Merry Christmas from St. Paul Religious Education!
Dear Families ,
We are already into Advent and our preparations for the great Feast of Christmas! This year Archbishop Vigneron has asked all of the parishes in our diocese to look at Christmas as a time to Unleash the Gospel. In the Detroit area there will be tens of thousands of men and women visiting our churches who have stopped practicing their faith, but still make Christmas Mass a part of their holiday season. Some of us may have family members who fall into this category. So Christmas Masses give us a key opportunity to encourage and invite those we know to come to Mass. At every Christmas liturgy, our goal will be to provide our brothers and sisters what the Archbishop calls "unusually gracious hospitality" so that they will feel welcomed and comfortable.
This effort begins with prayer. Your child will be bringing home a beautiful prayer card this week and we ask your family to say this prayer together every day during Advent. You will see more details about this in the Parish Reporter next Sunday.
In the meantime, know that we keep you and your family in our prayers constantly. May Advent be a time for all of us to focus on the great gift of Jesus Christ to the world and let us prepare to celebrate His coming at Christmas!
~The St. Paul Religious Education Staff
The last classes for Religious Education before Christmas break will be Sunday, December 16th, Monday, December 17th and Tuesday, December 18th. Classes will resume Sunday, January 6th, Monday, January 7th and Tuesday, January 8th.
The Feast of St. Nicholas
Deacon Bill Jamieson will visit the first graders on December 3rd/4th to share the story of St. Nicholas' life and generosity. Make sure you ask your first grader about this special visit!
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is coming up this Saturday, December 8th and it is a
Holy Day of Obligation. We encourage all families to attend one of the masses held at St. Paul Church: Friday December 7th Vigil at 7:00 pm or Saturday, December 8th at 9:00 am.
Reconciliation
Grades 3 - 8 will participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
during RE class time during Advent. We encourage all parents and older siblings to go to Confession during Advent, as well. Confessions are available here at St. Paul
every Saturday before Christmas at 3:45 pm. Communal Penance Services with Individual Confession will be held as follows:
1:00 pm, St. Barnabas
26100 Ridgemont
Roseville
7:00 pm, St. Joan of Arc
22412 Overlake St.
St. Clair Shores
Art Contest
All grades will have the opportunity, to participate in an art contest sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. The theme this year is "Keep Christ in Christmas". Winning artwork will be displayed in the gathering space of the church. If your child wishes to submit his/her artwork to be considered for the St. Paul Reporter, the attached form must be completed.
Click
here
The deadline to submit artwork is Friday, December 14th.
First Communion Families
The Candle Mass for all children preparing to make their First Communion is scheduled for 6 pm, Saturday, January 12th. At this Mass, children preparing for First Communion will receive a First Eucharist candle in remembrance of this special year. A parent meeting regarding the First Eucharist Program is scheduled for Monday, January 28th at 6:40 pm and Tuesday, January 29th at 4:25 pm in the Canfield Center. All of the paperwork for First Communion will be distributed at this meeting. It is important for parents to attend one of these sessions. Babysitting will be available for younger siblings, but you must call 885-7022 to reserve a spot.
Eighth Grade Confirmation Families
Please mark your calendar for the Confirmation Candidate and Sponsor Workshop scheduled for Sunday, January 13th at 3:45 p.m. in the school cafeteria. If your child's sponsor is unable to attend, a parent should accompany the student to this event. The afternoon will be an informative, inspiring and faith-filled experience. Parents and family members are welcome to join us for mass at 6:00 pm in the church. This special liturgy will include the Rite of Enrollment for the Confirmation candidates where they will formally be acknowledged and blessed as they continue their final preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Watch your home mailbox....an invitation will be sent home during the first week of December.
Seventh and Eighth Grade Families
Click
here for a list of December Service Opportunities.
Seventh and Eighth Grade Parents
We are offering two new sessions of Chosen for Adults on either Monday evenings from 6:30 - 7:45 pm (during R. E. Class time) or Friday mornings from 9:15 - 10:45 a.m. starting the week of January 7, 2019. Call 313-885-7022 to sign up. We would like every parent of a Confirmation candidate to experience this excellent formation.
Your child's Catechist may be a Mom or Dad like you, a single person, a grandparent, or even a religious Sister. From all walks of life they come to St. Paul on Mondays and Tuesdays as volunteers to teach and share their faith with your child. These catechists appreciate your support and encouragement. Please remember your child's catechist with a note or a card during the Christmas season!
Lost and Found
If your child is missing an item of clothing or something else that they brought to Religious Ed, those articles
are kept in the classroom lockers. Check with your child's catechist about where the classroom locker is located.
Upcoming School and Parish Activities...
