NOVEMBER 2018

This month students will learn about the Saints during RE classes.  Please ask your children about this and check their folders for papers and parent information. 
 
Missing Videos
We have several missing videos in both the library in the Church Hall (just off the serving room) and in the Parish Center (upstairs north room).  Here is a listing of them! In the Church Hall: Rosary for Little Children, Juan Diego: Messenger of Guadalupe, and My Time With Jesus: The Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Parish Center: Being Catholic: How Catholics Pray, Footprints of God: Peter, Grieving the Sudden Death of a Loved One, The Culture of Life-Questions in Bioethics, This is My Body: Theology of the Body for Teens, 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, Heaven is for Real, and Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  When you check out a video, please try to have it returned within one week as many of the RE classes use them as part of their curriculum.
 
All Saints Day/All Souls Day
The first two days of November each year, the Church commemorates two linked feast days: All Saints (November 1 a Holy Day of Obligation) and All Souls (November 2). All Saints is easy to understand: We remember all those who have lived lives of heroic holiness, whether the Church has canonized them or not. On All Souls, we remember all those who have died, not just the spiritual superstars.  The Church has prayed for the deceased from the beginning.  We realize that in God’s hands rests their judgment and His mercy.  Our concerns matter to God and by offering our prayers for our deceased loved ones is most fitting. On the feast of All Souls Day, many also visit the graves of loved ones to pray for them.  Masses for the Holy Day of Obligation are as follows: Thursday, November 1^st 7 a.m., 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. at St. Mary Church.
 
National Vocation Awareness Week
November 4-10, 2018 is National Vocation Awareness Week. A time set aside to think about the vocations each of us are called to by God: single life, marriage, consecrated life or as ordained deacons and priests. All students will receive a prayer card to help them pray to know their vocation in life and classes will pray as a group for the seminarians on the Diocesan prayer schedule for the day. Students in grades PK-6^th will also have activity sheets that they will work on in class. Please talk to your children about vocations and ask them what was discussed in class.
 
Religious Education Class Family Advent Event
On Sunday, November 18^th Religious Education Classes will all meet in the church hall with their family. Students are expect to attend as they would a RE class. This is the second year for the Family Events and we have some fun things planned. Information was sent earlier this week. Please contact me by Sunday, November 4^th with the number of people participating from your family in the activities or if any High School students would like to volunteer.
 
Homework
Students in grades PK/KN, 1^st, 3^rd/4^th, 5^th/6^th, 7^th and 8^th had work sent home last week to be completed and returned to class on November 4^th. Please check your students’ folders and work with them on completing this. The theme was either Ordinary time or the Liturgical year. Let me know if you have any questions.
 
First Reconciliation
Parents, please help your children learn The Act of Contrition, the Ten Commandments and the questions for their interview.  Interviews are scheduled for November 4, 2018 during RE class.   
First Reconciliation is on December 1^st at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary Church.  Please plan to arrive no later than 8:50 a.m. There will be a reception following First Reconciliation in the Church Hall for students and their families. Please let me know how many in your family will be attending no later than Sunday, November 4^th.
 
Confirmation
Confirmation Class will be held on Wednesday, November 7^th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Parents should watch Decision Point Session 8: The Holy Spirit prior to class.
 
Maryknoll Student Essay Contest 2018
This contest is open to students in grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.  The topic this year is “Love in Action.” In his most recent letter, “Rejoice and Be Glad,” Pope Francis reminds us, “We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love.” That, he says, does not require extraordinary deeds but everyday acts of kindness. Students are asked to tell a true story of when you saw someone sharing God’s love through an act of kindness and how that inspired you to act in a similar way. The deadline is November 16, 2018.  More information can be found at www.MaryknollSociety.org/Essay or call the office.
 
2019 March for Life
The Diocese of Rockford pilgrimage to the March for Life will be held January 16-20, 2019. Early bird forms and payment for youth ($315) are due by November 19^th.  Registration forms and paperwork are available by contacting the Life & Family Evangelization Office 815/399-4300 x377. The parish will sponsor a student to attend.
 
Socks, Hat & Mitten Collection
Preschool & Kindergarten students are asked to participate in a service project.  A collection will be taken until December 2^nd for new hats, mittens/gloves and socks.  Students may put their donations in the basket located on the table in the Church Hall.  These will be included in the Ecumenical Council’s Christmas Gift program.
 
Junk Food Collection
We will be collecting “junk food” in November.  The “junk food” will be packed in the Thanksgiving Ecumenical Food Baskets.  The “junk food” basket will be in the Church Hall during Religious Ed classes through November 11^th.  Please encourage your children to bring in their favorite junk food or any unwanted Halloween candy.
 
The Thanksgiving Food Baskets will be put together on Saturday, November 17^th at the Durand United Methodist Church.  There is always a need for help in sorting & packing (9am) and delivering (10am) the baskets, please consider helping out.
 
Changing of Worship Books
The weekend of November 24^th and 25^th, we will be putting the new worship books in the pews at St. Patrick Church after the 4:30 p.m. Mass and at St. Mary Church after the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  Everyone is invited to help, especially the seventh grade class as part of how they live their faith.
 
Live Nativity
Please join in the fun by attending the Live Nativity in Durand (in the open area of the square just under the mural). On Friday, November 30^th beginning at 6p.m., the Nativity of Jesus will be acted out with live animals and beautiful music.  This event should last about 20 minutes and bleacher seating will be available. So bring some hot chocolate, a warm blanket and start the evening off experiencing what the Christmas season is all about.
 
Catholic Woman of the Year
Nomination forms for the Catholic Woman of the Year are due back Sunday, November 4^th.  I know for a fact how much you all work and give to the parish and community alike.  Watch future bulletins for the final voting ballot which concludes December 12^th.
 
Christmas Party
St. Anne CCW will hold the annual Christmas party Wednesday, December 12^th. Social Hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6p.m. This is open to all women (elementary age and up).  There will be a dinner followed by a white elephant silent auction with proceeds going to the Durand Ecumenical Council.  Ladies are needed to sponsor a table to decorate.  If you love the season and would like brighten up a dinner table, contact Lydia Johnson at 248-3519 or Helen Fisk at 248-2853. Please consider attending this with a daughter, mother, aunt, friend, etc.  This is a wonderful time spend with friends and family. More information will be in upcoming bulletins.
 
Advent 2018
Sunday, December 2^nd is the first week of Advent. I know the Elf on the Shelf is something that many families use…I don’t think this was around when my kids were small. Here is something that you may want to do that expresses what the season is about for Christians…The Shepherd on the Search. You can find information on www.shepherdonthesearch.com where you can purchase the shepherd & story book. They also have daily activities you can download or print off. The shepherd and book are also available on Amazon ($25.99).
 
Bake Sale
December 9^th the High School Religious Education class will be holding a bake sale.  We need your help…baked goods and buyers are needed!  Please try to have items to the parish center by Friday, December 7^th.  Funds will be sent to Habitat for Humanity, Rockford.  Habitat for humanity builds simple, decent, affordable homes that are sold to families currently living in substandard housing.  What a great way to live out the Corporal Works of Mercy to shelter the homeless.
 
Saint Facts
Saint feast days to be celebrated worldwide are listed on the official Roman calendar for the universal church. There are at least three saints for almost every day of the year.  As early as 100 A.D. Christians began honoring other Christians who died asking them for their intercession.  Canonization or the process used to name a saint has been around since the tenth century.  Prior to that time the saints were chosen by public acclaim.  In 1983, Pope John Paul II made changes to the process.  After death, often many years in order to give perspective, the local bishop investigates their life and writings for heroic virtue, martyrdom and orthodoxy of doctrine.  A Panel of Vatican theologians evaluates the candidate.  After approval by the panel and cardinals of the Congregation for Cause of Saints, the pope proclaims the candidate “venerable.”  A miracle is needed (except for martyrs) as proof the person is in heaven and can intercede for us.  This miracle must happen after the candidates death and as a result of a specific petition to the candidate.  Then, the pope proclaims the candidate beatified or “blessed” and the person can be venerated by the people.  Only after another miracle (for martyrs also), will the pope canonize this person a saint.

St. Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093)
Feast day: November 16
Patron of: Scotland
Margaret was the daughter of Princess Agatha and the Anglo-Saxon Prince Edward Atheling. She was raised in the court of King St. Stephen of Hungary, and at the age of twelve, went to the court of her great-uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor. Following the Battle of Hastings, her family fled to Scotland in 1066. King Malcolm befriended them and gave them shelter from the Normans. Margaret married Malcolm at the castle of Dunfermline in 1070.  She was known for her piety and generosity.  King William Rufus made a surprise attack on Alnwick castle, in 1093. Upon hearing the her husband and sons had been killed in battle, Margaret, already on her deathbed, died four days after her husband.

St. Leo the Great (d461)
Feast day: November 10
Leo I, was pope from 440-461.  A Doctor of the Church, he earned the title “Great” with only two other popes (Gregory I and Nicholas I).  Elected in 440, he started his pontificate by preaching about his opposition to the heresies at his time.  Bringing the Church under the see of Rome, was one of his central policies.  A second major area of his concern was doctrinal controversy in the Church in the East, stating the Church’s teaching on the two natures of Christ. He also led the defense of Rome against barbarian attack from Attila the Hun. But later Geiseric and his Vandals plundered Rome, but agreed to not burn the city thanks to Leo’s plea.  In 1754, Leo was declared a Doctor of the Church.  He is known for the spiritual depth with which he approached the pastoral care of his people and his spiritually profound sermons.