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Celebrating
God's Grace:
Penance and Reconciliation
Eucharist
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St. Emily and St. Thomas Becket Parishes
March 25,2020
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Dear Families,
It feels like I wrote you the last newsletter in a different historical era, although it was only 2 weeks ago.
Since then, of course, our lives have dramatically changed, we cancelled the First Communion retreat and we have postponed the celebration of First Communion.
In all this commotion,
I would like to underscore that you are more important that ever is preparing your child for the sacraments.
- You are the one home with them. As you help them keep up with their other lessons, you have an important part to play in helping them finish the 'classroom' portion of the First Communion program;
- You are the one who can help your child to pray and to follow the mass online. (Make sure you check out Magnifikid; the digital edition is online for free right now);
- Your example of patient waiting is the key in helping your child both weather the disappointment of postponing the celebration and keeping alive the joy and anticipation of receiving the sacraments.
Today is the feast of the Annunciation. Although Mary was not expecting that she would have a part to play in the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, she was chosen. We know the end of the story, but she had to live it in real time, waiting for his birth, waiting to see what would happen to him, waiting to see the new birth of life in the church.
Her life was always about waiting and the virtue of patience. We usually talk about these themes in Advent, but this Lent has been odd that way.
We are all waiting to receive the Eucharist now. Help your child to understand that even adults get impatient and long for something to happen. Talk about waiting together. We will get there, at some point. We just don't know when.
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Exploring Chapter Five in your book.
This book is for second graders.
If your child is not in second grade, they were working in a different book on Wednesdays. We were not planning to meet with them after spring break, as they had finished the material.
However, you can still use some of the ideas to continue speaking to your child about the sacrament.
Here are some ideas to help make the connections, as you work through the pages with your son or daughter:
- This Easter is going to be one to remember, as we can't celebrate it in church, nor have the same kind of family gatherings. But, that doesn't mean that Easter is not happening! Think about how you and your child can make this holiday a holy day in your house. What can you do to celebrate together Christ's resurrection?
- Speak with your child about the reason we have a feast for the holiday. We eat special foods for Easter, but our real nourishment comes from Jesus. Help your child connect these two ideas while exploring page 50 of the book.
- Recount the events of Holy Week and Easter with your child - how Jesus shared his Body and Blood with us at the Last Supper, the crucifixion on Good Friday and the Resurrection. (pages 52 and 53)
- The Lord we receive in the Eucharist is the same Risen Lord who appeared to the disciples. Connect this to the information about the Real Presence on page 55.
- Here is a art reveal game your child can play online.
Telling the Easter Stories
As we go into Holy Week, this video from
The Storykeepers might be a good choice for your child to watch. Behind it is the idea the Christians persecuted in Rome continued to tell the stories that we now have written down for us in the Gospels.
As you watch this, in whole or in part, talk with your children about the stories, and the connections between the scenes they see in the video and the Gospel accounts over
Holy Thursday,
Good Friday, and
Easter.
How and why do we give thanks for what the Lord has done for us?
Each time we walk into church, there is the tabernacle, with the Risen Lord, the Body of Christ, contained inside. How do we show our love and respect for the Lord? What can we say to him when we come into the church?
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Prayer to say after receiving Communion
As the focus has shifted to the Eucharist for your child, it is a good time to introduce another prayer for your child to memorize. This prayer can be said after receiving communion.
Of course, we can pray however we want after communion, but I have found that for children, having something definite 'in reserve' is a comforting thing for them.
Please choose one with your child and say it each night. You can remind your child that they are preparing for something wonderful and that this is a way to both anticipate that event and thank God for it.
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Rosary
Makes a Wonderful First Communion Gift
We have commissioned rosaries for the parish of St. Emily. Available with either blue or brown beads, these were crafted in Italy. The crucifix is modeled on the one that hangs in the church and St. Emily is on the center medal.
This would make a great First Communion gift for any communicant.
These are available at the St. Emily parish office for $25.00 each.
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Buying a Missal for Your Child
At our meeting, I suggested that you might want to buy a missal for your child now. It will help him or her to learn the mass prayers as s/he follows along.
Bringing their 'special book' to church is an encouragement and great assist for children in learning the prayers of the mass and how to follow along.
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Have You Paid the First Communion Fee?
Please pay as soon as you can
- $50 for St. Thomas Becket parishioners. This does not include the photo.
- $60 for St. Emily school and Religious Education students. This includes the photo and all materials not covered by the tuition.
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St. Emily Parish
Catherine Crino, DRE
847-299-5865
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St. Thomas Becket Parish
Renata Sosin, CRE
847-296-9051
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