The Good News Newsletter is a periodic publication that provides updates on the Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. We currently distribute to over 3000 alums, families and friends. We would like to continually increase our distribution. So, if you know of any alums, families or friends of St. Matthew's who are not currently receiving The Good News, please contact us with their mailing information. The-Good-News-Fall-Winter-2025.pdf COS Students Out Pace National Average Growth in Math & Reading. A year ago, we reported impressive growth in reading skills for Community of … [Read more...] about The Good News Fall Winter 2025
The Good News newsletter
The Good News from Alums and Families and Friends is a periodic publication that provides updates on the Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. Click here for a full listing of past Good News newsletters: st-matts.org/the-good-news/
The Good News Summer 2025
The Good News Newsletter is a periodic publication that provides updates on the Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. We currently distribute to over 3000 alums, families and friends. We would like to continually increase our distribution. So, if you know of any alums, families or friends of St. Matthew's who are not currently receiving The Good News, please contact us with their mailing information. Download PDF file: The Good News Summer 2025 Community of Saints 2025 Grads: Well Prepared and Ready to Launch. Next year, graduates from COS will attend seven different high … [Read more...] about The Good News Summer 2025
The Good News Spring 2025
The Good News Newsletter is a periodic publication that provides updates on the Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. We currently distribute to over 3000 alums, families and friends. We would like to continually increase our distribution. So, if you know of any alums, families or friends of St. Matthew's who are not currently receiving The Good News, please contact us with their mailing information. Download PDF file: The Good News Spring 2025 A Ministry That Changed Lives: Father Steve Adrian (1942-2024) – Father Steve Adrian helped launch Alums & Friends & Families … [Read more...] about The Good News Spring 2025
The Good News Fall-Winter 2024
The Good News Newsletter is a periodic publication that provides updates on the Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. We currently distribute to over 3000 alums, families and friends. We would like to continually increase our distribution. So, if you know of any alums, families or friends of St. Matthew's who are not currently receiving The Good News, please contact us with their mailing information. Download PDF file: The-Good-News-Fall-Winter-2024 Reading Skills Soar with New Phonics Curriculum – Last year, Community of Saints (COS) introduced a new phonics curriculum for … [Read more...] about The Good News Fall-Winter 2024
The Good News Summer 2024
The Good News Newsletter is a periodic publication that provides updates on the Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. We currently distribute to over 3000 alums, families and friends. We would like to continually increase our distribution. So, if you know of any alums, families or friends of St. Matthew's who are not currently receiving The Good News, please contact us with their mailing information. Download PDF file: The Good News Summer 2024.pdf COS 8th Grade Class of ‘24: Pablo Martinez Hernandez, Marco Silva, Jorge España, Simon Cortez-Orme, Connor Myran, Alonzo Doby, … [Read more...] about The Good News Summer 2024
The Good News Spring 2024
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News Spring 2024.pdf COS Graduate Fulfills Wish to Help Homeless People – Six years ago, we shared the story of 11-year-old Isaac Garcia, then a 6th grade student at COS, whose Christmas wish was to help homeless people in his neighborhood. With his family’s help, he started Isaac’s Blessing Bags. Now a senior at Cretin-Derham Hall High School, Isaac has expanded his ministry. Here’s an update to his story. Message from Father Steve – COS … [Read more...] about The Good News Spring 2024
The Good News Fall-Winter 2023
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News Fall-Winter 2023 Saint Thomas Academy Partners with COS. STA Campus Ministry Class Makes Connections to Share Faith. students from Saint Thomas Academy (STA) helped Community of Saints (COS) kick off the school’s annual Marathon Fundraiser. The Cadets, all seniors in Campus Ministry, donned tee-shirts, brought snacks, and led COS students in a raucous rotation of field games, including World Cup Soccer, Freeze Tag, and Simon Says. It was … [Read more...] about The Good News Fall-Winter 2023
The Good News Summer 2023
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News Summer 2023 COS Student Wins Flaherty Family Scholarship – Student spotlight on Amari who will attend Cretin-Derham Hall High School with the help of the Flaherty Family Foundation scholarship awarded to high-achieving students. Message from Father Steve – This issue tells the stories of our graduates "Such stories of the power of COS can be told over and over again... Each time you and I make a gift, we make an investment. We make an … [Read more...] about The Good News Summer 2023
The Good News Spring 2023
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News Spring 2023 COS Alums Follow Different Paths - Overcome Obstacles to Pursue Goals - Profiles of Lisette Horne '14 and Autam Mendez '14. When COS classmates Lisette Horne & Autam Mendez graduated from high school in 2018, they each had a clear and ambitious goal. Lisette knew she wanted to go to graduate school, while Autam wanted to play Division 1 basketball. They shared their stories with us. Message from Father Steve - We walk … [Read more...] about The Good News Spring 2023
The Good News Fall-Winter 2022
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News Fall-Winter 2022 What It Takes to Fund a Catholic School: A Conversation about the Real Costs and Ingenuity Required to Deliver a Quality Education at Community of Saints – For a long time, nearly all Catholic elementary schools were parish schools, the teachers were nuns, and the schools could pretty much cover their costs with a combination of tuition, parish support, and modest fundraising. Today, things look very different. To … [Read more...] about The Good News Fall-Winter 2022
The Good News Summer 2022
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News Summer 2022 Our Biggest Challenge Ever! $80,000 Challenge Grant from Hugh & Melissa Cullen. This alum-sponsored match is in honor of Fr. Steve Adrian’s 80th birthday. Message from Father Steve. "It was 15 years ago that Alums & Friends & Families came to be. The cost of Catholic education was making it difficult for many West Side families to see Catholic school as an option for their children. I invited a handful of people … [Read more...] about The Good News Summer 2022
The Good News Fall/Winter 2021/2022
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News - FallWinter 20212022 COS Helps All Students Reach Their Full Potential - Despite huge educational challenges created by COVID-19, Principal Bridget Kramer hasn’t allowed it to slow down efforts to create an environment where all students can reach their full potential. This year Community of Saints (COS) has kept the momentum going with rigorous new curriculums in science and math, while also expanding City Connects, a program … [Read more...] about The Good News Fall/Winter 2021/2022
The Good News Fall/Winter 2020/2021
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News Fall/Winter 2020/2021 COS Partnership with Notre Dame Delivers Highest Quality Academics - When Fr. Nate Wills, C.S.C., Ph.D., heard that COS received a grant to participate in Notre Dame’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Teaching Fellows initiative, he was pleased but a little surprised. Message from Father Steve - "I pray that you are doing well and have the support that makes life in this pandemic possible … [Read more...] about The Good News Fall/Winter 2020/2021
The Good News Summer 2020
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The Good News Summer 2020 Dollar-for-Dollar Match Now — Until June 30! Help us reach our goal to support tuition assistance. During Crisis, COS Supports Students and Families The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on school families has been a constant worry for Principal Bridget Kramer. At Community of Saints, over 65% of families qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, one of the highest rates for Catholic schools in the archdiocese, putting them … [Read more...] about The Good News Summer 2020
The Good News Spring 2020
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The-Good-News-Spring-2020 Class of 1970 – All School Reunion! St. Matt’s, St. Mike’s, St. John Vianney, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saturday, May 16, 5:30 p.m., St. Matthew’s Social Hall. COS Rewarded for “Exceptional Results”, Receives Bonus $10,000 Grant from Healey Foundation Fr. Steve’s Column: "Community of Saints Regional Catholic School grows enrollment, expands educational opportunities, and thrives in the development of the whole student – … [Read more...] about The Good News Spring 2020
The Good News Fall-Winter 2019
The Good News from Alums, Friends and Families providing tuition assistance to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School Download PDF: The-Good-News-Fall-Winter-2019 Service, Faith & Leadership: Joe Votel '72 and Tom Smith '72 End of Year Challenge! Honor A Loved One who values Catholic education Fr. Steve’s Column Class of 1959 Reunion 2018-2019 Annual Report School News: After 5 Years with Bridget Kramer as Principal, Enrollment Is Up 18% and COS is Going Strong Grants from University of Notre Dame Faith Serves as Foundation Expanding Resources to Manage … [Read more...] about The Good News Fall-Winter 2019
The Good News Summer 2019
The Good News-Summer 2019 Download PDF: The-Good-News-Summer-2019.pdf COS Purchases St. Michael’s Campus Fr. Steve’s Column Tom McKeown Knows a Good Education Changes Lives COS 2015 Alums Graduate from High School Class of ’69 & Reunion Sunday, April 28, 2019 School News: University of Notre Dame Awards STEM Grant to COS School News: Coin Drive Raises $1,736.05 to Support Youth with Cancer School News: WEM Renews 3-Year Grant School News: Archbishop Hebda Visits COS School News: 8th Graders Head North for Annual Trip to Wolf Ridge Congratulations to the 8th Grade … [Read more...] about The Good News Summer 2019
The Good News Spring 2019
Download PDF: The-Good-News-Spring-2019 Fr. Steve’s Column COS Partners With University of Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) General Joe Votel ’72 Classes of 1969 Marge Milner Will Retire After Teaching for 30 Years Remembering St. Michael’s School: Gerald Kegler 1950-1959 Remembering St. Matthew’s School: Mark Votel 1951-1958 Join us for Reunion Sunday! April 28, 2019 Celebrate Mass with Archbishop Hebda, Thursday, April 4, 9:10 am, COS School … [Read more...] about The Good News Spring 2019
Fall Festival & Fix-It Fund Raiser Results
It is wonderful to finally share with you the good news that the Fall Festival raised $16,000. With the hands of volunteer, friends of the parish, and supporting businesses we are able to continue to repair and/or replace items that are growing older. The Fix-it Fund Raiser raised $4,000, qualifying us to receive additional matching funds from the Catholic Order of Foresters. Thank-you to all who made this fund raiser possible. Fr. Bob, OP … [Read more...] about Fall Festival & Fix-It Fund Raiser Results
The Good News Fall-Winter 2018
Click to download PDF: The Good News Fall-Winter 2018 Newsletter highlights: COS Starts Year with 10% More Students and a New Board of Directors Celebrate Fr. Steve’s 50th Anniversary Annual Report: Record Breaking $275,827 Raised from 524 Donors COS Student Speaks at Aim Higher Foundation Event Meet the New Board of Directors End of Year Matching Donation Challenge! Gifts Given to Honor Frederick Commers (1936–2018) Gifts Given to Honor Sr. Patricia DeBlieck, CSJ (1938–2018) Honor a Loved One With a Gift in Their Name School Warms Up with a New Boiler Sav e the … [Read more...] about The Good News Fall-Winter 2018
Isaac’s Blessing Bags 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTqfUOIDWcY Featured at the Aim Higher Foundation's Night of Light celebration, the video "Isaac's Blessing Bags" is a look at one of the more than 1,300 Aim Higher Scholars and his impact on the local community. The Foundation made this video about Isaac for the event. For its Advent 2017 service project, Community of Saints helped those in need, thanks to the amazing idea of then-sixth-grader Isaac Garcia. Students collected items to create “Blessing Bags” that were distributed to people who were homeless and/or in need. An article about the project called … [Read more...] about Isaac’s Blessing Bags 2018
Why the Fuss? (Fr. Bob reflection)
The following is an edited version of a homily for the "Birth of John the Baptist" by Fr. David Sanders, OP who teaches scripture at Blackfriars, Oxford. “Why is there all this fuss about John the Baptist? Why is he so important that the celebration of his birth overrides the ordinary Sunday Mass? We are told that he was the precursor, the one who introduced Jesus to the people. But surely Jesus could have introduced himself and just stated, “I am the messiah”: Why the need for this guide? The answer lies in our blindness. Often we are so wrapped up in our society that we cannot see what … [Read more...] about Why the Fuss? (Fr. Bob reflection)
The Good News Summer 2018
Download PDF: The Good News Summer 2018 Class of 2014 High School Grads Share Plans and Advice As They Head to College Message from Fr. Steve Dollar-For-Dollar Matching until June 30 Music Teacher Kristina Guiffre Makes Fundamentals Fun Reunion Sunday Mass and Breakfast Class of 1968 Celebrates its 50th Anniversary Why I Give: Kathryn Grayson (’02) 8th Grade Class Trip to Wolf Ridge COS Student Awarded Flaherty Foundation Scholarship Boys Basketball Team Makes It To Championship … [Read more...] about The Good News Summer 2018
Blazing Forward: 50th Anniversary of 1968 Church Fire, April 28-29, 2018
The 50th Fire Anniversary event was rescheduled to April 28-29. The April 14-15 activities were postponed due to a spring blizzard. Download revised flyer: St Matt's Blazing Forward Poster Rescheduled Join us in the Social Hall to reminisce about the church fire fifty years ago. Watch a short video of the church burning, view newspaper clippings and photos, read a personal account of the fire and see memorabilia. Saturday evening, April 28th – 5 to 7 p.m. – Snacks will be served Sunday morning, April 29th – 11:00 am to 1:00 pm – Breakfast Brunch – Free will offering. We are also … [Read more...] about Blazing Forward: 50th Anniversary of 1968 Church Fire, April 28-29, 2018
The Good News Spring 2018
Download PDF: The Good News Spring 2018 Isaac’s Wish — To Help Homeless Message from Fr. Steve 50 Years Later…We Remember the Fire. April 15: Remember St. Matthew’s old church and the fire that destroyed it. 10 a.m. Mass followed by brunch in the Social Hall (free will offering). RSVP to Linda Rivera at the Parish Center — 651-224-9793. Also see The Good News Special Edition - 40th Anniversary of the Church Fire (2008) St. Matthew’s Class of ’68 50 Year Reunion First Girls Basketball Team Lunch Monitor and the Firecracker Collecting Green Stamps For The Nuns’ First … [Read more...] about The Good News Spring 2018
Miracles Happen (Fr. Bob reflection)
On the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the gospel invites us to look at our belief in miracles. When it comes to miracles, it seems to me that there are three prevailing outlooks. The first one is that miracles take place every day. People who have this outlook believe in the marvelous power of prayer. For them, Jesus Christ, the healer, is always present for those with sufficient faith. Prayer makes things happen and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick yields actual healing be it for body, mind, or spirit. The words "Miracles Happen" express the outlook of these people. The second … [Read more...] about Miracles Happen (Fr. Bob reflection)
Pregnant with Joy! (Fr. Bob reflection)
In the Western Church, the Third Sunday of Advent is sometimes called by its Latin name, Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means “to be joyful” and “to rejoice.” On Gaudete Sunday, our rejoicing is most often symbolized by lighting a rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath. The color rose is made when the color white is added to purple. Rose symbolizes that Christ, the Light of the World, is getting closer and dispersing the darkness with light but is not yet here. Because we still await the coming of our Savior, our joy is like a seed that is content to remain unobtrusive as it delicately develops … [Read more...] about Pregnant with Joy! (Fr. Bob reflection)
Good News: Fall-Winter 2017
Download PDF of newsletter: The Good News Fall-Winter 2017 Message from Fr. Steve School Update from Principal Bridget Kramer Former School Parent is New School Secretary COS Preschool Rated 4 Stars by Parent Aware Looking Back at 10 Years of The Good News Alums & Friends & Families 2017 Annual Report. $215,459 Raised in 9 Months Last Year – Over $1.5 Million in 10 Years! Dorothy Hecht Estate Gift Honors Fond Memories of St. Matthew’s $8,500 Challenge thru Dec. 31 … [Read more...] about Good News: Fall-Winter 2017
Our Thanksgiving Day Prayer (Fr. Bob reflection)
Almighty God, you have blessed us with over a century of ministry, bringing the Good News to families, friends, and the West Side community of St. Paul. We give you thanks that through our worship, our outreach, and our friendship we have brought your presence and your love to St. Paul neighborhoods. We celebrate that we have walked with so many on their personal faith journeys. On Thanksgiving Day 2017, we are grateful for all you have done and we ask your continued blessing upon the members and friends of the Church of St. Matthew. We pray that we might be blessed each day with renewed … [Read more...] about Our Thanksgiving Day Prayer (Fr. Bob reflection)
Information Technology! (Fr. Bob reflection)
Information Technology (IT) is in use all around us. People gather, process, transfer, manage, organize, retrieve, store, and display information electronically. Every minute of the day and night IT is being developed and used to handle information—from what is taking place thousands of miles away to what is happening in our own lives here and now. Without information technology, the news we hear and see tonight would be the news that took place yesterday or even the day before. Whether or not we use information technology for our personal life, our family life, our community life, or … [Read more...] about Information Technology! (Fr. Bob reflection)
How Great God’s Love (Fr. Bob reflection)
Everyone has them—Adults of all ages, teens, children, infants, males and females. Single people, married people, divorced people, and people who have lost a spouse. Healthy people, sick people, poor people, middle class people, and rich people have them. Good people, indifferent people, and evil people have them. If we are alive, we all have struggles. Since the beginning of time, people have sung to survive their struggles. Many of the psalms were born out of struggle. Songs sung by African and Caribbean slaves spoke of their struggles for freedom and survival. Songs of the Civil War, the … [Read more...] about How Great God’s Love (Fr. Bob reflection)
Good News: Summer 2017
Summer 2017 Download PDF of Summer 2017 issue How Benoit Came to COS Message from Fr. Steve Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Grant Until June 30 Reunion Sunday Mass and Breakfast The First 5 Years at COS – A Brief Look Back COS’ First Graduating Class Just Graduated from High School Pastor of OLG Teaches 8th Grade Religion Class Leadership Team Takes on Literacy COS 6th grade boys basketball team wins city championship … [Read more...] about Good News: Summer 2017
Good News: Spring 2017
Download newsletter (PDF file) Catholic School Teachers Share Stories from the ‘60s Message from Fr. Steve As Enrollment Rises, So Does Your Support! St. Matt’s Retired Teachers of ‘76 St. Michael’s 8th Grade Class of 1966 & 1967 St. Matthew’s 8th Grade Class of 1967 St. John Vianney 8th Grade Class of 1967 Sr. Anne Becker Recalls the 1960’s … [Read more...] about Good News: Spring 2017
