First Thursday of Advent 2017

Jesse Tree Story: ISAAC
Jesse Tree Symbol: THE ALTAR OF HOLOCAUST

Scripture: "I will bless you and make your descendants
as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the
seashore; your descendants will take possession of the
gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the
nations of the earth will find blessing, because you
obeyed my command.” Genesis 22:17-18

Commentary: Since God saved Isaac from the
sacrificial altar, he was able to carry on God's
promise to Abraham.

Readings of the Day:
Isaiah 26:1-6
Psalm 118
Matthew 7:21, 24-27

First Wednesday of Advent 2017

~Today is also the Feast of St. Nicholas. Please click on the link to the right for more information on this saint.~

Jesse Tress Story: ABRAHAM
Jesse Tree Symbol: A RAM


Scripture: " I will bless you and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth will find blessing, because you obeyed my command."
Genesis 22:17-18

Commentary: When Abraham was about to sacrifice his own son, God gave him a ram to offer instead. He then promised Abraham that the entire world would be blessed by one of his descendants--Christ. 

Readings for the Day:
Isaiah 25:6-10
Psalm 23
Matthew 15:29-37

First Tuesday of Advent 2017

Jesse Tree Story: NOAH
Jesse Tree Symbol: THE ARK

Scripture: "'Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves shall he
be to his brothers.' He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the
God of Shem! Let Canaan be his slave. May God expand
Japeth, and may he dwell among the tents of Shem; and
let Canaan be his slave!'"
 Genesis 9:25-27

Commentary: The Ark represents the promise of salvation given by God through Noah. It also symbolizes the Church by which we travel tempestuous waters of life.

Readings of the Day:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72
Luke 10: 21-24

First Monday of Advent 2017

Jesse Tree Story: Abel
Jesse Tree Symbol: A Lamb

Scripture: "Yahweh asked Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?'
'I do not k now,' he replied. 'Am I my brother's guardian?'
'What have you done?' Yahweh asked. 'Listen!
Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.
Now be cursed and banned from the ground that has
opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood at your hands.'"

Genesis 4:9-11

Commentary: God chose certain persons to foreshadow something related to Christ or to His Kingdom. Just as the blood of Abel cried out to God, so Christ's blood calls for forgiveness and grace.

Readings for the Day:

Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm  122
Matthew 8:5-11

First Sunday of Advent 2017

Jesse Tree Story: ADAM & EVE
Jesse Tree Symbol: AN EATEN APPLE

Scripture: "I shall put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;
it will bruise your head and you will strike its heel."
Genesis 3:15

Commentary: The first promise of the coming of the Redeemer, Christ, was made to Adam and Eve in Paradise after they disobeyed God.

Readings for the Day:
Isaiah 63: 16-17, 19B, 64: 2-7
Psalm 80
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37

Season of ADVENT 2017

Welcome back to the OLQHS RELIGIOUS INTERACTIVE SITE.

Every Advent, Christmas, Lent & Easter, we come together to walk the journey of the seasons as a school community. We invite you and your family to join us on our journey as we discover a deeper meaning of the Liturgical Seasons.

During Advent, we will be building a JESSE TREE. Every day, this site will post a Jesse Tree Symbol that goes with a story from Scripture. There will also be a short commentary about the symbol and scripture. The Liturgical Readings for the Day will also be notated, along with any special Feast Days or traditions. Feel free to use the links at the right of the page to navigate to sites, where you can access the Readings for the Day and other information.

We hope that you and your family have a FAITH-FILLED Advent Season

WHAT IS A JESSE TREE?

The Jesse Tree

"O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign for all people, standing before the silence of kings, to whom the gentiles offer their prayers.  Come and deliver us."

The Jesse Tree helps us to remember that Advent is a time of waiting for the coming of the Savior.  It is a symbol of life and growth and is expressed through the ancestry of an individual.  The image is not unusual to us since we also speak about our family tree or our roots.

Jesse, whom the tree is named after, was the father of King David.  The tree reminds us of all the people who waited for the coming of the Savior.  We decorate the tree with symbols that remind us of some of the people who waited for the coming of the Savior--the patriarchs and matriarchs (our fathers and mothers in faith), the prophets, and the parents of the Lord.

If you would like to have your own Jesse Tree for your family in your home, please refer to links posted on the sidebar for assistance.

November 2017 - OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE

Hello everyone!

We hope that you and your family have had a wonderful and blessed Spring, Summer and Fall since we last posted at Pentecost. We are preparing this month to start up our daily posts during the Advent & Christmas Seasons so please check back with us starting on December 3.

Until then, I would like to tell you and your family about some wonderful OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE in which our OLQHS community is participating.

First, in an effort to help the needy of our area, we will put together our traditional Thanksgiving Baskets.  We would appreciate all the support and help you can give in order to enrich the holiday season for these members of our community.  Remember the call of the Gospel which reminds us to share freely with the poor what we have been freely given. Collection week for Thanksgiving Baskets will be November 6-10.  Thank you for your on-going generosity! Examples of items to bring for the food drive are: potted meat, peanut butter, dried beans, rice, pasta products, instant potatoes, Vienna sausages, sugar, flour, canned tuna, canned soup, macaroni & cheese, pork & beans, grits, oatmeal, canned or powdered milk, kool-aid, canned vegetables & fruit, tomato products, and baby food. 
Second, as a SCHOOL-WIDE project, OLQHS will participate in a program that stretches across the world and reaches many people in need. Since 1993, OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD has been sending packed Christmas shoeboxes to children all over the world. For the past 11 years, the OLQH CUB SCOUTS have participated in OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. Eight years ago, we extended an invitation to the students and parish community to participate in this amazing program. Over the years, the OLQH Community has donated over 4000 packed shoeboxes!!! THAT IS WONDERFUL!!!!  Last year, we almost made our goal of 800…with 753 shoeboxes being collected. Each box is 1 child that knows he or she is loved…each box is 1 child that knows someone is praying for them…each box is 1 child that will experience God’s Love through your generosity.
This year, we hope to see the program grow even more… to make this the LARGEST COLLECTION WEEK of our OLQHS~OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD history!!! EACH STUDENT & SCOUT will receive a SPECIAL OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Shoebox to fill. In each shoebox will be a brochure explaining the program, a prayer card bookmark and an ALL ABOUT ME page. If you need more information you can click on the RELIGIOUS INTERACTIVE link on the OLQHS website. A list of sites, including the OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD site will be linked. You can also view videos about how these simple gifts make amazing differences in the lives of these children. Please remember to include the $9 shipping fee with each shoebox. PLEASE BE ADVISED that they have disallowed the packing of CANDY and TOTHPASTE in the shoeboxes because they cause problems with customs...so NO CANDY OR TOOTHPASTE. You CAN pack additional shoeboxes and you can use regular shoeboxes or plastic containers. Plastic snap containers that are about the same size as a shoebox are an EXCELLENT additional gift. The family that receives it can use the plastic boxes to keep grains safe or to collect water. You can even have a PACKING PARTY where a group gets together and packs MULTIPLE boxes

Tracking Your Boxes or Letter of Thanks

On the Operation Christmas Child website, you can print out special labels that allow you to TRACK-YOUR-BOX. The company will send you an email shortly after your box is delivered telling you in what country a special child received your gift. In years past, boxes from OLQHS have gone to Benin, Kenya, Tunisia, Madagascar, Ghana, China, India, Belize, Peru and Russia! Sometimes, people receive very moving THANK YOU letters from the children that received their shoeboxes. This is such a special treat! If you receive a thank you letter or if you track your box, could you please let Mrs. Tanner know? She is keeping a scrapbook that plots how many countries we reach over time. She is including in this scrapbook copies of thank you letters received.
 
Collection Week for the shoeboxes is NOVEMBER 13-17, but you can start packing and bringing them in now. Students that pack shoeboxes will receive either a sticker or a balloon when they turn in their packed shoebox.