September 1, 2002
Sharing the Faith
Father
Jack
Father
Jack
Father Jack Waldron continues to recouperate from his illness. If you’d
like to drop him a letter or card write to:
Father Jack Waldron
Immaculate Conception Center
7200 Douglaston Pkwy
Douglaston NY 11362
He thanks you for all your prayers.
Fall
Mass Schedule
Get
ready because on the Sunday after Labor day we end our summer schedule
and go to our NEW fall schedule:
Saturdays 5pm,
7pm (Spanish)
Sundays:
7am, 8:45 (Italian), 9am (chapel),
10 (Family), 10:15 (chapel), 11:30 , 11:45 (Spanish-chapel),
2:30 (Kreyol),
6pm (rock mass- chapel)
Going
Away to College?
Some
families are getting ready to pack the car and drive their sons and
daughters off to college -- some for the first time, some back to continue
what they started. Being away from home is a little less difficult these
days because of e-mail. Most colleges provide their students with an
e-mail account, and families and friends can stay in touch. For the
past year I’ve been sending a “letter from home” almost
every week to our parishioners who are away at college. The feedback
on this was great as our college students felt really connected to parish
life here.
To receive the “letter from home”, take this bulleting with
you to college as a reminder to send in your e-mail address. Just Click
Here!
Cool Way to Pray
If you’d like to try out a new interactive prayer site online,
go to the St. Brigid’s home page and click on the “Church
Interactive” link.
Today’s Bible Quote
’“Jeuss said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’
Simon Peter said in reply,
‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”
- Matthew 16
Technology Ministry
If you’d like to give your time and expertise at helping our parish
connect its telephone systems or work on its website, you can let us
know by filling in our
online form
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
Aug 25:Empty Shelves
Aug 18: Comemmorating
Sept. 11th
Aug 11: Taking Time
To See
August 4: Moving
Music
July 28:Meet
the Missionaries
July 21:
Press One Now
July 14: Having
Our Say
July 6: One
Nation Under God
June 30: Anointing
the Sick
June 23: Giving Thanks
to God
June 16: Father's
Day
June 9: Fall Mass
Schedule
June 2: Summer Plans
May 26: Spreading
the Faith
May 19: Passing Grace
May 12: Changing
Times
May 5: Reason for Hope
April 28: Changing
Ministry
April 21: The Poor Are Hurt
Again
April 14: Celebrating
50 Days
April 7: Where have
they put him?
March 31: Alleluia!
Alleluia!
March 24: Hardly
Hosanna
March 17: Roll The
Stone Back
March 10: Here's
Mud In Your Eye
March 3: Our Local
Drought
Feb 24: Welcoming
Bishop Murphy
Feb 17: We Will Rise
Again
Feb 10: Very
Good Now
Feb 3: The Multi
Cultural Church
Jan 27: Appealing
Words
Jan 20:Our
Wonderful School
Jan 13: Changing
Times
Jan 6: Farewell Father
Augustine
It’s at the end of the summer when most parishes start to get nervous about whether they’ll have enough catechists to teach in their religious education program for the coming year. They look at the number of children who are being registered and realize that somehow they’ve got to find good women and men to help pass on the faith to this new generation. I never get nervous about this, because each year I’ve seen how God “nudges” people to step forth and offer their time and their faith. Sometimes all they need is some information and an invitation. So, here are both:
• When do religion classes meet?
We have different sessions through the week: Monday evening, Tuesday afternoon and evening, Wednesday afternoon
• What do we teach?
This year we’re using a program called “Faith First”. Catechists received a teacher’s guide that prepare them for the lesson each week. This helps us teach the basics of our faith to our children. See Faith First online.
• What support do catechists get?
There is a new staff in our Religious Edcucation Office this year who will be working with catechists to support them in this teaching ministry. Sr. Ann Horn, Kelly Kraemer, Socorro Moreno and Meg Westfall are here to offer guidance, training and support. And of course our dedicated office staff of Barbara Budion, Theresa Picone and Melissa Navia are also here to help.
• How do you decide if you ought to sign up to teach?
Talk to God. See what abilities God has given you...faith? understanding? ability to follow a teacher’s guide? care for children? patience with other people’s children? hope for the future? Then offer to God the gifts back -- if not by teaching in our program, perhaps in another way (hall monitor, office help, etc.)
And now the invitation: There are around 1600 children who come to St. Brigid’s because their parents want them to grow closer to God and the church. The parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith, but it takes a church to support the parents and raise the children. Would you consider being “church” in this special way?
Call 333-9434 to talk with one of our directors of Religious
Education about becoming a catechist this year.
