News from Religious Education
With the end of our First Semester this month, we want to take a moment to gratefully acknowledge our 60 dedicated Catechists who volunteer to teach our faith throughout the academic year to the children in our parish. We thank our devoted Priests and Deacons who teach the Church lesson each week on a rotating basis from September through May. This month alone the Church lesson topics were: Season of Advent / Meaning of Each Advent Wreath Candle, Forming a Moral Conscience, Church Vestments / Liturgical Colors, and the Christmas Season / The Birth of Jesus / Epiphany.
Our 94 Confirmation candidates are working on their Confirmation Packets. They are in the process of choosing their Confirmation Sponsor and Saint Name and completing their Community Service hours for our Parish, school events and for many non-profit organizations. Most importantly, our students learn that community service fosters a foundation of stewardship in our Parish and community.
Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body (T.O.B.) for Teens: Discovering God’s Plan for Love and Life, was taught to our 8th graders in several sessions. Thank you to Fr. McKeon for teaching the first session: “Created for Love”. Thank you to the Education Committee of our Parish for all of the preparation and time in planning the sessions and to the T.O.B. team which was comprised of several parents and Catechists. The Confirmation Retreat took place on November 8th, which was conducted by Generation Life, a group of four missionaries new to the Archdiocese of New York. They were featured in the October 6th issue of Catholic New York, “Missionaries Bring Chastity Message to Young New Yorkers”. These missionaries spread the message that respect for human life and dignity begins with the message of chastity.
Our students collected food for Thanksgiving and Christmas to support families in need through the Brewster Community Food Pantry.
Our second graders and first year sacramental students are preparing to receive First Penance in January. Please keep them in your prayers. First Communion will take place in May.
On behalf of our Clergy and Staff, we wish all of our Catechists, Assistants, students, parents and parishioners a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.
