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Habemus papam! We have a new pope! Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is a native of Chicago, making him the first American pope. He spent much of his ministry in Latin America and came to the conclave as the Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru. He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. We pray for him as he begins to lead our church through this challenging time. May God bless him.

Thank you to the Junior Class for planning a fantastic prom - the gym looked amazing (and so did all our students)! Gratitude as well to the parents who helped with post-prom. FFA hosted Baby Animal/Ag day at DMCS yesterday. Traditions like these are what help us bond as a community. Thank you!

Happy Mother's Day to all our Moms this Sunday. Blessings to you and thanks for all you do for your children.

Upcoming Events
May 19-20: Senior Exams Period 1, 2, 3
May 2: 1pm Mary Ceremony, 7:30pm Baccalaureate: all are welcome
May 23: 9:30am Awards Day Ceremony; Gr 9-11 dismissed @ 11:15, no lunch served; 7:30pm Commencement. All are welcome!
May 26: NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
May 28: 1:05 pm dismissal
May 29: Last day of School, 1:05 dismissal 

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Reminder to please complete enrollment packets for next year (look for an email from Catholic Schools of Faribault). Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, have questions about the award letter you have received, or any other questions. 

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

JULY 16-20: Lots of parent and student volunteer shifts! Find the daily Cardinal Cafe sign ups at: https://pointapp.org/sign-in/.
Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! Registration opening soon. Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! Sign up HERE.
Save the date! All are welcome to join us for this great celebration. This FREE event features live music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, school tours, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Governor Walz has proposed the elimination of funding for counselors, nurses, transportation, and textbooks for non-public school students. This will reduce critical funding for BA but also for our local school district as well. See below for more information. Click HERE to be connected to your state legislators and make your views heard. Thank you!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

Prom is tomorrow! Grand March is at 4pm in the BA gym and all are welcome to attend. We thank Prom Advisor Mrs. Nettie Battles and the junior class for their work in planning this event. We pray for a fun and safe prom and thank SADD officers and SADD Advisor Mrs. Donlon and Counselor Mr. Bienias for promoting good decision making and safe driving this week.

National Teacher Appreciation Week starts Monday! Please take a moment to thank a teacher for their hard work wtih our students. 

There have been instances this year where student and staff emails have been compromised, most recently an email sent this week "from" Dave Wollin of our staff. We will be requiring students and staff to change their passwords and adding an extra layer of authentication to staff logins. A reminder that if an email looks suspicious or has unexpected attachments, to trust your instinct and delete the email. 

Ms. Jolene Beske has stepped away from her position at Bethlehem Academy. We are fortunate that Mrs. Melinda O'Connor, an experienced teacher and former BA staff member, is filling in for Ms. Beske starting this past Wednesday through the end of the school year. 

Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have not yet re-enrolled, please do so as soon as possible. Award letters have been mailed to students who are enrolled. Tuition contracts should be sent next week. Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, have questions about the award letter you have received, or have any questions. Thank you for your partnership!

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

• Golf Tournament Committee: https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277566
• 160th Anniversary Committee:  https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277131

JULY 16-20: Log in to POINT (https://pointapp.org/sign-in/) to find the daily Fair shift and job volunteer options.	Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! Registration opening soon. Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! Sign up HERE.	Save the date - all are welcome to join us for this great celebration! Live Music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Governor Walz has proposed the elimination of funding for counselors, nurses, transportation, and textbooks for non-public school students. This will reduce critical funding for BA but also for our local school district as well. See below for more information. Click HERE to be connected to your state legislators and make your views heard. Thank you!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

The weeks are getting busier as we approach the final month of school! Graduation is just 4 weeks away, with the end of the school year a week later. Please encourage your sons and daughters to continue working hard as the end of the semester nears. Notices will be sent home next week to students in danger of failing a class. Please check Schoology and encourage your students to seek help from our faculty (they are available 30 minutes before and after school) if needed. 

Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great help with our planning. If you have not yet re-enrolled, please do so as soon as possible. Award letters were mailed today to students who are enrolled. Tuition contracts should be sent next week. Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, or have any questions. Thank you for your partnership!

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Prom is next weekend, and SADD is hosting week of safe driving awareness activities for our high school students. Good luck to our students competing at the State History Day competition on Sunday, and our FFA students competing at the State Convention Monday and Tuesday!

Finally, we held Pope Francis in our prayers this week and said a decade of the rosary for him at the end of Mass today. Please keep him, and the Cardinals choosing his successor, in your prayers as he is laid to rest tomorrow. 

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

RESERVE YOUR YEARBOOK! ORDER BY MON APRIL 28: Time is running out to purchase the 2024-2025 Bethlehem Academy yearbook. Reserve yours by midnight, Monday, April 28, to guarantee your student a copy and to save the memories of this special year. This is the final call before we submit our order for printing. A payment plan is available at checkout when you order on https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A04015000 or stop by the school office with your payment and completed order form to pay by cash or check.

• Golf Tournament Committee: https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277566
• 160th Anniversary Committee:  https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277131
• Looking for some parent volunteers to tailor some BA tablecloths. This is a parent service hour opportunity! Contact Teresa if interested.  

JULY 16-20: Volunteer sign up coming soon!	Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. Registration opening soon.  Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event! Sign up HERE.	Save the date - all are welcome to join us for this great celebration! Live Music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Governor Walz has proposed the elimination of funding for counselors, nurses, transportation, and textbooks for non-public school students. This will reduce critical funding for BA but also for our local school district as well. See below for more information. Click HERE to be connected to your state legislators and make your views heard. Thank you!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

Blossom & Bloom, BABS Gala 25 was a big success last Saturday! We raised almost $150,000 to support the primary mission of BA to provide an excellent college prep education for your sons and daughters. We were thrilled with the results and thank everyone who attended, donated, bid, volunteerd, or otherwise contributed to the success of this event. God is good! 

The week ahead: 

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

May you be blessed as you enter the Holy Triduum.

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

• Golf Tournament Committee: https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277566
• 160th Anniversary Committee:  https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277131

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Governor Walz has proposed the elimination of funding for counselors, nurses, transportation, and textbooks for non-public school students. This will reduce critical funding for BA but also for our local school district as well (transportation). See below for more information and click https://minndependent.quorum.us/campaign/118606/ to be connected to your state legislators and make your views heard.

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

Holy Week commences next week, Good Friday and Holy Monday are no school days. May you be blessed as you enter the Holy Triduum.

Blossom & Bloom, BABS Gala 25 is tomorrow! We are so excited to celebrate our school community, our mission, and our 2025 Court of Honor Inductees at tomorrow's event. We look forward to seeing you there! If you didn't get tickets to the Gala, please consider bidding on our online silent auction. We have over 100 amazing items to choose from, including a designated student parking spot, senior VIP commencement parking & seating package, fishing trips, golf outings, professional sports tickets, a Coach cross body purse & wallet, and so much more! Click HERE to check it out - bidding closes at 6:30pm tomorrow, April 12. Thank you for your support!

• Enrollment: Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great help with our planning. If you have not yet registered, please get this completed soon. We are working on contracts for next year and cannot distribute tuition assistance to students who are not enrolled. Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, or have any questions. Thank you for your prompt attention.
• A reminder to families concerned about affording BA: Scholarships and tuition assistance is available. We believe our prep education should be accessible to all families who desire it for their scholars. We offer flexible payment plans and welcome all families to apply for tuition assistance so that we may partner with you to create a plan that works for your family. Although the initial deadline has passed, limited funds remain available. Apply at www.mytads.com. Contact  Kris Sauer with questions.
• Juniors and Seniors: Prom and Post-Prom forms are due Thursday, April 17. See April 4 email from Lynette Battles for more details and all required forms.

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Prayers for all those dealing with illness, the loss of a family member or close friend, and all those intentions held close to your heart.

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

Click HERE to bid on the amazing items our silent auction! Bidding closes tomorrow at 6:30pm. Bid high, bid often, bid for BA!

Middle School Lock In April 25:  Middle school student council is hosting a middle school lock on Friday, April 25 from 7 pm to 11 pm at Bethlehem Academy. Cost is $5.00. There will be lots of fun games and activities for the students. Pizza will also be ordered. Permission slips are due Thursday, April 17. Permission slips were sent home but you may also find a copy of the form HERE Parent volunteers are also needed! Shifts are 7-9 PM and 9-11 PM.  Mark the permission form when you are available to chaperone and plan to self-report your hours in POINT.

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

We are grateful for your partnership and honored to be working with you in the spiritual, educational, and personal formation of your sons and daughters. Thank you!

• HS Info Night April 8:  Please join us for a high school parent information session for 8th grade parents Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30pm. We will present information on graduation requirements, courses available for freshmen, common course tracks based on career goals, academic and co-curricular opportunities, and the transition to high school. All are welcome!
• Guatemala 2026 Spring Break Service Trip: Click HERE for the information packet; students must apply by April 10, click HERE for the form. FYI that a BA Rome/Italy mission trip has been moved to June 2027. 
• Enrollment: Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great help with our planning. If you have not yet registered, please get this completed soon. We are working on contracts for next year and cannot distribute tuition assistance to students who are not enrolled. You can contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, or have any questions. Thank you for your prompt attention.
• Juniors and Seniors: Prom is just around the corner! Tickets go on sale Monday. All forms due Thursday, April 17. See email sent today for more details and all required forms.

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The April 12th BABS Gala - our biggest fundraiser of the year - is  next week! See below for Gala ticket info, raffle ticket options, and parent volunteer opportunities to help with this great event, and watch for the silent auction opening on Wednesday - so many amazing items to bid on! We'll be honoring our teachers, raising money to meet the gap between tuition and expenses, and hosting a special fund-a-need to invest in our Teacher Endowment Fund. Our amazing staff deserves a salary closer to that earned by Faribault public school teachers! Find more information below; click here for the event website.

Finally, please consider contacting Governor Walz and your state senator/representative regarding a proposal to eliminate funding for non-public school students for busing, textbooks, nursing, and counselors. See below our signature for more information and how to help. 

Prayers for all those dealing with illness, the loss of a family member or close friend, and all those intentions held close to your heart.

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

BABS Gala April 12th event: 20 parent volunteer 2-hour shifts still available! BABS Auction Item Donations: sign up to purchase a gift card for silent auction items  Thank you!

BABS Raffle Tickets! Three great raffle options for BABS 2025 - cash, gift card, and (new!) golden ticket. Click HERE for a form to order your tickets!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

It was good to be back in the building! Spring certainly does feel like it's here (or, at least it does today...!)

• No Faribault busing Monday, March 31
• Guatemala 2026 Spring Break Service Trip: Click HERE for the information packet; students must apply by April 13, click HERE for the form. FYI that a BA Rome/Italy mission trip has been moved to June 2027. Stay tuned for more details. 
• Enrollment: Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great help with our planning. If you have not yet registered, please get this completed soon. We cannot distribute tuition assistance to students who are not enrolled. You can contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, or have any questions. 

• Shorts may be worn before MEA and following spring break. Shorts must be dress or Bermuda/cargo style shorts, mid-thigh or longer, with sewn hems. No athletic shorts, cut-offs, or biking shorts.
• Flip-flops and sandals may be worn before MEA and following spring break. For safety reasons, appropriate footwear (tennis shoes, closed toe shoes) must be worn in PE and art classes and in the woodshop or science labs. 

• April 8: Gr 9 Pre-ACT Test; Gr 8 HS parent info night, 6:30pm BA gym
• April 9: Campus Ministry $ Dress Down
• April 10: Gr 10 Pre-ACT Test; Student Council Blood Drive 8am-2pm, BA gym
• April 11: Mass @ BA, 10:30am; Campus Ministry Pilgrimage trip
• April 12: BABS Night!
• April 18: No School/Good Friday
• April 21: No School/Easter Monday
• April 22-24: NWEA testing, middle school
• April 23: Intercultural Club $ Dress Down Day; 8^th grade field trip to Bakken Museum
• April 25: Middle School Lock-In
• April 28-May 2: SADD Safe Driving Week
• April 28-29: FFA State Convention
• April 30: Student of the Month, 7:30am; 1pm WIN schedule, HS safe driving assembly

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The April 12th BABS Gala - our biggest fundraiser of the year - is just around the corner! See below for Gala ticket info, raffle ticket options, and parent volunteer opportunities to help with this great event. We'll be honoring our teachers - four former teachers will be inducted into our Court of Honor (Sr. Julie Coyne, OP, Kathy & Mac McClellan, Carolyn Shaffer), raising money to meet the gap between tuition and expenses, and hosting a special fund-a-need to raise money for our Teacher Endowment Fund. Our amazing staff deserves a salary closer to that earned by Faribault public school teachers! Find more information below; click here for the event website.

Prayers for all those dealing with illness, the loss of a family member or close friend, and all those intentions held close to your heart.

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

BABS Gala April 12th event: 20 parent volunteer 2-hour shifts still available! BABS Auction Item Donations: sign up to purchase a gift card for silent auction items  Thank you!

Get your tickets HERE by Monday, March 31 - tickets are selling FAST!

BABS Raffle Tickets! Three great raffle options for BABS 2025 - cash, gift card, and (new!) golden ticket. Click HERE for a form to order your tickets!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

We hope you had a wonderful, restful, and fantastic spring break! We are looking forward to welcoming your sons and daughters back to campus on Monday.

• No Faribault busing March 24-28 or Monday, March 31
• Guatemala Mission Trip spring 2026 information session March 27 - see below. FYI that a BA Rome mission trip for June 2026 is also in the works, details pending. 
• Rising high school student summer work program sign up and Hoban Scholarship essay information below. 
• Seniors: many college scholarship applications have deadlines in the next few weeks. Click here for the full list. Service cord applications are due April 4. Find the service cord application HERE. 
• Grade 6-11 parents: please complete enrollment forms for next year as soon as possible. Thank you!

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Prayers for all those dealing with illness, the loss of a family member or close friend, and all those intentions held close to your heart,

Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

• BABS Gala April 12th event: parent volunteers needed
• BABS Auction Item Donations: sign up to purchase a gift card for silent auction items and earn service hours
• BABS Amazon Store: shop for hours & help us raise funds for our school
• Golf Tournament Committee: no need to be a golfer to help with this great event August 1st!
• 160th Celebration Committee: help us plan this landmark event on August 2nd!

BABS Raffle Tickets! Three great raffle options for BABS 2025 - cash, gift card, and (new!) golden ticket. Click HERE for a form to order your tickets!

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

It certainly feels like spring today! We wish everyone a blessed and restful spring break next week, and safety for all those traveling. 

Thank you to all who have completed enrollment forms for 2025-2026 as this is a great help in our planning for next year. If you have not already done so, please complete this soon. We will begin tuition assistance decisions after spring break. Students must be enrolled to receive assistance. Contact Mrs. Sauer with questions or if you are having trouble re-enrolling. 

Please note there is no Faribault busing March 17-28. Busing resumes Tuesday, March 29.

Have a blessed, safe, and restful spring break! 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

• BABS Gala April 12th event: parent volunteers needed
• BABS Auction Item Donations: sign up to purchase a gift card for silent auction items and earn service hours
• BABS Amazon Store: shop for hours & help us fundraise for our school
• Golf Tournament Committee: need not be a golfer to help with this great event August 1st.
• 160th Celebration Committee: help us plan this great event on August 2nd!

BABS Raffle Tickets! Three great raffle options for BABS 2025 - cash, gift card, and (new!) golden ticket. Click HERE for a form to order your tickets!

Click here for Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

Excited to welcome Mrs. Paula Leider to the BA Family as our new Head of School! Mrs. Leider will start July 1, 2025. Click HERE to read more. Thanks and gratitude as well for the hard work put in by members of the Head of School Search Committee, Search Committee Chair Erin Langenfeld, and BA Board Chair Beth Dienst during the hiring process. 

Thank you to all who have completed enrollment forms for 2025-2026 as this is a great help in our planning for next year. If you have not already done so, please complete this soon. Contact Mrs. Sauer with questions. 

Parents with sons or daughters in grades 8-11:

• Class registration forms are now due. Click HERE for registration forms, course guide, and other information. Contact Mr. Friesen or Mr. Bienias with questions. 
• Student summer work and Hoban Merit Scholarship application are now available. Click HERE for information. 

Thank you to parents and students who joined us for Parent/Teacher Conferences yesterday. Congratulations to our BA Red Knowledge Bowl Team on their first-ever participation in regional competition and to our high school band, earning a SUPERIOR rating at large group competition today! Finally, two big events tonight - the DMCS Bingo/Meat Raffle from 6-9pm and the Paradise Center for the Arts' Youth Art Month opening reception from 5-7pm. 

Have a blessed weekend, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

• BABS Gala April 12th event: parent volunteers needed
• BABS Auction Item Donations: sign up to purchase a gift card for silent auction items and earn service hours
• BABS Amazon Store: shop for hours & help us fundraise for our school
• Golf Tournament Committee: need not be a golfer to help with this great event August 1st.
• 160th Celebration Committee: help us plan this great event on August 2nd!

BABS 2025, April 12: Get your tickets now for Blossom & Bloom, the BABS 2025 Gala at https://one.bidpal.net/babs2025/welcome . You don't want to miss this great night celebrating our Court of Honor inductees, students and staff!

Click here for Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/