St. Mary’s School 129 St Mary Street Phone 419.943.2801 Leipsic, Ohio 45856 Fax 419.943.3555 Website: ls.noacsc.org Ring Out the Good News !

As a significant ministry of St. Mary’s Parish, St. Mary’s School exists to aid in the development of the whole child: spiritually, academically, socially and physically. As part of a Catholic community living out the Gospel message, the school and family collaborate to nurture self-worth, respect, and an appreciation of the pursuit of knowledge. Faith-Based ~ Hope-Filled ~ Gospel-Driven Parent Newsletter February 12, 2016 #21 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT Jesus Endures 40 Days of Fast and Temptation by the Devil Lent begins with a story of an epic fast. Jesus is “led by the Spirit” into the desert for 40 days, and the Gospel tells us that He eats nothing during that time. It is comforting to know that even though Jesus will experience great difficulty in that desert -- hunger, loneliness tempting by Satan – it is the Holy Spirit that leads Him there. And Luke is clear that Jesus Himself is “filled with the Holy Spirit” at the time. Like the great prophets of old – prophets like Moses and Elijah – Jesus will endure a 40-day solitary fast. But He is not really alone. He is strengthened by the presence of God’s own Spirit. Jesus will need that strength as He faces a formidable enemy in the devil, who proves to be well- versed in Scripture and thoroughly familiar with human nature. First, he tempts Jesus to satisfy His hunger by turning a stone to bread. Then he invites Him to enjoy the devil’s power and glory if He will only worship him. Finally, the devil dares Jesus to prove that God is protecting Him by throwing Himself off the Temple wall in a dramatic display of trust. But, Jesus, armed with the presence of the Holy Spirit, His own knowledge of Scripture, and His own profound understanding of human life and its purpose, rejects each temptation. Though He is increasingly weakened by a lack of food, Jesus manages to wield God’s Word and Spirit with such power that the devil has no choice but to depart. And yet, Luke warns, he has only departed “for a time” (the devil will return much later in the Gospels). Throughout this testing the Israelites sometimes proved themselves faithful to God, and sometimes they did not. But Jesus emerges from His desert trial as a totally obedient Son, one who is wholeheartedly focused on the mission the Father has given Him. He emerges unscathed by every fruitless effort of the devil. May we emerge from our own 40-day fasts with the strength and focus of Jesus. As we strip away our own excesses and live in the desert for a time, may we too rebuff every temptation and false word of the devil. Like Jesus, may we wield the power of God’s word and Spirit, emerging anew as His strong and faithful children. (taken from CATECHIST, February 2016, p.16)

WINTERFEST WINNERS profit is $17,394.84 Yeah team! Thank you, Big Board Winners: thank you, thank you! 1st Place – Don Smith 2nd Place – Todd Gerdeman 3rd Place – Charlie Ellerbrock THE SEASON OF LENT Lent began this past Wed., Back Board Winners: th 1st Place – Janet Westrick February 18 . How are you and 2nd Place – Lori Rader your family working together this 3rd Place – Matt Bryan year on the practices of Lent – A big THANK YOU to all who joined us for this prayer, fasting, and almsgiving? event. We are happy to report that our net KASH for KIDS WORKERS PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION: Mon. Feb. 15 -- FREE DAY! NEXT WEEKEND ! Tues, Feb. 16 -- Lisa Walker Saturday, February 20 -- 4:30 P.M. Wed. Feb. 17 -- Lisa Walker *Kay Schroeder & Kathy Rieman Thurs. Feb. 18 --Lisa Walker Sunday, February 21 -- 8:00 A.M. Fri. Feb. 19 -- Lisa Walker *Chris Walther & Pam Schroeder Sunday, February 21 -- 10:00 A.M. *Stephanie Goedde & Janice Kaufman (L) Jodi Niese (O) Amy Proctor Data Entry: Elaine Whaley WEEKEND MASS SERVERS: Saturday, February 13 – 4:30 PM Brock Lammers, Alyssa Schroeder, Abby Whaley WEEKEND MASS GIFT BEARERS: Sunday, February 14– 8:00 PM Sat. Feb. 13 - 4:30 PM Bob Gerten Grant and Austin Schroeder, Lorenzo Walther Family Sunday, February 14 – 10:00 PM Sun. Feb. 14 - 8:00 AM Doug Abigail, Alaina, and Ben Haselman Schroeder Family

2016–2017 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION Family fun night! If you did not receive a letter and you have a kindergarten age child ~ you are probably not Don’t miss the flyer in this week’s registered in the parish. Please let us know as soon as envelope about Family Fun night at the “Y” possible so we can update our records. Thank you! on Sunday, February 14 -- 7:00-9:00 P.M. We would love to have a dozen students in our class Bring your whole family. There are a lot of next fall. Right now we have ten signed up for the fun activities including swimming. class. We need just two more students to reach our This family event replaces the family goal. Remember, bussing is available for those movie night we formerly had on a weekend students who do not live in the Leipsic School District. in January. Don’t miss out on the fun. See We now have busses coming from Pandora-Gilboa, you there! McComb, Ottawa, and Miller City. Why not add Patrick Henry and others! Kindergarten Screening for St. Mary’s School is scheduled for Monday, April 25, 2016. Please tell others that they can come for a tour of the school any CALENDAR OF EVENTS time. We’d love to show them what our students do (as known at the time of this printing) every day. Sun. Feb. 14 -- Family Night at the YMCA Mon. Fri. 15 -- President’s Day – NO SCHOOL Wed. Feb. 17 -- NO school Mass @ 8:30 today -- Meeting @ 7:00 PM for second grade parents of First Communicants . . . meeting is in the Parish Life Center Fri. Feb. 19 -- Fourth graders learn Pickle Ball (YMCA) Feb. 20 & 21 -- First Communion Enrollment Weekend at Have you heard? each of the Masses Wed. Feb. 24 -- Join us for Mass @ 8:30 planned by Sister Carol Ann Smith announced to Grade 1 the parish and school staffs and to members Fri. Feb. 26 -- Mid Terms come home -- Fourth graders learn Pickle Ball (YMCA) of the School Advisory Council on Wed. March 2 -- Join us for Mass @ 8:30 planned by Thursday that this would be her last year as Grade 6 Fri. March 4 -- Fourth graders learn Pickle Ball (YMCA) principal of St. Mary’s School.