faith formation family news april 23, 2014storage.cloversites.com... · 2014-04-23 · parent of a...
TRANSCRIPT
Faith Formation Family News
April 23, 2014 CONTENTS:
* “The Little Ones” Cartoon *
1. Faith Formation Sessions for NEXT YEAR. 2. THANK YOU to our Catechists and Helpers 3. Events Not to Miss
Archdiocesan Priest and Seminarian Basketball Tournament (Friday, April 25)
St. Gabriel’s Spring Rummage Sale (May 1 – 3)
St. Gabriel’s Plant Sale (May 9 - 11)
St. Gabriel’s Annual Spring Tea (Saturday, May 10)
Vacation Bible School (Time to Register!)
4. Prayer of the Week – On the Canonization of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II 5. Articles for Parents from At Home with Our Faith
Lost and Found
6. Safety for Our Children: Our Volunteer Code of Conduct
7. Rediscover:Faith Imitation of Christ and Christian discipleship
8. News from The Catholic Spirit 9. Think Positively: A One-Minute Meditation 10. Videos With a Message
Catholics Come Home Evangomercials: Heavy Burden & Eucharist
Kelley Mooney's Spiritual Adaptation of Lyrics for Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"
All 14 Stations of the Cross depicted on skateboards
How Great Thou Art/The Mission
Love Is All/Playing for Change
Unsung Hero
Nature’s Seacoast at its Best
The Resurrection of the Lord
And at the end of this email . . . .
Easter Greetings to All
1. FAITH FORMATION SESSIONS FOR
NEXT YEAR
Registration Forms for 2014-15.
I will have Faith Formation Registration Forms for next year available this Sunday, April 27.
They are based on the assumption that our program will remain pretty much the same next
year.
You can access the form here:
http://storage.cloversites.com/stgabrielthearchangelcatholicchurch/documents/Registratio
n%20Form%202014-15.pdf
ONE GOOD REASON TO REGISTER NOW: Tuition rates will stay at this year’s level, at least
through June 30. If there is a rate increase for next year’s tuition, it will take effect on July 1,
2014.
OTHER GOOD REASONS TO REGISTER NOW:
1) Avoid the Back-to-School rush next fall.
2) Help the FF Office get a head start on all the administrative tasks of registering
students!
EVALUATION FORMS FOR FAITH FORMATION.
I will ask both the Children and the Parent’s to fill out an evaluation form this Sunday evening.
If you’d like to fill them out in advance, here they are:
STUDENT EVALUATION FORM:
http://storage.cloversites.com/stgabrielthearchangelcatholicchurch/documents/Evaluation
%20Form%20-%20Student%20p.pdf
PARENT EVALUATION FORM:
http://storage.cloversites.com/stgabrielthearchangelcatholicchurch/documents/Evaluation
%20Form%20-%20Parent%20p.pdf
CATECHISTS FOR 2014-15.
Several of this year’s catechists are able to return next year, but a few are moving on.
Please begin thinking now if God may be calling you to share in this important ministry.
Contact me if you’d like more information about what this entails.
2. THANK YOU TO OUR
CATECHISTS & HELPERS
We really appreciate all you do for our children:
Please join me in thanking these generous, and dedicated and talented people. PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN & NURSERY: Jenni Stankewitz, Kathleen Esh,
Rhonda Pantilla, Eileen Quigley, Michelle Anderson and many helpers.
GRADE 1: Janet Krawczak
GRADE 2: Tara Carter
GRADE 3 Liane Pederson and Jennifer Hartnett
GRADE 4 Kathleen Esh,
GRADE 5 Bob McSherry
EDGE - GRADE 6, 7, 8 Ben Martinka & Kris Jamison
GRADE 9 (1YC): Marilyn Zayac & Mark Kociemba,
GRADE 10 (2YC) Sandy Behnken
SUBSTITUTES: Sister Janet Stelken, Steve & Paul Klappa, Jeff Weaver,
Peggy Haertzen, Marlene Smith, John Kielb, Sharon & Shelly Mattson, Greg
Delander, Cindy Racchini, Nick Hickman, Linda Kelly, Mary Jelinek
OFFICE HELPERS: Anna Pravinata, Peggy Haertzen, Liz Stoeckel.
Would you like to join this fun group next fall?
It would really be preferable if we could have two adults in each classroom.
Maybe you’d consider being a catechist assistant, and see how it goes. I’d be
happy to discuss this possibility with you.
3. EVENTS NOT TO MISS
ARCHDIOCESAN PRIEST AND SEMINARIAN
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT This Friday, April 25, 2014 De LaSalle at
High School
5:00 PM – Free will donation
barbecue
6:30 PM – St. John Vianney
Seminary vs. Saint Paul Seminary
7:30 PM – Dunk Contest
8:30 PM – Priests of the Archdiocese
vs. Winner of seminarian game
Mark your calendars for the 2014
Archdiocesan Priest and Seminarian
Basketball Tournament. Come watch the seminarians from the Saint Paul Seminary and Saint
John Vianney College Seminary, as well as the Priests of the Archdiocese (including Fr.
Liekhus). In addition, there will be a dunk contest between the Catholic High Schools in the
Twin Cities. Best of all, it's free and open to the public.
ST. GABRIEL’S SPRING RUMMAGE SALE
At the St. Joseph’s campus – Social Hall
Thursday, May 1: from 9:30am–8:00pm
Friday, May 2: from 9:30am–5:00pm
Saturday, May 3: from 9:30am–12:00pm
We will be accepting rummage sale donations from Saturday,
April 26 through Wednesday NOON on April 30. We take
everything except: TV sets, large stereo sets, consoles, computers, carpeting, microwaves,
appliances, baby car seats (not allowed to sell them), old tires and wheels, large windows, box
springs and mattresses, water beds, used toilets, toxic chemicals/paint and hide-a-beds.
Furniture must be in good condition. Pick up is available Monday through Wednesday morning.
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS!! · There are a variety of jobs for all to do, especially sorting and pricing.
· There are even sit down jobs for those who cannot stand for a long time.
· Men are needed to work with the hardware and furniture areas.
· Another opportunity to volunteer, especially men, is for set up on Friday, April 25
and teardown at 12:00pm on Saturday, May 3. · Food donations are always very much appreciated from Saturday until Friday. It takes a
lot of food to feed all the people who run the sale.
If you have questions or if you need items picked up, please call Suzanne at (952) 938-2401 or
Janet at (952) 935-5151 or during the week of the sale, call the social hall (952) 938-8968.
ST. GABRIEL’S PLANT SALE
Saturday & Sunday, May 10 & 11
h Campus At the St. Jo n’s
Purchase plants for your Spring Gardens, or for a
Mother’s Day gift!
Volunteers are always needed, especially to help
unload the truck on Friday, or help with the Sale on
Saturday or Sunday. Contact Mary Rivers 952-
210-2161 or [email protected] to sign up.
ST. GABRIEL’S ANNUAL SPRING TEA
Saturday, May 10, from 11:00am to 1:30pm
Social Hall at St. Joseph Campus
Food/Entertainment/Fellowship
MOMS: BRING YOUR DAUGHTERS!
$7.00 Adults
$4.00 12 yrs and under.
Limited seating - Reservations are required by calling Janet at
(952) 933-2085.
Volunteers are always welcome for set-up and serving.
PARENTS! It's NOT TOO EARLY to register your children for Vacation
Bible School! (August 4th - 8th.)
Contact Kathleen Esh for a Registration Form now.
[email protected] or 952-933-7610.
And if you would like to Volunteer - let me know! All Volunteers are
required to have a Background Check and Virtus Training, if it has not
been completed before.
4. PRAYER OF THE WEEK
On the Canonization of Saints John XXIII
and John Paul II
We praise you and we bless you, good and gracious God,
for giving us Saints John XXIII and John Paul II
to be our brothers on the path of holiness
and examples of hope and light for the world.
Let their courage embolden us,
their missionary zeal for the Gospel inspire us,
and their contagious joy be ours
as we continue their work of preaching the good news
to a world in need of your divine mercy and love.
Saint John XXIII, pray for us!
Saint John Paul II, pray for us!
Blessed be God, for ever!
Amen.
—Diana Macalintal
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' website has a wide variety of articles on
the canonization plus a nice timeline for both JPII and good Pope John XXIII. Check out these
resources.
5. ARTICLES FOR PARENTS from
LOST AND FOUND
Dealing with: Seeing echoes of the death and resurrection of Jesus in our own daily lives. Finding support and “perspective” about our “troubles” as parents.
My brother’s son and his wife just had their first baby, a little boy. His name is Colin
David, David being my brother, who died of cancer when his son was only 3 years old.
Two years ago these two young people were almost killed in a car accident when
another driver crossed the center line on a two-lane road. The wife’s dad, who was
driving, didn’t make it. My nephew and his wife endured months in the hospital and in
rehab; they will live with the physical and emotional effects of that accident for the rest
of their lives.
So this baby boy is indeed a blessing.
I called my nephew on Christmas Day, little more than a week after the baby’s birth.
He told me he and his wife had gotten each other a few presents, “But, you know, with
the baby, we really don’t need anything else.”
In this story lie echoes of the sacred stories we Christians read aloud to one another
during Holy Week: stories of suffering, death, and new life, of love that triumphs over
death.
Sometimes these echoes in our lives are dramatic, but often not. The everyday test for
us lies in recognizing this pattern of dying and rising to new life as it happens over and
over in the years of family life. You have to die to your old life when you welcome
children into your life, when your bright 10-year-old turns into a moody, “don’t touch
me” 11-year-old, when your kids leave your home for their own lives.
I look back on the year my son was 4. He had been pretty much a delight till then, but
at this age—I recall what some battle-weary friends wrote on their “Welcome, baby”
card when he was born: “Enjoy them while they’re little, because soon they grow up to
be monsters!” All day my son fought with me, refused to cooperate on the simplest of
activities. Angry, he called me “poo-poo head.” At bedtime he’d say sweetly to my
husband, “I love you, Dada,” turn to me and say, “I kind of like you.” I found relief,
finally, in a book which, along with strategies, offered this message: Don’t worry, every
parent of a 4-year-old secretly fears they are raising a juvenile delinquent. I emerged
from my fog of discouragement a little wiser, having learned that I would survive having
a child who didn’t always like me. And when my strong-willed pistol of a daughter
came along a few years later, I had fewer illusions—a good thing, too.
A friend tells of his parents relocating to another town just in time for his senior year of
high school. His mom reassured him that it would all work out, but he told her bluntly
no, it wouldn’t. “I won’t forget the look on her face, how bad she felt that all this was
happening,” he writes, “how much it hurt her to see me in pain. I ended up living with
another family the next year so I could finish at my high school, which I know was a
huge sacrifice for my mother, who basically missed my senior year.”
Living with the other family taught him to see his own more clearly. “I learned a lot
about just how much my parents cared about me,” he writes, “even letting me follow
my own desire to stay at my old school rather than live with them, which I know is what
they really, really wanted.”
What was it Jesus said? “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it
remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). Amen to
that.
By Catherine O'Connell-Cahill, from the pages of At Home with Our Faith, Claretian Publications’ print newsletter for parents on nurturing spirituality in the home. Winner of the Best in Class award in 2013 from the Associated Church Press, as well as a First Place General Excellence award from the Catholic Press Association for the past four years running.
6. SAFETY FOR OUR CHILDREN:
Our Volunteer CODE OF CONDUCT
FYI, here is the CODE OF CONDUCT that all our Catechists (and other volunteers who work with children) sign before they begin. This is just one part of our plan to
make St. Gabriel’s a safe and sacred environment for all our parishioners, and especially our children.
VOLUNTEER’S CODE OF CONDUCT For volunteers with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
As a volunteer, I promise to follow the rules and guidelines in this Volunteer’s Code of Conduct as a condition of my providing services to the children, youth and/or vulnerable adults of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
As a volunteer, I will:
Treat everyone I serve with respect, loyalty, patience, integrity, courtesy, dignity and consideration.
Use positive reinforcement rather that criticism, competition, or comparison when working with children, youth or vulnerable adults.
Maintain confidentiality in all matters related to normal parish business. Comply with the mandatory reporting regulations of the State of Minnesota and with the
Archdiocesan sexual abuse policies to report suspected child abuse. I understand that failure to report suspected child abuse to civil authorities is against the law.
Cooperate fully in any investigation of abuse of children, youth or vulnerable adults.
As a volunteer, I will not:
Touch or speak to a child, youth or vulnerable adult in a sexual or other inappropriate manner. Strike, spank, shake, or slap children, youth or vulnerable adults. Humiliate, ridicule, threaten, or degrade children, youth or vulnerable adults. Accept or give gifts to children, youth or vulnerable adults without the knowledge of their
parents or guardians. Smoke or use tobacco products while engaging in volunteer activities with children, youth or
vulnerable adults. Use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at any time while
volunteering. Use, possess, or show pornographic materials to children, youth or vulnerable adults at any
time while volunteering. Use profanity in the presence of children, youth or vulnerable adults.
I understand that as a volunteer working with children, youth, and/or vulnerable adults, I am subject to a thorough background check including criminal history. My signature confirms that I have read this Code of Conduct and that as a volunteer ministering to children, youth and/or vulnerable adults, I agree to follow these standards. I understand that any action inconsistent with this Code of Conduct or failure to take action mandated by this Code of Conduct may result in my removal with children, youth and/or vulnerable adults. Date: _________ Volunteer’s printed name: ________________________________________ Volunteer’s signature: _____________________________________________________________
7. REDISCOVER: FAITH
Want to learn more about your faith?
Check out http://rediscover-faith.org/ for their large collection of answers to questions of
importance to all of us.
For example, here’s a short explanation of:
Imitation of Christ and Christian discipleship http://rediscover.archspm.org/belonging/topic.php?id=67
74
8. NEWS FROM
The April 17 edition:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=dd6794cf-afb0-46dd-bafb-e54d065566e4&c=80b5cc70-35a9-11e3-bb5c-d4ae52843aae&ch=8254af60-35a9-11e3-
bb78-d4ae52843aae
9. THINK POSITIVELY: A One-Minute
Meditation
When a person drowns himself in negative thinking he is committing an unspeakable crime against himself.
-- Maxwell Maltz
Negative thoughts can rule our lives as compulsively as an addiction. The feelings of power we get from holding a dismal and gloomy outlook deprive us of the positive and pleasant parts of life. Some of us have said, "If I expect the worst, I won't be disappointed. If I think the worst about myself, no one else can cut me down." It is like
taking a driving trip and looking only for trash and garbage in the ditches, ignoring the beauty beyond. Indeed, what we see may be real, but it is a very limited piece of the picture. When we have relied on negative thinking, it feels risky to give it up. We cannot do it in one day. We can begin by imagining ourselves with a more open attitude toward ourselves and the world. Then we can try it out as an experiment in little ways, with no commitment. Finally we reach the point where we can take a risk and entrust God with the outcome. Today, I will experiment with hopeful and positive thoughts about what happens.
You are reading an adaptation from the Hazelden book:
Touchstones By Anonymous
10. VIDEOS WITH A MESSAGE
CATHOLICS COME HOME EVANGOMERCIALS:
The CATHOLICS COME HOME organization is asking its supporters to
share its 30-second evangomercials. Here is "Heavy Burdens,"
released by Catholics Come Home at the beginning of Lent.
On Holy Thursday, Catholics Come Home released a commercial
on the Eucharist to highlight the True Presence of Jesus in the
Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of our Catholic faith.
CCH said, "the institution of the sacraments is a unique gift of Jesus to His Catholic Church. So, on this Holy Thursday, when Christ
celebrated the first Mass with His apostles, we are excited to celebrate that special
sacramental gift to us, by releasing our new Eucharist evangomercial."
CCH has a companion website, GoodConfession.com, that depicts the "dynamic duo of
sacraments--Confession and Holy Communion--that should take center stage in the spiritual
lives of Catholics to help them grow in holiness not just during Lent, but all year round."
Kelley Mooney's Spiritual Lyrical Adaptation of Leonard Cohen's
"Hallelujah"
Kelly Mooney tells the story, “We were at Easter Mass in our own parish in
Iona, P.E.I., and I had sung a song that ended with the word Hallelujah being repeated. After Mass, our parish priest asked if I would sing Leonard
Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah.’” This is the world video premiere of Kelley Mooney's approved spiritual adaptation of the lyrics for Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". She is
accompanied by the Chorale Voce dell' Anima led by Monette
Gould on June 1, 2010, at the Monument Lefebvre in
Memramcook, New Brunswick, Canada.
You can listen to this 8:25 minute rendition at: Hallelujah . Here are the lyrics:
A crown of thorns placed on His head
He knew that He would soon be dead
He said did you forget me Father did you?
They nailed Him to a wooden cross
Soon all the world would feel the loss
Of Christ the King before His Hallelujah
Hallelujah x4
He hung His head and prepared to die
Then lifted His face up to the sky
Said I am coming home now Father to you
A reed which held His final sip
Was gently lifted to his lips
He drank His last and gave His soul to glory
Hallelujah x4
The soldier who had used his sword
To pierce the body of our Lord
Said truly this is Jesus Christ our Savior
He looked with fear upon his sword
Then turned to face his Christ and Lord
Fell to his knees crying Hallelujah
Hallelujah x4
Took from his head the thorny crown
And wrapped him in a linen gown
And laid him down to rest inside the tomb
The holes in his hands, his feet and side
Now in our hearts we know he died
To save us from ourselves oh hallelujah
Hallelujah x4
Three days went by again they came
To move the stone to bless the slain
With oil and spice anointing hallelujah
But as they went to move the stone
They saw that they were not alone
But Jesus Christ has risen Hallelujah
Hallelujah x4
Hallelujah x4
All 14 Stations of the Cross depicted on skateboards
Pope John Paul II said that it's possible to be modern and
profoundly loyal to Jesus Christ. These young Chileans put this
thought into practice. They combined something as modern as
skateboarding, with their faith. The result lòoks like this: the 14
Stations of the Cross painted on skateboards.
Its creators called it Via Crucis SkateArt. The meditations for each station are the very ones
Pope Francis prepared for the Way of the Cross at WYD 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. They came up
with the idea after attending the event.
The creators are 11 young Chileans from the city of Temuco.
They say SkateArt is a reflection of their hopes and concerns.
For eight weeks, the pieces will be on display across their city.
Through Via Crucis SkateArt, they found a way to convey their
message for Holy Week.
Watch a 1:06 minute video at SkateArt Stations of the Cross.
The Mission/How Great Thou Art Story behind the video & song:
We've set an ambitious goal to film in front of all Seven
Wonders of the World. We started with the Great Wall of China with this 4:32 minute video:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCaH-...).
We set our sights on our next Wonder in Brazil: Christ the
Redeemer. This incredible piece of art soars 10 stories in the air,
stretches 100 feet wide and weighs 1.4 million pounds (630,000 kg).
But even more impressive is that it was built in the 1920's on a peak of a sheer 2,300 ft. (700
meter) cliff overlooking Rio de Janeiro.
Not far from this inspiring statue are the Iguazu Falls -- a natural Wonder of the World, made
up of 275 waterfalls that stretch across 1.7 miles.
We chose music that would be worthy of such incomparable locations. We combined the
melody of the heartfelt hymn of praise "How Great Thou Art" with the beautiful theme from the
movie "The Mission." This movie powerfully depicts the lives of men that lay down their lives
for others, and was also filmed at Iguazu Falls. "How Great Thou Art" praises God and all that
He has done for His children on this Earth. The two harmonize so beautifully with each other.
Watch/Listen to this 3:55 minute video of the Piano Guys in Brazil at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHV6BjuQOZQ.
Love is All/Playing for Change Playing For Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. To celebrate the launch of their new website
(http://playingforchange.com), they invite us to view this new Song
Around The World of children across the globe performing "Love Is
All". Lets make the world a better place one heart and one song at a time...
Watch/Listen to this 3:37 minute song at: Love is All You Need.
NATURE’S SEACOAST AT IT’S BEST 17 year old declares, “This is the Best Thing I Have Ever Filmed! I'm
so happy with this footage. Everything came together perfectly for
this flight: the wind dropped, the sun was low and orange and the tide
was almost completely in. In fact, this footage is straight out of the
camera. Apart from the obvious cuts and transitions, I've done no
editing or color correcting whatsoever. It's just not needed.”
The location is on the north Cornwall coast in England, near Newquay. The music is Hans
Zimmer's "Time". Check out this 2:49 minute capture of God’s beautiful creation Nature's at
Seacoast at its Best.
UNSUNG HERO: What is it that you desire most? This man's simple acts of kindness truly make a beautiful difference. Even though it’s a life insurance commercial and has subtitles, it still has a heart-touching message as he seems to live the gospel message of
Alleluia.
Check out the 3:05 minute video Unsung Hero. at
THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD (A “between Sundays” reflection from THE FIVE LOAVES.)
Easter Week
The Resurrection of Our Lord
- Matthew 28:1-10
Jesus meets the women who have gone to the tomb and says, “Do not be afraid. Tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” What are the miracles of God’s presence and sustaining love we have experienced this year through the words and actions of friends, family, neighbors or even strangers? Just as the Risen Lord encountered the women, the first disciples, and the two on the way to Emmaus, we must pay attention to the unexpected ways God walks with us, teaches us, and invites us to see with “new eyes.” Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
You can watch the 6:15 minute video here: http://www.thefiveloaves.com/
[The video changes each week, in preparation for the upcoming Sunday’s readings. In order to
see this particular video AFTER this Sunday, click the Playlist tab to view videos from previous
weeks.]
And at the end of this email . . . .
EASTER GREETINGS TO ALL.