Youth and RE Information
FOR THE SAKE OF GOD’S CHILDREN
Background checks are required every five years. Everyone is responsible for creating a safe environment for our children; that is why St. John the Apostle parish is participating in the For the Sake of God’s Children program. We will support this program to ensure the safety and protection of our children and youth. We want to remind you that all who work with the youth in any capacity are required to have a background check. Call the church office for more information.
WE NOW HAVE ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM which you can download and fill out. The RE office does not mail registration forms unless asked to. You can register for all RE grades on Sunday, October 4th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and for Teen Challenge courses during the September retreat. To get the registration forms click the links: English and Spanish). Please also ensure you complete the second half of the form available here.
ST. JOHN'S YOUTH MINISTRY
Please
Note:
The RE office is closed on Mondays. Thank you.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Advent
Dinner / Cookie Exchange is scheduled for Sunday, December 11th
at 2 PM. The 1st grade
class will present a Nativity play. This
is a covered dish event and we ask you to bring a dozen of your favorite holiday
cookies to share and exchange.
Our youth page is almost completed.
There will be pictures on our website at the end of the week.
Join us for a Christmas Social night at our next youth gathering on
Friday, December 16th from 7 to 9 PM.
RELIGIOUS ED: Sundays
at 9:30 AM Mass for Grades 3-6 in the Basement Rooms; at 10:45 am for Grades
PreK - 2 in the Basement Rooms.
CONFIRMATION
CLASSES:
10th
Grade begins Sunday, Oct. 16th at 7:00 PM with sponsors.
9th
Grade begins Sunday, Nov.13th at 9:00 AM
Youth Group
Gathering, Friday, October 21st from 7-9 PM
Advent Wreath activity is scheduled for Sunday, November 20th at 7 PM. Parishioners are invited to join us but an RSVP is encouraged. Advent Dinner / Cookie Exchange is scheduled for Sunday, December 11th at 2 PM. The 1st grade class will present a Nativity play. This is a covered dish event and we ask you to bring a dozen of your favorite holiday cookies to share and exchange. Youth Gathering is scheduled for Friday, November 18th at 7 PM.
WHY BE A CATECHIST? It is easy to forget just how essential
sharing the Faith, particularly as a catechist , is to our very lives. We
are all called to be witnesses to the Gospel. If you have been approached
to be a catechist, or if you feel the call of the Spirit, you are being asked to
do something special for God, the Church, and for your fellow Catholics. You
will never regret saying ‘yes” to that call. And in responding, you may find
you are doing something special for yourself.
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION As you sit back to plan
your vacation and begin to enjoy the long hot summer days remember to take time
for yourself. In Mark 6:31 we read “come away by yourselves to a
deserted place and rest for a while. People were coming and going in great
numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat
by themselves to a deserted place”.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION is about our faith and traditions is important
at all stages of life, even adulthood. While religious education can be
very fun and exciting for young children, it can often become a burden to
adolescents. What does your attitude about religious education say to your
children? Do you often allow them to miss class in favor of other
commitments? If your children aren’t getting much from their religious
education, discuss with them what would make it more exciting and enlightening.
You can take their suggestions to your parish Director of Religious Education or
implement them at home.
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION Please plan to join
our youth in providing Easter Baskets for needy children. Items needed are:
baskets, grass, assorted candies, small toys for boys & girls, small stuffed animals.
Thank you!
CATECHISTS
ARE NEEDED: Why you really, really matter? Because no religious education
program could happen without you.
Our Teen Challenge program and children’s ministry is in need of people
to share their vision of God with our children and teens. Is
God tapping you on the shoulder?
CATECHISTS? I want to thank the parishioners that heard the
call to share their faith with our children and youth. We now have a team
of (5) catechists working together in our Teen Challenge Program. Primary grades
are in need of a few more adults to help on Sunday mornings. We must have 2
adults per classroom at all times. Can you give an hour on Sunday morning from
9:30 to 10:40 a.m. or 10:40 to 12 noon? We are looking for one other
person to join the Confirmation Team and two adults to help with the RCIA
program for children. If you would like more information on these programs
please call RE office. Parents are expected to actively participate
in their child’s faith formation and should give 4 hours a year in their
child’s classroom
YOUTH MINISTRY Nourish your
faith: mystagogy- the final
period in the process of initiation into the Church community that takes place
in the weeks following the Easter Vigil. Mystagogy means “instruction on the
mysteries.” For all Catholics, it is the ongoing, lifelong process of
reflection on the meaning of Baptism in each individual’s life. For neophytes,
or the newly initiated, it also entails catechesis and reflection on the
Sacraments of Initiation and the experience of the catechumenate.
YOUNG ADULTS Tap into something more in life! We invite young adults
in Their 20’s and 30’s, single and Married for refreshments/social event.
Come hear about what resources are available for young adults in our
Church who want to grow in their faith. Henri Nouwen once said that ministry
“means the ongoing attempt to put one’s own search for God, with all the
moments of pain and joy, despair and hope, at the disposal of those who want to
join in the search but do not know how.” That’s why Young Adult
Ministry invites people from all backgrounds to come together to pool their
resources and experiences as a community. Our
goal is to serve the young church. The
theme will be: Broken and Blessed- the drive for perfection or even to “be
good” can be a barrier to intimacy, forgiveness and true transformation. Come
as we look at our woundedness and imperfections with new eyes. Come and
experience a God whose light flows through the cracks in our lives and whose
very breath is forgiveness. The
date is Sunday, July 17th
from 5 to 8 PM. Please RSVP or get more information by calling or
e-mailing Maritza. The
speaker will be Maritza Figueroa.
DID YOU KNOW? The best thing a parish can do for teenagers, is to
create an environment filled with joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
and self-control. Teens are quick to sense the atmosphere in their parish. Ways
that you can be an advocate for young people this month:
Brainstorm your young people’s vision for youth ministry - find out
what they want to see happen in our parish.
Liturgical Formation for young people:
If you are interested in becoming a lector please call or e-mail Maritza.
CREATING FAITH FILLED FAMILIES Being green is all the rage. Did you know that taking care of the earth is actually part of Catholic social teaching? Teaching your children to take care of the earth (good stewardship) because God calls us to it is a wonderful way to keep Christ centered in their efforts to recycle, waste less and protect the gifts of God. For a complete list of the Try This @ Home tips, visit www.cdow.org or to submit your own suggestions, please visit the same link, click on youth ministry.
SNAPSHOT THURSDAY NEWSLETTER will resume this coming fall. Please watch for your monthly newsletter via email to our registered RE families. If you would like to get a copy of the monthly issues, please contact the RE office.
WE NOW HAVE ONLINE REGISTRATION which you can download and fill out. The RE office does not mail registration forms unless asked to. For more information and to get the registration (English and Spanish) forms go to our RE page
ADULTS IN MINISTRY WITH YOUTH Catholic Youth Ministry will be offering training for adults in ministry with youth or those who might be interested in this ministry. This is a certificate program and is scheduled for 2010 and 2011. Dates, location, price and detailed information available by calling the Catholic Youth Ministry office at 302-658-3800.
FAMILY MATTERS Check out the Family Matters 2011 schedule by clicking this link.
Our youth gatherings are held on the second Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:30 pm.
RELIGIOUS
ED NOVEMBER 5TH SCAVENGER HUNT
This event helps the Social Concerns Committee to fill the food baskets
for the holiday seasons. Parishioners
who wish to help support our youth in this event can pick up a grocery bag at
the end of Mass. Please fill the
bag and leave it on your front step for the youth to pick up on November 5th
between 10:00 AM and 12 noon. Please complete the information on the flyer
that will be attached to the bag. Thank
you for your continued support.
CONGRATULATIONS!
to St. Thomas More student Francisco Perez who made the Bishop’s list and
Maria Perez, and Marinelle Zarraga who made the Honors List.
Check out pictures of St. John youth in action by clicking this link Youth Pictures
ST. AMBROSE HOMESCHOOLERS
The St. Ambrose Homeschoolers will now meet on the 2nd Friday of each month
following the
Check out the Homeschoolers activities by clicking this link St. Ambrose Homeschoolers Picture Page
Announcements-St. Bernadette Announcements-St. John Calendars Catholic Links Catholic Prayers Choir Page Diocesan News Holy Name Society Knights of Columbus Mass Intentions Messengers of Hope New Roman Missal Nuestra Familia Hispana Our Clergy Parish Events Pray for Our Sick St. Bernadette Home St. John Home St John Players Youth Ministry