Dear member of St. James’ Parish Family,
As we approach the end of the summer break, I sincerely hope that you have had some quiet, down time to relax and recharge your energies. Each year as children prepare to return to school, we are mindful of the value of study and learning. Even more importantly is the inculcating of the Christian Catholic values that we so treasure. I certainly treasure those values that were instilled in me from the home environment of dedicated and loving parents. There was a Catholic culture which extended to cousins, aunts, uncles and reinforced by the Catholic schools I attended with my brothers and sisters.
Parents today have the same awesome responsibility to convey good sound Catholic values to their young. This is accomplished not without some difficulty in a current culture that often does not share our values. We need to work together to ensure that they get through. While Sunday liturgy is certainly the center piece of that effort, on –going religious education and formation is also essential both in the home and the school of religion. If a family is not sending their child to a Catholic school, they still have the obligation of providing some regular formal religious formation.
Currently here at St. James and Our Lady Queen of Peace, we run a combined religious formation program that encompasses grades 1 through 12. The grades 1 through 5 are more basic and operate on Sunday morning from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at St. James school building. Formation and activities for students from grades 6 through 12 operate a bit differently and there is more about those two programs in this newsletter.
As the Confirmation age gradually moves back to 8th grade, children currently entering 3rd grade will be candidates for Confirmation at some date in the 2012-2013 school year. Keeping our children abreast of the teachings of the church will not only help them prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation, but will continue to reveal new insights to them concerning the sacrament years after they receive it. I am asking that you register your 1st through 5th grade child now for the coming school year so that we can have current information and keep our permanent records up to date. Attached to this newsletter is a registration form that I ask you to complete and return to us.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. John T. Euker
Series of bulletin inserts on changes in the Mass
Starting on the weekend of September 17/18, revisions in the wording of the sung parts of our Mass will be introduced. The revised SANCTUS will be introduced that first weekend and the next, and on October 1/2nd, the revised MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION will be introduced. The weekends of October 15/16 and October 22/23 the revised GLORIA is to be introduced. Only these sung parts will be introduced prior to the official date for implementation of the entire Liturgical changes the first Sunday of Advent. We are looking forward to the interest and the attention that these changes will bring. It should be a great time of renewal for our church.
R.C.I.A.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is an on-going ministry to welcome seekers to explore the possibility of embracing the Catholic Faith. If you are a non-baptized person, a person who was Baptized in another faith tradition, or even a Catholic who has never completed your initiation through First Communion and Confirmation, you are cordially invited to our opening sessions entitled “Inquiry” beginning Tuesday, September 13th. All sessions are held at our partner parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace in East Vandergrift at 7:00 p.m. There is no obligation during inquiry except that you come with an open and inquiring mind. The Lord will do the rest! If you wish, you can drop us a line prior to coming to let us know you are interested.
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Celebrate Your Family
St. James Family Faith Formation
2011-2012
(All Children from St. James & Our Lady Queen of Peace parishes)
Kindergarten through Grade 5
St. James Family Faith Formation
2011-2012
(All Children from St. James & Our Lady Queen of Peace parishes)
Kindergarten through Grade 5
Note: Use reverse side for registration of each child
Address__________________________ Home Phone______________
City_____________________________ Zip Code________________
Father’s name_____________________ Phone___________________
Mother’s name____________________ Phone___________________
E-Mail______________________________(used to keep families up to date)
* Registration fee $15.00 per child to defray cost of books and materials
Food Allergies of child? Yes No
If yes, describe__________________________________________________________
Diocesan Lenten Appeal
As was reported in the July 21st issue of the Diocesan newspaper, the ACCENT, St. James’ final report was $30,820., nearly $2,000 over the target set for us. The amount over target will be returned here for our use. Many thanks to all of you who support this Diocesan drive each year.
Although we will not be carpeting the entire nave of the church, we are looking into doing the sacristy and rear and side entrance. Also with some help from the Rosary Confraternity, we are looking into re-upholstering our pews which is badly needed.
Parish Picnic
We were delighted to have had such a beautiful day for our picnic in June. Close to 200 people enjoyed good food, friendship and games at Kunkle Park. Our Lady Queen of Peace will have a parish picnic on their grounds on Sunday October 2nd. The following year our plan is to get both Councils together to plan a combined picnic at a time and site agreeable to both parishes. Please keep this effort in your prayers.
“May God Grant you always…A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you, Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.” -An Irish Blessing
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