Dear 2023-2024 Religious Education Families,

Happy Fourth Sunday of Lent!

I hope this newsletter find you and your families well. Don't forget to order your Krispy Kreme dozens. Today is the last day to order! The vouchers never expire so you can pick up your donuts for any holiday or family gathering. Details in our newsletter below. We also have a Noodles and Company Restaurant Fundraiser tomorrow, 3/10/24 from 4PM - 8PM. Details below.

Save the date: Registration for the 2024 -2025 RE School Year will open on Saturday, March 16th. Details will be in our Parent Newsletter next week.



Please make sure to read through this entire email as there is important information every week.

Don’t forget that our clocks SPRING AHEAD an hour. So make sure to change your clocks tonight before going to bed so you arrive on time to your destinations on Sunday.

MASS GOOGLE FORMS

Below you will find a link to the Mass Google Form for this weekend. You will receive this email with a link every week. We ask that each family fill out at least two per month as a way to promote conversation about the liturgy with one another. It is a great "Car Ride Home" activity on your way home from church.

Mass Goggle Form Link: Weekend of Mar. 9 - 10, 2024

OPTIONS FOR MASS ATTENDANCE

1) In Person (which we recommend in you can). For your convenience here is the parish Mass Schedule:

Saturday: 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. (Teen Mass)

2) If you chose to attend Mass virtually, you can watch Mass online via our website or facebook page: Click Here

LENTEN FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Attached you will also find a Lenten Family Calendar put together by Sadlier Religion. You can print it and put it somewhere where everyone in your home can see it. There are great and simple daily activities that families can do together during Lent. Please click on the link to view the calendar: Family Lenten Calendar.

I am also attaching a version of the Stations of the Cross that can be done at home, on the way to school, or at meal time. This a a simple version of the Stations that your family can do together this Lent. Please click on the link to view the Stations: Stations of the Cross.

IN PERSON RE

Class #13 is this week! 

We will be in the classroom on

Sunday, March 10th and Wednesday, March 13th.

Please make sure your children are present for class.

(Please note this is the only March class we will have.)

SOME VERY IMPORTANT REMINDERS AS WE RETURN FROM THE BREAK:

Absences:

Please remember that we are only allowing 3 absences throughout the school year since we are only in classroom learning for 14 of them since class #1 is Orientation and class #16 is our end of year celebration. Missing 3 classes is missing a month and a half of material. If you feel that your child will be missing more than 3 in person classes due to sports or other commitments, we recommend that you have them do the online program which give more flexility to busy families.

Tardies:

The bell rings and class begins at 9:15AM on Sundays and 4PM on Wednesdays. Students should arrive 10 minutes prior to class beginning so they are in their seats to learn at the beginning of class as to not disrupt class. Please make sure your child is arriving BEFORE the bell rings.

ONLINE RE

Please make sure your child/ren don't fall far behind as all

Google Forms must be submitted for your child to

get credit for the school year.

Thank you to all students who have already turned in Class #12. Just a reminder that the Class #12 Google Form was due on Wednesday, March 6th. If your child has not turned it in, they still have time, but don't have them fall too far behind. Class #13 will be sent out tomorrow, Sunday, March 10th.

Please contact us via email at sfxreligioused@sfxlg.org and state your child's name and grade in the email if you have not yet received the Class #12 email. The lesson emails go to the main email on your parish account. If you would like a second email added to the Constant Contact list please let us know and we can add it for you.

RE CALENDAR FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR

Below is the RE schedule for the final 4 classes of the year.

The full calendar can be found on our website by clicking here.

Class #13 - Sunday, March 10th & Wednesday, March 13th

Class #14 - Sunday, April 7th & Wednesday, April 10th

Class #15 - Sunday, April 21st & Wednesday, April 24th

SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY, APRIL 28th, 2024

Our final RE class #16 for all students K - 8 in our Sunday, Wednesday, and Online Programs will be an IN PERSON RE FAMILY EVENT on Sunday, April 28th from 1PM - 3PM. Please mark your calendars as this will be the final RE "class" your child/ren needs to attend to get credit for this school year.

More detail to come in next week's newsletter.

RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER COMING UP!

Our next Restaurant Fundraiser will be held at Noodles and Company in LaGrange tomorrow, Sunday, March 10th from 4PM - 8PM. These fundraisers are important part of our program to help provide additional resources to our students. Thanks to those that have come out to support our previous fundraisers. Please see details below:

🍩 DOUGHNUTS FOR A CAUSE!! 🍩



TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER

St. Francis Xavier Religious Education is giving you the best reason to indulge in a dozen (or two) Krispy Kreme doughnuts. From now until March 9, 2024, 50% of your order will be donated back to St. Francis Xavier Religious Education when you purchase via our fundraising sales page! Simply buy online, visit your local store & redeem using your code. The code never expires. Treat yourself or even gift them to friends and family here: grouprai.se/krispykreme38257sa

2nd GRADE RECONCILIATION &

3rd PREP LITURGY REMINDER

All First Eucharist students (Sunday, Wednesday, and Online) and at least one parent must be present for the 3rd Prep Liturgy and Reconciliation tomorrow, Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 1PM for the child to receive First Communion in May. We ask that you park in the parish or school parking lot and enter through the Unity Hall doors as you must check in and get your materials in Unity Hall before you have a seat in church. Doors to Unity will open at 12:30PM. Please arrive on time as Reconciliation will begin promptly at 1PM. At this liturgy you will receive your child's 1st Communion banner kit and their First Reconciliation certificate. If you can not attend due to illness, please contact the office at 708-352-4555 and leave us a message. We look forward to seeing all our First Eucharist students and their families.

TUITION STATEMENTS

 All families that owe tuition and sacramental fees that are on payment plans must be paid in full by March 15th as registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens on Saturday, March 16th. If you are having financial difficulty please contact me directly at the office at 708-352-4555.

Here is the link to the give central RE page for your convenience:

https://www.givecentral.org/location/218/events-list-basic/category/903

PARISH HAPPENINGS

Teens Needed for Ministries at

5PM Sunday Mass

Being part of the liturgy is such a special gift. And our 5PM Sunday Evening Mass is for teens and run by teens, but we need your help! Since our Confirmation Prep has shifted to 7^th and 8^th Grade, we are inviting these students to take part in the Mass as ushers and choir members (singing or instrumental). Below you will find the Teen Mass schedule for the rest of the school year. Please review the available slots to usher and sign up for one by clicking on this link: Click Here.

We need at least 4 ushers for each Mass. A reminder email/text will be sent to you the week prior to the Sunday/s you signed up to usher for. If you are in 8^th Grade and are interested in becoming a Lector or Eucharistic Minister please see Katie McCarthy after one of the 5PM Masses or email her at kmccarthy@getblueprint.com Thank you and we can’t wait to see all of our teens involved!

It is our pleasure to introduce St. Francis Xavier’s fundraising event, Ignite 2024. With this event, we hope to Ignite the St. Francis family with hope and growth towards our future and the future of all St. Francis students. The event brings together over 300 parents, alumni and friends of the St. Francis Xavier parish and school community for an evening that includes entertainment, sign-up parties, live and silent auctions, while enjoying a premium bar with gourmet heavy hors d'oeuvres. We are grateful for the many benefactors, volunteers, parents, faculty and staff who help make the evening a huge success. This year, our goal is to raise $200,000.00 for providing funding for investing in our faculty and staff, tuition assistance, technology, and operating expenses.

Much of Our Success Depends on Supporters Like You! We ask you today to consider sponsoring at one of our many levels, buy tickets or donate an item for our auction. Your contribution will be recognized by not only the day school, but also the associated parish of over 3,000 registered members drawing from La Grange, La Grange Park, Western Springs, Brookfield and other surrounding communities.

Please consider joining our efforts to help the current and future students and families of St. Francis Xavier. Thank you for your participation and generosity.

INDIVIDUAL TICKET: $150

Available online today

https://onecau.se/sfx2024

Or

email us at ignitebenefit@sfxlg.org

HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH WHAT IS

GOING ON AT THE PARISH

Parish Weekly Bulletin

The Parish Bulletin is emailed weekly to all registered families. You can find another copy by clicking here.

Stewardship 

Stewardship is an attitude that leads to the devotion of time, the sharing of our talents, and the giving from our treasures so that we bring the Gospel to life in word and action. If you are not able to come to mass in person, please consider making your weekly donation online through Give Central. You can set it up for an automatic withdrawal by clicking here.

Parish Instagram and Facebook Accounts

The parish has a social media presence and is on Instagram. Like and follow for updates on SFX happenings, upcoming events, and more @sfxlg_parish or follow us on Facebook here.

Thank you for being a part of the SFX Religious Education Family!

Peace and Blessings,

Elis Guidice

Director of Religious Education

St. Francis Xavier Parish