Fr. Jerry's 50 - St. Monica's Parish

St. Monica Parish Whitefish Bay
Thank you to everyone who helped me to celebrate my 50 th birthday last weekend.
What a great party! We estimated that over 900 people attended the party on
Saturday evening. It was a wonderful turn out of young and old, people from both
parishes and of course the appearance of the Racing Sausages from the Milwaukee
Brewers (although the Polish Sausage was AWOL – he must have been busy
packing for Spring Training). If you didn’t make it to the party or you didn’t stay until the end, you
missed my musical debut, as the band called me on stage to accompany them. My musical instrument
– the Cow Bell! The whole evening was so much fun.
Thank you to the organizers of this party, the crew of ladies who pulled this together did an amazing
job, and thanks to their husbands & families who put in long hours as well. Thank you to the many people who donated
items for the party – beer, water, soda, decorations, centerpieces, games and prizes, even the band was donated. Your
generosity is so much appreciated.
I also want to thank everyone who sent in a gift. I had asked for gifts to be given to help support the youth mission trips at
St. Eugene & St. Monica, as well as the youth trip next fall to the National Catholic Youth Conference. The initial count of
gifts and donations is over $6,000 and still counting, which is absolutely amazing. Thank you for your generosity!
A few other quick orders of business:
1. Thank you to everyone who helped with the Respect Life Mass and reception this past week, as we welcomed
Archbishop Listecki.
2. Don’t forget to stop and visit our school during Catholic Schools Week.
3. I will be taking a week of vacation from February 2 – 9. I am looking forward to some warmer weather in sunny
Florida.
God bless and Have a great week.
Fr. Jerry Herda
“An Exemplary Recognition K4~8 School”
Catholic Schools Week, beginning this weekend and running through February 2 nd ,
is one of the highlights of the year at St. Monica School. We have planned a
variety of activities for students, families and community members, and we hope
you will join us as we celebrate what makes Catholic education unique.
This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools Raise the Standards.” High standards are nothing new for Catholic
schools, which have long been known for their emphasis on academic excellence, faith development and
commitment to service. We teach our students faith, not just the basics of Christianity, but how to have a relationship with God.
We hold them to high academic standards and do everything we can to help students reach their full potential. We also teach
them how to serve, both as a way to express their faith and to become good citizens.
Here at St. Monica School we are proud to offer an education that is distinctive among educational institutions in our
community. We are excited to have the opportunity during Catholic Schools Week to share what our students are learning and
what they have accomplished. I hope you and your family will join us at our open house on Sunday, January 27 th, between
11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to see these characteristics in action. Please bring your friends and neighbors, particularly those who
may be thinking about Catholic education for their children.
When you visit the school, I am sure you will be as proud of our students as we are. What helps make their accomplishment
possible is the dedication and commitment of our teachers, staff, administration, board members, parents, and volunteers. I’m
thankful for them every day, because through their dedication and commitment, our students are learning in a culture of faith,
academics and service that is preparing them for a full life in their families, communities and the Catholic Church.
I want to make a point at this special time of year for Catholic schools of publicly extending my deepest appreciation to all the
parishioners of St. Monica Parish. Your steadfast commitment and devotion to our school allows us the opportunity to educate
our children in their faith and is the assurance of their future. Thank you for your partnership.
Devotedly yours in Christ,
Julie Ann Robinson, Principal