Hi everyone,
My surgeon has given me the "okay" to go ahead and slowly resume normal
activities (except no lifting for four weeks). Yeah! I'm feeling more
energetic these days too Just in time to celebrate our Pentecost
Paraliturgy!
Hard to believe that this Sunday is our last CGS session for the year!
I'm sure the catechists and junior helpers will agree with me when I say
that the year flew by! We all enjoyed getting to know your children
and working with them as they build a personal relationship with the
Good Shepherd!
REGISTRATION FOR NEXT YEAR DUE THIS SUNDAY
IMPORTANT -- if you plan to register for CGS next year, please turn in
your registration forms THIS SUNDAY if you have not yet! I am giving
first priority to current families. I have limited space so want to
make sure that any existing family who would like to continue the
program next year, gets into the program. After this Sunday, I will
begin promoting the program to the entire parish and open the program up
to others who were not able to participate this year. So after Sunday,
it becomes "first come, first served." Please avoid disappointment by
getting your registrations in on Sunday! We have registrations forms
at the check in table if you don't have a copy of the packet I emailed
to you a few weeks ago. Last year, I had to turn away families since we
had reached capacity.
Incidentally, wanted to emphasize that if the tuition fee will be a
hardship for you, please don't let that hold you back. I will work
with you; just drop me a note. I want to give as many children as
possible the chance to experience this wonderful program (within the
capacity of the room and availability of catechists and materials). The
fees are slightly higher this year because I am applying those funds to
pay for training for catechists who would like to continue with the
program. (To become a catechist with this program, you need to take a
90 hour training course, which can be expensive. So I'm hoping to pay
the course fees for those who would like to become a CGS catechist here
at SJA.) Everyone who works with this program is a volunteer and no one
is paid; thought that paying for their training would be a way to say
"thank you" for giving up their Sundays to bring this program to SJA's
preschoolers.
THIS SUNDAY'S AGENDA
This Sunday, we will be celebrating a "Pentecost Paraliturgy." It
is a very
symbolic ceremony that helps the children understand what happened after
Jesus died, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven, and how He sent
the Holy Spirit to help the apostles spread the good news. We talk
about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the children have an opportunity
to pick a gift of the Holy Spirit. We light 7 tapers and each one is
designated a gift (piety, fortitude, etc.) The children pick one that
they would like to receive for the year, then we light a votive candle
from the appropriate taper. In the end, the prayer table area is filled
with beautiful red flickering votives. It is so beautiful and
meaningful! Any parents that would like to participate in this are
welcome to do so (although you will miss Mass.)
After Mass, we're looking into having donuts, juice and coffee for all
the parents and children in the open part of the PAR. Margaret
McConnell is working on this. If you can help her with donut, juice
donations, etc., or in setting up, please contact her at margaret.mcconnell@yahoo.com Margaret, do you need anything from me?
BLOG
I am so behind on the blog -- but I promise to catch up with 'lots
of photos for the last few weeks. Ms. Christy has been kindly taking
photos; just haven't had much energy to work on the blog. But as soon
as it is updated, I'll email all of you. Thank you for your patience!
If you have any questions, please drop me a note!
Blessings,
Cheryl
