Embedded Files
February 8 - 14
MASS SCHEDULE
All masses are held at 9:00am at St. Joseph Church in Pierz, unless otherwise indicated.
02/11 Staff/Student - Wednesday - Harding
02/18 Mrs. Lanner's 2nd Grade - Ash Wednesday
02/20 Staff
02/27 Mrs. Radunz's Kindergarten (juice and cookies in church basement for K families following mass)
03/06 Mr. Wolters' 6th Grade
03/11 Staff - Wednesday
03/20 Ms. Cherne's 5th Grade
03/27 Mrs. Becker's Kindergarten (juice and cookies in church basement for K families following mass)
04/01 Mrs. Miller's 4th Grade - Wednesday
04/10 Staff
04/17 Ms. Scholl's 1st Grade
04/24 Ms. Stangl's 2nd Grade
05/01 Mrs. Gangl's 3rd Grade - Grandparents' Day
05/08 Mrs. Lanners & Ms. Stangl's 2nd Grade - First Communion Mass
05/15 Ms. Cherne's 5th Grade
05/21 Mr. Wolters' 6th Grade- Thursday (last all school mass)
05/22 Staff
UPCOMING EVENTS
February
11 Mid-quarter
11 K-6 Birthday Lunch
11 Toddler Class 6:00pm
13 No School - President's Day Weekend
16 No School - President's Day
18 Ash Wednesday
25 Toddler Class 6:00pm
25 2nd Grade First Communion Mtg 6:00pm (St. Joseph Church)
25 2nd Grade Family Teaching Mass 6:30pm (St. Joseph Church)
March
2 No PM Bussing
11 K-6 Birthday Lunch
11 Toddler Class
12 No School End of 3rd Qtr
Teacher Workshop
13 No School Spring Break
15 Quilt Bingo
16 No School Spring Break
22 Annual Carnival 11 - 3
25 Toddler Class 6:00pm
26 2nd & 3rd St. John's
2025-2026 SCHOOL YEARBOOK
Yearbooks are on sale now! Please see the graphic below for details.
Cost: $16.00
Order deadline: March 26, 2026
Orders must be completed on line:
https://www.buytheyearbook.com/en/bty/findmyschool
CSCOE SAINTLY SERVICE
February Featured Saint: St. John Bosco
Virtue: Joyful Discipleship
Saint John Bosco (1815-1888), often called Don Bosco, was an Italian priest raised by his devout, poor mother. As a young child, he saw a traveling circus troupe performance and began to teach himself magic tricks and acrobatics. He was a talented entertainer and used prayer during his shows as a way to lead others to God.
John was happy and a hard worker. With the help of various people, John was able to finish school and enter the seminary – a dream of his. His lifelong service to young people began while in the seminary when John spent his free time working with orphaned boys. He taught them religion and entertained them with magic.
When John became a priest, he founded The Oratory of St. Francis de Sales, a safe place for boys to live, learn trades, and play. He gave them an education, religious instruction, and practical life skills, all while fostering a culture of joy. He believed in teaching through love, reason, and faith, rather than strict punishment (Preventive System). His mission continues worldwide today.
St. John Bosco, known for his deep faith, joyful spirit, and magic tricks, was canonized in 1934 and is celebrated on January 31.
What is joyful discipleship?
Joyful discipleship is transformational over transactional; constant over fleeting.
Joyful discipleship shouldn’t feel like an obligation; rather - it’s a way of being.
Joy isn’t extra — it’s essential.
How can you be a joyful disciple?
Participate fully in your faith. Sing, respond, engage — joyful discipleship is visible.
Cultivate community. Build supportive relationships with others. Create warm, welcoming environments.
Laugh freely. Don’t be afraid to enjoy humor and lightness. Joy is not a distraction from faith but an expression of it.
Do you know of someone on our staff who embodies joyful discipleship by:
cultivating community and celebrating others.
participating fully and visibly in his/her faith by singing, responding, and engaging.
working with purpose as a way of serving God and others.
making time for people and finding joy in small moments.
Nominations are due Monday, February 16, 2026
A NOTE FROM MRS. LITKE
It was wonderful to visit with some of you during conferences. This year, with a scheduled early release day, we tried something new with starting conferences earlier. Your feedback is important to know if we should look at doing that again in the future. Please take a moment to complete this very short survey to help us with our planning.
https://forms.gle/u6eBKPv1uq6iFkXw9
I LOVE TO READ MONTH!
February is I Love to Read month and HTCS will be celebrating reading from Mon., Feb. 9 - Fri., Mar. 6. A packet was sent home with your child last week with challenges and prizes for those who complete them! Additionally, there will be a dress up day each week.
Thurs., Feb. 12: Pajama Day
Thurs., Feb. 19: Wacky Hair & Read My Shirt Day
Wed., Feb. 25: Book Inspired Dress Up
Mon., March 2: Dr. Seuss Theme Dress Up
PALMS FOR ASH WEDNESDAY
Please send your palms with your child no later than Tuesday, February 17, by 8:30am, for palm burning.
2025 TAX DOCUMENTATION
To access payments for 2025 tax purposes, you will need to either refer to your bank statements, or you can switch the school year on the family login screen (before you enter your username and password).
Click on "Tuition/Fees" on the left-hand side of the screen.
You can download your payments as an Excel document, or a PDF (there are 2 small icons on the right-hand side).
All payments are noted as "Payment - Check # XXXX" or "Payment - Check # MonthEFT"
Please make sure that you change the school year back to 2025-2026 before you log in again to ensure that you are in the current academic year.
LENTEN MISSION
Mark your calendars. Our ACC Lenten Mission titled, Hearts Transformed with speaker Kristin Molitor will be March 9-11. More details to follow soon.
HOLY HOUR FOR PEACE
There will be a Holy Hour for peace on Thursday, February 12th at 7pm at St. Joseph's in Pierz. In this Holy Hour we will hold in prayer all who suffer because of war, conflict or injustice and will also pray for the conversion of hearts, including our own. Everyone is welcome!
CATHOLIC Q&A
Do you have a question? Ask it here: https://forms.gle/HtyousD9FNb65d1B6
Question: How should I receive Communion (in the hand or on the tounge?)
Answer:
Here is the answer from the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) on the reception of Holy Communion. I encourage you to read it in its entirety (it isn't that long). I am then going to share with you my personal testimony on why I started receiving on the tongue.
I was asked a while back if I felt that I was "more holy" by receiving Communion on the tongue. I replied “of course not” and I asked if they wanted to know why I did.
When I made my First Holy Communion, we had to receive the Eucharist on the tongue. Shortly after that, for reasons I don't quite remember, I started to receive in my hand. I am guessing because that is what most were doing. I might also note that for whatever reason, when I was a child, I didn't realize that I was receiving the true presence of Jesus. On my faith journey that I continue to travel, I have grown and learned many things. As I learn, there are times where I become convicted and through prayer God asks something of me. This is precisely what happened to me and why I changed to receiving on my tongue.
It started with God nudging me in that direction when I was really growing in my love and understanding of the Eucharist. Then, it didn't matter which church I was in when receiving, but there were always particles left on my hand. I had grown to know that Jesus is fully present in each particle of the host and in each drop in the chalice. Therefore, I needed to consume the particles, which led to a sort of licking on of my hand, which I felt God telling me was more ridiculous than sticking out my tongue to receive Him fully the first time. (I love how God uses a sense of humor with me.) The first time receiving on the tongue after that was kind of an emotional experience for me that I didn't intend to happen. But that is how God works. He asked something of me personally, I listened, and there was a deep sense of love that filled me after I received and this continues each time I receive the Eucharist.
I need to make sure it is understood that God didn't love me any less when I was receiving on my hand, but He clearly asked something of me, and I responded. For those that are wondering and are questioning how you are receiving, ask God what He wants from you. It is not meant to be a competition or divisive gesture (receiving hand or tongue). He asks of all of us to receive in the state of grace and with reverence, and He loves us the same whether we receive on the hand or on the tongue. Through the celebration of the Eucharist, we are joined to Christ’s sacrifice and receive its inexhaustible benefits.
2026 FESTIVAL OF FAMILIES
February 22nd will be the third diocesan Festival of Families; an event designed for families to gather, play, pray, learn and celebrate their Catholic faith. This day is meant to build relationships between and within families and celebrate the joy of being Catholic. The day includes opportunities in both English and Spanish. This is a perfect way to start Lent off right.
February 22, 2026 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
St. Francis Xavier, Sartell
Cost per family: $25 (no matter the size)
If you are interested in helping out with the event, please use this link:
https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/262637858016/false#/invitation
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