Monthly Virtues in SJS Guidance Classes

Year of Faith

This year our school counseling team will be introducing a new virtue each month in our class lessons and exploring the ways in which these faith-filled actions can be practiced every day. We will also look at the lives of different saints who have modeled these virtues. We hope that this will help our St. Joseph Catholic School students to see that through these good actions they can express their faith and promote a school climate that is caring and welcoming.

We began the school year by introducing the theological virtue of faith. In learning about this virtue, we reflected on our belief in God and all that He has revealed to us. We talked about the opportunities we have to live our faith each day through the way we treat each other. We challenged our students look for opportunities to put their faith into action as students who show respect to fellow students, teachers, staff and family members. We asked them to be aware of the times when they can live their faith through kindness, patience and responsibility, and to support their classmates in living our faith.

Our saints this month,  St. Martha, St. Jerome and St. Augustine, inspire us to look for ways to grow in our faith and to share it with others through our unique gifts and talents. St. Martha showed us that sometimes our desire to be heard and recognized for our work gets in the way of really listening to Jesus and living in the present moment. St. Jerome used his talents to translate the Bible from ancient Hebrew to Latin, so that many people could read about God's love and learn more about their faith. This task took many years of dedicated work. The life of St. Augustine reminds us of the power of prayer to lead us back to our faith when we turn from God. He gave us a wonderful example of how deep dedication to our Faith can touch thos earound us and even those in years to come.

Take care,
Mrs. Henry

 “Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel.” ~~Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Reverence

This month we learn about the virtue of reverence, showing our deepest respect for God and all that God has created. We are called to think about the ways in which we can show this deep love for God at Mass, in prayer and in the ways that we respect all that God has made.This virtue reverence calls us to see the face of God in all those around us and we practice it by remembering that God made us all to be special and to be loved.

St. Hyacinth, St. Tarcisius and St. Margaret Clitherow all lived in very different times in history, and yet they all share a deep devotion to our faith. St. Hyacinth, a Domican priest who was born in a castle, fled 12th century marauders with the Eucharist and a heavy statue of the Blessed Mother to keep them from being desecrated. St. Tarcisius was a young boy who was martyred in the early days of the Roman Empire when he was caught on his way to take the Eucharist to Christian prisoners who were awaiting martyrdom. St. Margaret Clitherow was a noble woman in Elizabethan England who converted to Catholicism and raised her three children as Catholics. She refused to renounce her faith and was arrested and martyred for having Mass celebrated in her home. 

At home this month ask your children how they can practice this deep respect and love for God in the way that they treat their siblings, parents, and classmates. Spend some time in quiet prayer as a family.

God Bless,
Mrs. Henry


 

Stewardship

"As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace."     1 Peter 4:8-10

November is a month that brings thoughts of gratitude for all that God has given us--the joy of our families, the bounty of our Thanksgiving feasts and the time away from our busy schedules to relax. For our St. Joseph’s students it’s also a time to learn about the virtue of stewardship and to reflect on the lives of three saints who clearly lived that virtue. 

This virtue of stewardship is lived when we give the best of our lives---our time, talents and treasure---to God. We do this in simple small acts kindnesses each day; in using caring words to support others rather than tear them down; and in being mindful  of how our actions impact those around us. We practice this virtue when we recognize the gifts that God has given us and try to develop these talents as best we can.

Our saintly examples this month include the actions of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a girl born into riches and royalty who left the palace and all it held to dedicate her life to helping the poor and hungry. Blessed Fra Angelico, the famous Renaissance artist and Dominican Friar, used his artistic talent to spotlight the greatness of God. He was humble in spite of his great talent and reminds us that our gifts can inspire others.  Finally, we are learning about the example of St. Guiseppe Moscati an Italian medical doctor known for pioneering work in biochemistry. St. Giuseppe used his skills and his compassion to treat patients who were considered “incurables.” He reminded the young doctors he taught to care for the whole person--body and soul.

At home this month help your child to think about their gifts and talents. Ask to talk to you about something they are proud of and how they can share this gift with others. As a family, come up with something you can do to share your talents and interests with others in your neighborhood, parish or community. It can be as simple as raking leaves for an elderly neighbor, picking up trash or speaking kindly to our siblings.

May your holidays be blessed!
Mrs. Henry

Generosity

“For it is in giving that we receive.:  -St. Francis of Assisi

During this season of Advent we are focusing on the Virtue of Generosity and three saints who lived clear examples of this virtue. For our K-2 students, this has meant learning about St. Nicholas whose feast day we just celebrated. We read about his desire to follow Jesus in giving to those in need and how he shared his riches with the poor. St. Nicholas became a priest as a way of helping others to experience God’s love and to grow closer to God. When St. Nicholas’ secret generosity was discovered, he humbly told those he had helped to thank God for the goodness in their lives.

In grades 3-5, we are learning about the ways in which we can be generous through showing kindness to those who may be alone or lonely; and in being quick to look for ways to help others each day. Our second saintly example of generosity comes from Saint Mary Magdalene, who supported Jesus ministry and was present at His Crucifixion and Resurrection.  

In the 6th-8th grades, we are exploring the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan Friar, who published anti-Nazi writings and hid 2,000 Jews from the Nazis at the Niepokalanow Monastery in Teresin, Poland where he lived. After he was arrested by the Gestapo, St. Maximilian Kolbe offered to take the place of a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz who was chosen for death. He is a martyr and the Patron Saint of Prisoners

In our guidance classes, we also reflected on the ways in which we are called to be generous, to  “give without counting the cost.” Our St. Joseph students were challenged to look for ways in which they can share the  gift of God’s love each day to family and classmates by being kind and inclusive.

Those classes who were able to take part in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on first Friday reflected on how the experience of sitting quietly and listening for God can help them to grow in faith. Finally, we asked ourselves if there a “yes” that we can say to God this Advent season? A  “yes” to being more generous with ourselves and our many gifts and talents to those who need that kindness and help in our daily lives. 

We hope you have a very Blessed Advent & Christmas. Thank you for sharing the gift of your children with us!

Mrs. Henry