Lines from my reading chair - April 27, 2008

News from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Most Rev. Jean Gagnon, Bishop of Gaspé (Québec) and Chairman of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family addressed a letter last week to all Catholics in Canada.

The letter encourages Catholics and all Canadians to contact their local Members of Parliament, asking them to vote in favour of Bill C-484, known as the Unborn Victims of Crime Act.  This bill would recognize intentional assault on unborn infants as a separate offense from assault on their pregnant mothers.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus jointly founded the Catholic Organization for Life and Family.  Its purpose is to promote respect for life, human dignity and the essential role of the family.

More information about COLF is available at www.colf.ca.

Catholic Educaiton Week

This coming week, April 27 to May 2, 2008 is being observed in Ontario as Catholic Education Week.  As you are no doubt aware, Catholic Education is again under threat.  This has happened many times before, but this threat is different because it is more subtle and appears more ‘reasonable’.  In the highly secularized society that we currently find ourselves, the role of God or religion in the marketplace or the public forum is looked upon with suspicion as being discriminatory and divisive.  Because we do not subscribe to this world vision, we are indeed a ‘sign of contradiction’ (Lk 2:34).  We need to present a common front to preserve the ‘enduring gift’ of faith which has been passed down to us.

Various activities are being planned in all Catholic schools across the province during the coming week.  At Saint Michael’s Elementary School here in Sudbury, the following activities will take place.  For more information about these activities and about Education Week, please contact Mrs. Sandra St-Denis, principal at 674-3843.

Education week activities @ Saint Michael's School, Sudbury

Monday, April 28

Prayer Service and Dance Club Presentation (9:15 am)
Spirit Day Pep Rally (2:15 pm)

Tuesday, April 29

Grade 3-4 Craft (9:00 am)
Grade 5-6 Spring (1:00 pm)

Wednesday, April 30

Grade 1-2 ibooks and Alphabet Book (10:30 am)
JK-SK Seed Planting (1:30 pm)

Thursday, May 1

Grade 2-3 Bird Feeders (9:00 am)
Grade 1-2 and 3-4 Poetry Café (1:00 pm)

Friday, May 2

Communication Class making instruments, song and snacks (9:45 am)
Talent show (1:00 pm)

• More information about Catholic Education Week 2008