Pastoral Plan 2016-2017

Page 1 of 8

PASTORAL PLAN

School Name:

School Mission Statement:

The St. Rose of Lima family, home, school and church, is a Catholic community,

Working together to nurture respect for lifelong learning.

School Motto: “ Learning Together”

Pastoral

Link: Strategic Plan 2014-2019 Strategic System Plan

Plan Links to Strategic Plan/Catholic Board Learning Plan: “We are called to affirm our Catholic Faith in word, action and in all we do.”

At St. Rose of Lima Catholic Elementary School we have:

Dedicated sacred spaces

Visible symbols of our faith

Daily prayer woven through and modelled across the curriculum

Virtues reflected in liturgy, word and deed

An active Catholic Community Culture and Caring Action Team

Active Youth Faith and Adult Faith Ambassadors

Ongoing collaboration with our Pastor and parish team at Merciful Redeemer

Our Parish: Merciful Redeemer

Pastor: Rev. Vid Vlasic

Parish website: www.mercifulredeemer.org

Pastoral Plan 2016-2017

Page 2 of 8

Message from the Pastor:

Dear School Staff and Students,

It is great to celebrate with you all the special times and accomplishments in the academic year. Part of this growth is also spiritual enrichment: not just to become better people but to become God’s people. In that regard, we start our school year with an opening Mass seeking God’s blessing on all of us. In Advent we prepare for the Birth of Jesus with another special celebration of faith. In Lent we are reminded to renew our resolve to act with discipline and faith. And of course, at the end of year we say “thanks’ with a closing mass. But that is not all. During entire year we pray formally every day as well as in the class setting we share faith. And of course, we are invited to be part of the parish faith community on the Lord’s Day. Wishing you abundance of God’s blessing this school year and always, Fr. Vid Vlasic Pastor

Message from the Catholic School Council:

Click here to enter text.

St. Rose of Lima is a dynamic faith filled school that enjoys a wonderful partnership with our parish,

Merciful Redeemer. Father Vid, Father Scott and Sister Diane regularly visit the school and have a

strong relationship with students, staff, administration, and parents/guardians.

Faith is a pillar of our school. It is visibly evident through the actions of students, staff,

parents/guardians, and administration. Through masses, liturgies and our virtues, our faith comes to life

in the school. Catholic School Council has actively participated in faith development with a Parish

Representative to bridge the home-parish connection as well as support liturgical events such as Shrove

Tuesday and sacramental retreats. The school truly lives up to its motto of “Learning Together.”

Catholic Education Week Theme: Walking Forward Together

Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s

presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society.

April 30 – May 5 is Catholic Education Week.

Catholic Education Week is highlighted through liturgies, reflections and prayer.

Pastoral Plan 2016-2017

Page 3 of 8

Staff and students reflect on the five sub themes through a variety of activities. Parents are invited to celebrate the theme “Walking Forward Together” with a liturgy on May 1st. There will also be a Crowning of Mary with members of The Rosary Apostolate in May.

Faith Formation:

Forming ourselves in our Catholic faith is a foundational element in helping each of us

understand and live in the example of Christ.

“We are called to affirm our Catholic faith in word, action and all we do.” School activities that support both adult and student faith formation include: ●Staff faith activities/liturgies led by Adult Faith Ambassadors ●Youth Faith Ambassadors activities, outreach and stewardship ●Social Justice Activities (Food Drives, Candy Drive, Share Life Activities) ● Monthly liturgies ●School-wide Opening Mass, Advent Mass, Lenten Mass and End of Year Mass ●School-wide visits from Father Vid, Father Scott, Youth Minister Marc P., Sister Diane and the team from Merciful Redeemer ●School-wide Remembrance Day Service ●Student-led daily prayers ●Sacred spaces in each class for individual prayer and as a focus for class celebrations ●Staff focus on faith life of the school at monthly staff meetings ●Staff PD opportunities, “When Faith Meets Pedagogy,” religion in-services ●Daily Religious Education and Family Life Education ●Sacramental Preparation in Grades 2 and 7 ●Monthly Rosary Apostolate visits ●Mississauga North Stations of the Cross (Adult Faith Formation) and Diversity Conference for Youth Faith Ambassadors

Pastoral Plan 2016-2017

Page 4 of 8

Sacramental Preparation:

As Catholic we understand sacraments to be "outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace."

Together in partnership with our parish, we support the preparation of God’s children in

receiving the sacraments.

Event Grade 2 Grade 7

Sacrament of First Communion

Parent Meeting – September 26th , 2016 at 7:00 pm

Presentation of Names – First Holy Communion

Sunday October 23rd, 2016 at (Any Mass)

Sacrament of First Reconciliation

Tuesday February 7th, 2017 at 11 am

Sacrament of First Communion

Saturday April 22nd, 2017 at 5pm

Sacrament of Confirmation Parent Meeting – September 28th, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Sacrament of Confirmation – Letter of Request

Saturday October 29th, 2016 at 7 pm.

Sacrament of Confirmation – Presentation of Cards

Saturday November 26th, 2016 at 7 pm

Sacrament of Confirmation – Crosses

Saturday January 28th, 2017 at 7 pm

Sacrament of Confirmation – Lenten Promises

Saturday February 25th, 2017 at 7 pm

Sacrament of Confirmation - Confessions

Tuesday March 7th at 9:15 am

Sacrament of Confirmation Ceremony

Saturday April 29th, 2017 1:00 p.m.

Liturgical Celebrations:

The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and

share in prayer.

Pastoral Plan 2016-2017

Page 5 of 8

Celebration Date

Opening/Thanksgiving Mass 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Remembrance Day Liturgy 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 11, 2016

Advent Liturgy Week One 2:55 p.m. Monday, November 28, 2016

Advent Mass 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Advent Liturgy Week Three 1:30 p.m. Thursday, December 15, 2016

Advent Liturgy Week Four 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 21, 2016

New Beginnings Liturgy 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Ash Wednesday Liturgy 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Stations of the Cross 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, 2017

Crowning of Mary (Throughout the day) Tuesday, May 16, 2017 End of Year Mass Merciful Redeemer 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, 2017 Graduation Ceremony/Liturgy Le Treport 6:00 p.m. Monday, June 26, 2017

Social Justice / Outreach Activities / Charities:

Catholic Social Teachings of the Church root our actions in supporting human dignity and the

preferential option of the poor which calls us to serve the most vulnerable in the world.

“We are responsible for one another through co-operation, compassion and social initiatives.”

St. Rose of Lima School Community actively supports:

Merciful Redeemer St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Gift Cards Drive

Eden Food for Change Food Drive and Toonie Tuesday

ShareLife Fundraising

Terry Fox Walk for Cancer

Clothes for Dr. Simone

Hallowe’en Candy Drive for Dr. Simone

Soles for Souls

Toys for Tots (Peel Regional Police)

Pastoral Plan 2016-2017

Page 6 of 8

Recognizing Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations:

Framed by the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE), our graduates will be

effective communicators, reflective thinkers, lifelong learners, collaborative contributors, caring

family members, responsible citizens and discerning believers formed in the Catholic faith

community.

“All people have an inherent dignity because they are loved and created in God’s image.” As a school community The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) are considered in all our actions. We strive to foster an environment where students gain an understanding of the curriculum and how they can contribute to the community as: Self-Directed Responsible Life Long Learners; Discerning Believers; Collaborative Contributors; Effective Communicators; Caring Family Members; Reflective and Creative Holistic Thinkers and Responsible Citizens. The OCSGE are visible in all areas in our school – in our classrooms, hallways and offices. We are aligning our Grade 8 Graduation Awards with the OCSGE’s and connecting student goal setting to Learning Skills and Catholic Graduate expectations.

Celebrating Virtues:

A virtue is a habit or established capacity to perform good actions according to a moral

standard. When we practice these virtues we strengthen them and thereby make the presence

of God more and more visible in the world around us.

“We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.” The virtues of faith, respect, empathy, kindness, conscience, love, hope, acceptance, self-control and fairness are always visible within our school. We draw upon the virtues to celebrate successes and as a tool during progressive discipline. At St. Rose of Lima, the virtues are present in all of our actions as a school community. They are referenced daily, whether it is through prayer, class discussions or curriculum connections.

Pastoral Plan 2016-2017

Page 7 of 8

School masses, liturgies, community outreach projects, Youth Faith Ambassador initiatives, staff and School Council meetings and monthly school/class newsletters and displays in the front foyer are some of the areas where our virtues come to life within our school community.

Visible Signs of our Faith:

Through symbol and service, we are instruments of God’s love whose work within our

communities stands as a witness to our faith.

“For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” Romans 12:4-5 The most vibrant sign of faith you will see and feel when you enter St. Rose of Lima School are the students, teachers, support staff, administrator and parents working together to bring to life the Gospel values. Together we live our faith as a school community.

At St. Rose of Lima School we have many visible signs of our faith in our classrooms, hallways and common areas that include: ●Student created displays that bring our virtues to life ●Sacred spaces, crosses and icons representing our faith visible in all classrooms, hallways and offices ●Virtue banners in our foyer and gymnasium ●Altar, bible and cross in front foyer which change to reflect the Liturgical season

Pastoral Plan 2016-2017

Page 8 of 8

Resource List for Parents/Guardians:

Religious Education Curriculum - Ontario Religious Education Curriculum

Family Life Curriculum - Ontario Family Life Curriculum

Fully Alive Program information - Ontario Bishops' information on Fully Alive

Resource List for Schools:

Board

Vocations Units We have Vocations units as part of the Grades 2, 5, and 8 curriculum. The goal of these

supplementary units is to deepen one’s understanding of God’s call – the “vocare” – to

various forms of life within the Church.

History of the Parish

Through the resource book Our Story, Our Tradition, Our Journey, grade 7 students have

the opportunity to learn about the history of our parish.

Enduring Gift Video

School-Based

Fully Alive Program

Many Gifts Resource

Class Visits: Father Vid, Father Scott and Sister Diane regularly visit classes from Kindergarten to

Grade 8 for sacramental preparation and to discuss virtues and the importance of living the

gospel values.

Rosary Apostolate