May 3, 2020

 

Dear Families, 

“Families are the hope of the Church and of the world” (Pope Francis, 2018)

From May 3rd to 8th, Catholic schools across the province are celebrating Catholic Education Week. The theme this year is Igniting Hope and I honestly don’t think a more fitting theme could have been chosen. Hope has gotten us through the past few months and hope will continue to see us through until this pandemic is behind us. 

Each day a different sub-theme has been chosen and there are different activities and resources to support families throughout the week. 

Monday: Our Hope in Christ 

Tuesday: The Hope Within 

Wednesday: The Hope Among Us 

Thursday: Hope for the World 

Friday: A Future Full of Hope

 

Please visit our Learns @ Homes web page for all of the information related to next week. I have also provided additional details below about a board-wide photo challenge activity, the Catholic Education Week theme song, our bi-weekly FaithMatters newsletter and links to celebrate Mass virtually as a community. Also, be sure to follow our 2020 Hashtags: #SMCDSBIgnites and #CEW2020

Yours in Faith,

Brian Beal
Director of Education

We are excited to share this year’s Catholic Education Week theme song, written and performed by SMCDSB graduate Chris Rait. Chris is currently a teacher with the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, but he has deep roots with the Simcoe Muskoka family. Many of his extended family members either attended or worked at schools in our Board. 

Theme song written by Chris Rait

As part of our Catholic Education Week celebrations, we are asking our SMCDSB families to take a picture spending time together, e.g. playing games, watching a movie, eating dinner. 

Snap one picture using your phone or tablet and upload it to the form below. We don't require any additional information - just you and your family sharing a special moment.

Your photo will help us celebrate the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic family of hope. We will use all of the pictures to create a photo mosaic, which we will share with everyone at the end of the week. 

Catholic Education Week Photo Challenge Upload Form

Please join us in the virtual celebration of Mass.

• Tuesday, May 5th at 11 a.m. - SMCDSB Mass celebrated by Father Jim

• Wednesday, May 6th at 10 a.m. - Province-wide Mass celebrated His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins

Every two weeks we provide our families with the Faith Matters Newsletter - this week you will find prayers and activities to support your celebration of Catholic Education Week.

Catholic Education Faith Matters Newsletter 

The Archdiocese of Toronto and Archdiocese of Peterborough both actively support our schools and help promote the wonderful gift of Catholic education in the province of Ontario. During Catholic Education Week, we would like to share videos from both dioceses as they provide messages of hope, faith and inspiration. 

His Eminence Cardinal Collins, Archdiocese of Toronto

Bishop Miehm, Archdiocese of Peterborough