Fourth Sunday of Lent

Shakespeare had nothing on St. John, who gives us a real piece of drama in this week’s gospel—The Man Born Blind. It’s a three act play all about faith. Act One: The Miracle; Act Two: The Argument; Act Three: The Encounter. In the first act, the blind man acknowledges that he has seen a miracle—Jesus has given him his sight. A miracle, but no faith yet. In the second act, the blind man acknowledges what is only reasonable—Jesus must be of God because he has done good things. An argument, but no faith yet. In the third act, Jesus comes looking for the blind man when everyone else has rejected him and thrown him out of the synagogue. Down and out and feeling nothing but human woundedness, the blind man personally encounters Jesus. Then and only then does the blind man believe. Then and only then is their faith—a faith not born of the empowerment of the Pharisees, but of the blind man’s woundedness, which he shares with Jesus, who is about to bear the woundedness of all humanity.

The Middlers, who seem to enjoy being hams, put on their own version of this play. The adults were an enthusiastic audience.

Grace by Ms. Houlihan’s 4th Grade

Dear God,

Thank you for our food, our families and, most importantly, ourselves.

Thank you for making us, the earth, the animals, the sun and the water.

Thank you for everything we have and you have given us.

And for all our sins, we are sorry.

Bless the food set at this table.

We love you forever. Amen.

First Communion Parent Meetings

An E-vitation went out last week to all the parents of our 2nd Grade First Communion Class. The E-vitation read as follows:

Dear First Communion Parents,

Let's talk about First Communion. No, let's do more than talk. Let's pray. No, you're right. Let's do a little of both.

Since nothing fits all, I'm proposing three dates to meet. You choose the ONE that's best for you. Saturday, April 9, 4-5 pm Monday, April 11, 7:30-8:30 pm Thursday, April 14, 7:30-8:30 pm

We (i.e., parents only) will spend a half hour in prayer and conversation about the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Then, we will move on to the real good stuff: dress code, tickets, seating, photography and more.

My hope is that a little time spent in prayerful reflection and practical planning by all of us will help prepare us to better prepare our kids to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Please reply by clicking on this link RSVP [which is in original email and not here in Blog post] and completing the form.

***Please make your choice of meeting and reply to the E-vitation as soon as possible by clicking on the reply link in the email from last week. If you lost the email. go to First Communion News on the Parish Website. The letter is there and that's where you will find the link.***

JAPAN RELIEF SUNDAY

May 22nd

Calendar Reminder and Change

There is NO KidsRelig on April 19, 20 & 21. Our last regular sessions are April 26, 27 & 28. These last days are listed on the calendar as “Funraiser Days.” Instead of fun and fund—raising, those days will be devoted to preparations for Japan Relief Sunday, when we will really raise some fun and funds.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

Third Sunday of Lent

We played a Word Game with the Middlers, which went like this. The college kid son of the cranky old farmer was worrying about the snow melt and spring rains. They’d flood the farm!!! The farmer couldn’t take it anymore and walked away muttering to the kid:

_ _ _ _, it won’t be s _ _ _ _ this spring
if that _ _ _ _spring_ _ _ _s up and s _ _ _ _ s
that _ _ _ _, which will never go down too _ _ _ _
with a s _ _ _ _ like you.


Once we read the gospel about Jesus and the Woman at the Well, we discovered the one word to fill in all the blanks—well.

Why the Word Game? Because the gospel itself is filled with word games like these:

I will give you living water.
But you haven’t a bucket.

Drink my water and you shall never thirst.
Give me some and I’ll skip coming to this well.

Rabbi eat.
I have food you don’t know about.

Did someone sneak food to him?

We would all rather play word games than be saved by Jesus, who wants nothing more than to refresh us with his Word and nourish us with his Food!

Lenten Confessions

Our kids had the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday and Thursday of this past week. On Tuesday of this week, we will complete confessions. For all those who did not have the opportunity, confessions are every Saturday from 4:30 to 5:00 pm in the Upper Church.

JAPAN RELIEF SUNDAY

May 22nd

They have already begun to plan: Bake Sale, Silent Auction, Japanese Food Sale, Tae Kwon Do demonstration and instruction, local media coverage and so much more. All proceeds to go to Catholic Relief Services—Japan Relief. The 8th Graders are taking charge and will lead the rest of us at KidsRelig in this effort to save others. And all of this coincides with Lent (or should I say, gives Lent real meaning).

Bus Behavior

An email was blasted to all the parents asking for help reinforcing our message of good bus behavior. We really appreciate all those who emailed or stopped by the office to tell us that they had done just that. Some have even volunteered to be bus monitors. Great! Let’s do this. Keep talking with your kids about good behavior. We only have a few weeks left for KidsRelig. In order to keep offering buses next year, let’s commit to establishing a volunteer bus monitor program for the elementary buses. Thanks again.

A Grace-filled Prayer for Japan

by Rafe Coffino (2nd Grade)

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for the houses we live in and the food we eat. Thank you for our families and for everything. Please take care of the People of Japan. We hope there are no more earthquakes or tsunamis. Please take care of everyone. Amen.

Calendar Reminder and Change

There is NO KidsRelig on April 19, 20 & 21. Our last regular sessions are April 26, 27 & 28. These last days are listed on the calendar as “Funraiser Days.” Instead of fun and fund—raising, those days will be devoted to preparations for Japan Relief Sunday, when we will really raise some fun and funds.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

The Transfiguration—a window through which we see the Resurrection and the Risen Lord. With the Middlers, we wondered whether we should call it The Transparency instead. We lit three candles on the main altar—one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Jesus. We held up a window in front of the candles, whose light only became apparent through the transparency of the cross. We only saw the light of the Resurrection and the Risen Lord because we went through the suffering and death of the cross. That’s what Jesus is telling us when he says, “Tell no one until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” As plain as those words are, they are so hard to understand.

Then, we scanned the day’s headlines from The NY Times. “9.0 Earthquake,” “Tsunami Kills More Than 10,000,” “Third Reactor Explodes,” “Workers Evacuated from Troubled Reactor.” The last article reported 1400 workers were evacuated from the Fukushima Power Plant, while 80 remained behind. We asked, “Did th0se 80 who remained face suffering and death?” “YES.” “Was it to save themselves?” “NO.” “Was it to save a power plant?” “NO.” “Was it to save others in Japan and in the world beyond?” “YES.” Through suffering and death to resurrection—maybe we don’t get it, or maybe we do.

8th Grade Generously Volunteers

for Japan Relief

We asked the 8th Graders to brainstorm about what we could do for Japan Relief. And brainstorm they did! They have set the date for:

JAPAN RELIEF SUNDAY

May 22nd

They have already begun to plan: Bake Sale, Silent Auction, Japanese Food Sale, Tae Kwon Do demonstration and instruction, local media coverage and so much more. All proceeds to go to Catholic Relief Services—Japan Relief. The 8th Graders are taking charge and will lead the rest of us at KidsRelig in this effort to save others. And all of this coincides with Lent (or should I say, gives Lent real meaning).

PARENTS—WE NEED YOUR HELP

Once the 8th Graders finalize the plans for Japan Relief Sunday, we will establish subcommittees to help execute the plans. Parents are needed for those subcommittees. Please show our kids that we follow their good example and volunteer to help. As with all the good that is done here, nobody does it alone. Watch for more information and how to volunteer.

Pillows for Puppies—Building Up Creation

The McCarthy-LePage Family is spearheading an effort to protect rescued dogs and puppies. There is a big box in the Front Hall of the Upper Church to accept donations of pillows, blankets, towels, dog food and more. Information is posted on the box explaining this effort and the items needed. This is another Lenten project of KidsRelig. We are called to be co-creators with the Creator in building up the earth and caring for all its creatures, which demands sacrifice of us.

Grace Before Snacks

This week, we used an amazing grace written by Sephanie Garbuio’s 1st Grade:

Jesus,

thank you for our food

and for loving us and the life we live.

Thank you for showing us

that when we do things for others

we respect them and help each other.

We are faithful.

We love you forever. AMEN.

Told you it was an Amazin’ Grace!!!

Love,

Deacon Charlie

The First Sunday of Lent

The Temptations of Christ: to be popular, spectacular and powerful. These are temptations? What’s wrong with pleasing the crowd, doing a little razzle-dazzle for the audience or leading the charge? Nothing! It’s only when we do it all for ourselves. Jesus’ last argument to Satan, “It’s all for God.” It reminds this old “Baby Boomer” of what we used to put at the top of each paper in Catholic school—“AMDG” (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam)—“”For the Greater Glory of God.”

Busy Week at KidsRelig

We began on Tuesday with confessions for Bell and Westorchard. The next day, we celebrated Ash Wednesday with a 4 PM Prayer Service and the Distribution of Ashes. Church was packed, not only with our Grafflin kids, but also with so many others who made the special trip with their families to come and begin Lent with prayer and sacrifice. On Thursday, there were confessions for Seven Bridges and Roaring Brook.

And squeezed into all of this activity, we had rehearsals for First Penance.

First Penance

On Saturday, March 12th, at 11 AM, our Second Graders made First Penance with their families helping them to come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We began with a Prayer Service, and then each of our kids made his/her individual confession.

More Confessions during Lent

Depending on the availability of priests, there will be further opportunities during Lent for confession. It’s difficult to say exactly when.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Built on rock—standing strong against the storm. Built on sand—unsettled and shiftless in the wind.

The Middlers knew right away how fairytale-like today’s gospel is. And they knew the fairytale—The Three Little Pigs. So, we retold the story of Wolf v. Pigs and revisited its moral—work hard, build strong and be safe.

We questioned, however, whether the gospel taught the same moral. Not! As Jesus casts his eye toward the cross, he teaches a very different moral. We must be strong in order to be strong and not safe. In fact, our strength (or shall we say, “Rock”) is Jesus, who commands us to follow him and risk everything to save all.

First Penance

Our 2^nd Grade First Communion Class will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday, March 12^th, at 11 AM in the Upper Church. Parents and kids should arrive no later than 10:45 and come directly into the church.

First Penance in First Communion News

Parents of our 2^nd Graders should check the First Communion News on the Parish Website for more information about First Penance Ceremony. First Communion News can be found in the drop-down box at the Religious Education link on the Homepage of the Parish Website or in the links column on the Religious Education Page.

Ash Wednesday

This Wednesday, March 9^th, is Ash Wednesday. There will be a special Prayer Service and Distribution of Ashes for our kids in KidsRelig at 4:00 PM in the Upper Church. The entire parish is invited to this Prayer Service. See the Weekly Schedule column in this edition of the bulletin for the Ash Wednesday Mass Schedule.

Looking for Special Family Graces

Send in your family grace to share with us. If you don’t have one, why not write one now. One 1^st Grade has already written a grace, which we’ll share next week. It’s beautiful!

Love,

Deacon Charlie

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Don’t worry,” says Jesus, “let tomorrow take care of tomorrow.”

Nice, but was Jesus ever a parent or, for that matter, a coordinator of religious education? Who is making lunches for tomorrow or planning doctors’ appointments? Or what are we going to do about First Penance, First Communion, Lent, Easter . . .?

When Jesus tells us not to worry, he doesn’t mean not to care. Making every moment of today count includes getting ready for tomorrow. But getting ready for tomorrow doesn’t mean we try to control tomorrow’s outcome. A waste of time and a waste of the best day God has given us—today!

Speaking of getting ready . . .

• First Penance for 2nd Graders: March 12th at 11 AM in the Upper Church
• The Sacrament of Reconciliation for Grades 3 through 8 will be celebrated during Lent
• Ash Wednesday is March 9th

Grace Before Snacks

Every week, there is a Grace before Snacks. This week, I will share the Keenan-Devlin Family Grace. If there are families with special graces, why not send them in and share them with all of us. I’ll also be asking the kids to write their own.

Good News about Good Kids

Our girls who are in Girl Scout Troop 1023 are sponsoring a Blood Drive:

Saturday, March 5th

8 am to 1 pm

New Castle Town Hall

Give blood and support our girls.

KidsRelig resumes Tuesday, March 1st.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Two weeks ago, it was Jesus, the baker. (Remember those chocolate chip cookies!) Last week, it was Jesus the law school professor. And this week, it’s Jesus, the mathematician.

The Middlers attended Jesus’ math class and worked on this equation: turn your cheek + give your cloak too + go an extra mile + loan whatever + love your enemy = perfect. Do the math and you will add up to being as perfect as God the Father. And what did the Middlers think about this equation? Impossible!!!

And so it is, if being perfect means an automatic make-over to God-like being—something static and etched in stone. But if you change the word “perfect” to “complete,” which some translators say is a better fit, the math equation becomes dynamic. It’s not a matter of being perfect, but becoming complete. Work at the math, and make it better today than yesterday.

Grace Before Snacks

Our 4th Graders led us in a Presidents’ Day Grace:

O God,
As we honor Presidents Washington and Lincoln,
We remember how they inspired us
To be citizens ready to sacrifice for others.
Bless our country and its people.
Make us one in charity for all
And at peace among ourselves
And with all nations.
And come bless our food,
Which you give us from the bounty of our land.
Amen.

First Penance for our 2nd Grade First Communion Kids is Saturday, March 12th , 11:00 AM, Upper Church.

On the First Communion News page of the Parish Website, we have begun to publish the prayers that will be part of our celebration of the sacrament. Please download and print and practice with your child at home.

First Communion

Still need baptismal information for 19 kids. Please complete the online form as soon as possible.
The link to the on-line form for Baptismal Information is in First Communion News. Go to the Homepage of the Parish Website and click on Religious Education.

First Communion News appears in the drop-down box. It is also on the Religious Education Page in the links column to the left.

Good News about Good Kids

Our girls who are in Girl Scout Troop 1023 are sponsoring a Blood Drive:

Saturday, March 5th
8 am to 1 pm
New Castle Town Hall

Give blood and support our girls.

Winter Recess

KidsRelig is on vacation this week. No classes Tuesday 2/22, Wednesday 2/23, Thursday, 2/24. Classes resume Tuesday, March 1st.

Love,

Deacon Charlie