St. John Bosco Catholic School 7411-161A Ave NW

Edmonton, AB. T5Z 3V4

Phone: 780.471.3140

Fax: 780.471.3293

Dear Parents and Guardians; We have had such a beautiful fall that it is hard to believe that two months have already gone by. October was a very busy and exciting month. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration and the food bank items collected were donated to St. Vincent de Paul. Your generosity was greatly appreciated. Read In Week brought a variety of visitors to our school. Our students enjoyed a variety of books and had the opportunity to spend some time getting to know Mrs. Esposito-Brady, the incoming Principal who will lead St. John Bosco School, effective March 1, 2017. As the month of November begins, we are reminded that we truly have many reasons to be thankful. One of these reasons is the peace we have here in Canada. We become peacemakers when we touch the lives of those we care for and love, as we work to create a world of peace in our classrooms, our school, and our homes. We are reminded that each one of us is responsible to create a beautiful world for one another by the prophet Micah who says, “And what does the Lord ask of me? To act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with my God.” November is the month where our first assessment period comes to a close with Report Cards being available online via Power School on November 25th. Our Demonstration of Learning will be held on Thursday, December 1st. This is a valuable opportunity to celebrate with your child their learning successes. Research has shown that the more involved parents are with their child’s education the higher they achieve. Please note that our School Council Meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there. We would like to conclude by thanking everyone for making the first two months of school a true success! Working together so as to ensure that students receive quality education within a Catholic framework is our top priority. Well done to everyone! Yours in partnership, Mrs. N. Papanicolas Principal

Mr. E. Hirniak Assistant Principal

Mrs. A. Molella Assistant Principal

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Please join us! On Thursday, November 10th, at 9:00 a.m., St. John Bosco students, staff, and families will be paying their respects in a Remembrance Day Service. Lest We Forget. Canadians recognize Remembrance Day, originally called Armistice Day, every 11 November at 11 a.m. It marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and an opportunity to recall all those who have served in the nation’s defence. Armistice Day Armistice Day was inaugurated in 1919 throughout much of the British Empire, but on the second Monday in November. In 1921, the Canadian Parliament passed an Armistice Day bill to observe ceremonies on the first Monday in the week of 11 November, but this combined the event with the Thanksgiving Day holiday. For much of the 1920s, Canadians observed the date with little public demonstration. Veterans and their families gathered in churches and around local memorials, but observances involved few other Canadians. In 1928, some prominent citizens, many of them veterans, pushed for greater recognition and to separate the remembrance of wartime sacrifice from the Thanksgiving holiday. In 1931, the federal government decreed that the newly named Remembrance Day would be observed on 11 November and moved Thanksgiving Day to a different date. Remembrance Day would emphasize the memory of fallen soldiers instead of the political and military events leading to victory in the First World War. 11 November Remembrance Day rejuvenated interest in recalling the war and military sacrifice, attracting thousands to ceremonies in cities large and small across the country. It remained a day to honour the fallen, but traditional services also witnessed occasional calls to remember the horror of war and to embrace peace. Remembrance Day ceremonies were usually held at community cenotaphs and war memorials, or sometimes at schools or in other public places. Two minutes of silence, the playing of the Last Post, the recitation of In Flanders Fields, and the wearing of poppies quickly became associated with the ceremony. 2

November 1~ Public Information Meeting for Christ the King School 6~ Daylight Saving Time Ends 7~ Member of Parliament to Visit Grade 6 8~ Junior ATB Ribbon Cutting 9~ Kindergarten Conference: No Kindergarten Classes 9~ SAC Meeting 10 ~ Remembrance Day Service 11 ~ REMEMBRANCE DAY: No School 18 ~ Hot Lunch 22 ~ Jr. ATB Banking Day 24 ~ J.J. Bowlen Elementary Volleyball Tournament 25 ~ Holodomor Observed 25 ~ e-Report Cards Released 25 ~ Reading Pizza Lunch with the Principal 27 ~ 1st Sunday of Advent 28 ~ Advent Celebration #1 via Broadcast

December 1~ Demonstration of Learning 4~ 2nd Sunday of Advent 5~ Advent Celebration #2 via Broadcast 6~ Jr. ATB Banking Day 11 ~ 3rd Sunday of Advent 12 ~ Advent Celebration #3 via Broadcast 13 ~ Christmas Concert #1 14 ~ Christmas Concert #2 15 ~ Christmas Concert #3 16 ~ Hot Lunch 16-17 ~ SAC Casino 18 ~ 4th Sunday of Advent 20 ~ Jr. ATB Banking Day 22 ~ Full Day Thursday 23 ~ Half Day Friday – Early Dismissal 23 ~ Advent Celebration #4 via Broadcast

Please Note: Dates and Times May Change Without Notice

St. John Bosco School will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday, December 1st. The Book Fair will be open from 8:30 P.M. – 12:00 P.M., 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M., and 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. This year, the Book Fair will be held in the new portable located on the west side of the school. Students will be able to preview the books on Wednesday, November 30th. Payment can be made with cash, debit, or credit card. Money raised from sales at the Book Fair will go to the purchase of books for the Learning Commons. All students who make a purchase at the Book Fair will be entered into a draw to win a gift certificate to spend at the Fair. If you have any questions or are able to volunteer on Thursday, December 1st, please phone Mrs. Garcia at (780) 471 – 3140.

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Sound assessment practices are based on the principle that assessment of the academic performance of our students is an on-going process. Teachers assess students by using classroom participation, oral and written work, test results, quality of assignments produced, homework completion and notebook maintenance. Report cards are not sent home for Kindergarten students, but communication regarding your child’s progress is done through conferences and portfolios.

Report Cards The students’ progress is formally reported to parents three times a year in the form of a report card. Home/school conferences, demonstration of learning, report cards and student portfolios are used to promote good communication between parents and teachers in the reporting of student progress. The process is based on the principle that assessment of the academic performance of students is an on-going process and includes both, formative and summative assessments. Report cards will be available on line on Friday, November 25th at 3:00 p.m. Demonstration of Learning is on Thursday, December 1st from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. and from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. More information will be forthcoming from your child’s teacher.

Learning for Life with Junior ATB Elementary students at Alberta schools are operating their own ATB "branches," learning real-life job skills, gaining self-confidence—and building their savings. If there's one initiative at ATB Financial that always brings a smile to ones face, it's Junior ATB. The program allows elementary school students to operate their own working ATB branch. With guidance from real ATB associates, students serve as greeters, tellers, back cash counters even directors on the board. Their classmates are invited to open actual savings accounts where they can make regular deposits at school. What makes this program so great? The kids learn about the power of saving, develop valuable job skills, and earn a sense of responsibility. Congratulations to our successful applicants! Greeters: Daniel B. (6B); Kelly R. (5B); Maja P. (4C) Back Cash: Naqshum U. (4B); Kamal K. (4A) Tellers: Adisyn F. (6A); Vanessa L. (5A); Jacob D. (5B); Kennedy S. (4C); Osamu O. (4A); Josslyn M. (4C); Abby S. (4B); Daniela V. (4B)

Board of Directors CEO: Emilia S. (6B) Vice Chairs: Hailey P. (6A) & Anthony P. (6B) Secretary: Kaitlyn C. (5B) Treasurer: Alexander L. (6C) Marketing Team: Fiona O. (6C); Olivia T. (5B); Reese Y. (4A); Emily G. (4B) Community Officer: Julia G. (6B) Chief Compliance Officer: Mia R. (6B)

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Hello everyone: I wanted to introduce myself, Coreen S., your Chair for Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and Student Advisory Council (SAC) and the NEW VICE Chair, Nancy R. Nancy and I would like to continue to establish a good rapport with you, the parents, by keeping open communication ongoing. One of the ways of keeping communication open is through your Home Room Representative. We want this role to be recognizable and utilized more at St. John Bosco School. Recently you received a letter introducing your Home Room Rep and asking for you to provide an email address. With this email address, it will allow your Home Room Rep to pass on any information from PAC/SAC Meetings or ask you questions to get your feedback or it’s your opportunity to share your ideas/concerns to the Home Room Rep. I would encourage you to use this communication tool as much as possible, to get your voice heard. If you haven’t yet supplied your email address to your Home Room Rep, I would encourage you to do so. Cheers to a great year!

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” ~ Helen Keller ~

The term Holodomor refers specifically to the brutal artificial famine imposed by Stalin's regime on Soviet Ukraine and primarily ethnically Ukrainian areas in the Northern Caucasus in 1932-33. During the Holodomor an estimated 7.5 million of citizens of Ukraine, the majority of whom were ethnic Ukrainians, died of starvation in a peacetime catastrophe unprecedented in the history of Ukraine. Since 2006, the Holodomor has been recognized by the independent Ukraine and 24 other countries as a genocide of the Ukrainian people carried out by the Soviet Union. Edmonton Catholic Schools joins the governments of Canada, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec in establishing a Holodomor Memorial Day as a way of paying tribute to the millions who died. 5

Alberta Education is moving forward in the development of new Kindergarten to Grade 12 provincial curriculum in all grades across the subject areas of Language Arts (English, Français, French), Math, Social Studies, Sciences, Arts and Wellness education. Parents, students, teachers, school staff members, education system leaders and community members are all invited to offer meaningful input into the curriculum development process through online survey responses. Part A of the survey, which will likely take about seven minutes to complete, gives Albertans an opportunity to share their thoughts about the Government of Alberta’s general direction for the development of all new curriculum. Once Part A is completed, there is the option to move to Part B, to indicate what you see as the strengths and gaps in subject areas of interest in our current curriculum, which may take upwards of 15 minutes depending on the number of subjects and grade-specific questions you choose to answer. The online provincial curriculum survey will run from October 18-November 18 and can be found along with further information at the following link: http://curriculumsurvey.alberta.ca The survey results will be used by Expert Working Groups made up of teachers and post-secondary educators in concert with Alberta Education staff as information to help develop new provincial curriculum over the next six years. Your voice is very important in this conversation and we encourage you to take some time to complete the survey. Please do not hesitate to contact our school should you have any questions or wish to use a computer at the school to complete the survey. This online provincial curriculum survey will be an item at our upcoming November school council meeting at which time we will engage in collaborative conversation about this process.

Please be advised that the following Radio and TV Stations will carry announcements with respect to transportation cancellations due to inclement weather conditions. RADIO STATIONS 630 CHED CISN FM 103.9 FRESH FM 92.5 INEWS 880 AM The Bounce FM 91.7 UP! 99.3 FM HOT 107 FM

CITYTV

AM 930 The Light CJCA SHINE 105.9 FM TSN 1260 95.7 CRUZ FM The Bear 100.3 FM SONIC 102.9 FM 104.9 VIRGIN Radio FM TV STATIONS CTV Edmonton GLOBAL Edmonton

CBC CHFA (CBC Fr.) CFCW 840 CAPITAL FM 96.3 K97 97.3 102.3 NOW! Radio

CBC TV

Every effort will be made to have messages broadcast commencing no later than 6:30 a.m. 6

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Route changes are processed weekly. Phone notification is sent to parents on Friday advising that their child's route has been adjusted and to check if their pick-up or drop-off times have been affected (or to confirm stop location for new requests). Parents can access their child's transportation information through PowerSchool Parent Portal.

Please note that yellow bus schedules will no longer be posted on the district website as parents can access their child’s individual bussing information such as bus route #, bus stop location, and pick-up and drop-off times through PowerSchool Parent Portal. Contact the school if you require a login and password to the Parent Portal. Contact Transportation Services at 780-441-6078 with any other questions or inquiries regarding yellow bus schedules.

Dear St. John Bosco Families, The safety of our students is very important to us all. In order to ensure that our drop‐off and pick‐up runs smoothly and safely, we are asking that all drivers follow the expectations outlined below. We understand that it is not only parents that are involved so please share this information with all those who are responsible for dropping‐off and picking‐up your children. The student Drop‐Off/Pick‐Up Zone is marked on the attached map and is clearly indicated on site by two City of Edmonton “No Parking” signs. There is also a school sign in place to help make this area more visible. DO NOT PARK in the Drop‐Off/Pick‐Up Zone at any time. If you need to park, you may use any of the available spaces beyond the Zone or on one of the side streets near the school. When cars park in the Zone, it eliminates this much needed safe area to drop off students and results in a great deal of congestion. Using this area properly will help eliminate the unsafe and/or illegal practices of: ‐ Parking/Stopping across the street and JAYWALKING directly in front of the school ‐ Parking/Stopping too close or directly in front of the CROSSWALKS ‐ Accessing the LAYBY leading to the main entrance of the school AT ANY TIME ‐ Parking/Stopping in the Edmonton Transit BUS ZONE (adjacent to the Layby) ‐ Parking/Stopping in the STAFF PARKING LOT ‐ Double‐parking/Stopping in the middle of the road for drop‐off/pick‐up Here are the expectations for families regarding the Student Drop‐Off/Pick‐Up Zone to be implemented immediately: 1) Pull in as far forward as possible in the Student Drop‐Off/Pick‐Up Zone. 2) Do not leave your vehicle while in the Student Drop‐Off/Pick‐Up Zone, except to help your children in/out. 3) Be sure to have your child exit/enter your vehicle from the CURB SIDE only. 4) Drive away as soon as your child is safely loaded or unloaded. Be courteous and allow the next family into your spot to keep the traffic flow moving. DO NOT IDLE in the Zone. 5) If you are picking your child up at the end of the day in the Zone, you must remain in your vehicle and make arrangements for your child to meet you there. 6) If you have young children and wish to watch them from your vehicle until the bell rings in the morning, or are concerned about them coming out on their own afterschool, you must park in a designated parking area and then proceed accordingly. 7) Continue to obey all road rules, school zone speed limits (30 km/hr) and signage. 7

Our priority is to provide a safe arrival and dismissal for our students and feel we can achieve this when all families follow the above expectations and prioritize our children’s SAFETY over their own CONVIENENCE. To further the safety of our children at these times, we are looking for VOLUNTEERS to help patrol the traffic in the morning and afterschool. This program is very successful at many other schools in our city and we would love to see our SJB families come together so it can be successful here as well. We would like to begin the program as soon as possible. ‐ Morning volunteers would need to be present from 8:00‐8:25 am. ‐ Afterschool volunteers would need to be present from 2:45‐3:10 pm. Our program will be based on a non‐confrontational model, focusing on having an authority presence to help guide the behaviors of drivers during these times. Training will be provided. Volunteers would sign‐up for which days and times they prefer, at a frequency that suits their schedule, whether on a continuous or casual basis (for example, one day out of the month, or every Wednesday morning). If traffic volunteers are present and approach you for a gentle reminder on traffic safety, please show them the UTMOST RESPECT and choose to be a positive role model for your children in any situation. This program will work to solve any repeat conflicts by reporting to school administration as well as to the City of Edmonton Traffic Bylaw and/or Police Service. If you have questions or concerns on any of the information presented in this letter, or would like to volunteer, please contact the school administration or email us at: [email protected] Sincerely, St. John Bosco Traffic Committee With support of the Parent Advisory Council and St. John Bosco School Administration

As the weather is changing and the days are becoming cooler, please ensure that your child comes to school with the appropriate clothing for the weather. As it can be a confusing time of year, with temperatures changing quickly, layers are often a good choice. Thank you also to those students who are changing their footwear upon entering the school building. This helps to keep our school clean and inviting. In an effort to minimize lost items, please label your child’s jackets, snow pants, boots, etc. The suggested guideline states that students do not go outside if the temperature is -20°C or colder, or if the temperature and wind chill factor are -20°C or colder.

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November 2016 Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” ~ Luke 10:5 ~

This scripture comes from a passage known as The Mission of the Seventy. Jesus is giving instructions to his disciples, whom he is sending forth in pairs to all of the nations to prepare the way for him. Imagine the importance of establishing peaceful intentions as they were venturing out into unknown and perhaps hostile environments, making new acquaintances and establishing relationships. This message is just as imperative for our world today. The month of November, which focuses our attentions on the impact of war and oppression as we commemorate Remembrance Day and Holodomor, reminds us that a culture of peace starts at the level of the individual. Each of us has the ability and calling to be a peacemaker. These two events also draw our eyes to the global forum and help us to understand the impact that any abuse of political power has on the world. Our Board of Trustees held their organizational meeting on October 18. Trustee Laura Thibert from Ward 77 was elected as Chair and Trustee Marilyn Bergstra from Ward 76 was elected as Vice-Chair. Visit our website at https://www.ecsd.net/BoardofTrustees/Pages/default.aspx to learn more about our Board and its governance. Catholic education is very vibrant in the province of Alberta. On November 6, parishes across the province will celebrate the richness of experiences that our students receive through Catholic education. The Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories have written a letter for us. It can be found at https://www.ecsd.net/AboutUs/catholic-identity/what-is-catholic-education/catholic-educationsunday/Pages/default.aspx . As stakeholders in Catholic education, it is extremely important that your voice be heard by the Government of Alberta as they move forward with a massive overhaul of the K-12 Curriculum in all grades across the subject areas of Language Arts (English, Français, French), Math, Social Studies, Sciences, Arts and Wellness education. Parents, students, teachers, school staff members, education system leaders and community members are all invited to offer meaningful input into the curriculum development process through online survey responses. Part A of the survey, which takes about seven minutes to complete, gives the opportunity to share thoughts about the Government’s general direction for the development of all new curriculum. Once Part A is completed, there is the option to move to Part B, to indicate what you see as the strengths and gaps in subject areas of interest in our current curriculum, which may take upwards of 15 minutes depending on the number of subjects and grade-specific questions you choose to answer. The online survey will run from October 18 – November 18. Make sure that your voice is heard by completing the survey at http://curriculumsurvey.alberta.ca. The survey 9

results will be used by Expert Working Groups made up of teachers and post-secondary educators in concert with Alberta Education staff as information to help develop new provincial curriculum over the next six years. We are continually looking at different measures of our success to refine our practice as we move forward. This ensures that our students have the best possible educational experiences. This data analysis happens at both the District and school level. Two of those measures from Alberta Education, the Accountability Pillar and Provincial Achievement and Diploma Exam results, were released in October. You can find those results and other important reports on our public website at https://www.ecsd.net/AboutUs/annual_reports/Pages/default.aspx. Another measure that we use to assess our performance in many areas and to set targets for growth is our own District Satisfaction Survey. This vital survey gathers opinions from students, parents, and staff on individual schools and on district operations. Every student from grade 4-12 will complete the survey, as will all staff. Every household will receive one parent survey per child enrolled in an Edmonton Catholic School. Please respond to each survey separately from the point of view of each child's educational experience. It is so important that you let your voice be heard. You can either return your parent survey directly to your child’s school or use the postage paid envelope and use Canada Post. The District Satisfaction Survey will run from November 1-18. Thank you in advance for your participation. I would like to leave you with a Tweet from Pope Francis. “Dialogue with others, prayers for all: these are our means to give rise to love where there is hatred, forgiveness where there is offence.” These are the first steps on a pathway to peace. Sincerely, Joan Carr Superintendent

Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy, which started on December 8, 2015, is drawing to a close on November 20, 2016. In convoking this Extraordinary Jubilee, the pope wanted to direct our attention “on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s actions in our lives . . . a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective.” Well, a year later, I have to ask myself what have I done during the Year of Mercy? Will it have come and gone like another New Year’s resolution gone bad? Or has it really changed by life for the better? To answer that question I come back to Moses and the Burning Bush. According to the Book of Exodus, God speaks to Moses through a burning bush on Mount Horeb. At the encounter, God appoints Moses to lead the Israelites out of captivity, out of Egypt and into Canaan. “As Moses looked on he was surprised to see that the bush though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided: I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why this bush is not burned” (Exodus 3: 2-3). The burning bush attracts Moses as something mysterious. It becomes the earthly symbol of the Mystery of God. I love what happens next! 10

“When the Lord saw that Moses had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’” Paying attention. Notice it’s only when Moses does a double take and pays attention that only then does God speak to Moses. Maybe the burning bush was always there. But Moses failed to notice. God always speaks. My problem is that I tend to do most of the talking and oftentimes fail to pay attention to what God is saying. I busy my life and miss the burning bush opportunities when God so wishes to speak to me. Back to the Jubilee Year of Mercy. I so need mercy in my life. And when I was really trying hard to listen to the voice of God, I was blessed with not one, not two, but three graced moments of mercy in the same week! Talk about paying attention to the burning bush. One. I had met some new friends and we were trying for months to get together for a meal. They were born in Ukraine but had lived in Canada for years. I was curious about their story. Finally, I ran into them unexpectedly and asked them if they were free for supper the next evening. They surprised me by asking if I was free right now; get in the car, we’re going out for supper! And so we did. Over supper, I learned that both were of Jewish heritage and had escaped the Holocaust, eventually finding refuge in Canada. Both were very young when their families were killed by the Germans, and they feared that they would be next. There stories were heart-wrenching. I had never met Holocaust survivors up front and centre. I knew their tragic story from school and what I learned later as an adult, but I have never had the experience of listening first hand to the horror that this then young teenage girl and boy endured. And yet where I expected to find lingering pain and unforgiveness, I heard only gratitude and love for life and freedom. Mercy in action. I can’t explain it any other way. Two. That same week, I had the pleasure to attend this year’s Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention in Toronto. Canada hosted, a rare opportunity. I arrived in Toronto on the Monday and had arranged to have supper with one of my best friends, a bishop from the United States. When he didn’t show, I called learned that he had experienced some last minute health issues and had to cancel (he’s ok now!). I called another friend, but he was already out on the town with friends for supper. I called another friend; he had just flown in from Krakow and World Youth Day and was going to bed. I gave up (I only have two friends!) and went to the hotel restaurant. I sat next to a couple from Vietnam. They were wearing Knights of Columbus nametags and we struck up a conversation. As we were enjoying our supper and talking, I had this uncanny feeling that I had met the wife before. Sure enough, she had spoken at the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City (Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, was also a speaker!). She spoke about her brother, Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who died in 2002. (Rather coincidentally, I attended his funeral in Rome while at “Baby Bishop’s School”). Under the communist government the Cardinal was imprisoned in a re-education camp for 13 years, nine in solitary confinement. His crime? He was a Catholic. In 2007, when Pope Benedict XVI began the beatification process for the Cardinal, he wrote: “During thirteen years in jail, in a situation of seemingly utter hopelessness, the fact that [the Cardinal] could listen and speak to God became for him an increasing power of hope, which enabled him, after his release, to become for people all over the world a witness to hope – to that great hope which does not wane even in the nights of solitude.” Mercy in action. Three. At the same Knights of Columbus Convention, I ran into a friend, Father Brian Kolodiejchuk. Father Brian is a Ukrainian Catholic priest from Winnipeg. Where it gets interesting is that in 1997 he met Mother Teresa of Calcutta and was associated with her until her death in 1997. He became a member of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers and his claim to fame is that he served as postulator of the cause of canonization of Mother Teresa. At the 11

canonization this past September, Father Brian stood next to Pope Francis during the ceremony and presented her cause to the Holy Father who declared her to be Saint Teresa. Over a meal, Father Brian and I spoke about Pope Francis’ desire to canonize Mother Teresa during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Father Brian sees this as fitting, since Saint Teresa is seen both inside and outside the Church as an icon of God’s mercy to those in need. Mercy in action. Well, as you can see, I was blessed just in one week to have encountered three privileged moments of mercy. And that’s only because, like Moses, I was paying attention. And how many more did I miss when I wasn’t? In any event, this has been for me a most beautiful Jubilee Year of Mercy. Thank you Pope Francis for your gift. And you, how is God’s mercy and compassion changing your life?

God bless! Bishop David

We all have our favorite television family. Whether it be the Waltons or the Simpsons, the Bradys or the Griffins, the depiction of family life and family love on television does not always reveal a lived reality. Reality television has given us many families’ stories yet, again and again, we do not necessarily witness a true depiction of familial love and life. Often it is the case that the intended humour or seriousness of a given scenario comes at the expense of someone’s dignity or humility. In any event however, the family unit, whether nuclear or extended, and the existing challenges that families face, remain a point of focus, if not fascination, for today’s society. Pope Frances shares his views of the many challenges facing the modern family in this chapter. Pope Francis begins by emphasizing that “the welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church.” (31). Among the greatest challenges to the integrity of the family is the “growing danger represented by an extreme individualism which weakens family bonds as an isolated unit, leading in some cases to the idea that one’s personality is shaped by his or her desires, which are considered absolute.” (33). Intolerance and hostility in families are the result of such focus on the individual. The fast-paced and stressful nature of modern living requires that personal freedom be purposed towards ‘noble goals’ that seek to edify the individual towards directing energy and making positive, life giving choices else, if misdirected, “can foster attitudes of constant suspicion, fear of commitment, selfcenteredness and arrogance.” (33). The point is made that increasingly, in many countries where marriage is on the decline, more and more people are “choosing to live alone or simply spend time together without cohabitating.” (33). Loneliness, feelings of isolation contrasted with “the fear of entrapment in a relationship that could hamper one’s individual goals” (34) reveal the complexity of issues surrounding why people are or are not entering into marriage. As Christians, we are reminded that we cannot “stop advocating for marriage simply to avoid countering contemporary sensibilities, or out of a desire to be fashionable” (35). To the contrary, we require “a more responsible and generous effort to present the reasons and motivations for choosing marriage and the family” as a “way to help men and women better respond to the grace that God offers them.” (35). Pope Francis expresses the need to have a ‘healthy dose of self12

criticism’ when it comes to our modern understanding of marriage. He says: “at times we have also proposed a far too abstract and almost artificial theology ideal of marriage, far removed from the concrete situations and practical possibilities of real families.” (36) Throughout this chapter, we hear the call to engage in deeper and more meaningful discourse on the need to “form consciences, not to replace them” (37) when it comes to developing a healthy understanding of marriage; especially in light of complex situations. Pope Francis asks us to have a generous and grateful disposition towards valuing ‘family relationships that are marked by mutual respect.’(38). When speaking of families, particularly those impacted by secularism, Pope Francis reminds us of the power of the sacramental life, especially Eucharist and Reconciliation, which provide “grace that helps (us) face the challenges of marriage and the family. We are challenged to consider the need to “inspire a positive and welcoming pastoral approach capable of helping couples to grow in appreciation of the demands of the Gospel.” (38). Further to this, he expresses his concern that “we have often been on the defensive, wasting pastoral energy on denouncing a decadent world without being proactive in proposing ways to find true happiness.” (38). This speaks to the incongruent messages that many people have heard over the years and which they must contemplate in developing their understanding of marriage and family life. In many cases “people feel that the Church’s message on marriage and family does not clearly reflect the preaching and attitudes of Jesus, who set forth a demanding ideal yet never failed to show compassion and closeness to the frailty of individuals” e.g. The Samaritan woman. (38.). This chapter progresses with the articulation of further issues and challenges that are paramount to our comprehension of how family life and marriage are impacted today. The key topics include how the demands of work leave parents tired with less time for positive or quality interaction with their children. From this we see the rise of television / gaming addictions (50). Next is discourse on drug addiction, alcohol, and gambling and how “ we see the serious effects of this breakdown in families torn apart, the young uprooted and the elderly abandoned, children who are orphans of living parents, adolescents and young adults confused and unsupported.” (51). Pope Francis also provides commentary on how “many countries are witnessing a legal deconstruction of the family, tending to adopt models based almost exclusively on the autonomy of the individual will.” (53). Apathy, narcissism, divisiveness, violence and hatred are the biproducts of our times. Pope Francis assures us however, that the strength of the family “lies in its capacity to love and to teach how to love. For all a family’s problems, it can always grow, beginning with love.” (53). It is important that we be mindful of the very real challenges that face families today. Pope Francis reminds us that “we are called to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created.”(56). Once more, we live in a world where the notion of family and marriage are often diluted or distorted by how they are depicted on television and main stream media. We often pay far more attention to those fictional or virtual families than our own ‘real’ family. “The Synod’s reflections (particularly in this chapter) show us that there is no stereotype of the ideal family, but rather a challenging mosaic made up of different realities, with all their joys, hopes and problems.”(57) Pope Francis concludes this chapter with a most hopeful perspective on the value he places on family and marriage: “the Church is conscious of the need to offer a word of truth and hope…the great values of marriage and the Christian family correspond to a yearning that is part and parcel of human existence.” (57). Pope Francis concludes this chapter with thanksgiving: “I thank God that the many families, which are far from considering themselves perfect, live in love, fulfil their calling and keep moving forward, even if they fall many times along the way.” (57). Whatever your favourite TV family show may happen to be, whether from a classic or modern reality based show, we must never lose sight that the most important family, is the one we break bread with, the family we were blessed into, with all its inherent challenges and joys.

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1. Class 1 for First Communion preparation takes place on either Tuesday, Nov. 15 or Wednesday, Nov. 16 @ 6:00 pm in the parish hall (depending on which evening you signed up for). 2. Pre-registration for Confirmation (grade 6 or older) is now taking place. If you attend St. Dominic Savio Parish OR live within our church boundaries (Manning Drive west to 82 St. and 137 Ave. north to city limits) and you would like your child to receive Confirmation at our parish in the Spring of 2017, please call Ann at 780-473-4259 ext. 2 to pre-register. Forms and letters will then be dropped off to the school in early January addressed to your child.

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