March GIFT Follow Up

March GIFT Follow Up Email

I’m sorry that this is so late! The Thursday after our last GIFT session, I left for Southern California to attend the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in Anaheim. It’s an annual event filled with beautiful liturgies, music, exhibits, workshops and lots of inspiration. It’s a highlight of my year! A friend and I went together and on Sunday evening went to Disneyland. By the time I had returned to me hotel room, I was very sick. I’m pretty sure I got food poisoning which keep me home for all of last week! Yesterday was my first day back to the office, which is why I’m just getting this out to you now! Thank you for your prayers and patience.

Thank you for attending our March GIFT Gatherings: The Sacrament of Marriage! If you were not able to attend the GIFT sessions this month, please click the link here to download the PowerPoint presentation from the event. Fr. Craig showed a video in which Archbishop Salvador Cordelione shared his views of marriage. There was a discussion which followed where the participants shared their reactions to our Archbishops’ views.

At this month’s gatherings, the Catechists led the K-4^th grade children through chapter 14 in their books. Please work through the remaining chapters in Unit 5 with them before the 1^st week of April, chapters 13 & 15. The website for the text is http://calltofaith.osv.com which is where you can download the home lessons for chapters 13 & 15.

The 5-8^th graders talked about how we honor our family relationships and how the Holy Family provides us an example of a perfect family. We were sensitive to the fact that not all of us have a traditional family and made sure to affirm that that’s OK – families are based on mutual love and understanding and don’t have to follow a traditional model in order to be happy and healthy. We also talked a about what expectations our parents have for us and how we feel about those expectations – are they fair, realistic, etc. Is there anything missing in our family relationships that we need? Ask your sons or daughters about this and see what they say!

Other Resources:

Pinterest –

March Family Faith Ideas http://www.pinterest.com/smff2013/march-family-faith-ideas/

Lent/Easter/Pentecost Ideas  http://www.pinterest.com/smff2013/lent-easter-pentecost/

Vibrant Faith @ Home – www.vibrantfaithathome.org

This is a great resource – even has a iPhone app – which offers short 5-10 minute long activities that families can do at home to explore or teach faith topics.

Sabrina’s Blog – Do you children ever ask you faith related questions that you are just not sure how to answer? Or do really cool things related to their faith that you want to share with the community? If so, follow the blog http://faqsfaithandquestiosn.blogspot.com

Attached are the Taking Faith Home handouts for each week until we meet again on April 6^th or 9th  for the April GIFT sessions: Living as Disciple

Announcements:

·         Our LENTEN SERVICE PROJECT, a coin collection for Catholic Relief Services (Rice Bowl) will be due at the May GIFT sessions. Please let me know if your family uses any of the resources that CRS provides!

·         Our Mission Trip group is hosting a PASTA DINNER on Saturday, March 29^th from 6-8pm at St. Pius, Homer Crouse Hall. To sign up, click here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044CAFA82CA46-pasta1

·         Also, please make a note on your calendar and celebrate Triduum with the parish community. These three “high Holy Days” in the Church year commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper, washing of the disciples’ feet (Holy Thursday), the crucifixion (Good Friday), and Resurrection (Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday). Holy Week is April 13-20^th this year.  Schedule is posted on the parish website and in the bulletin. Participation at these Holy Week services helps bring the message of our salvation to life! *****

Can children who have not received their First Communion get ashes?

This Wednesday, March 5th is Ash Wednesday. 

Yes, children can receive ashes. Ashes are a sign of repentance, they remind us that Jesus died for us and that because we are sinners need to repent for our sins in order to be united with Him in heaven. In the Middle Ages, sinners were marked publicly and were required to do public works of penance to make up for their sins. They wore "sack cloth and ashes" for a proscribed period of time as penance. Thank goodness we don't have to do that anymore! But we are still marked with ashes on that day. The ashes also remind us that we come from dust and to dust we will return.

But because ashes are a sign of our sinfulness, Fr. Craig responded that he typically doesn't give ashes to infants or toddlers since they have not had the occasion to sin greatly. However, in some cultures, having your baby receive ashes is very important, so exceptions are made. 

The day also marks the beginning of the season of Lent.