A message from your CCD Instructor: Monica McCune

I hope this finds all of you and your families dealing with this pandemic as smoothly as possible. I know you join me in constant prayers for our community, health care workers, and others
who have been affected by this virus. I pray that our lives will return to some sort of normalcy before too long.

I have missed your children tremendously, as this all came up on us so suddenly and unexpectedly.

We had covered the first 14 chapters in our We Live Our Faith book. As they may have told you, we studied many vocabulary words in their journals even if we did not cover a whole chapter.

We talked a lot about everyday life and things that I could tell they wanted to discuss at times, all to do with morals and "what would Jesus want me to do?" kind of situations. Remember,
this was the third year that I had your children because of  moving up with them each year since grade 6. I really got to know them and their personalities. Every one of you should be
proud of the young people you are bringing up. I know they have stolen my heart!

We have been going over the sacraments to prepare them for next year as they will begin Confirmation prep. I think that at this age, they really need to be more focused
on mass attendance. We talk about mass a lot and how missing mass is not helping to prepare them for Confirmation. It needs to be an adult decision on whether their faith is that important to them as they move on toward this most important sacrament. 

I will continue to pray for your families as we make our way through these troubled times. Pass my greetings on to your precious children! Hope to see all of you soon.

Sincerely,
Monica McCune
8th grade Religion

I think the children should continue to become more familiar with not only the sacrament of Confirmation, but all of the sacraments. I would also have them read the daily Gospel and readings.

Below is the list of the Seven Sacraments.  Please review and discuss with your child. (Through the power of the Holy Spirit, each sacrament gives us grace. The grace that we receive in the sacraments is called  Sanctifying Grace. Sanctifying Grace enables us to love God, to love  ourselves as God loves us, to love others as we love ourselves, and to live as God calls us to live).

Continued Learning:

1. In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are welcomed into the Church, becoming children of God. Jesus welcomes all of those who wanted to follow him.
2. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples.
3. In the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we receive Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. Jesus nourished people’s bodies and souls.
4. In the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, we turn to God with sorrow for sin and receive his love and forgiveness. Jesus had compassion for sinners and assured them of God’s mercy.
5. In the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, people who are sick and suffering are helped and comforted. Jesus had special concern for the sick and the suffering, and healed them.
6. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, baptized men are ordained to lead and serve the Church. Jesus chose the Apostles as leaders and empowered them to serve the whole Church.
7. In the Sacrament of Matrimony, a baptized man and woman are strengthened for family life and service by their faithful love. Jesus loved his family and learned from their faithful love for one another.

Did You Know?

• There are 18,992 Catholic parishes in the United States.
• There are 69 million Catholics in the United States.
• 943,264 infants were baptized in the U.S. Catholic Church in 2005.
• Catholics gave $5.864 billion to their parish collections in 2002. This money goes to maintain the parish and to help the poor through Catholic organizations (Source: Catholic Information Project, United States Catholic Conference of Bishops).

Parish Fun Facts Challenge:
See if, as a family, you can answer these “fun facts” questions your child has answered as part of the Project Disciple experience!

1. In what year was your parish church built?
2. What is the name of the pastor?
3. To which (arch)diocese does your parish belong?
4. How many Masses are celebrated at your parish each Sunday?
5. What else do you know about your parish?