Youth Choir

Please note: We've added another rehearsal and extended the times!

Two remaining rehearsals are:
Monday, December 21, 1-2:30pm and
Tuesday, 5:30-7:00pm.
All children ages 7-18 are welcome to join us. Questions? Sherry Scott sscott@dsj.org

Christmas Eve Gospel Dramatization

Final rehearsal for the Christmas Eve pageant is Tuesday, Decmber 22, 5:30-7pm in the church. Please note that we have extended the time 1/2 hour.

Upcoming rehearsals

The reconciliation service this morning was prayerful and also joyful. Congratulations to our nine students who received the sacrament for the very first time. It was warm and friendly in the church this morning in stark contrast to the gloomy clouds and pouring rain outside.

I am emailing to invite all of our parish children to participate in the Christmas Eve Mass at 5pm. We would like to have a large choir and also a pageant full of angels, shepherds, Mary and Joseph. We also need our teens to sign up to be readers. If you are interested, please contact me.

Choir and pageant practice is this Tuesday, December 15 and next Tuesday, December 22 from 5:30-6:30pm.

The 15th is the last day of CM class for 2009. We will reconvene on January 5, 2010.

Saturday, December 12, 9:30am

is our Parish Reconciliation Service

This is also the first reconciliation for nine of our young parishioners: Cynthia, Isabelle, Cydney, Vanessa, Philip, Kiele, Stevie, Gabby, and Haley.

We are talking in class alot about preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The students repeatedly mention cleaning up their rooms and cleaning the house in preparation for Christmas.

One of the best ways to prepare our hearts is to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. It's sort of like a house cleaning of our souls, or taking a spiritual inventory. It can help us to recognize those areas in our lives where we need to do something better.. or maybe stop doing something that is harmful to ourselves or others.

I strongly encourage every family to take advantage of this opportunity on Saturday. In addtition, it is very important for us to show our support and congratulate our nine students. Our older students can model, by their example, that regular celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation is key to a healthy spiritual life.

One of the biggest draws of the Catholic faith, in my opinion, is the belief in a merciful God. What a wonderful thing we celebrate this Saturday! Come and be a part of it.

Tuesday, Dec. 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is the day when we celebrate that Mary was conceived without original sin. We will celebrate with mass at 4pm and again at 7pm. This is a holy day of obligation. Parents may pick up their students from the classrooms after mass. If you have students attending at both 4pm and 7pm, the entire family need only attend one of the masses.

Did you know that if tomorrow is the celebration of Mary's conception, then her birthday is celebrated on September 8? Many Catholics confuse the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with the Annunciation. The Annunciation is when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear God's son. The Annunciation is celebrated on March 24. The birth of Jesus is December 25. (Just a little Catholic trivia for you.)

Youth Choir Rehearsals this month:
Tuesdays, December 1, 8, 15 and 22, 5:30-6:30pm in the church.
All children ages 7-18 are welcome to join us. Questions? Sherry Scott sscott@dsj.org.
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Christmas Eve Gospel Dramatization

Any students interested in being part of the Christmas Eve Pageant, please come to a rehearsal on December 8, 5:30-6:30pm in the church. Parts will be given out at that time for the pageant. There will be a dress rehearsal on Dec 22, 5:30-6:30pm. You may also contact Sherry at sscott@dsj.org

Coming Up in December...

Giving Tree Parish Outreach Program
Runs from Nov 28 to Dec 18
Choose an ornament from the tree in the church.
Buy a gift for one of our families in need.
Return it to the tree wrapped with ornament by the due date.
Questions? Contact Sherry sscott@dsj.org


Parent’s Night Out
Friday, Dec 4, 6-9pm
Our treat to you. Drop your child off in Becket Hall for an evening of games and movie, while you shop, wrap or otherwise prepare for the season. Donations gratefully accepted.
A service to CM families, benefiting CM families. Please RSVP to Sherry by Dec 2 so we can plan for this event. sscott@dsj.org


Advent Morning of Prayer
(Adults/Teens only)
Saturday, Dec 5, 9-11:30am


Youth Mass (with choir)
Sunday, Dec 6, 11am


Nativity Display
Saturday and Sunday, December 5-6, after all masses
Come and see the wide variety of nativity displays from our parishioners. If you have a Nativity Scene which you would like to show during our display, please contact Carol Reiss or call the parish office, 378-1595.


Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Tuesday, Dec 8, masses at 4pm and 7pm
(students are dropped off for class as usual, parents are encouraged to stay for mass)


Parish Reconciliation/
First Reconciliation Service
All CM families are encouraged to attend
Saturday, Dec 12, 9:30am

Youth Ministry Christmas Caroling
Friday, Dec 18, time TBD
All ages are welcome to come caroling with our teens. We will also come to your house if you live nearby and give us your address.

Need a break?

Want to find time to pray in your busy workweek?

Check out these two websites from Loyola Press. (Loyola Press is the publisher of our catechetical textbook series.)

"Finding God" daily 3 minute retreat

http://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer.htm

Sunday Connection (This site gives you the readings for Sunday mass. It helps you to prepare for full, conscious and active participation during the Liturgy.)

http://www.loyolapress.com/sunday-connection.htm