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YOUTH MASSES: Youth Masses take place at Immaculate Conception Parish on the last Sunday of each month at 7pm.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our youth to participate in celebrating together in a mass designed specifically for their interests.

Please call the Parish office for more information at 519-271-6722.

Please click on a link below for more information:

Schedule of School Liturgical Celebrations

Important Sacramental Dates

Communion Reconciliation Confirmation

Stratford Parishes E-mail Links:

St. Joseph's Immaculate Conception

Diocese Web Page

Roman Catholic Diocese of London

We are a Catholic Community of Caring

Our Catholic Community of Caring

RESPECT

Respect is treating and honoring all life and the awe of God’s creation with reverence, consideration and dignity. Respect is a way of treating others with civility and courtesy, accepting personal differences, listening to what others have to say, and refraining from ridiculing, embarrassing or hurting others. Respectful people demonstrate and believe in deference, consideration, appreciation, tolerance, justice, peace and equality. Follow the Golden Rule!

People care when they:

	are polite (please, thank you, pardon me, yes)
	respect themselves (take care of themselves: hygiene, grooming, dress, etc)
	respect property by taking care that they don't break/ruin things they use and by returning what they have borrowed (in the same condition) to the person they borrowed from as soon as they are finished with it
	apologize when they hurt someone without being told (whether the hurt was on purpose or not)
	refrain from gossiping and teasing
	are respectful of their elders and authority (i.e. following rules)

CARING

Caring is a way of feeling and behaving. Caring people are attentive, concerned and exhibit empathy for others. Caring people are kind, compassionate, supportive, gentle, thoughtful and forgiving. Caring people are grateful, respond selflessly to the needs of others and treat everyone with generosity, tenderness and love.

People care when they:

accept and value others for who they are (they do not put down or tease or gang up on others)

encourage and compliment others

think of others first (put the needs of others first: giving a thirsty friend a drink before taking one for yourself, letting your friend have the last cookie, stepping aside to let an elderly person go before you)

show appreciation for what is done for them by saying thank you and by returning favours

are compassionate (they try to understand others' needs and feelings, and to help to give them what they need)

FAITH

Faith is central to everything we do. All values are linked to our Catholic faith. We believe and are devout to our obligation as Catholics to be consistent and show fidelity and veneration to our common loyalty: to adhere firmly and live as a community following Jesus Christ. We strive to achieve a Christ-like character. Faith and learning…celebrate the journey!

FAMILY

The family is the basic unit in society that shares a common, cooperative attribute. Families share responsibility for each other, demonstrate a mutual respect, trust and caring among members and value the commitment entrusted within this social group. The partnership and coordinated efforts among family members goes beyond parents, children, relatives, parish, school, and local communities; it also includes the world. Families have an obligation to teach universal values, protect each other and the environment and promote equality, justice, peace and love seen through a Catholic lens.

People care when they:

	welcome new people to the group
	do something special or say something kind to show they care for someone
	include others (they do not leave people out)

RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibility is often regarded as a burden, but is actually a great source of personal power. It is the key to taking charge of our lives, sticking to goals, believing and trusting in ourselves, trying our best to reach our potential. We learn that responsible people fulfill their duties and obligations, follow through on commitments, use good judgment and are trustworthy and reliable. Responsible people are self-disciplined and active participants in society, consider consequences, are accountable for choices and persevere for the common good.

People care when they:

	offer to help without being asked
	do their share of the work, on time
	stand up for what is right without hurting others
	take care of the environment

TRUST

Trust is the basis of all good relationships and a cornerstone of good character. We learn that trustworthy people keep their promises, are honest, reliable, principled, and never inappropriately betray a confidence. A trustworthy person is dependable, supportive, sincere, considerate, loyal and just. To have trust in someone, you are confident in their faithfulness, courage and sincerity and value their integrity.

People care when they:

	are honest
	play fair and share
	do the right thing because it is the right thing to do

We are members of the Holy Childhood Association

This is a Catholic organization that enables our children to help other children throughout the world. Each student has received a membership card and we are working throughout the school year as missionaries to bring hope and to provide for the needs of children around the world.

Students have brought home a collection container that they are using all year long to collect spare change to donate to the association. During our Advent project in which we collected for the Holy Childhood Association, we raised just over $600 to donate to the Association.

Through our missionary work with Holy Childhood, we are learning about social justice issues facing children in the world and doing our part to help. It is a wonderful learning experience for our children.

For more information on this mission, you can visit their website at: http://www.missionsocieties.ca/child.htm

Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board

Jeanne Sauvé Catholic School

8 Grange Street

Stratford, ON N5A 3P6

519-273-3396 Fax: 519-273-6844