September, October, November, December 2017 All Tuesdays: Religious Education Classes Grades 1-4 4:00 - 5:15 PM Alternating Tuesdays: Religious Education Classes Grades 5-6 7:00 - 8:30 PM Grades 7-8 7:00- 8:30 PM Religious Education Program Newsletter Our Lady of the Wayside 432 S. Mitchell Arlington Heights, IL 60005 (847)398-5011 (847)398-5043 Father Ed Fialkowski, Pastor Fr. Louise Golamari, Associate Pastor Sr. Joan Shields, S.N.D. de N. - DRE Grades 1 - 4 Sr. Adrienne Weseman, S.N.D. de N. - DRE Grades 5-8 Louise Dickey, Secretary & Editor INSIDE WAYSIDE September 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat August 28 29 REP Parent Curriculum Night 30 31 1 2 3 4 REP Office Closed 5 First Class Gr 1-4. Open House 4:00-4:30. Class Dismissal at 5:15 First REP Class Gr 7-8 - Open House 6:30- 7:00; Mass Preparation at 7:10 followed by Class. Dismissal at 8:30 6 7 8 9 10 Parish Picnic 12:00-5:00 11 Bginning of the Year Mass Practice with volunteers in Church at 4:00 12 Gr 1-4 Beginning of the Year Mass 4:15. Students attend class. Dismissal from school at 5:15. First REP Class Gr 5-6 -Open House 6:30- 7:00; Mass Preparation at 7:10 followed by Class. Dismissal at 8:30 13 14 15 16 17 Catechetical Sunday 9:45 Mass. Recognition and Blessing of Catechists & School Staff 18 Bginning of the Year Mass Practice with Gr 7-8 volunteers in Church at 3:30 Second Grade First Reconciliation Parent Meeting 7:00-8:30 in Gym 19 Gr 1-4 Class 4:00-5:15 Gr 7-8 Beginning of the Year Mass 7:10. Dismissal at 8:30 20 21 22 23 24 FFILL Program 6-7:30 in the gym 25 Beginning of the Year Mass Practice for Gr 5-6 participants in Church at 4:00 26 Gr 1-4 Class 4:00-5:15 Gr 5-6 Class 7:00-8:30 Beginning of the Year Mass 7:10. Dismissal at 8:30 27 28 29 30
Transcript
September, October, November, December 2017
All Tuesdays: Religious Education Classes Grades 1-4 4:00 - 5:15 PMAlternating Tuesdays: Religious Education Classes Grades 5-6 7:00 - 8:30 PM Grades 7-8 7:00- 8:30 PM
Religious Education Program NewsletterOur Lady of the Wayside432 S. MitchellArlington Heights, IL 60005(847)398-5011(847)398-5043
Father Ed Fialkowski, PastorFr. Louise Golamari, Associate PastorSr. Joan Shields, S.N.D. de N. - DRE Grades 1 - 4Sr. Adrienne Weseman, S.N.D. de N. - DRE Grades 5-8Louise Dickey, Secretary & Editor
INSIDE WAYSIDE
September 2017Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
August 28 29REP ParentCurriculum Night
30 31 1 2
3 4 REP Office Closed 5 First Class Gr 1-4. OpenHouse 4:00-4:30. ClassDismissal at 5:15First REP Class Gr 7-8 -Open House 6:30-7:00; Mass Preparation at7:10 followed byClass. Dismissal at 8:30
6 7 8 9
10Parish Picnic12:00-5:00
11
Bginning of the YearMass Practice withvolunteers in Churchat 4:00
12Gr 1-4 Beginning of theYear Mass 4:15. Studentsattend class. Dismissalfrom school at 5:15.First REP ClassGr 5-6 -Open House 6:30-7:00; Mass Preparation at7:10 followed by Class.Dismissal at 8:30
12 Grades 1-4 4:00-5:15Last Class BeforeChristmas **Grades 5-6 Class **Advent/ChristmasPrayer Service 7:10
13 14 15 16
17 18Practice at4:00 for 2:00Christmas EveMass
19NO REP Classes4:00 Practice for 2:00Christmas Eve Mass
20 21 22 23
24Christmas EveMass 2:00
25Christmas
26NO REP ClassesChristmas Vacation
27 28 29 30
31
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BEGINNING-OF-THE-YEAR OPEN HOUSE - Grades 7-8 Parents of the 7th and 8th graders are to attend Open House from 6:30 - 7:00. This will
be the first class for these students. Students remain in their classroom and go to Church with their teachers forMass Preparation at 7:10. Dismissal for all students will be at 8:30. Beginning of the Year Mass is on Tuesday,September 19 at 7:10. Parents are invited to attend. STUDENTS NOT ATTENDING THIS FIRST CLASS WILL BEMARKED ABSENT.
BEGINNING-OF-THE-YEAR OPEN HOUSE - Grades 5-6 Parents of the 5th and 6th graders are to attend Open House from 6:30-7:00. This will
be the first class for these students. Students remain in their classrooms and go to Church with their teachers forMass Preparation at 7:10. Dismissal will be at 8:30. Beginning of the Year Mass is on Tuesday, September 26at7:10. Parents are invited to attend. Gr 6 students will receive their Bibles on Open House Day in Church.STUDENTS NOT ATTENDING THIS FIRST CLASS WILL BE MARKED ABSENT.
THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-8 DURING THEIR FIRSTCLASS:
—textbook and class schedule—Parents’ and Students’ Handbook for 2017-2018 (Oldest in the family)
SPECIAL MASS PARTICIPATION - GRADES 5-8
We are in need of boys and girls to take special part in the Beginning of the Year Masses onSeptember 19 for grades 7-8, or September 26 for grades 5-6, by doing a reading,reading a petition, being an altar server, bringing up an Offertory gift,playing a musicalinstrument, or being a Cantor. Please email [email protected] to volunteer. Thosechildren who make a commitment to participate in the Mass in a special way are asked to beat a short practice on the following days:
– Monday, September 18 at 3:30 in Church– at 4:00 in Church
BEGINNING-OF-THE-YEAR OPEN HOUSE - Grades 1-4-September 5Parents who have children in Grades 1-4 are asked to attend the Open House from 4:00-4:35. At 4:35 the Catechists will begin class with their students. Students will be dismissedby the teachers and will use the far north door of the Elementary School. Beginning of theYear Mass is on Tuesday, September 12 at 4:15. Parents are invited to attend. Dismissal is from School at 5:15.THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-8 DURING THEIR FIRSTCLASS:
* a Religion textbook and Class schedule in a folder* a Parents’ and Students’ Handbook for 2017-2018 (one per family and given to the oldest or only in the family)
SPECIAL MASS PARTICIPATION - GRADES 1-4
We are in need of children in Grades 2-4 to participate in the Beginning of the Year Mass. Please [email protected] to volunteer. The special parts in the Mass to volunteer for are the following: areading, the reading of petitions, bringing up Offertory gift, or being a Cantor. We are also in need of two altarservers, if there are older brothers and sisters who are servers and would like to participate. Practice for the Massis on Monday, September 11th, at 4:00 in Church.
ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE TO BE PAID BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS.Tuition: Grades 1-8 - $265 per child Non-Parishioner Fee (per family per year) $290Fees: First Eucharist - Grade 2 - $75 Reconciliation - Grade 2 - $50 Personal Bible, Grade 6 - $15 Retreat, Grade 7 - $65 Confirmation, Grade 8 - $125 (includes confirmation retreat and gown)
Late Registration Form Fee - $60 (received after April 30, 2013)Non-volunteer Fee - $150
The Registration Form, Volunteer Form, and payment of at least 50% of the total tuition and fees was due byApril 30, 2017 A late Registration Fee of $60.00 will be charged for forms, tuition, and fees received afterApril 30.
SACRAMENTAL POLICY FOR GRADE 2Since Grade 2 is a sacrament year, children in Grade 2 are required to attend class at OurLady of the Wayside on Tuesdays, from 4:00-5:15 weekly for their First Reconciliation andFirst Eucharist preparation. Students entering Grade 2 must have had formal religious in-struction the previous year, otherwise they will be placed in Grade 1.
SACRAMENTAL POLICY FOR GRADE 6Grade 6 is a pre-requisite for entering the Confirmation preparation program. Preparationfor Confirmation takes place in grades 7 and 8. Students entering Grade 7 must have hadformal religious instruction in Grade 6, otherwise they will be placed in Grade 6 instead ofGrade 7. During the two-year preparation program for the Sacrament of Confirmation,students are to attend classes regularly with as little absence as possible if they wish tobe confirmed in Grade 8.
SIXTH GRADE BIBLESThe sixth graders are receiving a Bible. This is a student edition appropriate for their agelevel. The sixth graders will receive their Bibles at a special Bible Blessing following theBeginning-of-the-Year Mass Preparation on Tuesday, September 12th in Church at 7:10.
Little Saints Song, Stretch and Story Time is a Parish Program that meets on Friday mornings for an hourwhere children listen to and sometimes participate in Bible stories, pray the Our Father, sing songs, and learnabout the Saints.
Who: Young children (2 – 6) along with their parent/caregiver. Siblings are welcome.What: Have fun sharing faith with family and friends!!! Listen to Bible stories, learn about Saints who lived long ago, pray, sing and stretch!!!When: Every other Friday @ 9:00-11:00, beginning September 8th. Meeting twice monthly. No registrationrequired. Consult the bulletin for more information.Where: Rectory Basement
Progress ReportsProgress reports will be distributed twice a year,during the months of January and April. Pleaserefer to calendars for specific dates. Childrenare given report cards in class. Please ask yourchild for his/her report card. All points listed onthe report card will be graded as follows:
VG-Very GoodG-Good
NI-Needs ImprovementParents/Guardians are expected to review theprogress report, and return it signed to thecatechist at the next class session. Any time aparent/guardian has a question or concern,please contact the catechist directly.
Grades 1-4 Classes begin at 4:00 PM
Attendance Certificate AwardsBoys and girls in grades 1-4 will be awarded PerfectAttendance Certificates during their last class period ofthe year. Boys and girls in grades 1-4 who wereabsent one or two times will also receive recognitionthrough the presentation of a certificate.
Perfect attendance certificates will be presented toboys and girls in Grades 5-8 who were present for allof the classes for the year and students who wereabsent only once will also receive a certificate. Thecertificates will be distributed to the students in theirclassrooms after the End-of-the-Year Prayer Service.
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Children will enter and exit the Elementary Building at the far north end. The doors will be opened at 3:30 PM. Asecurity system is in place and the doors will be locked at 4:10 PM. Students arriving late must use the MitchellAvenue entrance, ring the bell, and wait for access. Dismissal time is 5:15 PM. Please be prompt, as children becomedistressed when they are the last one remaining. If a child is not picked up within 10 minutes after dismissal time, thatchild will be taken to the Religious Education Office. The late parent/guardian must use the Mitchell Avenue entrance;ring the bell and wait for access.
Please NO PARKING along the fence on the north end of the back lot in front of the bicycle racks-this parkway is to beused by pedestrians including those walking to/from the far west lot (Ridge Avenue Parking
Do not double-park on Mitchell Avenue when dropping off and picking up children. Also, do not blockdriveways, park in driveways, or park too close to fire hydrants on Mitchell Avenue.PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS ... DRIVE SLOWLY ... BE COURTEOUS ... it only takes an extra minute or two.
Parents/Guardians must park their cars and escort their children to and from the building at both drop-offand pick-up times. Children should never be “called over” to a car. Parent volunteers have been instructed NOTTO RELEASE A CHILD WITHOUT AN ADULT.Parents/guardians/with younger children - please do not expose your little ones to the danger of leaving them in anunattended parked or “running” car.
Parents/guardians who don’t have younger children with you should consider parking in the far west lot (Ridge Avenueparking lot) and walking over to meet your children, thereby leaving the closer spots for those with little children.
Those arriving after 5:15 PM are asked to use the far west lot (Ridge Avenue parking lot). This will prevent furthercongestion in the west lot, as the traffic flow at that time is leaving the lot. Parent/guardian volunteers are thereto help ensure our children’s safety - please follow their directions. Please do not honk or call from your cars. Pleaseshare these guidelines with those you have designated to drop off and pick up your children. These Safety Guidelinesapply to everyone. Thank you for helping us maintain safty for the children.
For some of the older children we will be using the lower level classrooms in the Elementary buidling as well as theMiddle School classrooms for Grade 7. If your child's classroom is 118-119-120, they are in the ElementaryBuilding. We ask that you follow the following guidelines for the safety of our students when you are driving to pickthem up.
You can enter from the Park Street entrance next to the Church. Continue towards the break that exists between theParish Center and the School Building. You will drive over a speed bump to proceeed around the back of theelementary building and drop off is by Door #5. Please refer to the diagram on the next page for a visual. The pickupprocess is the same as arrival.
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POLICY FOR ENROLLMENT FORGRADES 2-7
Since Grade 2 is a sacrament year,children in Grade 2 are required toattend Religious Education classes atOur Lady of the Wayside on Tuesdays,from 4:00-5:15 weekly for their FirstReconciliation and FirstEucharistpreparation. Home study is not anoption.
Grade 6 is a pre-requisite for enteringthe two year Confirmation preparationprogram. Preparation for Confirmationtakes place in Grades 7 and 8. Studentsentering grades 2 or 7 must have hadformal religious instruction the previousyear, otherwise they will be placed ingrades 1 or 6 upon entering.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
When a student is disrupting the class the student will becorrected by the catechist. Corrective measures will be in theform of warnings, discussion of the problem, staying afterclass, or meeting with the Directors of Religious Education. If achild continues to be disruptive in class and shows noimprovement after these corrective measures have been taken,parents/guardians will be contacted to teach their child athome, or may be requested to sit in on the class.Parents/guardians who are required to teach their child athome due to disciplinary reasons, will be given material andguidelines to complete the course of study for the year. Onceeach semester, parents will be required to bring their child infor a test on the material. If a student's behavior should resultin physical damage or property loss, that student is expected tomake full restitution.
BEGINNING-OF-THE-YEAR MASSFOR GRADES 5-6 AND GRADES 7-8
The Beginning-of-the-Year Mass for Grades 5 and 6, and Grades 7 and 8, will beduring their second scheduled class. These boys and girls are attending Mass with theirteacher. Parents are most welcome to be present for the Mass, and we ask that youremind your son and daughter to show respect when they enter the Church byentering quietly, taking holy water, genuflecting before entering their bench,andparticipating in the Mass by singing and answering the prayers. The boys and girlsshould also remember to bow their head before they receive the Eucharist. Thankyou as always for all your support in helping your children begin the year with anenjoyable and faith-renewing experience.
STUDENT MINISTRIESStudents in Grade 5 are given the opportunity to becomeAltar Servers, and are given information concerning thetraining and expectations of this ministry. Altar serving isalso open to students in Grades 6-8. In order to encouragestudents to become actively involved in the liturgy,classroom and group prayer services are developed inwhich the children can participate directly in the Liturgiesand Prayer Services. Before and after Confirmation,liturgical ministries are offered to the eighth grade students
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PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THERELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF THEIR
CHILD/CHILDREN
Parents are asked to review each week with theirchild/children the lesson that was taken in class.All of us involved in the Religious EducationProgram are here to support you, the parents, inteaching your children their Catholic faith. It isyou, the parents, who are the first and primaryteachers of your children.
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STUDENTS’ CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
Parents will be receiving a specialmailing during the last week inAugust, which will contain the following:¨ Confirmation of each student’s grade level and
classroom assignment¨ Diagrams of classrooms in the Elementary
School and Middle School
LATE REGISTRATION... is still taking place. If youknow of any families who have not registered, invitethem to stop in the Religious Education Office TODAY,or call for more information, 847- 398-5011.
REGISTRATIONAny parents who have not registered their children forreligious education classes for the 2017-2018 school yearare to do so as soon as possible. Parents who hadchildren in the program last year and have notregistered them for this year will not be given a classassignment until the re-registration takes place.
SECURITY SYSTEM
All late-comers to class will have to enterthrough the main entrances to the buildings,and ring the bell to be buzzed in. If astudent is more than ten minutes late forclass, he/she must report to the ReligiousEducation Office to be checked in beforegoing to the classroom. Parents, please haveyour children on time for class.
From the Religious Education Board
Regarding Registration-Parents who have children in theReligious Education Program are asked to support the parish byusing their weekly envelopes. This year, children's envelopes willnot contain assigned numbers as in the past. To reduce the cost,the box will not have a label with a child’s name on it.
We ask that if you desire credit for their contributions, pleasemark your child's name and family parish id number (found onyour envelope) on the child's envelope. Credit will only begiven if this information is supplied.
New parishioners’ Religious Education forms will not beprocessed until the parishioners are registered members ofOur Lady of the Wayside.
Welcome to all who are returning to the Religious Education Program this September! Welcome also to those whoare coming into the Program for the first time. We hope this will be an exciting and growth-filled year for all thestudents and their families.
A special word of thanks to Louise Dickey, our secretary, for editing and preparing Inside Wayside Newsletter.We truly appreciate the wonderful job she does.
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY is September 17th. We invite all catechists to join us atthe 9:45 Liturgy on September 17th to be commissioned for this very importantministry. All families are invited to join us in prayer and support for thesededicated people who choose to work with our children.
Sacrament of ReconciliationSecond grade children will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the
first time. A Parent Meeting is taking place on Monday, September 18th, from
7:00-8:30 in the Fr. Mackin Center. One parent from each family is to be in
attendance. The second graders are receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the
following date: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH - 11:00 AND 1:00. At the Parents' Meeting,
parents will be asked to choose one of the above times for their child’s reception of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The First Communion Masses are on the following dates and times:SATURDAY, APRIL 28- 10:30 and 1:00
SATURDAY, MAY 5 10:30
At the First Communion Parents’ Meeting, the second grade parents will havean opportunity to sign up for their child’s First Communion Mass.
The following events throughout the year are requirements leading up to FirstCommunion:
Monday, January 22nd - Second Grade Parents’ First Communion Meeting - 7:00-9:00 - Fr. Mackin Center
Sunday, February 18th - Second Grade Children and Parents’ First Communion Retreat - 2:00-4:00 in theFr. Mackin Center Gym. At least one parent is to be in attendance with their child.
Sacrament of First Eucharist
FIRST YEAR CONFIRMATION PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS - GRADE 7
Class Retreat - Saturday, October 21st - 9:00 - 12:00 - Fr. Mackin Center for REP students and OLW School Students
Class Reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation- Tuesday, November 14th during class
Completion of 2 Homily evaluations per semester:A total of 4 for the year (Can be turned in earlier)
First Semester: October 17th and November 14thSecond Semester: January 23rd and February 20th
Three Group Service Projects1. Food Drive for Thanksgiving for Little Sisters of the Poor—due Tuesday, November 14th2. Participation in Confirmation Reception which will be held March 10th.3. Participation in Parish Service Day - Date to Be Announced
One 5-hour student-directed project to be completed by Tuesday, January 23rd. The projects above,including the individual 5-hour one, may not be used toward the 20-hour Service Project required whenthese students are in Grade 8.
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Requirements for Confirmation, 2017-20181. Chastity Education Initiative Program for eighth graders and their parents is on Thursday,
November 9 at 7:00 in the Fr. Mackin Center (Gym).2. Retreat on Saturday, October 28th from 8:30-1:15 in the Fr. Mackin Center is for all Our Lady of the Wayside Confirmation Candidates, the combined group of REP students and OLW School students.3. At least one parent from each family is to attend the Confirmation Parents’ Meeting on Monday,
October 16th from 7:00-8:30 in the Fr. Mackin Center (Gym).4. All Confirmation Candidates participate in the preparation of a banner for the altar for the Confirmation Ceremony by preparing a ribbon representing a candle with their Confirmation name on it. A more detailed explanation will be given at the Parents’ Meeting on Monday, October 16th. The ribbon is to be completed and handed in by Tuesday, January 23, 2018.5. Pink Information Form given to parents at the Parents’ Meeting is due on Tuesday, November
14th.6. REP students will be measured for Confirmation gowns on Tuesday, January 9th . School students will be measured in school on this date or a date close to it.7. The written paper on information about the saint’s name chosen for Confirmation is due on
Tuesday, January 23rd
8. Twenty hours of service are required in the areas of Parish, Community, Family, and School. Each Confirmation Candidate’s Project Log sheet is to be completed and handed in by Tuesday,
January 23rd. Each Candidate is required to write a letter to the Bishop, who will administer Confirmation in our
parish on Saturday, March 10th. These letters are to be completed and3rd. In the letter, the students request the Sacrament of Confirmation, telling why they
wish to be confirmed and how they intend to live out their commitment to the Catholic Faith. They may tell the Bishop about their service hours, as well.10. A written test on the Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered to the REP students on
Tuesday, February 6th and to School students on a date arranged by their teachers.11. The Confirmation Light Service is on Thursday, February 1st from 7:00-8:30 in Church. Parents, Sponsors, and Confirmation Candidates attend this special Prayer Service.12. Reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place on Tuesday February 20th (REP) at 7:00 P.M. and Wednesday, February 21st at 1:00 for the School Students.
Dress Code for Confirmation: Red Robes Will Be Worn Over ClothingGirls—Dress or skirt and blouse, dress shoesBoys—Dress pants, white dress shirt, tie, dress shoes
Monday, February 26th Practice for Confirmation 10:00 Mass, (K-Z). Confirmandi only. 6:30-8:00Thursday, March 1st Practice for Confirmation 2:00 Mass, (A-J). Confirmandi only. 6:30-8:00Monday, March 5th Practice for Confirmation 10:00 Mass, (K-Z). Confirmandi, Parents and Sponsors. 7:00-8:30Thursday, March 8th Practice for Confirmation 2:00 Mass, (A-J). Confirmandi, Parents and Sponsors. 7:00-8:30Saturday, March 10th Bishop Alberto Rojas. Confirmation Masses - 10:00 (K-Z), 2:00 (A-J)
PLEASE DO NOT double-park on Mitchell Avenue or in front of the houses on Mitchell Avenue
PLEASE DO NOT block driveways on Mitchell Avenue
PLEASE DO NOT move orange cones on blacktop area to ensure the safety of the boys and girls who are walking
to and from the buildings during evening classes.
For drop off for the upper grades 5-8, parents are to arive at 6:40 and direct children to go directly into the
school buildings where they have class.
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Between 8:25 and 8:40 the entrance to Park Street will be blocked to insure the safety of thechildren as they are dismissed.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION BOARD NEWSWelcome to new religious education families and welcome back to all the returning REP families! We hope you hada healthy, happy summer and are ready for a great year of sharing and growing in faith with the Our Lady of theWayside Parish Community.
The REP Board meets once a month to discuss policies and upcoming events. Our goals are to provide a safe andenriching environment for REP students and to promote involvement in the parish.
The REP Board will host two upcoming Sunday morning coffees after Mass. Please stop to introduce yourself. Ifyou ever have any questions, please ask any of us.
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Regular attendance is required and is in the best interest of those participating in our programs. Students missing a classshould make arrangements with the catechist to complete all necessary assignments. Other outside activities, or “toomuch homework: should not take priority over attendance at religious education classes. Parents/Guardians are requiredto phone the Religious Education office when their child is absent from class. Either send an email [email protected] or please call 398-5011 and report the student’s absence. After hours, please use extensions246, 247, or 256. Give the student’s name, grade level, Catechist’s (teacher’s) name and reason for absence. Pleasenotify the office before class begins. If a student is absent and a phone call has not been made, a representative of theReligious Education Office will call the student's home to verify that the student is home. This is a safety precaution, anda courtesy gesture made to you.
TardinessStudents who arrive after the class has begun in the Elementary Building are to use the Mitchell Avenue entrance and ringthe bell for entrance into the building. Students in the Middle School Building are to use the door nearest Park Street.Before proceeding to class, the students are to stop at the office to report their arrival before going to their classroom.This is to prevent the office from calling the student’s home. If you have received a phone call concerning your child’sabsence, but the child (to your best knowledge) is present in class, the office attendant will check in the student’s classto verify the student’s presence, and will inform you of such. Consistent tardiness is both disruptive to the class and anembarrassment to the student. Frequent tardiness will result in a call from one of the Directors of Religious Education.
Attendance/TardinessAttendance
Over the past several years, catechists who used E-Mail to contact parents have found it to be very successful and anexcellent means of communication with the parents of their students. Therefore, all the Catechists will receive their classlist of their students with parents’ E-Mail addresses included to use for communication purposes. If you did not put yourE-Mail address on your child’s/children’s Registration Form(s) please send it to Louise Dickey, our Religious EducationSecretary: [email protected]. E-Mails and voice mail will also be used from the REP Office for as muchcommunication as possible to parents.
We have contracted with a company recommended by the Archdiocese of Chicago, GroupCast. They will providecommunication in a more efficient and timely process than is currently possible. We will send a welcome email after thebeginning of the REP year to test the addresses we have. Please contact this office if you have not received your welcomeemail from the REP office by the end of September.
Kim BrennanJanel Mallek, Co-SecretaryElizabeth Brommelsiek, Co-SecretaryMark McGrathSusan Farrell, Co-ChairpersonMary Jo Kraft, Co-Chairperson; Parish Council Liaison
Sister Joan Shields, S.N.D.deN.Father Ed Fialkowski, PastorMeghan Tiedge, Coordinator REP Social EventTracy Groark, Vice Chair, Co-SecretarySister Adrienne Weseman, S.N.D.deN
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continued from previous columnWHY PRAY THE
ROSARY?by Sister Adrienne
The Rosary is both vocalprayer and mental prayer.It is for everyone, everyday! The Church
recommends it, and countless saints have foundstrength and inspiration in it. The Rosary is a summaryof the Gospel.
The Rosary is brain food because it helps us learn thesignificant events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. It is asummary of the Gospel told in 20 events. We call thoseevents the mysteries of the Rosary. There are four setsof mysteries.
*The five joyful mysteries describe the joys in the earlylives of Jesus and Mary.
*The five luminous mysteries shed light on thepowerful words and miraculous deeds of Jesus.
*The five sorrowful mysteries focus on the meaning ofJesus' suffering and death.
*The five glorious mysteries celebrate Jesus'resurrection and the path to heaven for Mary and alldisciples.
The Rosary is soul food because we meditate silentlyon those mysteries. We come to know our savior,Jesus, and Mary, our spiritual mother better as wecarefully consider how those mysteries have meaningfor us. We can imagine ourselves in each scene, orhave conversations with Jesus and Mary, asking fortheir help.
Most people learn how to pray the Rosary using rosarybeads to keep count of the Our Fathers and the HailMarys that one prays for each mystery. Even withoutbeads, you can easily pray and count on your fingers asyou consider the mysteries. It's a very portable prayer!
The Rosary is both ancient and new. The centralprayers of the Rosary, the Our Father and tha HailMary, are rooted in the Bible and in the life of Jesusand Mary. Renowned since the Middle Ages, devotionto the Rosary links the different mysteries of the Rosaryto the diffenent decades (groups of 10 Hail Marys).
St. John Paul II brought newness to this devotion byadding the luminous mysteries to the traditional joyful,sorrowful, and glorious mysteries. St. John Paul II is justone of many great saints devoted to the Rosary, such asSt. Dominic, St. Louis deMontfort, St. BernadetteSoubirous, St. Plo, and St. Teresa of Calcutta. The Rosaryis tried and true and has even brought about miracles.
Be an intercessor that is, pray for people or situationswhen you pray the Rosary. It makes prayer morepersonal and it becomes an offering for others. Prayingthe Rosary with a family member or group makes theprayer even more powerful. Even small children can learnto pray a decade of the Rosary. The prayer, Hail HolyQueen concludes the Rosary, but you can also pray thisprayer anytime you need help.
Excerpts from article by Pat Gohn, Religion Teacher'sJournal
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12 Ways to Help Your Child Advance in His/Her Spiritual Lifeby Sister Joan
Children begin life with an internal sense of wonder and awe abouttheir world. They are naturally intuitive and open to matters of thespirit. Catechists, religious educators, and parents have a gloriousopportunity to help children develop spiritually. Here are 12 ways toto advance a child's spirtuual life:
1. It's never too early. While gently holding an infant or veryyoung child offer this simple prayer:
2. Model the spiritual life for the child. Be the best possiblerole model you can be for your child. Let your values and virtues beseen by your children through your words and actions.
3. Promote quiet time. Have your first sessions of quiet timewhen the child is very young, perferably beginning when a childnears his or her fourth birthday. The quiet time should run no more
than thirty seconds to one minute. Even a four-year-old can handle that length of silence. Do it eachweek and keep it consistent. That way a child will come to expect the quiet time and eventually lookforward to it.
4. Teach children to pray. At first, these lessons can and must be brief. Forexample, upon seeing anew flower emerging offer this type of prayer with a child:
If the child has a beloved family pet, pause with your child to pray:
A child can offer a quick prayer for a sick friend: Theirfamily prayer book might include some traditional and favorite prayers, such as St. Francis' peace prayer.
5. Encourage stewardship of our planet. Teach your child to set aside time to collet newspapers forrecycling, to turn off the lights when they leave a room, not to litter, to respect God's Creation.Sometimes their families can walk instead of taking the car. Small things like this can remind us that ourfamily home is very much part of our planetary home.
6. Have children create a personal altar. For example, one five-year-old who was encouraged by herteacher to create a personal altar covered her small desk witha pink tablecloth. On it she placed animalstatues, some small stones, and a few colorful colors which she found while playing outside. Each itemreminded her of God's loving action in creating such a beautifull world. She then took these items hometo make her own small prayer corner.
7. Promote daily spiritual habits.† Offer a prayer of thanks for a healthy body as the child brushes his/her teeth each morning.† Silently thank God for reliable and safe transportation each timethe children get on and
off the school bus.† Express gratitude to God for the friends at school and for caring teachers.† Whisper a prayer of appreclatlon before and after a school soccer, baseball, ballet, etc.† Pray whenever the child/children hear a siren, asking God to watch over and bless everyone
involved in an emergency- police firemen, paramedics, accident victims.
8. Pay Attention to children. Be aware and observant of your children's words, actions, and values.Pay attention to how they treat friends, adults, strangers, and animals. If it appears they need help withthis, bring it to their attention. Another effective way to provide correction is by quietly modeling thebehavior you want them to embrace. Treat animals with kindness, speak courteously to everyone, showrespect to people from all walks of life.
9. Bring out the "fruit" of the Spirit in chiuldren. The Apostle Paul writes: "The fruit of the Spirit islove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,and self-control." (Gal 5:22) Forexample, if a child says that another child at school is being riduculed, comment on how sad and lonelythat child must feel. In this way, you may elicit kindness and goodness from a child toward a schoolmate.
10. Help children recognize God's presence in nature. In the Bible, we learn that God's voice washeard in a burning bush (Ex 3) and through the clouds (Jn3:l7). Psalm 139 expresses awareness of Godinthe "heavens", during the rising of the dawn, and on the "far side of the sea."
11. Stress the Golden Rule. Jesus taught (Mt.7:12) "In everything, do to others what you would havethem do to you." One writer exclaims: "Hang it up on the child's bedroom wall. Encourage children tocommit it to memory. Whenever you see or hear your children acting unkindiliy, remind them that theydon't like to be treatd badly themselves, so why treat others this way?"
12. Pray for the spiritual growth of your child/children. Pray that, like Jesus, they may grow "inwisdom and staure, and in favor with God and all people." (Lk 2:52).
Excerpts from article in Religion Teacher's Journal by Re. Victor M. Parachin
When: September 24, 2017, October 22, 2017, November 12, 2017and January 4, 2018
PAGE 19
What is Christian Family Movement (CFM)?
Christian Family Movement is a network of parishfamily groups who meet to discuss issues ofrelevance to today's Christian families. Groupsdiscuss a different issue each month intended tohelp gain a better understanding of our faith andhow it affects our lives and our families. Memberscan participate to their level of comfort, whetherthey actively join the discussion or simply listen toothers’ perspectives on topics.
When does CFM meet?
CFM at OLW begins in September each year andcontinues through May. Members of CFM areassigned to small groups of 10-12 couples (orindividuals) who meet the first or second Friday ofeach month in the home of one of the group'smembers. Small group discussions are typicallybookended by social time with snacks andrefreshments. New families are our "guests" thefirst year and do not host. Several social and serviceactivities involving all the individual CFM groupsare also held over the course of the year.
Who is in CFM?
People you already know and some new friends!There are nearly 100 families in CFM at OLW,including this year's group leaders: Mike &Christine Gilbert, John & Chris Ourednik, Chuck &Kathy Wilk, Jeff & Katie Utech, John & Kathy Loy,Martin & Elizabeth Bauer, and Geoff & Kelly AnnColgan.
Who can join CFM?
CFM is for adult couples or individuals who wish toparticipate in a regular, dynamic dialogue withother Christians to discuss the challenges of faithand action we all face in everyday life.
How do I join CFM?
Send email anytime to [email protected] express interest and someone from Membershipwill get in touch with you. Look for us after allmasses on August 20 and 27 with more informationand signup forms. Each fall, all current and newmembers are shuffled around and formed into newgroups. So NOW is the perfect time to join. Visit theparish website http://www.olwparish.org/cfm.htmfor more details.
Let CFM do for you and your Christianfamily what the Army did for JohnWinger as a soldier
Looking to meet new friends in theparish?
JOIN CFM!Contact: Membership Couples
Laura CollinsChristina & John OurednikMaggie & Mike Nolan
