From the Holy Gospel proclaimed on April 29, we are reminded of the beauty of faithful work and joyful service. The disciples laboured through the night, casting their nets again and again. At first, they caught nothing. Yet in obedience and trust, they continued. And in that moment of faithfulness, the Lord filled their nets beyond what they could imagine. This is the message for us. Through hard work, through perseverance, through offering ourselves in service, we discover purpose. Through giving of ourselves, we discover joy. Through living as servants, we come alive in Christ.

Our Lord teaches us that work is not a burden when it is offered in love. Work becomes a gift. Work becomes a path to holiness. Work becomes a way to serve one another and to glorify God. What a blessing it is to be called into action. What a gift it is to be alive and to serve.

There is so much joy in our hearts as we look ahead to Friday and our school dance. What a beautiful moment this will be for our students. A special thank you to our Student Council, and especially to Anne Boyle, for the incredible dedication and love that has gone into preparing this event. So much unseen work, so many hours given with joyful hearts. This is what builds community. This is what creates lasting memories. As it is said, memories are built in moments like these, moments where love, effort, and joy come together.

At the same time, we continue forward with great energy as we prepare for our Carnival. There are many moving parts and so much goodness unfolding. A friendly reminder to all members of the Carnival Committee that we will gather this Friday at 6:30 PM in the boardroom on the second level. Your presence is important as we continue this beautiful work together.

Now for some very exciting news for our students. Get ready. Step forward. Be part of something big. Our E bike raffle is here, and students will be receiving their raffle ticket booklets. This is your moment to shine, to lead, and to help build something beautiful for our school. The student who sells the most booklets will win $Cash Prize. The class that sells the most booklets will celebrate together with a pizza party. Every single booklet sold places your name into a draw for a Saint John Paul II Academy spirit wear hoodie. Every effort matters. Every ticket matters. Every student matters. This is more than a raffle. This is teamwork. This is leadership. This is joy in action. Go out with confidence. Share with family and friends. Tell them why you love your school. Tell them what we are building together. Invite them to be part of this mission. Let us fill those booklets. Let us lift one another up. Let us celebrate together. A special thank you to Mr. Tony Walters for these wonderful ideas, and thank you to Italia and Holly for organizing and bringing this to life with such energy and care.

Please also note an important update regarding Saturday. For those planning to attend Troy’s campaign launch at 10 AM, the location has been moved to Peace Portal Golf Course. Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions, please contact me directly.

A heartfelt thank you to Bill Tomkinson from the Knights of Columbus for helping to promote our Flea Market. There is still space available for tables, and we are excited to welcome even more people into this joyful celebration. There will be something for everyone. From sweet honey to gentle moments petting a bunny, to enjoying the wonderful offerings from John Volken Academy Farm with organic frozen meats and well loved beef jerky that you can bring home and share with your families.

If you know someone who would love to showcase their products and be part of this vibrant day, please connect them with Italia. Italia has been working tirelessly, giving her time with such generosity, ensuring that this event will be festive, welcoming, and filled with life.

As we look ahead to our Golf Tournament, we are filled with gratitude. We have invited benefactors to join us, to experience the beauty of our school, the strength of our community, and the heart of who we are. We are called to be like Christ. We are called to be disciples. We are called to live as the saints lived, with courage, love, and faith. This event is more than a gathering. It is a witness to our mission.

If you have not yet secured your tickets, I encourage you to do so. Come and rejoice. Come and be part of the living spirit of Saint John Paul II Academy.

A sincere thank you to David Fanning for his leadership. Thank you to Gen Randle for your dedication. Thank you to Holly and to all the parents who have lovingly prepared baskets. Your generosity is seen. Your generosity is felt. God bless each one of you.

A joyful and important reminder for May 9. This is a beautiful opportunity for our community to purchase top quality soil for your gardens, your flowers, and your vegetables. This soil will bring life to your homes, and at the same time it will give life to our school. The funds raised will go directly toward our industrial education program, supporting hands on learning and growth for our students.

With grateful hearts, we thank Dr. David Wilke, Holly, Italia, Maria, and all those who worked so diligently, filling 200 bags with care and dedication. This is what love in action looks like. This is what service looks like. Your work is a blessing to our community.

Let us continue forward with joyful hearts. Let us work with purpose. Let us serve with love. And in all things, let us give thanks to God who calls us into this beautiful life.

God bless you all.