President`s Newsletter - St Joseph The Provider School

February 5, 2016
Catholic Schools Week Edition
StJosephTheProviderSchool.com
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FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
We at St. Joseph the Provider
Catholic School are right in the midst of
our national celebration of Catholic
Schools. As a school with a very special
mission within the Diocese of
Youngstown, we take time to celebrate
with enthusiasm, that which makes us
unique.
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We are a school community, but
also a faith community.
We offer an education that combines Catholic faith and
teachings with academic excellence.
We challenge our families to participate in their student’s
learning and discipline.
We teach the value of service to others and to community.
We emphasize moral development with self discipline as
well as teaching respect of self and others.
We try to provide each student with an education that
prepares them to enter into high school so that they can
succeed throughout their life.
We cultivate a faculty and staff of people who are
dedicated, caring and effective in their roles in our school.
We strive to provide a safe and welcoming environment
for all who enter our building; a place where all are
welcome.
As Bishop Murry states in our Pastoral Plan for the
Diocese of Youngstown: Each one of us who believes in Christ is
called to be his disciple. Before returning to his Father in heaven,
Jesus gave his disciples a mission: “Go out into the whole world
and proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mark 16:16). The
original disciples have passed on that mission to us. Now,
trusting in Christ, we must answer that call and be new and
authentic disciples.
Please take note of these important dates
for our upcoming events:
Ash Wednesday Mass ... Feb. 10 (10:30 am)
Diocesan Art Show ................... March 16
Living Stations by Gr. 8 ............ March 18
Easter ....................................... March 27
Basket & Gift Auction.................... April 1
REST IN PEACE
With a heavy heart I want to report that
board member, Mrs. Cindy Christopher,
and special friend of the school, Dr. Mario
Santangelo, passed away this past Fall.
May God reward them for all the good
they did for others.
LIBRARY PROJECT
Ms. Lorraine Repasky spearheaded a
project during the Fall of 2015 to
purchase dozens of new books for the
school library, as well as library book carts
and puppets. Ms. Repasky has done all of
this in memory of her sister, Mrs. Loretta
Repasky-Lewis, who passed away almost
two years ago. St. Joseph the Provider
School was very important to Mrs. Lewis,
as she supported the school in many
different ways. Pictured below with three
very grateful first graders, are Ms.
Lorraine Repasky (left back) and Ms. Linda
Loar (right back) who assisted Ms.
Repasky in this labor of love.
Our school fulfills many of the Guiding Principles of the
Plan, namely Christian Service, Evangelization, Family Life,
Worship and Prayer, Discipleship and Catechesis. With these
principles as our building blocks, we have a school which
welcomes every child and challenges them to become the very
best that they can.
Thank you for partnering with us at St. Joseph the
Provider School. Your interest and belief in what we can achieve
together is a blessing to all of us.
As a school community we follow Jesus Christ, the
Master Teacher, as we fulfill the mission He gave to us.
May God abundantly bless you for all the ways that you
have blessed us.
Fr. Michael Swierz, President
1125 Turin Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio 44510
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330-259-0353
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Fax 330-259-0364
BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS
Mrs. Jerri Aiello
Educator
Dr. Robert Beebe
Professor of Educational
Leadership at YSU
Rev. Edward Brienz
Director, Propagation of Faith &
Missions, Yo. Diocese
Dr. Mary Lou DiPillo
Associate Dean YSU
Beeghly College of Education
Ms. Cristina Esparra
Account Manager
The Coca-Cola Company
Mrs. Mimi Kerrigan
Development Chairperson
Sr. Mary Alyce Koval, O.S.U.
Beatitude House,
Education Director
Mr. Ralph Lepley
Retired Real Estate Appraiser
Ms. Sandra Page
Specialist-Client Services
AT & T
Mr. Dennis Pascarella
C.P.A.
Mr. Alan Ricks
Commercial Real Estate (Broker/
Developer/Manager)
Ms. Roxann Sebest
Director of Marketing for
the United Way of Youngstown
and the Mahoning Valley
Rev. Michael Swierz
President, St. Joseph the
Provider School
Mrs. Shelia Triplett
Director of Operations
Mah. Yo. Community Action
Program (MYCAP)
Mrs. Patricia Wanat
Owner Comprehensive WorkLife
Solutions, Inc.
Mr. Robert Wasko
Vice President,
Wasko Funeral Home
Ms. Linda Wellendorf
C.P.A.
Director of Communications
CreativeBridge Coalition
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OUR MISSION
St. Joseph the Provider Catholic School is an in-city center of learning serving families in Youngstown,
Ohio and the surrounding area. We are committed to providing an inclusive moral, spiritual and
academic atmosphere where learning takes place in a safe and caring environment. By fostering
positive relationships with our parents and community, we empower them to support their child’s
efforts to live lives based on the tradition of the Church and the gospel mandate of love through
service.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ON OUR CAMPUS
Since our last newsletter:
 Our students hosted Veterans for a musical Veterans Day
program on November 6, 2015 to honor and thank them
for their service to our country. Students were also
invited to the Mahoning County Courthouse to take part
in the county Veterans Day ceremonies on November 11.
Students with Pearl Harbor
 We began our celebration of Christmas with a beautiful
survivor, Mr. Robert Bishop
musical Christmas program that took a different look at
the Christmas story through the movie “FROZEN”. The
students acted out scenes from the movie, while tying in the Nativity story from Scripture. The
play was cleverly titled, “UNFROZEN, Do You Want To Meet A Savior?” because God took what
had been cold and lifeless and made it unfrozen again through the birth of his son, Jesus.
Christmas carols were sung by the students in between the parts of the program. You can
sample 4 of the carols by visiting our website StJosephTheProviderSchool.com and click on the
YouTube logo on the top right of the homepage.
 St. Joseph’s Student Ambassadors sponsored activities for World Food Day in October. They sold
bracelets for $1 provided by Cross Catholic Outreach, whose mission is to serve the poorest of
the poor internationally. The bracelets have Matthew
25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to
eat . . .” on them. $277.00 was raised for Cross Catholic
Outreach. They also collected 363 pounds of nonperishable food for Second Harvest Food Bank. Student
Ambassadors also volunteered to help out at school and
St. Anthony Church fundraisers: Stuffed Cabbage Dinner,
Steak Fry Dinner and the Church Spaghetti Dinner. In
addition, they also served as host and hostesses for the
World Food Day Bracelets
Veterans Day event held at the school.
 Grades K-4 have been taking part in a Nutrition Program presented by the Ohio State Extension
Program. Students have been learning to make good choices in what they eat and drink; to be
active at least 30 minutes per day and to get good rest every day. They have also gone in depth
into the food groups and how they help your body to function.
Three Eighth graders participated in the Panda Junior Leadership Camp at Camp Muskingum in Carrollton, Ohio
the weekend of November 6-8, 2015. This is a resiliency building and leadership program designed to empower
young people to make a positive impact in their schools and community.
During the Fall months representatives of the Boardman and Youngstown offices of AT & T brought backpacks
filled with school supplies for Grade 8. AT & T’s “Pioneers” volunteer network donated the supplies and
employees packed the backpacks and brought them to school and presented them to the students. AT & T
representatives as well as Magistrate Anthony D’Apolito took the opportunity to speak to students about
making wise choices to allow themselves the best job prospects in the future.
The North Catholic Football Team, which included our 7th & 8th grade boys, went undefeated. The other
schools that make up the team are St. Pat’s in Hubbard and Girard St. Rose. Way to go Irish!
Our Gr. 1-8 Cross Country team did a great job this year. They were coached by Gr. 3 teacher Mrs. Colaluca.
We are very proud of our boys basketball teams for grades 5 & 6 and grades 7 & 8. Gr. 5 & 6, coached by Mr.
Shannon Cox and Gr. 7 & 8, coached by Mr. Jim Winterburn. had impressive seasons. They will be starting
tournament play in February.
St. Joseph Gr. 1-8 Cross Country Team
St. Joseph North Catholic
Football Players
LENTEN OBSERVANCES IN ST. JOSEPH THE PROVIDER SCHOOL
Beginning with Ash Wednesday liturgy, on February 10, our students will be participating in daily Lenten prayer
reflections as we end school each day. Each classroom has a Sacred space and a bulletin board which focuses on
the Liturgical Year and provides students with reminders of the meaning of this holy season. We gather weekly
for Holy Mass and Stations of The Cross. Select students will represent the school at the Diocesan Chrism Mass
during Holy Week.
ST. JOSEPH THE PROVIDER SCHOOL EIGHTH GRADE WILL ENACT THE LIVING STATIONS
Each Lenten season the eighth grade class traditionally participates in a different form of prayer to God: the
Living Stations of the Cross. At 1:00 pm on Friday, March 18, 2016 this year’s eighth grade will offer their
unique way of bringing the Passion of Our Lord to others, allowing everyone to contemplate Jesus’ love for
humanity. Everyone is welcome to attend this beautiful expression of prayer.
FASTING
Fasting is more than just about self-denial: it’s about refocusing on what and who are most important in our
lives; it’s about re-claiming what we want our lives to be as we begin new chapters; it’s about making time
and space to “turn around”—the meaning of the word conversion—in order to find our way out of our
winters of cynicism, our deserts of self-absorption, our wildernesses of despair and hopelessness. May this
Lent be a time for discovering the sense of communion with God that we can experience through fasting—
not only fasting from food, but fasting from media that is candy for the mind in order to experience words
and images that nourish the soul; fasting from shopping for some new trinket in order to share our treasure
with those for whom simple everyday survival is a constant struggle; fasting from an over-scheduled
calendar in order to reconnect with family and friends; fasting from anger, impatience and our need to be
in control in order to recognize our humbleness before God; fasting from whatever deters us from being
centered fully in the great love of God that is especially present to us in this Lenten springtime.
DIOCESE OF YOUNGSTOWN CELEBRATES JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY
At the end of last year, Pope Francis announced a Jubilee Year of Mercy to recall and
remind the world of God’s loving and tender mercy. The Year of Mercy officially began on
December 8, 2015 and will end on Sunday, November 20, 2016. The motto and theme of
this year is taken from the Gospel according to Luke—”Merciful like the Father.” (Luke
6:36). Pope Francis states that God’s mercy has always been a part of human history from
the time of Moses when God revealed himself as merciful and gracious, to the coming of
Jesus Christ as the face of God’s mercy. Pope Francis has asked that the upcoming year be a
time when all people of faith become mindful of God’s mercy and that they in turn, give
and offer that same mercy to one another.
The traditional enumeration of the corporal works of mercy is as follows:
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To feed the hungry;
To give drink to the thirsty;
To clothe the naked;
To shelter the homeless;
To visit the sick;
To visit the imprisoned;
To bury the dead.
The spiritual works of mercy are:
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To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To admonish sinners
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offenses willingly;
To comfort the afflicted;
To pray for the living and the dead.
Share My
Mercy
“Let the Church always be a place of mercy and hope,
where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven.”
—Pope Francis
FUNDRAISERS
Thank you to all who have donated to our Annual Appeal, Adopt-A-Student Program, Basket & Gift Auction,
school supplies, and who have given Memorial donations. Many of you have also supported various other special
projects or attended our fundraiser dinners. We are very grateful for your support. May God bless you for your
generosity. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
 Don’t forget to save aluminum cans, Campbell Soup labels, as well as Box Tops for Education.
ST. JOSEPH THE PROVIDER SCHOOL ANNUAL BASKET & GIFT AUCTION WITH BUFFET DINNER
Our Annual Auction with buffet dinner is coming up on Friday, April 1, 2016. It is a beautiful event which has sold
out every year. There are hundreds of prizes awarded. However, we couldn’t make this into the wonderful event
that it is without your help. If you would like to donate a gift or a basket, or know of a business that would
donate, please give Fr. Mike a call at the school, 330-259-0353. All donors are acknowledged in the program and
the night of the auction. If you would like to purchase tickets to attend this fabulous event, please call the school
as well. Details are in the flyer below and on our website.