St. Emily and St. Thomas Becket Parishes
March 9,2020
Dear Families,

We hope that you and your family have had a blessed beginning to Lent.

We also hope that those big smiles I saw after first confessions contributed to a holier than usual spring day for your families!

retreatOur next big event is the First Communion Retreat on April 4 .  You have the choice of two different times. Parents are not required to come, but are very welcome.  If you don't accompany your child, please bring this permission slip with you.



bookchapter
Exploring Chapter Four in your book.

This book is for second graders. 
If your child is not in second grade, they will continue to work with Mrs. Nolan, David Mika or Mrs. Schiemann on Wednesdays.
It is time to move to the next chapter in the book  you were given to use with your child at home.

Here are some ideas to help make the connections, as you work through the pages with your son or daughter:
  • Talk with your child about the opening Scripture verse at the bottom of p. 39. "God so loved the world...." Compare God's love to the love you have for your child. Why does God love and care for us so much? How is Jesus a gift given to us?
     
  • Take your child after mass to come up more closely to the altar. What is depicted on the front of the altar? (At St. Emily, it is the Last Supper) Why is that important and how does it connect to what happens at the altar?
     
  • When we love, we make sacrifices. Children often take that for granted. Spend some time talking about what kinds of sacrifices we make - and Jesus' sacrifice for us - on p. 43.
     
  • Rehearse with your child the responses on p. 45. For these pages (p.44-46), help your child identify and participate in these responses in the next weeks at mass.
     
  • Here is a fun matching game your child can play online.
The Sacrifice of Christ

Children often have a hard time visualizing the scenes in Christ's life with only the spoken word. That may be true of adults, too. This is one of the reasons that we have much visual interest in our churches, such as the Stations of the Cross.

Using video is another option.  These short clips might help your child talk with you about the Last Supper and Christ's sacrifice on the Cross.  They are from  The Miracle Maker, which is a fine investment for your DVD shelf. (I noticed that it is also streaming on Amazon Prime if you have that subscription.)





postcommunionPrayer 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.  

On page four of Prayers, Practices.... (a handbook for parents and families in our program) there are the choice of three prayers. All of these are honored in our tradition. 

Please choose one with your child and say it each night in the weeks leading up to communion.  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.  

rosary
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.


missal missal2Buying 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. 

to buy the missal.

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.

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.
You can pay by check made out to St. Emily, or  you can pay through E-Giving.

Please contact  Cathy Crino with any questions.

Quick Links
St. Emily Parish
Catherine Crino, DRE
847-299-5865
St. Thomas Becket Parish
Renata Sosin, CRE
847-296-9051
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