Seton Home Study School is sponsoring a high school essay contest! The contest is open to any Seton high school student, Grades 9 through 12.

by Monica McConkey | As Catholics, we enjoy our own special calendar, celebrating the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter as well as a significant number of weeks of Ordinary Time. It’s a shame really, that it’s called ordinary, because it’s still filled with plenty of Feast Days and celebrations that are quite extraordinary!

Kids' Corner | Download this 'The Glory of Easter' Word Puzzle! A fun activity to for all ages! Search for these words: Ascension, Athanasius, baptize, disciples, Fatima, James, Matthias, olives, Philip, Trinity, Visitation, worker.

Kids Corner | Download this ‘Glory of Easter’ Crossword! A fun activity to challenge your knowledge of facts and trivia. For all ages! Answer these questions: 1) The Feast of St. Joseph the ___ is celebrated on May 1st. 2) He was bishop of Alexandria in the 4th century; his feast is May 2nd.

Kids' Corner | Download this ‘The Passion & Resurrection’ Crossword! A fun activity to challenge your knowledge of facts and trivia. For all ages! Answer these questions: 1) This is the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ. 2) On Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ ___.

by Lorraine Espenhain | A paradox is a statement or situation that seems to contradict itself. For example, it has been said of the ocean: “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink!” Those who take Christ at His Word, and are not afraid to put that Word into practice in their lives, eventually discover what I call the Divine Paradox of Christianity.

by Marlicia Fernandez | Lent is flying by and the pink vestments (or the rose, as many a priest has informed many a congregation) have made their appearance during the Mass, for Laetare Sunday. That means we are a little more than half-way through the Lenten season. Most of us find that exciting because we see the light at the end of the Lenten tunnel. Easter is right around the corner!

by Dave Armstrong | My specialty as an apologist is “biblical arguments for Catholicism.” I enjoy that aspect of my work a lot because the Bible is the great “common ground” that all Christians share (and I strive to be ecumenical). We all reverence Sacred Scripture and believe it is inspired revelation.

by Monica McConkey | Lent is a great opportunity to refocus our efforts to draw closer to Jesus. Although we can certainly give up a few of our favorite things, we can also add extra prayers and sacrifices. It’s easy to lose focus or momentum throughout the 40 days of Lent. We can get discouraged when we falter or fail our Lenten promises. Sometimes a tangible way of tracking our progress can motivate us to stay on track or even return to it!

Every St. Valentine’s Day leaves men at a loss for telling their girlfriends or wives how much they love them. Very often, whether a dozen red roses, a box of chocolates, or a hand-written poem, nothing seems to suffice. If you homeschool husbands find yourself in this predicament, don’t feel too bad. We’ve all been there.

As someone who has been teaching high school and college now for more than fourteen years, it has become life’s daunting task to motivate students. In an age of instant communication, a teacher needs to be able to convey subject material in a way that is both ever dramatic and always engaging. It used to be a concern to worry about a bad day; now, one has to worry about an un-engaging minute.

by Kerry Costanzo | Already behind in our schoolwork, now we are REALLY behind. I didn't want to be this behind. . . I really didn't. Yet, during those last months of pregnancy, the fatigue was so severe, and the couch was so inviting, and the coffee pot was so empty (I wasn't drinking it during pregnancy). . . well, the homeschooling suffered.

A warm and Merry Christmas from all your friends at Seton, wishing you the blessings of the season and a holy holiday! For your delight, we offer below St. John Chrysostom’s "Homily on Christmas Morning”; famous for his 'Golden Throat' or words, it is a particularly beautiful and inspiring rendition of this sacred event.

It looks like… White blankets of snow, sparkling Christmas lights on the front porch, and a tall, fully decorated tree; It smells like… Fresh pine needles, vanilla candles, and the aroma of homemade Christmas cookies; It sounds like… Christmas CDs, family music concerts, boisterous laughter, and the crinkle of wrapping paper;

As I clasp my hands together and pray, / I closed my eyes and wish that today, / Will bring forth good memories. / From Christmas days I've celebrated / Not so long ago–as a child.

Christmas is a time of traditions – unique to each family. Many years ago Katie's grandmother started a Christmas Village under the tree; this village grew over the years as Katie's mother added her magical touch. She passed along pieces of the village to her children hoping they would continue the tradition.

The Domangues From our homeschool room to yours: May the blessings of the coming of the Christ child fill your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life ...

In Polish culture, Christmas Eve is the highlight of Christmas, and is celebrated with prescribed traditions and dishes of Wigilia, the Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland. “Wigilia” comes from the Latin verb vigilare, “to watch”, and literally means “eve”.

My family loves the British Christmas tradition of miniature mince pies, which consist of tiny butter pie crusts filled with mincemeat, a combination of dried fruit, candied peel, spices, and brandy.

Sometimes it seems like the work for Mom is never ending in our large Catholic families. By Thanksgiving, the first quarter assignments have been completed and the homeschooling is clipping along nicely. Then Bang! Along comes the Christmas season, doubling the work load but halving the class time! It’s more than a little discouraging!