RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWSLETTER
February 2015
February – between Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day, it’s certainly holiday-filled! Another day that usually falls in February, though, isn’t a holiday, but it’s one we all tend to observe. Ash Wednesday is February 18th this year, and it marks the beginning of the Lenten season. While not a holy day of obligation, it is a day that most Catholics (and those of other Christian denominations) go to church to be marked with ashes on their foreheads as a visible sign that they are followers of Christ. Here at PREP we’ll hold an Ash Prayer service on Sunday for the children – while not technically the day, it does help them to make the connection that we are no longer in Ordinary Time for the liturgical calendar, but have moved into a “p” season (I always remind the children, when you see the priest wearing purple it means we’re in a time of preparation for a major feast). This time of preparation originally began as a time when those entering the faith at Easter made their final preparations and scrutinies (we have 3 catechumens entering the Catholic faith this year at the Easter Vigil, so you will see the scrutinies take place at the 9AM Mass several times during Lent). The scrutinies were particular rites of the Church that were really like exorcisms – a time when the pagan beliefs were being “cast out” of those preparing for Baptism. After a while the people in the faith communities started doing things in preparation as well, both to show solidarity with those entering their communities and to remind themselves of their own Baptism – and so Lent was born! There are 40 days in Lent (technically 46 but Sundays in Lent don’t count, fasting that day was considered inappropriate because it was the Resurrection day). During Lent we are called to practice prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, so look for ways you can maybe be a little more intentional in those areas. Maybe get your family to say one decade of the Rosary together at night, or to come a little early to Mass on Sunday and walk around viewing the Stations of the Cross. Fasting does NOT mean not eating meat on Fridays, it means not eating between meals! There are only two days the church asks this of us – Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. We are asked on those two days to also ABSTAIN from eating meat, and on Fridays during Lent (technically all year, but we are allowed to give something else up on Fridays the rest of the year). Like maybe staying off Facebook or Twitter for Fridays…! Finally, almsgiving is giving to others who are less fortunate. We always think of this at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but we are specially called to it during Lent. Maybe figure out what it would cost to go to your favorite family restaurant on a Friday night, and instead eat a simple meatless meal at home and donate that money to the poor box. Whatever you do, remember that in the Gospels Jesus says we aren’t supposed to make a big deal out of it – “and your Father who sees in secret will repay you!” (Matt.6:4)
February 1st – NO YOUTH MASS, it’s the Super Bowl
February 4th - ALL PARENTS OF STUDENTS RECEIVING FIRST
COMMUNION THIS YEAR – First Communion Meeting
in the CHURCH HALL – 9:30 AM and repeated
at 7:00 PM – information about the retreat at this meeting
February 8th – 7th grade field trip to the Poor Clares 10-noon (Mass included)
February 10th – 5th grade family catechesis on the Mass – great for second
graders and anyone who wants a little more information on the Mass
February 11th – Christian Formation Committee meeting – at this meeting we will be
looking at nominees for the CYM awards in the various categories. This Committee is an advisory group for me that meets around once a month, and we are in need of new members! If you’re interested in helping me with the direction of our program, please give me a call or email and let me know you’d be willing to help – I keep the meetings to no more than an hour!
February 18th – Ash Wednesday – ashes and Mass at 6:30AM, 9AM, 10AM (school
Mass), and 7PM; ash service only at noon
February 21st – the Rite of Election in Dover for all those becoming Catholics at
the Easter Vigil this year – please keep our 3 catechumens, Emily, Shannon and Melinda, in your prayers!
February 22nd – Ash prayer service in the GYM at 10:30AM
February 25th - ALL PARENTS OF STUDENTS RECEIVING FIRST
COMMUNION THIS YEAR – First Communion Meeting
in the CHURCH HALL – 9:30 AM and repeated
at 7:00 PM – Books and banner materials will be handed
out at this meeting!
LOOKING AHEAD
COMING UP NEXT MONTH – Our Annual Food Outreach (when students grades 1-5 prepare meals for the residents of Sojourner Place which are then delivered and served by our 8th graders on their field trip) and FIRST COMMUNION RETREAT IS SATURDAY, MARCH 7th , FROM 8:45-11:30AM