What are we learning?
This week, the focus is on Kindergarten and First Grade. Tammy Belloma is the Kindergarten Catechist and the class includes 5 boys and 3 girls. The Kindergarten Aide is Elizabeth Strub. The primary goal of this year is to spend time learning about how God loves each child. One special time near the end of class, is when the children form a prayer circle and they add their individual prayer intentions. Very often they pray for one of the other students; the boys pray for other boys and the girls for other girls. As would be expected of Kindergarten students, they very much enjoy singing, dancing and crafts. They also appreciate Bible stories and were interested in the activity of baptizing a baby (doll).
Patricia Valenzky is the First Grade Catechist and her Aide is Adrieanna Scarrino. First grade has 6 boys and 4 girls. First grade students also learn how much God loves them. They also learn that Jesus died for them and that the Holy Spirit is with them. The children learn and understand their prayers including the “Our Father”, the “Hail Mary” the “Glory Be” and prayers to the Saints. They participate in seasonal plays in which each student has a part. In addition, the children design different-colored art projects which are hung from the ceiling for special days. The most recent projects were varied crosses for Lent and Easter.
Last Class of the Year
The last day of class for the 2012-2013 Religious Education program is next Sunday, May 5. We will have a special crowning for the Blessed Mother in the courtyard beginning at 9:10 am.
Students are to report to the cafeteria at 8:30 am. The children will be walked into the courtyard by their teacher at 9:10 am. All parents, grandparents and relatives are welcome to join us in the courtyard. Following the ceremony, the children are free to leave with their parents.
Since the second graders will be receiving their First Holy Communion at the noon Mass that day, there will be an additional crowning of the Blessed Mother in the church for them.
Information regarding next year’s religious education program will be sent in the mail. It will also be published in upcoming Sunday bulletins. Stay tuned!
RCIA and Mystagogy
As noted previously, mystagogy is the catechetical period following immediately after the reception of Baptism by adults who were baptized at the Easter Vigil and during when they are initiated into the mystery of Christ. Jordan Marchiano, Emily Felix and Jonathan Fragapane will be engaged in activities designed to make prayer more meaningful and enjoyable. They will learn how to discern the voice of God from other voices which do not represent God’s plans, when making important decisions. They will learn about various saints and how the desire of the saints for holiness was an active force in the daily lives of the saints. The three, now fully initiated Catholics, will understand that the saints whom they will review, were not without faults, but that they learned to make positive choices which led to a stronger relation with Jesus Christ.
The following is a helpful quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church describing the period of mystagogy:
“The catechumenate … aims at bringing their conversion and faith to maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial community.” (1248)
Jordan, Emily and Jonathan will continue to meet during this time of mystagogy, with Barb Quigley.
Congratulations Newly Baptized!
Dantae Louis Batemon
Son of Tia Marie Batemon
Kellen Thomas Griffith
Son of Michael and Bethany Griffith
