Principal Post

Principal Post

April 16, 2025

Dear Parents,

There are several important pieces of information in my email today. Please make sure you skim through the topics throughout to make sure you don’t miss things.

This week we commemorate the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, Christ’s Passion and Death on Good Friday, and on Holy Saturday, Christ in the tomb who then rises on Easter Sunday. Our Holy Week services are below.

·     Holy Thursday – 6:30 PM

·     Good Friday – 3:00 PM Stations/Divine Mercy Chaplet

·     Good Friday – 6:30 PM

·     Easter Vigil – 8:30 PM

·     Easter Sunday – 9:00 and 11:00 AM

Please join with our parish in celebrating our students and adult parishioners who will complete their initiation into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Please pray for them this week as they near this important milestone in their faith journey.

·     Matias Ramirez (4^th grade)

·     Kamila Ramirez (2^nd grade)

·     Janet Bates

·     Lori Bates - Heitoff

On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, we will be welcoming the following candidates into full communion with the Catholic Church. Please keep them in your prayers.

·     Neal Ginger

·     Nicole Shea

·     Aaron Young

·     Merle Lee Bond

IMPORTANT: ESA Application Opens Today April 16 – All Iowa Families are Eligible

The upcoming ESA application period is from April 16, 2025, to June 30, 2025. 

·     To apply, click the following link https://iowa.withodyssey.com/en/odyssey_auth/sign_up. 

·     If you already have an Odyssey account, click “sign in” below the login box.  

·     If you do not have access to a computer or otherwise find yourself unable to complete the ESA application independently, you may email martha.korneisel@sccsiowa.org or rose.strickland@sccsiowa.org or call Martha at 563.326.5313 ext. 223 or Rose at 563.326.5313 ext. 269.

·     Following is a webpage with links to the application, a timeline and FAQ’s. https://educate.iowa.gov/pk-12/educational-choice/education-savings-accounts#information-for-families

Fine Arts Celebration

Parents and grandparents are invited to our upcoming Fine Arts Festival on Thursday, May 1st in Denning Hall. It will be a day filled with art, music, and dancing! 

The schedule of events is as follows:

8:30 2nd grade folk dancing

9:45 4th grade recorder concert

11:00 6th grade and Junior High choir vocal concert

12:00 5th, 6th, Junior High, and jazz bands concert

ALL DAY- Kindergarten -8th grade artwork display. 

Energy Drinks

A reminder that only water is allowed throughout the day, and at lunch milk or a juice box. Please do not send energy drinks, flavored water, coffee drinks, carbonated waters, soft drinks, or other types of drinks for students.

Stations of the Cross/Chaplet on Good Friday at 3:00 PM

One of the beautiful themes that has emerged from our parish Lenten journey this year has been the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Father Bruce has especially enjoyed praying it with everyone each Friday, and it’s been amazing to see so many of our school children embracing it as well. 

As a continuation of that theme, we will be offering a special version of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at 3:00, which incorporates the Divine Mercy message. Bring your family to the church for a fitting and prayerful way to mark the most sacred hour of Good Friday.

St. Paul Parish and School Staff Appreciation Dinner

Please help us celebrate our amazing St. Paul the Apostle Parish and School staff at a dinner in their honor.

·     May 2, 2025

·     6:00 PM

·     Dinner and Open Bar

·     In Denning Hall

There is no cost, we just want your help in saying “Thank You” to the wonderful staff that keeps our parish and school moving every day. To RSVP for the dinner, please contact Leigh Thompson in the school office.

School Advisory Board Members

Now Accepting School Advisory Board Nominations!

Do you have a passion for Catholic Education and supporting our Saint Paul the Apostle school?

Please consider joining the school advisory board!

·     The school advisory board is seeking to fill 2 board positions with active members of our parish who are committed to our wonderful Catholic School.

·     Interested appointees should have a commitment to understand and support the mission of our education programs, finances, faculty and staff, and marketing needs.

·     Each board member serves a 3-year term.

·      You may nominate yourself or another parishioner. Please send nominations by April 30 to Ann McIntyre at annmlamb@gmail.com.

·      Contact Ann McIntyre at 563-484-9592 with any questions.

April Dates

April 16

·     ESA Application opens for all K-12 Iowa students.

April 18

·     Good Friday – No School

April 21 –

·     School In Session on Easter Monday

May 1

·     Fine Arts Celebration – see above.

May 2

·     St. Paul Parish and School Appreciation Night

NOT NEW BUT IMPORTANT INFORMATION

St. Paul’s Outside the Walls – Meals of Hope Family Food Packing Sunday

·     Did you know that food insecurity affects every county in the United States? Over 44 million people, including 13 million children, don’t always know where their next meal will come from. Right here in Scott County, around 14,370 people—8.2% of our population—face food insecurity.

·     Join us on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, at 1 PM in Denning Hall for a family-friendly Meals of Hope packing event! Together, we’ll prepare 10,000 mac & cheese meals for our neighbors in need, with all meals staying local through River Bend Food Bank.

·     Can’t make it but still want to help? We need to raise $3,500 to make this possible. Just $20 provides 57 meals! Donations can be made via Venmo (@StPaulApostleDav) or placed in the collection basket—please specify "Meals of Hope."

·     Let’s come together as a parish to share God’s mercy and serve those in need!

Baptism

If your child is not baptized and you would like them to receive the sacrament of Baptism, please contact Madeline Dudziak Peake at the parish office, 322-7994.

·     Did you know that children who are 7 years old and wish the sacrament of Baptism will also receive the other Sacraments of Initiation, 1^st Communion and Confirmation. Once a child reaches the age of reason, which is 7 according to the Catholic Church, they must be fully initiated into the Church.

·     If you would like your child to receive 1^st Communion in 2^nd grade with their class, please contact Madeline before their 1^st grade year in order to meet deadlines.