Happy Monday everyone,
If we didn’t have a calendar to prove to us that it is February 8th we might not believe it with this hot weather that is upon us today, and I guess for the entire week. Wow! This weather will make it seem even more impossible to believe that Lent begins on Wednesday.
LENT:
Ash Wednesday is February 10th Here is the schedule for Ash Wednesday: 6:30am Mass, 8:00am Mass, noon-liturgy & Ashes, 4:00pm liturgy & Ashes, 5:30pm Mass and 6:45pm Mass (Spanish). ALL of the Wednesday Religious Education classes will be attending the liturgy and ashes at 4:00pm. PLEASE DROP YOUR CHILD OFF at their REGULAR CLASSROOM for the start of class at 3:45pm. The teachers will escort them to the church for the liturgy and ashes just before 4:00pm. We will RETURN to the classrooms when the service ends. PLEASE BE PATIENT on Wednesday since this is not our normal routine. Thank you!
A daily Lenten reflection is available through Dynamic Catholic. You can sign up here: http://dynamiccatholic.com/bestlentever/
Also, during Lent we will participate in the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program. Each child will receive a rice bowl and Lent calendar that goes with it during classes THIS WEEK February 10th & 11th. We are asking each child/family to consider saving change during Lent and turn in the filled bowl at class the week of March 16th & 17th. There is an app available for download to follow along as a family for daily reflections. The app is called: CRS Rice Bowl.
There will NOT be Religious Education classes or Jr High group the week of February 24th & 25th due to teachers attending Religious Education Congress in Anaheim. Thank you!
Biblical Studies Conference, Saturday, February 20th Held in the parish hall from 9:00am to 3:00pm. No cost to attend. Optional lunch available for $6. To RSVP for a lunch contact: Trent Benedetti at 922-4881. The topic for the day is The Bible, The Family and the New Evangelization. The speakers are: Dr. Michael Barber and Dr. John Kincaid. (attending the conference counts as a Faith Growth opportunity for RE parents of year 1 & year 2 Communion students.)
Vacation Bible Camp 2016: SAVE THE DATE. We will be having Vacation Bible Camp July 18-22 from 9:00am to noon each day. Registration forms will be available in late February.
Early Registration for classes 2016-2017: We will begin the early registration process in March for classes that will begin in September. When you register early, you receive a $5 discount for each child registered. The other benefit is you have one less thing to have on your summer to do list. J
Thought for the week: “If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.” –David Viscott
Tip of the week: I read a great idea for Lent at Catholic Icing over the weekend. She begins by sharing, “We are all called to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent. There are endless ways to do this, and donating bags full of stuff is just 1 way. If you haven’t heard of 40 days 40 bags, it’s a simple concept. Each day during Lent, you fill 1 bag of stuff from your home, and donate it. You choose the size of the bag”. Read more about the idea here: http://www.catholicicing.com/40-days-40-bags/
Blessings to all,
Kelly
Kelly McLoughlin
Director of Religious Education
Junior High Ministry
St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church
Proud member of NACYML www.nacyml.org
And NCCL www.nccl.org
