SEPTEMBER 2018

WELCOME BACK!!

As the new Religious Education year begins, I want to remind parents that you are the primary teachers of the faith to your children.  Children learn so much more by watching their parents practice their faith, by regular reception of the sacraments and attending Mass, than by what they hear.  As a parish community we are here to help support parents in this job of passing on our faith to the youngest members of the church.
 
Registration
If you haven’t returned your RE registration form, please do so ASAP. We need to have this on-hand in order for your child(ren) to attend class.  If you are not sure if you returned it, just call the office.

Parent Meeting
This Sunday, September 9^th a Parent meeting will be held at 9:15 a.m. in the main body of St. Mary Church.  Some of the items to be discussed are: Family Advent & Lenten Events, HS chastity program, Diocesan Chastity & Safe Environment Program, Totus Tuus, FORMED.org, Family work, and more.  Please make a point to attend as there are many new things happening in RE!

Sundae Sunday
Sundae Sunday will be held after the 10:30 a.m. Mass next Sunday, September 16^th.  Please join us in the Church Hall to build your sundae and meet with the catechists and aides. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated next Sunday, September 16^th
Catechetical Sunday highlights and celebrates the catechetical ministry of the people of God, namely to hand on the values and traditions of our Catholic faith.  This Sunday is given a particular theme each year, focusing on a key aspect of catechesis.  This year’s theme is “Enlisting Witnesses for Jesu Christ.”  Catechesis comes from a Greek word meaning “to echo”.  It challenges all of us to develop a Catholic identity molded and modeled on Jesus.  We learn this from those who handed down that faith to us.  We echo that back by the living example of our lives.  This calls each of us to grow in depth of faith and knowledge, and to reflect on how we share that with others.  All of us are teachers in the way we live.  What are we echoing?  St. Francis is attributed with the following statement, which speaks to the heart of Catechetical Sunday: “Preach the Gospel at all times.  If necessary, use words.” 

E-Mail
If you would like to receive the monthly newsletter by email, just send an email to tpolizzi@stmarystpatrick.org requesting such. I will be using Flocknote to email/text monthly letters, last minute updates and reminders. If you indicated you would like to receive information by email, I also signed you up to send emails on Flocknote.  Please go to flocknote.com/st-mary-st-patrick and complete the name, email and create a password, then click register.  This should register you so you can enter a phone number if you would like to receive short reminders as a text. You will also be able to register for other ministries.
 
The catechists are now able to send notes out to each grade level also.
 
Religious Medals
Religious Medals are one way your Girl Scout or Boy Scout can learn more about their Catholic faith.  Anyone interested in earning a Religious Medal should contact Terry Cravens at 248-2490, by September 30^th.

Adult Faith Formation
This fall our parish will be offering Six Weeks with the Bible, Romans: Amazing Grace! for adult faith formation.  Watch the bulletin for more details and how to register.

Youth Summit
Sunday, October 28^th Bishop Malloy invites all teens (grades 8-12) to join him for a day of faith and fun! Those students who attended last year had a great time and this year promises to be just as much fun. The Summit will be held at Rock Valley College the parish will pay the cost for students to attend.  Information will be coming soon.
 
Folders
Please go through the papers in your child/children’s folder on a weekly basis.  The catechists put information inside that is relevant to the upcoming classes.
 
RE Handbook
The Religious Education Handbook will be available on the parish website. Please let me know if you would like a hardcopy.
 
Service Opportunities
Students in grades 3-12 will have opportunities to participate in service projects during RE class time. Parents are encouraged to attend if possible.  For some projects we will need volunteer drivers and chaperones.
 
Prayers
Prayer sheets are sent home with students in grades pre-school - 8 ^th.  Please help your child learn these prayers.  Carla Vendel and Nanette Hendler will be testing the students this year and will send home progress sheets with your child after each testing.
 
Grades 1-8
The students in grades 1-8 will be using “Finding God” by Loyola Press.  There are many components with this series such as: art prints, music, guided reflection, audio bible stories and online activities and information for students as well as parents.  Please check out the website at www.findinggod.com.
 
High School Students
Classes for High School students run on the same schedule as grades K - 8th.  Pat Flynn and Debbie Moore are teaching the High School students.  This fall they will be using the Didache semester series “ Faith and Revelation.” Beginning in January, the class will continue with the Didache semester series “ Understanding Scripture.”

Parish Website
There are many informative items on the website, with new things being added all the time.  If you look under “Faith Formation” and click on “Religious Education” you will find current news.  You may also click on the specific grade level on the sidebar to view information also.  Prayers are available for all grades on the website as well as questions for sacraments, ministry schedules and activities for each ministry.  When you have time, check it out at www.stmarystpatrick.org.

Envelopes
Envelopes for Time, Talent, and Treasure will be given to all families beginning in Kindergarten.  If we miss someone, please let us know.  Any family who needs another box of envelopes should contact your child’s catechist or myself.  The envelopes are not dated so they may be used until they are gone.  Please encourage your children to use the envelopes on a regular basis.  Remember giving of your “time” and “talent” is as important as the giving of your “treasure”. 

Parents: Please have your younger children use the restroom prior to coming to Religious Education class.  With the class time being only one hour and fifteen minutes for Preschool /Kindergarten, it interrupts the class and takes valuable time to get back on track after a “restroom break”.  Thank you for your cooperation.

St. Robert Belarmine 1542-1621
Feast Day: September 17^th
Patron of: Catechists and Catechumens
Robert was born at Monte Pulciano, in Tuscany, Italy where he studied under the Jesuits.  In 1560, he entered the Society of Jesus.  When he was ordained in 1570, in Louvain, Belgium, the study of Church history and the fathers of the Church was in a state of neglect.  Along with these, he studied theology in order to defend the Church from attacks by the Protestant Reformers.  Pope Clement VIII made Robert a cardinal in 1599.  Disputations on the Controversies of the Christian Faith, was his most famous work.  He was a leading theologian in Rome, preparing two catechisms. In 1616, Robert had to admonish his friend Galileo for his theory that the sun is stationary.  On September 17, 1621, Robert died. In 1930, Pope Pius XI canonized him and the next year declared him a doctor of the Church.

St. Pius of Pietrelcina 1887-1968
Feast Day: September 23^rd
St. Pio was an Italian Capuchin Franciscan, mystic, and stigmatic.  Born Francesco Forgione, he grew up in a family of farmers in southern Italy.  At the age of fifteen, he entered the Capuchin Friars and was ordained a priest in 1910.  Eight years later, he was making his thanksgiving Mass when he received the stigmata on his hands, feet and side.  After that, Padre Pio rarely left the friary.  Thousands came to San Giovanni Rotonda to have him hear their confession, seek counsel or spiritual direction.  He would hear confessions from 5 a.m. until noon and then again in the afternoon, many times for 10 hours a day.  Despite his physical suffering, he never wavered from his prayer life.  Padre Pio is entombed in the crypt of Our Lady of Grace Church.  Pope John Paul II canonized him on June 16, 2002.