Making Christmas Merry

 Before the Thanksgiving break...

... student's in Mrs. Monico's 8th grade

 class made Christmas cards.

 Today those cards were delivered to those in the military

 serving overseas or some in veteran's hospitals.

Merry Christmas 

to everyone!

A note from Afghanistan

Last year in Mrs. White's third grade class, the students

sent cards to Lt. Col. Rowe in Afghanistan.

This week the students (now in fourth grade) watched

a video response - which included their pictures.

Here is the video:

Dignified Transfer

When a member of the military dies overseas, they are flown to Dover Air Force Base. They are given a dignified transfer before their final journey home.

Pictured above is the Center for the Families of the Fallen. Here family members of fallen soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen gather before witnessing the dignified transfer of a loved one being returned to Dover Air Force Base.

One day, waiting outside, a mother remarked to a chaplain how cold it was outside waiting. Since then, in the room above, prayer shawls are given to the family. This way, they watch the return of their loved one wrapped in the warmth of the shawl and prayer.

Some of those prayer shawls are made at St. Columbkille. As members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry knit, they also pray for those who will recieve the shawl. Most are given to people in our community who are sick or grieving. Some are part of Dignified Transfer.

If you would like a prayer shawl, contact Deacon Lauber at the parish office: 339-3285.

A Gift from Afghanistan

Last fall one of Mrs. Monico's students suggested they all write notes to a civilian who is serving our country in a war zone in Afghanistan. Everyone in the 8th grade classes participated. Some wrote notes of thanks for serving, others sent notes of encouragement and some wrote about the Nebraska football team.

What came as a surprise to the students and Mrs. Monico was that this man created a shadowbox for the class. He had the shadowbox delivered to the school and Mrs. Overkamp presented it after daily Mass today. He asked not to be identified so we are respecting that wish here.

The shadowbox contains coins, a US flag and a certificate.

On 30 December 2009 this flag was flown on a combat rescue mission

over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

in honor of the 8th grade class at St. Columbkille School.

Mrs. Monico used this as a teaching moment to

emphasize how the little things that you do can

really have a large effect on others.

All the 8th graders gathered with the shadowbox.

First they prayed for all the military.

Then they prayed for all who have fallen in service of our country.

Then they had their picture taken.

They also heard secondhand the impact their letters had made; how they were read over and over. They heard how even those serving as civilians are sometimes diving under their desks during bombings. And they were encouraged to appreciate all the little things like crayons that children in Afghanistan are often without.

Thank you 8th Graders!

Valentines in Afghanistan

Many of our parishioners are involved with the military.

Many know what it is like to be deployed overseas.

The the students at Sacred Heart Preschool sent valentines and candy to one of our parishioners, Mike Rowe, who is currently in Afghanistan.

He was kind enough to send back these pictures ...

... and this note:

Sacred Heart Children and Teachers,

I wanted to thank you so very much for taking the time to think of me on Valentine's Day. I totally enjoyed all of your Valentines and had fun reading the backs of all of them too.

I read them all and they were all very nice Valentines.

Thank you all very much for making them and thank you to all who helped with the project--lots of work I know, but it made my February!

Thanks again and may God continue to bless all you children and teachers at Sacred Heart Preschool. Oh yeah, I enjoyed the candy too and gained 5 pounds! I hope the pictures come through okay.

Love,

Mr. Rowe

Mr Rowe -- know that you
and all those serving are in our prayers.