First class September 21

Our first class will be September 21, 2014. Our theme this year will be human dignity. Using the incarnation and resurrection as a lens, family workshops will focus on the implications of dignity to the self (November 16) and to others (March 8).

To highlight some of the changes we are putting into place this year:

• flipping the group meeting to the end, so students will come into their individual classes.
• downscaling our snack in the interest of making sure we have more instructional time
• adding group workshop activities for 30 minutes at the end instead of our large group opening
• splitting large classes
• inviting guest speakers 
• taking field trips and creating more service opportunities

In a larger sense, we, the Religious Education Program at Notre Dame, hope to enlarge our outreach to parents and the community. We would explore our identity as a community and within the community of Notre Dame. What does that mean? We want to strengthen the identity of the Religious Education Program's community so that is a loving, cohesive community that supports all our members. We want the Religious Education program to be contributing to the life of the parish and the secular community.We want parents to be present, to be growing in faith individually and as family members. So the question is, what works for the families we have? 

A final thought:

Pope Francis Wednesday, 10 April 2013: “The Lord does not save us with a letter, with a decree, but has already saved us” and continues to save us with “his love”; he restores to human beings their “dignity and hope”....the most authentic expression of Christian salvation: that for love of us, God through his only begotten Son “became one of us, walked among us”. (Salvation According to Pope Francis)

Growing in Faith poster project: Everything we say in the mass comes from the Bible

The Growing in Faith class made a series of posters with the overall caption: "Mass: Everything we say comes from the Bible."

first in the series

second in the series

third in the series

fourth in the series

closeup

closeup

as displayed in church

2013-2014 coming to a close

Our year is coming to a close.  Our last class will be next week, June 8.

First Communion will be held on Father's Day, June 15 during the 11:30 mass. We have, by my count, nine students who will receive their First Communion that day. I will send another email with more specific information to the families involved. 

I'd like to ask for your help in making this a wonderful day. The French Community had their First Communion today and the church looked very pretty.  Maybe a few of our parents would be willing to take on creating this? Let me know if you would like to be involved in a committee or group, that might provide perhaps some beautiful white flowers and decorations in the church.  

Also, we have had some donations to the Heifer Project, but not as many as last year. One of our students very thoughtfully noticed that giving a family a water buffalo ($250) cost less than an ipad. He hoped that we would be able to do this. If you are in a position to donate and this appeals to you or your child, please consider. Small donations add up! Next week we will open the box and have the children have a voice in what we can donate.  Here's a link to the possibilities: http://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/index.html

Thinking about what is next, I would invite our families who will be returning to make a deposit of $30 for next year to help us plan and buy supplies for next year. Tentatively, our first class will be Sunday September 14; First Communion will be Corpus Christi, Sunday June 7.

It has been a beautiful year. Your children continually inspire me, and they have each shown a great deal of personal and spiritual growth. We as catechists are only a small part of that growth. You, their parents and family members, are their primary guides. They learn from you: from what you teach directly (what you say to them) and what you teach indirectly with your actions and your decisions  They reflect the values you epitomize.  I also want to acknowledge how moved I am by the discussions I have with many of you weekly, and wish I had more time to know you better. Raising children is never easy, and in our secular world, raising children with a strong spiritual compass is even harder, but I know it important to each of you because you bring your children every week, and eagerly contribute to the community.  How lucky we are! 

Thank you for entrusting your children to us; thank you for sharing yourselves with us; thank you for sharing your resources. I would hope the Religious Education program would be a place of growth for your family, and a joyful inspiration for you.

Crowning ceremony

The Religious Education program will lead the annual Crowning of the Virgin Mary statue in our parish garden this Sunday, May 10, Mother's Day, after the 11:30 mass.

Last year we had an expanded ceremony, with roles for the enrolled students, but St. Luke's Hospital was doing work and had an outside generator running. It was so noisy that no one could hear anything. The children's little voices--which I could hear slightly from a foot away--were completely drowned out. It didn't matter though, because they carried on, and we had the words. It was not a performance; it was a devotion, and they were perfect.

Join us this year!

Snack schedule is now available on the wiki

We have the snack schedule for the rest of the year. Each week has two families. We hope each family will coordinate with the other family as an opportunity to build more community. If anyone needs to switch, please ask another family.  Also, as one child has a documented nut allergy, please avoid nuts if possible.

You can find it here:  http://notredameccd.wikispaces.com/snack+schedule