Superintendent Message: Jan. 27-31

Inspired by Christ on a Journey to Encounter, Nurture, and Serve.

Inspiré par Dieu dans une Aventure à Découvrir, Grandir, et Servir.

January 27 - 31, 2025

Good morning,

As we embark on the sacred journey into the Jubilee Year of Hope, let us pause to prepare our hearts, minds, and lives for this transformative season. A Jubilee year is not merely a marking of time; it is an invitation to renewal, gratitude, and restoration. Here are a few ways to prepare for this journey:

1. Reflect and Renew: Take time to reflect on your personal journey—your challenges, triumphs, and lessons. Let go of burdens from the past and allow space for hope to bloom anew.
2. Strengthen Your Faith: Draw closer to your source of inspiration, whether through prayer, meditation, scripture, or acts of devotion. Nurture your spirit so it is ready to embrace the abundance of this Jubilee season.
3. Extend Forgiveness: The Jubilee calls us to forgiveness and reconciliation. Seek to heal relationships, forgive grievances, and foster unity with others.
4. Commit to Service: Prepare your heart to serve others during this year of hope. Acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion will multiply hope in your community.
5. Cultivate Gratitude: Enter this year with a grateful heart. Recognize the blessings in your life and allow gratitude to inspire your actions.
6. Set Intentions: Hope flourishes when we align ourselves with meaningful goals. Consider what you hope to achieve, give, and become in this Jubilee year, and walk forward with purpose.

This journey is an opportunity to renew our connection to what matters most—faith, hope, love, and community. Let us step forward together with open hearts and courageous spirits, ready to embrace the promises of the Jubilee Year of Hope.

Blessings,

Kathleen Finnigan, Superintendent

On Friday morning, Red Deer Polytechnic hosted a breakfast and information session to celebrate the success of the Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI).

Attendees, including educational partners, industry representatives, and government officials, learned about CACI's impact on the skilled trades workforce in Alberta. The event also highlighted the practical learning opportunities CACI provides, bringing together K-12 and post-secondary education with on-the-job experience for central Alberta students.

Central Alberta Collegiate Institute is a successful collaboration of four partnering school divisions (Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division, Wolf Creek Public Schools and Chinook’s Edge School Division), two post-secondary institutions (Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and Red Deer Polytechnic) and CAREERS , a not-for-profit organization that collaborates with schools to connect youth with employers, providing valuable paid internship opportunities.

On January 20, Grade 8 students from Holy Trinity Catholic School in Olds and St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School in Innisfail participated in a Skilled Trades Career Planning Day at Olds College, hosted in partnership with the Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI).

This day-long interactive session introduced students to the world of mechanics, where they explored career possibilities in skilled trades. Through hands-on activities like building circuits, starting a diesel engine, and experimenting with pneumatics, students got a firsthand look at what success in a skilled trade could look like.

Allisa Kubinchak, a full-time school bus driver with Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, has turned her personal challenges into a mission of giving back to her community. After being diagnosed with scleroderma in 2020 and experiencing the heartbreak of losing her first daughter at birth, Allisa focused on rebuilding her health and caring for her family. Her determination and desire to help others led her to start a Christmas initiative in 2023, providing a full turkey dinner to a family in need.

The experience deeply moved her, and she resolved to expand her efforts. By 2024, with the support of her family and Red Deer Catholic Social Services, Allisa was able to provide five families with holiday meals. Her dedication to fostering a sense of community during difficult times continues to inspire her, and she hopes to grow this initiative in the years ahead, ensuring more families can share in the joy of a homemade Christmas meal.

• Shevon Coram, Transportation Manager, and Kelli Pickett, Assistant Transportation Manager

January 24, 2025

Red Deer Advocate - Collegiate programming model highlighted at Red Deer Polytechnic

• Strengthened in Spirit Faith Report
• Indigenous Education Services
• Upcoming Events

Dates:

Regular Classes:

(help needed is mostly crowd control and assistance with crafts or other activities)

Feb 19th - 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Feb 22nd - 3:00pm - 4:30pm

May 14th - 6:30pm - 8:00pm

May 16th - 6:30pm - 8:00pm

NET Retreat

March 15th

10:00am - 4:00pm

NET Confirmation Retreat Information

NET Retreats generally include games/experiential activities, testimonials, short talks, dramas, skits, social time, discussion groups, and a time of prayerful reflection. Backed by a professional staff team and a multi-week training program, a NET team is situated to facilitate day retreats, weekend retreats, and classroom presentations.

(Greer is looking for volunteers to assist with the retreat and also for host families for the one night. See link for more information on hosting. The retreat would be a much longer time commitment so if teachers are not free for the whole day they can help for part of the day too.)

If interested in helping out with either the Regular Classes or the NET Retreat, please contact

Greer McIvor, Pastoral Assistant, St Mary’s Parish at 403-347-3114 or by email Greer.McIvor@caedm.ca

In December, the Grade 2 students at St. Patrick’s Community School took part in a special service project by creating Christmas cards for the St. Joseph Seminarians. One of the seminarians, Joseph, received a card and was so moved by the kind gesture that he asked to visit the class and meet the student who had sent it.

Seminarian Joseph visited the Grade 2 class at St. Patrick’s, where he shared insights into his life as a seminarian and explained how much the cards meant to him and his fellow seminarians. Teacher Laura Donald had prepared a list of questions, which had been generated by the students themselves. One young student expressed a dream of becoming a priest one day—a heartwarming moment that made the visit even more meaningful.

This project and personal visit not only deepened the students' understanding of the priesthood but also offered meaningful encouragement to the seminarians in their journey. It was a wonderful way to inspire the next generation while showing support to those preparing for the priesthood.

Click here for a PDF copy of the newsletter.

The Mustard Seed would like to invite Red Deer Catholic Schools Culinary Arts students (or any representative from your School System that loves to Cook) to participate in the 1st Annual Central Alberta Soup-Cook-off to be held at St. Joseph's High School on March 4th, from 5:30 - 8pm. A celebration of the culinary arts!

High Schools from all over Central Alberta will be participating in this fundraising event for the Mustard Seed's School Lunch Program, with prizes to be awarded to the top 3 High School Chef TEAMS. This will be a carnival like event with additional activities for attendees. See the attached document. More details will be provided as the date approaches in the New Year. Teams of 2 or 3 are permitted to represent each high school at the competition. The Mustard Seed in Red Deer prepares and serves over 95,000 nutritious lunches to students in 50 Central Alberta Schools every year.

So far, five High Schools have confirmed participation in the event, which includes two from your School Division - Notre Dame and St. Joseph's High School.

Please let me know at your earliest convenience. I am open to talking to you by phone to answer any questions that you may have. I am willing to come to meet with the person that would oversee the participation from the School.

Grade 9-12 students may register.

Scott Tilbury

Senior Development Officer - Southern Alberta

Cell: 403.598.7076

Direct: 403.598.7076

Fax: 587.457.5455

The Mustard Seed

6002 54 Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 4M8

TheSeed.ca

Click here for more information.

Click here for a PDF copy of the poster.