Anticipation: Not only is Advent a time for anticipating Christmas, but it’s a time for anticipating another birthday — that of Pope Francis, who turns 85 on Friday, Dec. 17. Please continue to pray for him.
State’s best: The robotics team at St. Bridget School, Richmond, won Virginia’s FIRST LEGO League competition Dec. 4-5 in Harrisonburg, and has advanced to the world championship in Houston, April 20-23. The team won the robot performance and champions awards and was nominated for the World Innovation Award for their project to improve the transportation of products using school buses.
More St. Joseph: Even though the Year of St. Joseph ended on Dec. 8, thanks to the Knights of Columbus, you can watch a documentary film about him titled “St. Joseph: Our Spiritual Father” at www.kofc.org/stjoseph.
Dressing down for a good cause: St. Matthew School, Virginia Beach, dressed down on Monday, Nov. 29, to help make a difference. Through the fundraising event, they raised $1,000.41 for Commonwealth Catholic Charities’ Afghan Refugee Relief Fund.
Good people doing good things: Thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Beazley Foundation this fall, St. Matthew School has nearly half of the money it needs to cover the cost of replacing the oldest of its three buses.
Good people doing good things II: The State Council of the Virginia Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a raffle that will result in a $20,000 donation to Children’s Hospital of Richmond Hematology and Oncology Clinic AND a new car “of your choice” (maximum cost $50K) for the person with the winning ticket. A $20 ticket might make a nice Christmas gift — especially if it is the winning ticket. Details at www.vakofc.org.