Spring blessings everyone,
Last week when I sent the update I forgot to say welcome to daylight savings time. I know it throws us all off but I love when it is light outside for longer. It makes it so much safer at the end of classes each week. I hope you all enjoyed the arrival of Spring as well. Today we are enjoying some more much needed rain. I hope your Lenten journey is continuing to be a blessing and we all have the determination to continue with the plans we made for transformation during this season.
We have classes this week Wednesday 3/22 3:45-5:00pm and on Thursday 3/24 6:00-7:15pm. (see below for the schedule of the rest of the classes for the year).
Note to year 2 Communion Parents:
Year 2 Communion Student RETREAT: ALL of the children in year 2 Communion classes on Wednesdays & Thursdays will have their 1st Communion Retreat THIS Saturday, March 25th from 8:30am until noon. They will also be joined by the 2nd year Communion students from SLDM school. Your child attending the retreat is a required part of the process for all receiving the sacrament of Eucharist. Parents: In class this week your child will receive a printed reminder about the retreat. The volunteer task list is on the reminder. Please contact me if you have questions about your role at the retreat.
Year 2 Parent Meeting: is Monday, March 27th 7:00-8:00pm OR Wednesday, March 29th 7:00-8:00pm. All year 2 Parents (only one parent need attend per child/family) are required to attend this final parent meeting before First Communion Mass on May 13th. The meeting will be held in the Parish Hall.
Year 2 Communion parents please bring in a 2×3 inch picture of your child the pictures were due 3/9 for the prayer partner banners that will be hung in the church a few weeks before First Communion Masses in May. We are still in need of several of the children’s pictures. If you have not already done so, PLEASE DROP OFF or EMAIL a picture ASAP so your child isn’t left out of the banner.
Vacation Bible Camp 2017: Vacation Bible Camp: Registration has begun for this summer’s VBC “Camping in God’s Creation”. Camp will be held the week of Monday, July 30th through Friday, August 4th from 9:00am-noon each day and is open to children from 4 years old through entering 6th grade. Volunteers are needed to support this awesome event, to register a camper or volunteer please contact kelly@sldm.org (registration form available by email or in the RE Office).
EARLY REGISTRATION TIME for Religious Education classes & Junior High group: Parents can register their children early for the 2017-2018 classes which being after Labor day. Registering early makes it easier to choose the day of week you want your children to go to classes, gives you one less thing for your summer to do list and you receive an early bird discount of $5.00. Early registration will begin March 28th and the last day for early registration discount is May 25th. NEW for this year, credit/debit cards will be accepted for registration fees. The RE Office is open for registration beginning 3/28 every Tuesday from 4:30-7:30pm, Wednesday from 2:30-5:30pm and Thursday from 4:30-7:30pm. If you have questions, contact kelly@sldm.org
Classes remaining this ministry/school year:
We have classes on- 3/29 & 3/30, 4/5 & 4/6, BREAK & 4/26 & 4/27, 5/3 & 5/4 and final class is 5/10 & 5/11.
NO classes on- 4/12 & 4/13 and 4/19 & 4/20 DUE to Holy Week and Easter break.
SAVE the DATE-April is Child Abuse prevention month and each year or parish’s Safeguard the Children Committee sponsors an evening for parents focused on keeping our children safe. This year’s topic is Human Trafficking and what we can do to fight it and keep our children safe. This year our event is Thursday, April 27th from 6:30-8:00pm in the Parish Hall and our Guest Speaker is Sister Stella Enright DMJ, a Daughter of Mary and Joseph with years of experience in educating children and parents on a range of topics related to keeping children safe. Don’t miss out on this very informative talk. (This will be the final parent Faith Growth Opportunity for the RE year. Attending counts as a Faith Growth opportunity for RE parents of year 1 & year 2 Communion students. One is required each year.)
Thought for the week: “Do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the new one to come?” –Rumi
Blessings on your week,
Kelly
Kelly McLoughlin
Director of Religious Education
Junior High Ministry
St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church