pilgrims of Hope.”
“Hope is the central message. Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come,” the pope stated.
“Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love,” he emphasized.
He prayed that this Jubilee Year may provide an opportunity “to be renewed in hope” not only for the more than 30 million pilgrims who are expected to travel to Rome for this Jubilee but for the countless millions who, unable to do so, will celebrate it in their local churches or through pilgrimages to Marian shrines across the world. He presented it also as an opportunity for conversion, reconciliation with God through the sacrament of penance, obtaining indulgences through God’s mercy, renewing our faith and love through hope, and proclaiming God’s love to the many people suffering in today’s world.
He reminded believers that “the Christian life is a journey, calling for moments of greater intensity to encourage and sustain hope as the constant companion that guides our steps toward the goal of our encounter with the Lord Jesus”
Calendar – continue to check the OLM calendar on our website for updates.
Cold and Flu Season is well underway, and together we want to do everything we can to prevent the students from getting sick. Inevitably, however, they will catch something from somewhere.
The Ministry of Education and Childcare, in collaboration with the BC Centre for Disease Control want to ensure that all parents are aware that their child should not come to school if they are sick and unable to participate fully in routine activities. Furthermore, your child must be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours before they return to school. For example, if your child had a fever on Wednesday, he or she cannot come to school Thursday.
If a student develops symptoms at school:
- Masks are available for those who are sick and the people assisting them
- Students who are ill will be asked to wait in the office for a family member to pick them up
The student’s parent or guardian will be contacted and asked to have their child picked up as soon as possible. - Custodial staff will clean and disinfect the area and the surrounding areas the person used.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), research shows that the health of students is linked to their academic achievement and their social and emotional well being.
Here are a few tips for cold and flu season to help stop the spread
- Start off with a healthy meal. Providing your child with a healthy meal not only gives them enough energy to focus it keeps their immune system in shape.
- Get a good night’s rest. A sufficient amount of sleep helps fight off sickness because a good sleep has a major effect on your child’s immune system.
- Good hand washing – keep little hands clean. One of the most important ways to stop the spread of germs is hand washing. The benefits of hand washing have been emphasized more than ever over these past two years, and it still remains incredibly important for preventing the spread of cold and flu germs. Make sure to teach your children to wash their hands before eating, touching their faces, and when returning from school. Washing for at least 20 seconds can help eliminate germs and keep your whole family much healthier.
- Healthy habits and good hygiene. Cover your cough! Respiratory illnesses such as the flu or common cold are spread airborne. Continue to reinforce your child habits like sneezing and coughing in their elbow helps prevent others from getting sick and washing his or her hands after he or she sneezes.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth or face. Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
- Sanitize – Common areas or high-touch areas are disinfected with antibacterial disinfectant. This includes surfaces, door handles and cabinet pulls, the refrigerator and microwave, toilet seats and bathroom faucets.
Student Led Conferences-Thursday March 13th, 2025.
Student-Led Conferences are a time for the students to celebrate and show their families the work they have accomplished this term and the ebb and flow of their class. The students have been preparing for this important event. We are so proud of all your children and we can’t wait to see you.
There are four Student-Led sessions that parents can choose from. Families do not need to sign up for a specific time. They instead may attend any ONE of the following sessions:
- 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Doors will be closed from 5:00 – 5:30 p.m.
- 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. 6:15 – 7:00 p.m. Doors close at 7:00 p.m.
Please note that there will be no school for students on the day of the Student-Led conferences. However, all students attending the conference must be in full uniform.
Student Led Conferences are approx. 15-20 minutes per student.
Note:
- Lost and found items will be in the gym.
- Mandatory, Registration Package Verification in the gym from 1:30pm – 6:30pm.
