Scholarships

Seven of our eighth grade students from St. Columbkille Catholic School have been awarded scholarships to Catholic High Schools.

Thank you to Creighton Prep, Gross, Marian & Skutt for recognizing our students!

(For those keeping score, Mrs. Loeffler had one more of these

 students in her first grade class than Mrs. English.)

Vocations Day

On Friday 7th grade Catholic School students from throughout the area gathered at Skutt High School for Vocation's Day. It gave students a chance to meet priests, religious sisters and vowed religious and learn about their life.

We were well represented by our student.

2013 Vocations Day

 Over 1,000 6th graders from across the

 diocese gathered today for Vocations Day.

One of the first events was Mass celebrated by Archbishop Lucas (who stayed around afterwards to say hello to students and even helping clean tables in the lunch room.)

 Not only did we have our students from 

St. Columbkille Catholic School...

 ... but some of the High School 

students helping are our alumni.

In sessions students had a chance to hear from, and interact with, men and women who are ordained or living a consecrated life.

 There were also seminarians on hand sharing their stories.

The whole time there was someone in the chapel praying before the Blessed Sacrament for our youth and vocations.

Thank you Mrs McGuire

Mrs. Mary McGuire had a tough task coming to St. Columbkille Catholic School on April 2nd while Dr. Blue was in hospice and less than two weeks before she passed away.

She was admirable in her abilty to bring a joyful presense and encourage everyone in the process.

She was able to fill the tasks as principal, encourage our teachers in their work and give another perspective as we plan for the future. She brought energy, faith and two decades experience just when we needed it.

 

Last week she finished her tasks preparing for the new administration. She is relaxing this week and next before she undertakes her next role as Interim President of Skutt Catholic High School. She assures us that, in a year, she really will retire and she has grandchildren ready to hold her to that promise.

Again, thank you!

Learning About Relics

Yesterday St. Columbkille Catholic School began Catholic Schools Week with a guest speaker on mismatch day. Mr. Zavaletta from Skutt High School came to tell us about relics.

A relic is something connected with a saint. In the Bible, sometimes people were healed when touched by relics of Jesus (Matt 9:20-22), St. Paul (Acts 19:11-12) and even Elisha (2 Kings 13:20-21). The relics are special for us because they remind us of a saint.

Relics are not magic and, as St. Jerome said, "We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the creator, but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore Him whose martyrs they are."

Mr. Zav brought along some relics he has as well as some Fr. Dan Lenz, OSB was kind enough to lend.

Students each had a chance to venerate a first class relic of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, St. Francis Xavier or St. Teresa of Avila.

Thank you to Mr. Zav for visiting us!

Vocations Day

On Friday the sixth grade students from St. Columbkille Catholic School and other Catholic schools in the Omaha area gathered at Skutt High School for Vocations Day.

It was exciting to see 1,200 students in one spot joyful and celebrating Mass together.

Students were split into groups. The girls got to hear from some women about their vocation.

Four seminarians were on hand who

 spoke to the boys about their vocation.

The classroom allowed a good environment

 for discussions about vocaations.

 Brother Damien, OSB, had students

 slip questions into his hood.

 Each person brought their own

perspective and their own call.

 Our own Fr. Vogel shared his story with students.