Back to School
Our students have already begun school or they are about ready to begin school this week. Let’s keep them all in prayer. In a special way, we should pray for our teachers, administrators, and school staff. They work incredibly hard to educate our students. Their service sometimes goes unnoticed and their generosity regularly goes above the call of duty.
Also we are approaching the beginning of another catechetical year. CCD and Life Teen begins on September 6, the Wednesday after Labor Day. Similar to last year, we have CCD kindergarten through eighth grade at all four parishes. At. St. John and St. Lawrence some of the grades are combined due to small class sizes. It is always wonderful to visit our catechists and young people. They bring so much joy and life to our parishes. Our catechists are an incredible blessing. They take such care in planning lessons, answering questions, and loving our young people.
Our high school youth ministry, Life Teen, will again be held in the St. Joseph PLC. Angie Soules and Natalie Patricio-Agosto have assembled a great core team to help minister to our teens. The core team members welcome the teens, lead table discussions, offer talks, and genuinely love our teens. They are an abundant blessing to our high schoolers.
It can be a little challenging organizing a Life Teen night, as there are a lot of moving parts. Parents and adult parishioners generously serve meals to the high schoolers. Many of the teens are coming straight from practice, work, or other activities and have not had a chance to eat. Also food provides a great time for people to talk. Jesus gives an incredible example; He regularly dives into deep discussion over a meal. Thank you to everyone who has helped and will help with meals.
We are in need of a couple more catechists and aides. They are listed on page 9 of the bulletin. Please prayerfully consider serving in this capacity. As St. Paul says, we simply hand on what we have first received (1 Corinthians 15:3). Please consider volunteering as a catechist so that you can hand on the faith, which you first received.
In a particular way, I would like to ask for volunteers to help out with the Edge team at Immaculate Conception. The Edge team leads the seventh and eighth graders. Last year a couple of us took turns teaching the junior high students. We really enjoyed teaching the junior high students. However, it was a little haphazard and we were packed into a small room. Now a team is being formed to lead the junior high nights and we have a brand new room to use. It would be nice to have a couple more individuals on the junior high Edge team. Please prayerfully consider stepping up. You won’t have to do everything yourself; rather you’d be part of a dynamite team.
Thank you to Angie Soules, Denise Sheipline, and Natalie Patricio-Agosto for their leadership in our youth activities. Last year, we had over 600 students participate in our youth programs and more than 75 regular volunteers! We are incredibly grateful for the leadership and organization that these devoted team members show.
Have a blessed school year, and we look forward to our first night of youth ministry on September 6th!
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Sean Wilson
