Principal's Update

November 15 , 2007

Our December Shoe Liturgy is scheduled for Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 11 AM, in the church. The tradition of the Shoe Liturgy dates back to Fr. Ritter’s time as pastor of St. Charles parish/School, in Tacoma, where he first invited all the children in the school to earn their favorite pair of athletic shoes by doing service in their local community and neighborhood. Once paid in ‘shoe-currency,’ students then gave these shoes to other children.

At Sacred Heart, we partner with Treehouse, an organization that serves foster children in King County. We, too, ask all our students to perform service. Students work at home, help a neighbor raking leaves or stringing up Christmas lights. You, as the parent, determine when to render ‘payment.’

On December 13, our students bring the shoes to school. During the celebration, Fr. Ritter and the Student Council will call students by grade level to come up and place their shoes on the altar. Fr. Ritter then blesses the shoes and student representatives take them to Treehouse the following week.

• Shoes stay in the original box
• Do not wrap the box
• Do not include any candy, or other edible items; the warehouse utilized by Treehouse is not air conditioned and items have melted, soiling the shoes
• If you wish to include something, feel free to include a pair of socks
• Size: purchase a pair of shoes that fits your student(s)

Blessings,

Carola
Carola E. Wittmann, Ph.D.