Dear Parishioners of Mary Immaculate and Saint Rose,
This weekend we begin our observance of Catholic Schools Week.  This is a national observance of the blessing that the Catholic school is for our parish, our diocese, and our country. The first Catholic school in the United States was established in 1808 by Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. This was before the public schools were started, so all schools were private and most of them were affiliated with Protestant denominations. Mary Immaculate School was opened in 1956, and for the next 64 years the school has been a vital part of the parish community.
 In this diocese we are very blessed that Catholic education is so available to everyone. Our diocese has always encouraged parishioners to tithe, and because of the generosity of so many people, we are able to offer a wonderful Catholic education to our parish children without charging tuition to attend the school.
I am so proud of our school!  The principal, Ann Gray, and the teachers have created such a warm and positive environment in which our children can learn.  The school children, in addition to learning many educational subjects, are learning in a Catholic environment.  We are able to teach them about their religion, how to bring things to prayer, help them to participate at Mass and prepare them for the sacraments. Catholic schools continue to be one of our best investments in the future. They are a wonderful means to educate our children in the Faith and to help them and their families to have a positive experience of the Catholic Church.
I have been pastor of parishes that have a school and those that don’t.  The school brings life and joy to the parish. It helps the Church to be more the center of the community.  Mary Immaculate School is a great blessing for our parish. During this Catholic Schools Week, we pray in thanksgiving to God for our school.  We ask God’s continued blessing upon our school so it may be successful in passing on the Catholic Faith to many generations of Mary Immaculate children.
Thank you for your prayers and support.  You make our school possible!  God bless you!
Msgr. Cox