Happy New Year!

As we say goodbye to 2007, we reflect on the many blessings during the month of December at BA. We give special thanks to our dear faithful friends, Father ST Sutton and Father James Worth, for bringing the Lord's healing and forgiveness during our Christmas Reconciliation Service.

We also give thanks and praise to our Secret Santa donor for the many wonderful gifts we were able to share with our staff and students.

Lastly, we are most grateful to Patti

McLaughlin of the Center for Hospice. It is through her kindness, that we were able to offer a Good Grief Program for several of our senior students who were experiencing significant losses in their lives.

We look forward to a New Year of new beginnings, a year full of peace and hope. Happy New Year to all our family & friends!

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, December 4th, 7:30 p.m.

We are pleased to invite all family, friends, & special guests (readers of our blog) to a special Advent Family Prayer Service on Tuesday evening, December 4th at the St. Walburga Monastery Chapel at 7:30 p.m. The service will be approximately 45 minutes. Special Guest Artist, Rev. Matthew Labriola, will create a charcoal painting of the Nativity Scene before our very eyes as we hear the Christmas Story. Sister Germaine Fritz and our Gospel Choir will join our pianist in providing sacred music and song. This will be a Christmas event that you will always remember!
No reservations necessary. All are welcome.

Come early and join us for our annual Christmas Tree Lighting, hot chocolate & sandwiches at 6:15 p.m. across the street at Benedictine Academy School. For more information, call the Development office @ (908) 352-0670, ext. 105, 106, or 107. R.S.V.P. only for those who are planning to attend the light dinner hosted by BAPA (Parents Association)

Thanksgiving Prayer Service

Benedictine Academy's Gospel Choir and Praise Dancers

began our special Thanksgiving Prayer Service

giving thanks and praise to our awesome God.

"Our Father, we are thankful in deed
for this time we have set aside,
to call us from our busy walk in life,
to give thanks for the many wonderful things
you do in our lives.
We pause to say "THANK YOU"
because we are grateful... in Jesus Name. Amen."
Our Beloved Rev. Davis gave an inspiring Thanksgiving Sermon to our Benedictine School Community this past Wednesday morning. He spoke of our society being caught between "GREED" & "NEED"; and of the importance of treasuring all that we have been given so that we may take the opportunity to share the excess with others who are less fortunate.

Rev. Davis is the father of alumnae, Ericka Davis, graduating class of '07.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Literally hundreds of canned goods and nonperishable food items were collected to share with families who are in need. Working together with St. Joseph's Coalition for the Homeless, our National Honor Society Students in conjuction with our Campus Ministers, Sisters on a Mission, raised the awareness of their classmates to help feed the hungry. In less than one week, students were bringing in bags and bags of canned vegetables, soups, boxes of oatmeal, and other food staples. "Lord, when did we see you...? Whenever you gave to the least of my brothers, you gave to me." (Matthew 25:31-46)

PEER MENTORING PROGRAM IS FULLY UNDERWAY

BA's Senior Campus Ministers meet every other week with our Freshmen Students to support and guide them as they become acclimated to new high school/teenage challenges. This week the hot topic of discussion was "gossip" and how it erodes relationships between God, the listener, the person being spoken about, and even one self. Our daily motto is "Whatever hurts my sister hurts me." This Program is only one of the many ways we at Benedictine Academy live out our charism of being a family, a real community.

NOT NOW!

This week, Marisol Rodriguez from the NJ Coalition for Abstinence empowered our students to stand strong and choose to be free. In other words, "NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE". Our students learned of the media lies, short term and long term dangers of STD's and the power of self-control. Most important, our young ladies learned they are worthy of the best. They are God's treasure and they have been given the choice to be in control of their destiny!

Especially for Moms

Hi Moms and Grandmothers!
This message is especially for you.
Simply click on the following site, sit back and enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anSpBUxsgAU
God Bless You.