Hallelujah Our Children Are Back!!!!
Religious Ed Opening, Sept. 17, 2000

Hallelujah the Children are back! Sunday, September 17th marked the start of the Religious Education Classes. Old and newly registered children returned to begin a new year. The halls were filled with excitement as they shuffled to the appropriate classrooms. Kathy Itzin, the Elementary Religious Education Coordinator as well as Janet Brown and Cristine Patlan, the Pre-School Religious Ed. Coordinators greeted all on the first day. All three handled any last minute assignments to the proper rooms. There were some questions by some students as to where they belonged. With their classroom located, they were off to a good start.

The Religious Education Students range from Pre-School to 6th graders. All of the teachers are volunteers from the parish. They underwent an extensive workshop prior to the first day. Much of the success of the programs stems from the coordinated support of the families in the parish. For years it has run smoothly.

Pre-School classes curriculum emphasizes the goodness of God, themselves, their families, and nature through stories, play and activities suitable to their age. Elementary Classes use the "Living the Good News" and "Venture" program, which focuses on the Gospel of the day and relates it to their everyday lives and relationships. This year's theme is KINDNESS. It is highlighted in the many ways we live our lives as individuals, families, and community. The first day back to classes focused on a "Return and Reacquaint Day". They greeted and met old and new friends. They met their teachers and listened to what they will be working on in the year to come. Students also learned the schedule.


For grade school classes, the schedule includes the classroom instruction and then meeting with their parents for the last half-hour in the church for celebration of the Family Eucharist. Many of the students seemed happy to be in class and enjoyed all the activities. The grade school classes were involved in art projects, with banners and pictures relating to the stories in the Bible they read. They first scanned the Bible and identified that its contents consisted of different books. A child read out loud a story in Genesis and the Book of James. Then turning it around and relating it to their own lives. The responses were creative and very perceptive. In sharing their ideas, together they discovered how the stories can fit into everyday experiences they have. The students seemed to pick up from where they left off last year. Many of them knew what the program was about and followed their teacher’s instructions easily.


At half past the hour the grade schoolers assembled in the church. It was a full house and a house attuned to the fact that families were ready to return and begin again a deeper look into how their lives coincide with their beliefs. Jim Cassidy assisted in the mass and spoke to the children welcoming every one of them. He introduced the coordinators of the masses and musicians. He announced the theme of "Kindness" and what he saw in its definition. He painted a picture of each of us devoting the goodness in our hearts to others in many ways. As an example he sited the Food Shelf offerings which every year are a part of the parishes gifts. Jim delightfully reinstated the "dos & "don'ts" of church etiquette. These included the simple placing of a food item in the box with thoughtfulness (not the slam dunk routine), or not rushing out in the "cookie stampede" after the service. All of these could be acts of kindness. And if you’re inclined to play music, volunteering to do so at the mass could be a contribution of Kindness. He gave his own plans as an example to us. He announced that he will be traveling this fall to Africa to a HIV Children's Clinic. He encouraged families to think of alternate ways to share with those whose needs are greater than ours. His words created a sense of appreciation and hope for offering help in our daily lives.

Peg LaSota is interested in the biographies of parishioners... any suggestions?? She also loves studying piano, recorder, Spanish, and of course...singing in the choir!
To end the Family Mass service, the children read their petitions for prayers for individual causes. They were energetic and charged to be with each other and greet all of those attending. As tradition has it the cookies followed the ceremony. The first day looked like a productive beginning to a successful year. We'll plan to tune in again and keep in touch.

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