DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD: Roncalli High School, part of Roncalli Catholic Schools, held its Grandparents’ & Grandfriends’ Day event on Wednesday, Nov. 27. As part of the gathering, a Distinguished Service Award was presented to Jenn Kozak, a Roncalli Catholic Schools’ volunteer and parent, in appreciation for her acts of service and dedication to Roncalli.
Kozak has spent countless hours helping in the fine arts programs at both the middle and high schools — collecting band uniforms, organizing costumes, and making props for musicals and plays. She is a teacher’s aide at Roncalli Elementary School and is the creative mind behind St. Francis of Assisi Parish’s Vacation Bible School, bringing the theme to life each year. Kozak also assists with cleanup at major Roncalli Catholic Schools events.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: St. John’s Ministries is sponsoring the 15th annual Greater Green Bay Homeless Persons’ Interfaith Memorial Service at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 413 St. John St., Green Bay. The service will honor those who have died while experiencing homelessness this year. A “Peace Walk” will precede the memorial service at 6:30 p.m. across the street at St. John’s Park.
BLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED: Make your Christmas extra special by joining the American Red Cross at its 19th Annual Winter Holiday Blood Drive from 7 a.m. to noon on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, at St. John the Baptist School, 2561 Glendale Ave., Howard, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, at the Ashwaubenon Community Center, 900 Anderson Drive, Ashwaubenon.
The Red Cross is thanking those who come to give at St. John the Baptist School on Christmas Eve with an exclusive Red Cross branded long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last.
Donors of all blood types are urged to give, especially Type O blood donors and those giving platelets. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.
This time of year is traditionally challenging for the nation’s blood supply as many blood donors delay giving due to seasonal illness, holiday events and travel, which can lead to delays in treatments for patients relying on blood.
To make an appointment or for more information, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit Donate Blood, Platelets or Plasma. Give Life | Red Cross Blood or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
RURAL LIFE SCHOLARSHIP: Students going into the agricultural field after high school may apply for a $500 Rural Life Scholarship, sponsored by the Rural Life Committee of the Diocese of Green Bay. Selection is based on passion for agriculture, involvement within the parish and leadership. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2025. The application is available at https://catholiccharitiesgb.org/scholarships.
SONG SUPPORTS FILIPINO CATHOLIC SCHOOL: A new Christmas song titled “It’s That Time Of Year” has been released by 3,000 students from the Sisters of Mary School in the Philippines.
It was written for the children byFilipino-American rapper Apl.de.Ap, who is a founding member of the hip hop group Black Eyed Peas; Grammy-winning producer Keith Harris; and songwriter David “DC” Quinones.
Royalties from the three-minute Christmas song “It’s That Time Of Year” will be split equally between the Sisters of Mary School, with the goal being to raise money for generations of students; the Apl.de.Aps ALPFI Foundation, a nonprofit that supports youth in need; and the producers.The Sisters of Mary School students come from some of the poorest families in the Philippines. For 10 months out of the year they receive board and education, making Christmas — and the opportunity to see their families again — all the more special.
To view the official video for “It’s That Time of Year,” visit https://youtu.be/zzOYlv0tQsQ.