Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
PASTORAL PLAN
School Name:
School Mission Statement:
The mission statement of St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Elementary School
is to assist each and every one in our school community to grow in
caring and courage. We strive, as did our patron Saint Isaac Jogues, to
help all become strong and gentle messengers of God’s love. We are
committed to providing a sound, quality education in a genuine, caring
environment where each child may grow to his/her full potential.
School Motto: Living, Loving, Learning
Pastoral Plan Links to Strategic Plan/Catholic Board Learning Plan:
 Link: Strategic Plan 2014-2019 Strategic System Plan
 Link: Catholic Board Learning Plan CBLP 2013-2016
Our Parish: St. Marguerite D'Youville
Pastor: Rev. Robert Mignella
Parish website: http://www.council9235.com
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Pastoral Plan
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Message from the Pastor: Having grown up in the TDCSB system, I can reflect
back on the numerous collaborative efforts made between parish, school, and
family home to provide as authentic a Christian faith experience as possible
during my upbringing. Accordingly then, my pastoral plan is to continue to offer
Jesus…through the preaching of His Word, the Sacraments where he is
encountered, and the invitation to share in the mission of his Church of with
which he entrusts us. Only Jesus keeps Catholic education vital and essential
rather than redundant and irrelevant.
Message from the Catholic School Council:
St. Isaac Jogues is a vibrant school of 420 students. The School Council values the
important relationship between home, school, and church. We hope all students’
gather in prayer with their families and make the Sunday liturgy part of their
family life.
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Pastoral Plan
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Catholic Education Week Theme: Opening the Doors to Mercy
Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s
presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society.
May 1st- May 6th, 2016 is Catholic Education Week.
Each day will focus on a particular nuance of Catholic Education Week theme, “Opening Doors
of Mercy”. Each day there will be a prayer service over the PA to celebrate the subthemes of
each day of the week. The Catholic Education Week song will also be played.
During Catholic Education Week, students will participate in our celebration of the Crowing of
Mary. Our Intermediate Students will participate on our BECDM Diversity Family Day.
Monday May 2: Mercy that Welcomes (Jesus and the Woman at the Well : John 4:1-42)
Tuesday May 3: Mercy that Loves (The Good Samaritan :Luke 10:25-37)
Wednesday May 4: Mercy that Forgives (The Prodigal Son : Luke 15: 11-32)
Thursday May 5: Mercy that Lives the Gospel (Zacchaeus : Luke 19:1-10)
Friday May 6: Mercy that Rejoices (Healing of the Paralytic : Luke 5 : 17:26)
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Pastoral Plan
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Faith Formation:
Forming ourselves in our Catholic faith is a foundational element in helping
each of us understand and live in the example of Christ. At St. Isaac Jogues
prayer is an integral part of all subjects. Through an effective partnership with
the church, home, and school, we all encourage our entire student body to
attend church regularly as a family. This year, our Grades 2, 7, and 8 will receive
their respective sacraments at single celebrations of the Sacraments of
Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation.
Forming ourselves in our Catholic faith is a foundational element in helping
each of us understand and live in the example of Christ. As a community of
faith, we show our compassion and generosity by giving to those in need. We
will continue to demonstrate our commitment to Jesus and his ministry through
community service projects. By reaching out to others, students are
encouraged to become thoughtful and caring members of the community and
to appreciate the importance of social justice and stewardship. Various
outreach initiatives will occur throughout the year, such as food drives, Terry
Fox Run, , Share Life/United Way events and ongoing support for the parish/
community events that support families in need.
Staff also participate in First Friday Liturgies to visibly show faith and also
participate in Family and Board Level Adult Faith Retreats.
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Pastoral Plan
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Sacramental Preparation:
As Catholic we understand sacraments to be "outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace."
Together in partnership with our parish, we support the preparation of God’s children in
receiving the sacraments.
Event
Grade 2
Grade 7 and 8
Sacrament of
Reconciliation
Sacrament of Holy
Communion
Sacrament of
Confirmation
Saturday Feb. 2010:30 a.m.
Saturday April 305:00p.m.
May 3- 7:00 p.m.
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Pastoral Plan
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Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and
share in prayer.
Celebration
Date
October 8, 2015
Opening/ Thanksgiving Mass
9:30 a.m. – School
November 11, 2015
Remembrance Day
11:00 a.m. - School
November 29, 2015
Advent Season Begins
December 2, 2015
Advent Mass
1:00 p.m. – School
February 20, 2016
Reconciliation
(Grade 2)
February 10, 2015
Ash Wednesday Service
9:30 a.m. - School
February/March
Share Life/Lent
March 24 , 2015
Holy Thursday – Stations of the Cross
March 25, 2015
Good Friday
March 1, 2015
Lenten Mass
1:15 p.m.- school
May 2, 2015
-
Month of Mary Celebration
Schedule to follow
Saturday April 30- 5pm
First Holy Communion
(Grade 2)
Tuesday May 3- 7pm
Confirmation
(Grade 7/8)
May 1- May 6, 2015
Catholic Education Week
June 14 ,2015
Year End Mass
June 22, 2015- 7pm
Graduation Ceremony
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Social Justice / Outreach Activities / Charities:
Catholic Social Teachings of the Church root our actions in supporting human dignity and the
preferential option of the poor which calls us to serve the most vulnerable in the world.
At St. Isaac Jogues we participate in a huge variety of social justice and
outreach activities. This includes: Helping Hands, supporting Dr. Simone’s
Warehouse, Food Drives and visiting our local Senior’s Centre. We encourage
guests from the community to speak to our student and parent body to
present positive role models.
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Pastoral Plan
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Recognizing Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations:
Framed by the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE), our graduates will be
effective communicators, reflective thinkers, lifelong learners, collaborative contributors, caring
family members, responsible citizens and discerning believers formed in the Catholic faith
community.
To celebrate Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, we as a
school community believe that
… we grow in our faith as a community by living the gospel values of love,
justice, compassion, and service in our daily lives.
… each individual within the community can grow intellectually,
emotionally, socially and spiritually through meaningful and challenging
learning experiences.
… we bring out the best in each other by working together to create
welcoming and supportive relationships.
… all partners in our school – staff, parish, parents, and volunteers strive
to put children first by building a community that communicates
effectively and works cooperatively with one another.
… each individual is unique and that treating each other with courtesy,
kindness and respect fosters a caring and safe learning environment.
… a professional staff working collaboratively to enhance the learning
environment and their own learning enriches the lives of everyone.
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Pastoral Plan
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Celebrating Virtues:
A virtue is a habit or established capacity to perform good actions according to a moral
standard. When we practice these virtues we strengthen them and thereby make the presence
of God more and more visible in the world around us.
St. Isaac Jogues displays the Monthly Virtues prominently in our front Display
Case. These virtues are woven into all subject matter, and are combined with
our “Four School Golden Rules.” This year, St. Isaac Jogues School will focus on
Digital Citizenship. Posters are being created by all children from Grades JK- 8
that will reflect our school focus on Technology that still respects our Mission to
educate our children in a Catholic environment and follow the Virtues that
allow all schools in Dufferin Peel to follow a common set of beliefs about God’s
will for all people.
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Pastoral Plan
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Visible Signs of our Faith:
Through symbol and service, we are instruments of God’s love whose work within our
communities stands as a witness to our faith.
St. Isaac Jogues School uses many meaningful objects and images. The cross and
the crucifix are probably the most common image that is located in all
classrooms. The crucifix in each class has been blessed by the church and
represents the self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all peoples, and the kind of love
He calls us to have for others. Another common symbolic object is the altar. It
reminds us of the sacrificial altars of the Old Testament and the fulfillment in
the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
We alter the linen colours on the altar to signify different attitudes of prayer
associated with the Church’s liturgical seasons (Lent, Advent, etc.).
Daily prayer to start and end our day allows our student body to be united in
our Catholic faith. All assemblies and presentations from guest speakers will be
introduced through prayer.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of
them.” Matthew 18:20
Resource List for Parents:
 Religious Education Curriculum - Ontario Religious Education Curriculum
 Family Life Curriculum - Ontario Family Life Curriculum
 Fully Alive Program information - Ontario Bishops' information on Fully Alive
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Resource List for Schools:
Board
 Vocations Units
We have Vocations units as part of the Grades 2, 5, and 8 curriculum. The goal of these
supplementary units is to deepen one’s understanding of God’s call – the “vocare” – to
various forms of life within the Church.
 History of the Parish
Through the resource book Our Story, Our Tradition, Our Journey, grade 7 students have
the opportunity to learn about the history of our parish.
 Enduring Gift Video
School-Based
St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School works closely with our spiritual leaders from St.
Marguerite D’Youville Church. Fr. Robert Mignella will collaborate with the school
to help us celebrate our faith in many positive ways as we develop together as a
school community.
We continue to invite and seek guidance of parents on our School Council in the
faith formation of our students. The input of the School Council and student body
is vital. Ongoing and effective communication between the home and school is
essential for supporting our student’s faith formation and creating successful
learning experiences. Parents are welcome to attend school liturgies, sacramental
preparations, and to support our efforts in creating a strong sense of stewardship
among our students by supporting school outreach projects and community
charities.
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