Catechist & Parent Information


Pictures for THE EASTER VIGIL, CONFIRMATION LITURGY AND FIRST COMMUNION LITURGIES can be found at www.patmccord.com
click on St. Elizabeth, corresponding event. 


Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church

Religious education Bulletin

 
Volume 4 / Issue 2                                                                      January / February 2013
. 

 


“For Unto Us a Child is Born! ….Unto us a son is given; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.

Let us continue to rejoice in Jesus’ birth during the 12 days of Christmas until the arrival of the Magi on the Epiphany of the Lord, Sunday, January 6.
As we begin the New Year by making resolutions and get back into a normal routine, don’t forget to continue daily prayer. While Advent is a time of preparation, Christmas is a time of giving thanks to God for the gift of His son Jesus. You can find a Christmas Calendar, similar to the Advent calendar, at http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/advent/upload/advent-2012-calendar-print.pdf . On January 13, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord; don’t forget to celebrate your own baptism and the beginning of your new life in Christ. The easiest way to remember to keep our families Christ centered is to attend Mass each week as a family. However, small children can often be difficult during Mass. Here are some pointers from an article entitled: How To Take Young Children to Mass
How To Take Young Children to Mass
By Stacey and Josh Noem
Before Church
  • Make sure children are well-fed right before Mass. They do not need to fast, nor will fasting help them to be on their best behavior during Mass. We personally do not think it is appropriate to take snacks into the pew. Our exception to this is a non-spill drink cup that bought us enough time to hear the homily once in a while.
For toddlers or older children
  • Before going into the church take a moment to remind children what you are about to do. Make sure they know what their job is at Mass. For us, we say that their job is to be quiet/still, to participate by sharing their voices and to pray. Their job is also not to distract those around them from praying.
At Church
  • Sit up front. Yes, sit even in the first pew if it is appropriate at your parish. It can feel scary and even a little out of control the first few times, but it makes a world of difference for little ones to be able to see the action. Over time it also helps them to understand what is most essential about Mass without the distraction of rows and rows of backsides between them and the altar.
  • If a child cries or makes continual noise, it is best to calmly step out of the pew and take the child out of the main assembly until they have calmed down or are quiet. However, it is important to return to the worship space as soon as they are quiet, so that children do not begin to associate poor or disruptive behavior with a pass to get out of Mass.
After Mass
  • Praise your children abundantly for their good behavior.
  • If they need some improvement, mention briefly how they might do better next week and explain why. Let them know that you will help them by trying to remind them before the next Mass.
As parents, and leaders of our domestic church, we are responsible for forming our children in our Catholic faith. There is no more important experience to Catholics than the Mass, so it is crucial to help children understand and participate in liturgy as much as they are able.

To read the article in its entirety, visit http://foryourmarriage.org/how-to-take-young-children-to-mass/

As a reminder, classes resume on Sunday, January 6, 2013! Be sure to look for additional notes and emails regarding workshops, closings and information regarding Lent.
As always, Laura and I are here to answer your questions and concerns. We are here from Monday thru Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 7:45 p.m. on class nights. For more information on upcoming events, forms, resources for parents, and a syllabus for your child’s class, please visit our website at www.stelizabethpf.org/religioused .

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tressi

*********************************************
Tressi E. Breecher
Director of Religious Education
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church
Phone: 512-251-9842
FAX: 512-251-9868



Dates to Remember

2013
  • February 10 / 2nd Grade Family Workshop
  • February 13 / Ash Wednesday / No RE Classes (attend Mass as a family)
  • February 17 / No RE Classes / school holiday
  • February 25 / Family Catechesis Book Check (3-7)
  • March 10-16 / Spring Break, No RE Classes
  • March 25-30 / Holy Week, No RE Classes
  • March 31 / Easter Sunday
  • April 1 / Classes Resume