Saint Elizabeth Parish Religious Education Preparation PREP (CCD) Mrs. Mary Spieker Director of Religious Education

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1 Saint Elizabeth Parish Religious Education Preparation PREP (CCD) Mrs. Mary Spieker Director of Religious Education OCTOBER, 2016 Holy Father's Prayer Intention October Universal: Journalists That journalists, in carrying out their work, may always be motivated by respect for truth and a strong sense of ethics. Evangelization: World Mission Day That World Mission Day may renew within all Christian communities the joy of the Gospel and the responsibility to announce it. A PRAYER FOR MERCY Almighty and everlasting God, you do not will that a single sinner should perish, and so you gave the world your Son Jesus, who is Mercy Itself. Make me a mirror of Divine Mercy. Through prayer, the Sacraments, and works of charity, grant me the grace to seek your forgiveness, even as I forgive others. Inspire me to offer my sufferings in union with the Passion of Jesus, and thereby share in the redemption of the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN. Reverend Bernard J. Ezaki

2 Halloween The Gospel tells us, Don t hide your light under a bushel basket. Let your light shine out! Share His Incredible News Everywhere HALLOWEEN: ITS ORIGINS AND CELEBRATION The celebration of Halloween has dual origins. The first is in a pre-christian Celtic feast associated with the Celtic New Year. The second is in the Christian celebration of All Saints Day (Nov. 1st) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2). In the British Isles November 1st is called All Hallows, thus the evening before is All Hallows Eve. Halloween during Christian Times The conversion of Celtic peoples to Christianity did not dampen their enthusiasm for the pre- Christian year-end custom of feasts, bonfires, and masks, essentially new year's eve costume parties. The proximity to the developing Christian feasts of All Saints and All Souls resulted in an attempt to move the celebration to the evening before All Souls, when children would go door to door receiving treats for a promise of prayer for the dead of the household. This attempt to associate the Celtic remembrance of the dead with the Christian memorial ultimately failed and the celebration remained a year-end custom (by the old Celtic calendar), though Halloween remains primarily a children's feast. With the massive emigration of Irish in the last century the All Hallows Eve customs of costumes, jack-o-lanterns and trick or treating, were transported to North America. Scary costumes remain the historical norm for Halloween, though the advent of more sinister and violent times has encouraged many parents to take a gentler approach. Today many families, and even parishes, hold group celebrations, often with costumes of the saints, the poor souls or famous Catholics (such as the Pope, Mother Teresa or the like) and other elements which re-enforce the Christian side of Halloween's origins. EVE OF ALL SAINTS PRAYER Father, All-Powerful and Ever-Living God, Today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. From the Liturgy of the Hours

3 Month of the Holy Rosary The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7. October falls during the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green. The Rosary is traditionally one of our most beloved prayers. The Rosary, when prayed in an authentic way, brings peace and reconciliation. It contains within itself the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the center of each "Hail Mary". The children will be learning more about the rosary this month. Each class is being asked to pray a decade of the rosary each week throughout the month of October. Consider praying the rosary regularly at home with your family. The family that prays together, stays together How to say the rosary SEE: NEW ALTAR SERVER TRAINING! Father Pendzick will begin training new altar servers during PREP classes for any students who are interested in grades Students will spend 30 minutes of their PREP class time being trained by Father Pendzick or Deacon Mike. They will still be responsible for the class instruction they miss; however, knowing they are answering the call to ministry may earn them some extra credit, as well. All new servers must be of the Catholic faith and must have received their First Holy Communion. Please let Mrs. Spieker know if you are interested by Monday morning, October 17. By being trained, you will be asked to serve during the weekend Masses and Feast Days as well as during PREP Masses. Altar servers are called to be a witness to the community by their words and actions to help direct everyone s focus towards our Lord. We hope you and your child will seriously consider this wonderful opportunity to serve God and others.

4 SACRAMENTAL INFORMATION Parents of students preparing for the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist, and Confirmation are expected to attend the following meeting dates. 8 th Grade Sacrament of Confirmation: Monday, October 6:15 P.M. in the Church. 8 th Graders should come for class at 6:00 and will be brought over at 6:15 for the meeting. Confirmation Service Hour Opportunities Don t wait until the last minute! Additional help is needed at our Basket Social and at our Parish Breakfast. Please call or Mary Spieker if your child can help over Columbus Day weekend dates/times are listed below or dirreled@sercc.org. Thursday, October 6 from 3:00 5:00 PM Saturday, October 8 anytime between 10:00 AM 7:00 PM Sunday, October 9 anytime between 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Parish Breakfast Sunday, October 9 between 8:30 AM 12:30 PM 2 nd Grade & any older students preparing for the Sacrament of Penance Parent Meeting: Monday, October 6:15 P.M. in the Church. NOTE: A parent meeting for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is scheduled for Monday, January 23. MONDAY, OCTOBER 31 RETREAT NIGHT FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS! Save the date for an exciting evening with your child as we celebrate our faith and focus on Jesus is the Light that Lights Our Way! We have a wonderful evening planned for all that will include music, prayer, Adoration, refreshments and JESUS! At least one parent is expected to accompany their child to class on this night. We promise it will be a night you won t soon forget!

5 Book of the Remembered Enclosed with this t newsletter is a form for you to submit the names of family members and friends who have died.. We would like to remember them in our prayers.. These names will be inscribed in a Book of the Remembered which will be displayed in the t school lobby throughout November. We will include these names in our intentions during closing prayers s at Religious Education classes each Monday night in November. Liturgy of the Word for Children Children s Liturgy of the Word will continue at the 9:45 AM Mass each Sunday. This program allows the children, preschool through eight years of age, to hear the Sunday readings and have an explanation in language that is appropriate to them. The procedure for attendance is simple. Bring your pre-school or primary grade child (ages 3-8) to the 9:45 AM Mass on Sunday. At the beginning of Mass the priest will invite these children to come forward. The adult leaders will take the children into the chapel. After the intercessions, the children will be brought back into the church to rejoin their families. (Three will be selected to bring up the gifts.) If you have questions about your child s participation, please call Mary Spieker. Please also consider being a volunteer for this program. It is extremely gratifying to bring the Word of God to our dear children. Is God calling YOU to this ministry? MISSION Forty Hours is always celebrated here at Saint Elizabeth Parish near the feast of our patron. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary was known for her devotion to the poor. As we follow her example, our teachers will talk to their classes about MISSION this year. Each class will be challenged to help with the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative. Together as a PREP Community, we will devote our efforts to collecting items and monetary donations for the Whitehall & Coplay Food Pantries, Snack Pack Pals and the

6 Free Meals Initiative starting in December. St. Elizabeth will host a FREE MEAL in March volunteers will be needed. Flyers about the Hunger Initiative are also attached with this newsletter. Finally, we are also planning on working with the St. Elizabeth school children to collect canned goods for Thanksgiving boxes to be given out to families in need from our parish. Listed below is a list of items to send in on Oct. 31 and November 7. We appreciate your participation to help others. Remember to keep our mission and the world missions in your daily prayers. K-1-2 fruit canned goods vegetable canned goods pasta, rice or stuffing packages MONTHLY MASSES AND PRAYER SERVICES Beginning in November, our PREP students will be preparing Masses and prayer services for our whole student body to attend. They will be actively composing petitions and choosing songs. All parents and families are invited and encouraged to attend and pray with us. The following classes will be planning this year s Masses & services. November 21 8 th grade Thanksgiving Mass at 6:30 PM December 19 7 th grade Christmas Prayer Service at 6:15 PM January 30 6 th grade Pro-Life Mass at 6:30 PM March 20 5 th grade St. Joseph Prayer Service at 6:15 PM April 24 4 th grade Closing Mass at 6:30 PM Adoration Opportunities for PREP We have been blessed to be able to give our children the opportunity to experience the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration during class times. Each grade will have this beautiful opportunity on the following dates: Monday, December 12 Monday, January 9 Monday, February 13 Monday, March 13 during Stations of the Cross Monday, April 10 Holy Week

7 The Importance of Eucharistic Adoration The importance of Eucharistic Adoration is shown in the fact that the Church has a ritual that regulates it: the Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction. This is an extension of the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which occurs in every Mass: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb." Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament flows from the sacrifice of the Mass and serves to deepen our hunger for Communion with Christ and the rest of the Church. The Rite concludes with the ordained minister blessing the faithful with the Blessed Sacrament. Some important prayers that are used during this rite include the Anima Christi and the Tantum Ergo. Housekeeping Topics Arrival time - Parish hall doors are opened by 5:45 PM for the students. They are usually locked by 6:10. If you arrive late for class, your child will need to enter through the main school doors where an adult will be there to monitor. PARKING - Please do not park at the curb on Monday pick-up nights. This creates a dangerous situation for all the children and parents who are crossing the street and may not be seen because of parked vehicles blocking the view, especially as the days get shorter. PLEASE PARK IN THE PARISH PARKING LOT FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL. I greatly appreciate your cooperation and consideration in this matter. Bathroom Breaks - Please try and make sure your child goes to the bathroom before coming to class on Monday nights. The stream of children leaving the classrooms becomes very disruptive for all. Only if necessary, the teacher will allow your child one bathroom visit during class. Attendance Please remember that we have a three-absent limit policy at Saint Elizabeth PREP. Of course there is special consideration given when need be. In these cases, please contact me. Normally in March attendance is reviewed. If your child has more than three absences, additional make-up work will be given and asked to complete before the PREP year ends in order to meet this year s requirements. All assignments are very doable and don t require much time. Please do not ever feel that situations cannot be worked out. There is always a Way when we embrace our faith and follow the Lord.

8 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 AT 2:00 AM. THAT MEANS IT WILL BE TIME TO FALL BACK ONE HOUR. Basket Social Our 7th Annual Basket Social is almost here! It will be held at Saint Elizabeth s Parish Hall on Friday, October 7 from 5 7 PM, Saturday, October 8 from 10 AM 7 PM, and Sunday, October 9 from 8 AM - 2 PM! Winners will be drawn after 2:00 PM Sunday. Over 200 fabulous theme baskets & prizes will be offered. Each student will be given five free tickets as a little thank you for their classroom donation. Tickets can also be bought at the door. If you have any questions, please call the parish office at Thank you again for sending in a donation for your child s PREP class. Each class has donated a fabulous basket! Wait until you see them! Maybe you will be the lucky winner! We will also be selling tickets at the end of PREP night this Monday, October 3. The cost is $5.00 a sheet of 25 tickets or Early Bird Special 4 sheets for $20 will grant you an extra bonus sheet (5) if bought by October 7 at 5PM. Parish Volunteers Protecting God s Children Workshop All volunteers in the diocese, need to attend a Protecting God s Children Workshop. You can find a listing of these workshops at October Birthdays Mia, Aiden J., Brogan, Abigail, Ava, Bryce, Hailey, Kaylyn, Jayleen, Maycie Ruth, Joshua S., Megan, Riley, Lauren, Aryanna, Felicia, Giuseppe M. & Mrs. Tracey Corteen

9 Fun Facts about Saints: No class October 10! Happy Columbus DAY! Respectfully submitted by: Mrs. Mary Spieker CALENDAR OCTOBER 3 Monday Class 6:00 7:30 PM 3 Monday Sacrament of Confirmation Parent & Student Meeting in Church 6:15 PM Father Pendzick 7, 8, & 9 BASKET SOCIAL Fri. 5 7, Sat. 10 6, Sun Monday NO CLASS Columbus Day Holiday 17 Monday Class 6:00 7:30 PM (Adoration) 17 Monday Sacrament of Penance Parent Meeting in Church 6:15 PM Father Pendzick 24 Monday Class 6:00 7:30 PM 31 Monday Class/Retreat Night - Can Good Drive 6:00 8:00 PM NOVEMBER 7 Monday Class Protecting God s Children- Can Good Drive 6:00 7:30 PM 14 Monday NO CLASS 40 HOURS TOMORROW 15 Tuesday Forty Hours Celebration (Grades 2 & 8 process) 7:00 PM in church 21 Monday Class Protecting God s Children 6:00 7:30 PM Thanksgiving Mass (6:30 7:20) Hosted by 8 th Gr. 28 Monday NO CLASS - Thanksgiving Holiday

10 October 1, 2016 Dear Parents, The Catholic Church uses the month of November to remember in a special way those family and friends who have gone before us in faith. We will display the names of these loved ones in a special Book of the Remembered, and pray for them at each Religious Education session. If you have any names of deceased family and friends that you would like to have included, list them below and return them to me by October 24. Please use complete names, i.e. John Smith, not Uncle Johnny. ed names are graciously accepted. If you have any questions, please call me. Thank you for your continued cooperation. Sincerely, Mrs. Mary Spieker Director of Religious Education Please cut here and return bottom portion The family would like to place the following names in the Book of the Remembered: Please return the form to Mary Spieker by October 24, 2016.