Monday 28 September 2015

Mission Lunches

Turning On The Light... 
For Those in Our Community!
         
We have a long-standing tradition at St. Anne's of helping Windsor’s Downtown Mission, it is a Christian-based, registered, not-for-profit organization.

The Downtown Mission opened its doors in 1972, serving and advocating on behalf of the men, women, and children who struggle with poverty and homelessness. They conduct a variety of outreach programs, including offering meals to the less fortunate.  Through donations of food, the students here are able to contribute and at the same time demonstrate God’s love through charity as proclaimed in the Bible.

As with previous years, every Thursday morning, all food donations are picked up and delivered to the Downtown Mission by Mr. John Staley, retired principal of St. Anne's and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  You know Mr. Staley, if you attended St. Anne's in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's...   He's been around forever and continues to do great things!

We would ask that our students helps us out by packing an extra lunch to bring to school on Wednesday or Thursday Morning!
 Each lunch should be placed in a bag and contain:

-         1 sandwich           (any type)
-         1 piece of fruit      (e.g. apple orange, banana, etc.)
-         1 drink                 (juice box)
-         1 snack                 (e.g. granola bar, cookies, yogurt).

      It is incredible the power that we have to change the lives of those around us.  We thank all those who have contributed in the past and thank you in advance for your generosity in supporting this community outreach project.

And As Always...
We ask first and foremost for your prayers!
 

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Starting Out The New Year!!

On September 14th, 2015 we began our day with the first Prayer Service of the school year, laying down the foundation for this years' response to our school motto FIAT LUX - Let There Be Light.
This Year, TURN ON THE LIGHT! is our answer!
Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. For book lovers and movie watchers this quote from Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series should be familiar.  But as I was thinking about this new school year at St. Anne’s and our own motto of FIAT LUX, I was stuck with the insight that this is exactly what we are called to do every day.  TURN ON THE LIGHT!

In our search for happiness, if we remember to TURN ON THE LIGHT! by being positive, caring, helpful… then we are living out the St. Anne’ motto “Let There Be Light!” because we are reflecting the light of Christ for our world.

When it is altogether too easy to say nasty things about other people, to gossip, to hurt someone on social media and to be overly concerned with our own egos, we need to TURN ON THE LIGHT!
When we find ourselves slipping into the negativity around us, allowing the darkness of hate, greed, anger, selfishness, and distrust to consume us, we need to TURN ON THE LIGHT!
When we don’t like our jobs, or our brothers and sisters, or our teachers, and we use that as an excuse to do what we are supposed to do poorly, when we are just plain difficult to deal with, and when we lash out with our words or our fists, we need to TURN ON THE LIGHT!
When we make choices from the weakest parts of our hearts instead of the strongest, choices that put us at risk physically, emotionally, or spiritually because we want to fit in, or stand out or be loved, we need to TURN ON THE LIGHT!
When we give in to the negative voice in our heads that tells us we are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, athletic enough, tall enough, small enough, whatever it is… that we are not enough, we need to TURN ON THE LIGHT!
We need to dig deep, say a prayer, reach out and TURN ON THE LIGHT!
We do that here at school by showing kindness to our fellow students and staff, saying and doing the right thing, working hard, being optimistic, helpful, and affirmative, by feeding the hungry, giving to those who do not have enough and by working to make the world a better place. We TURN ON THE LIGHT!
We TURN ON THE LIGHT! by praying and believing, by respecting the faith of those we live, work and go to school with, by believing in ourselves and believing in others.  Is it simple. Yes. Is it easy, not always.
But Happiness is not found in the darkness of this world or in the darkness we find within us.  It is found in the light we carry inside ourselves, it is found in the light of Christ.  We must seek that light. We must let that light guide us.

And so every day this year we as individuals and as a community must TURN ON THE LIGHT! 
From The Desk of Mrs. Renee Fuerth
Campus Minister