Dear Students and Parents,

Jesus invites YOU to become His friend !

That is my wish for our time together this year.  Do you believe that is also God's wish for you?  For you and God to have a personal friendship?  My own experience tells me so.  As does the Bible.  In John’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples, “ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends.” (John, 15:15). I hope that this year, Jesus will become your best friend.  A friendship is like a diamond: tough, beautiful, valuable, and multi-faceted.  Some facets of our friendship with Jesus include:

Prayer and Community

Friends communicate with each other.  You will experience some new ways of praying: Morning Prayer, part of the Church's liturgy of the hours, and Contemplation with Scripture, a form of prayer made popular by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.  The Second Vatican Council called the Eucharist the “font” and “summit” of the Church’s activity.  Saturday or Sunday attendance should be part of your weekly routine.  Life as a Christian is tough, but it’s easier with friends! Our parish community can inspire us and our participation can inspire others. Some people think Mass is dull or not relevant to our modern life.  Some think we can be “spiritual but not religious.”  If that’s you, let’s explore those thoughts and feelings!

Liturgical Ministry Workshop: September 28th

Preparation for the Commitment Mass as well as ongoing service to the parish.  Meet in the church:

• 1:30 - 3:45 PM for Lectors
• 3:00 - 4:15 PM for Ministers of Hospitality

Commitment Liturgy: October 13th @10:45

Friends count on each other to make lasting commitments. God is absolutely reliable and trustworthy, no matter what!  What about us? Part of the Confirmation process is the Commitment Liturgy - a special ceremony at the 10:45 Mass on October 13 ^th where you make public your intention to become, or be more fully, a friend of Jesus.  Discipleship is a community journey.  I, your parents, Fr. Wilson, Sr. Jean Flannelly, Ms. Bida, and the rest of the parish are here to help.  At the Commitment Liturgy you will hand out cards asking people to pray for you.  By accepting your prayer card, members of our parish are committing to a relationship with you. Allow their prayers to support you.

Service

Friends help each other. Jesus calls his friends to do what he did: love and serve others (Mt 22:37-39). Jesus calls us to especially care for the poor.  Following the example of St. Lawrence, a deacon in Rome in the 200s who was famous for helping the poor, each of you will help at the parish's food pantry for a couple hours on a Saturday morning a few times over the course of two years.  Ms. Bida will send you a schedule.

History

Friends want to know about each other.  This year, we will explore Jesus’ life and the friends of Jesus we call the Church.  This is a fascinating story: The Church was founded by Jesus, it continues to be led by the Holy Spirit, but it was and is filled with human beings: many saints, al lsinners. We will learn how Jesus has influenced his friends throughout history, how his friends have changed the world, and how enemies of Jesus keep trying to ruin everything.

Saints

Friends of my friend are friends, too.  Jesus has many friends over the last 2000 years who the Church has recognized as having an especially deep relationship with God.  We call them “saints.”  When they were young, some led ordinary lives.  Some were thieves and murderers.  But at some point, each had a life-changing encounter with God. St. Mary Magdalene, on whose feast day I’m updating this letter, was one of Jesus’ closest friends.  In John’s Gospel, she is the first person to see the risen Jesus (Jn 20:11-18).  As part of the Confirmation process, you will be asked to choose a saint's name.  Find a saint whose life inspires you, learn all you can about her or him, and allow that person to serve as a role model for your own life.  The relationship they had with Jesus can be yours, too.

Fun!  Retreat May 3rd, 2020

Friends do fun things together.  At the end of the year we have a retreat at Wethersfield, a mini-adventure in experiencing God: through scripture, through nature, through prayer, and through having fun and relaxing with your classmates and those about to be Confirmed. God invites us to an adventure and that includes having fun!
See photos here! https://icsaamenia.org/photoalbums

Requirements

8th grade is the first of two years of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which is typically conferred in May of the 9th grade year.  As part of this preparation students are asked to participate in one Liturgical Ministry as well as assist with the Vine & Branches. A weekend religious retreat is also part of the program.
 

Catechist
Ms. Lisa Shay
lisa.shay@ymail.com