TOTUS TUUS
Totus Tuus is for students entering 1 ^st through 12 ^th Grade, and will be held July 15-20, 2018.  A registration form for Totus Tuus is available on the parish website or, at the parish office.  Registration forms returned by this Sunday, May 6^th will be eligible for a free T-shirt!  If you plan on your children attending and wanting T-shirts please order in advance or they may not be available since the program is at the end of summer. Registrations will be accepted up to the start of the program, but it helps knowing the numbers in advance for snacks. Prayerfully consider this program for your children. It is a wonderful opportunity with minimal cost to families. We do need more in attendance or it may not be possible to bring this program back next year. Please pray for the students who will be attending Totus Tuus, for the instructors who will be leading the program and for all to be stirred by the Holy Spirit. If you have any questions, please call the office. 
 
SUMMER CAMPS
Enclosed with this newsletter is information on the diocesan Summer Camps.   These camps are a lot of fun and a wonderful learning experience for our children. Call the office if you would like a registration form. The parish pays the cost for students to attend these camps.
 
ALTAR SERVERS
Altar servers are reminded not to wear flip-flops or flip-flop type sandals when they are serving for Mass.
 
REGISTRATION
Registration for the 2018-19 year will be mailed to your home in the middle of June.  Please watch for it and return the registration form along with the fees by July 1^st.
 
PRAYERS
Prayers and the testing schedule for the upcoming year will be sent to you shortly for summer practice.
 
St. Barnabas (d. first century)
Feast Day: June 11
Patron Saint of: Cyprus
Barnabas was a Jewish Levite, from Cyprus. He was born Joses Justus, but later given the name Barnabas by the Apostles.  While he wasn’t one of the original Apostles of Jesus, he was as close as they come. Barnabas introduced Paul to Peter and the Apostles after his conversion, and vouched for him to the Christians in Jerusalem. He was sent to Antioch to attend to the growing Christian community there. Barnabas and Paul were seen as charismatic leaders and were sent to preach to the gentiles. They had great success especially after a miracle at Lystra where the people thought of them as Zeus and Hermes and wanted to offer sacrifice. But Barnabas and Paul said in reply “We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God” (see Acts 14:8-18). They defended the membership of gentile Christians at the Council of Jerusalem, but later split over Barnabas’ cousin John Mark traveling with them. Since he deserted them before Paul thought he should not travel. Barnabas and John Mark went to Cyprus and Paul and Silas went to Syria.  Later the two did reconcile. According to legend, in the year 61 at Salamis, Barnabas was martyred, although nothing is recorded. His grave was discovered in 485 or 486 and his relics taken to Constantinople (now Istanbul Turkey).
 
St. James (d. first century)
Feast Day: May 3
Patron Saint of: Chile, Laborers, Nicaragua, Rheumatism, Spain
James is the brother of John and sons of Zebedee. He is called the Greater and often confused with John the Less (and both share the same feast day with St. Phillip). Along  with Peter, he became a very prominent leader among the Nazarenes in Jerusalem, even presiding over the council of Jerusalem which permitted Paul to mission among the gentiles. James was the first bishop of Jerusalem as reported by Clement of Alexandria. He was put to death about the year 62. He is attributed author of many apocryphal writings including the Apocalypese of James, two words included in the codices of the Nag Hammadi; the Liturgy of St. James; and an Epistle of James. He is also the proposed author of the New Testament Epistle of James. James is pictured in art with the symbol of a club or heavy staff.
 
St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)
Feast Day: August 11
Patron Saint of: Assisi, the Blind, Laundry women, Embroiderers. Gilders, Glaziers, Glass Painters, Eye disorders, Television
Born in Assis on July 11, 1194, Clare was the Foundress of the Franciscan Poor Clares, a mystic, and friend of St. Francis of Assisi. She was the daughter of the noble Faverone Offreducio Ortolanadi Fiumi. After hearing St. Francis during the Lenten season of 1212, at the age of 18 she received the habit and entered the Benedictine convent.  Later, her sister Agnes joined her. Over time, many other women joined her and Pope Innocent III granted them a rule of absolute poverty. Because of her wisdom, she was visited by high-ranking clergy and secular officials. Saving the city of Assisi from the army of Emperor Frederick II and defending the convent by carrying the ciborium against the Saracen raiders are just two of the miracles performed by her. Near the end of Clare’s life, she had a vision of the Mass from her bed.  Because of this mystical gift, she is the patroness of television.
 

Have A Faith-Filled Summer!
Please Attend Mass During The Summer Months.
Your Children Learn By Your Example.

 
 

OVERVIEW OF SUMMER PROGRAMS - 2018

 
Following is a list of Summer Camps available to our youth and young adults.  If you have any questions or would like a registration form(s), please contact the Parish Office, 248-2490.  Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible.
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All camps will be held at Bishop Lane Retreat Center, 7708 E. McGregor Road, Rockford.  The camps and retreat begin with check in at 6:15 p.m. on Sunday followed by Mass for participants and their families at 7 p.m. and conclude at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.  Each camp offers a variety of activities, information about religious life or the priesthood and vocations in general, along with games, sports, movies, hiking and cookouts.