St. Francis Academy

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! You may think that I’m rushing the season, but new beginnings, new years, start at a variety of dates. Children, parents, and educators know that the new year actually starts in September, the Chinese New Year celebration takes place in February. Our Jewish brethren begin the year with the feast of Rosh Hashanah, and on December 31st at the stroke of midnight we’ll ring in 2009. Perhaps many do not realize that as Catholics we have entered into our new year on November 30 with the first Sunday of Advent, our new liturgical year.

Pope Benedict XVI writes, “It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open the doors of hope”. During this new beginning of Advent we celebrate feast days allowing us to remember the goodness of our ancestors in faith. The apostle Andrew recognized Jesus as the Messiah and followed Him faithfully. St. Nicholas, our beloved Santa Claus, teaches us the joy of giving rather than receiving. The great Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier, like the angels of Christmas, brought the news to many. The humble St. Juan Diego, was chosen by Mary of these great saints open doors of hope for all, helping us to prepare our hearts or the birth of our Savior.

During this new year, this Advent season, the knowledge of you and your children’s goodness have opened doors of hope for all here at St. Francis Academy. Your children’s holiness shines from their eyes as they pray the Christmas Novena, practice for the Christmas Pageant, and light the Advent wreath. Your generosity during the Thanksgiving Food Drive (1,750 cans and boxes) and our upcoming Toy Drive is nothing short of a Christmas miracle. God bless you during this holy season and Happy New Year.

Pax et bonum,

(sgd.) Deborah A. Savage