The Patrioteer – February 20, 2026

Lent started this week with Ash Wednesday. I know it can seem pretty hectic this time of year, but Lent is a great opportunity to slow down and centre Christ in your daily life. Even children can do their own fasts or sacrifices to remember that, as Catholics, we do not avoid suffering, but offer up our daily inconveniences and annoyances for the good. “Offering up” something that you like in order to remember that others have less, or that God is more important than the luxuries in our life. These sacrifices can help our children become resilient, mindful, and grateful. 

Wishing you all a prayerful and peaceful Lenten Season! 

Check out these ideas from CatholicIcing.com

1. Start a sacrifice jar with beans, where every time your child does a sacrifice they add a bean. A tangible way to see sacrifices grow.
2. Give something up for Lent as a family, even if your kids are young enough that they don’t “have” to. We always give up candy as a blanket sacrifice, and then decide on other things. Other good “blanket sacrifices” are no music in the car, no eating out, silent “monastery” lunches, or drinking only water during Lent.
3. Set up an almsgiving box– you simply set out a box, and take 1 thing from your own pantry every day of Lent. At the end of Lent, take the box to a food pantry.
4. Add extra prayers to your daily life. Maybe this is extra prayers in the morning or at bedtime. If you have older kids, encourage them to set extra goals for personal prayer as well. 

  St. Jude, Pray for Us! 

Student-led conferences are a way for students to show parents their learning and it involves multiple groups of parents in the classrooms touring various stations. Each time slot is 30 minutes. This year, it will take place on Friday, March 13th from 10am – 4:30pm. Students are to come to the conference dressed in school uniform. To book your time slot, please click here:  https://schoolinterviews.ca/code/ny8ar

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON THIS DAY.

Grade Six has been working on their own STEM projects and today was the day to workshop their ideas. The class is making good use of our new chompsaws which were purchased this year for our ADST/STEM classes.

Thanks to Ms. Corea for supporting this fun endeavour! 

Our Grade 3/4 Jamboree was a huge success. We hosted teams from OLS in our gym on Thursday. 

Basketball playoffs will take place next week for Grade 6 girls and Grade 7 boys and girls! 

Go Patriots, Go! 

Parents of Grades 5-7 students received a letter home about the parent meeting taking place on March 3 on the topic of Human Growth and Development at the school gym from 7-8:30 pm.   Questions should go through the office. If you are unable to attend, please alert the office for alternate programming.

Exciting news! St. Jude School is partnering with Little Pawns Academy to offer after school Chess lessons. Little Pawns was started by a Canadian GrandMaster with the goal of bringing Chess to Canadian students and inspiring a love of the game. Classes are open to students in Grades 3-7 and will take place Tuesdays after school from 3:00-4:00pm. There will be three sets of sessions starting Mid-February and pausing for spring break and Easter. Registration must be completed at least one week before each session begins and class sizes are limited so sign up soon! Sign up forms are found on our website here. For more information check out the Little Pawns website: academiedespetitspions.com.

Schedule

Spring Session 2 — April 7-May 12: 6 classes for $120

Spring Session 3 — May 12-June 23: 6 classes for $120 

Our very own St. Jude Orchestra will be performing on Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm in the St. Jude School Gym. 

Come on out to support our student musicians on their big night!

We are excited to launch a year-round Bottle Drive to raise funds for the Grade 7 Graduation.

You can help by donating your empty beverage containers through the Return-It Express Program.  Stickers can by printed at the Return-It Express kiosk by entering St. Jude Fundraising and phone number 604-616-3220.   Please see attached flyer for more information. 

Thank you for supporting Grade 7 fundraising.  

If your family has recently moved, or if you have a new phone number, please email office@stjude.ca with your new address/contact information so that we can update our records.

St. Jude’s Parish offers an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program for anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic faith and for Catholics who have not received the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation.  Classes are held on Thursdays at 6pm in the church hall.  For more information, please contact the parish office at 604-434-6700.

Our Care Day this month is February 27, don’t forget the noon dismissal.

In honour of Lunar New Year, Black History Month, the Start of Lent and other important February Days we will be celebrating culture and heritage in February! Students may dress in traditional cultural clothing of their heritage, or can observe Lent by dressing in purple or blue. 

St. Jude Parish Mass Times

Monday – Saturday: 9 am morning Masses
Novena Mass on Wednesdays: 7:30 pm
Saturday anticipated Mass: 5 pm
Sunday Mass: 9 am, 11 am, 5 pm