Dear Families,

Just a reminder that although we are not doing Operation Rice bowls, we still encourage you and your family to find a clean can or jar to collect change throughout Lent as we raise money for the Ste Jeanne D'Arc Haiti Foundation, our parish partner in Haiti, as they continue to rebuild. Please continue to pray for all those affected, this will be a long process for them. After the news cameras have gone home, the people affected must continue their struggle.

Religious Education Classes Next Classes for all grades: March 8th Please note there is class on BOTH March 22nd AND March 29th (Holy Week) for 7-10th grade students. 2nd graders - Reconciliation Saturday March 13th 1pm in the church. Please continue working on the workbook and be sure to get all requirements in to Maryellen (baptismal certificates, photos, etc.) as soon as possible. 5th graders (Ms. Martin's class) will be performing a puppet show that they have worked on at 11:00am this Sunday. Confirmation Students: Please sign up for an interview dinner with Fr Phil & Melisa and submit all necessary requirements as soon as possible (baptismal certificate, pink sheet, service hours). Service Calendar: There are still students who have yet to sign up for an activity. This is part of our program, please review the calendar posted online and let me know once you and your child have selected an activity. Due to some cancellations, there are a few spots open for the St Patrick's Day pizza party - please contact me. Social Justice Calendar

Activities 2nd Annual St. Bart's Youth Recognition Night: Sunday March 14th 5:00pm in Ward Hall. A night to celebrate and acknowledge the many talents that our youth have and what they bring to our parish! All students who participate in one of our ministries (choir, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Religious Ed assistants, as well as our CYO program) are invited with their family. World Youth Day: How awesome to experience a real sense of community in the Church, both locally and globally! Plans are already in the works to have a group from St. Bart's go to Madrid for a pilgrimage with thousands of other Catholics from around the world including the Pope. In order to get there, we will need lots of planning, organizing and fundraising. Please see http://boston.wydmadrid2011.net for information and speak to Melisa about participation. Don't let financial concerns make you hesitate about joining, we will be doing lots of fundraising!

Parish news & events Lenten Holy Hour "Our Stories" Every Sunday afternoon during Lent we will have a prayer service in the church from 3-4pm to hear parishioners share the story of their faith journey in the context of prayer. Hearing the faith stories of others encourages us in our journey as we recognize that their story is also our story both personally and as a community. Please join us, all are welcome. Community Sunday Coffee, donuts & conversation in Ward Hall and a puppet show by our 5th graders (at 11:00am)! This is a nice way to see and get to know others in the parish, but please remind your children to stay on that level, we have had (valid) complaints that children are running all over the school during community Sunday. St. Patrick's Day Pizza Party Saturday March 13th 5:00pm in Ward Hall. This annual event sells out every year, tickets can be purchased after Mass or by contacting Joan O'Brien joan3991@aol.com or 781-449-3991. The Light is On For You — Confession Every Wednesday of Lent from 6:30-8:00pm, at St. Bart’s. All parishes of the Archdiocese will be open for individual confessions every Wednesday evening. The Sacrament of Confession is not just for the kids in Religious Ed but all of us! Please visit the website www.TheLightIsOnForYou.org, to help you prepare. It has videos on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, sheets on how to make a good confession, answers to frequently-asked questions and more. http://stbartholomew-needham.org

Community Announcements There are a number of things going on beyond the walls of St Bart's that you might be interested in: 1) Catholic Women's Movie Night (at St. Joe's Parish, Needham): The films are beautifully made and spiritually uplifting. We meet once a month from 7:00p.m.-9:00 p.m. in the Middle School cafeteria. This month, on March 7th, we will be showing the movie, "St Patrick", the Irish hero and saint. The cost is $3.00 per person. Please contact Francesca Antonelli for info 781-559-3289. 2) "Romance without Regret" - Jason Evert: Renowned Chastity speaker Jason Evert will be speaking at St. Patrick's Parish in Natick on Sunday March 21st at 6:45pm. This is a great talk for students in grades 7+ with their families. Jason is a dynamic speaker on this important topic. For info please contact Jason Giombetti stpatjason@comcast.net or 508-907-6220.

As always, check the bulletin, there is more there than can be mentioned in this newsletter. I try to highlight things that I think are most relevant to families with children.

Feel free to contact us, Melisa Hughes melisahughes@comcast.net or Maryellen Jennings, coordinator of the K-6th grade program mej161@msn.com

Have a Joyful Journey through Lent,
Melisa