Some Summer Activity Ideas for Your Family · Depending on your childrens ages, your family might...
Transcript of Some Summer Activity Ideas for Your Family · Depending on your childrens ages, your family might...
June 2017
Water Fun. What could be better than cool fun on a hot day? Start by sharing a Scripture story featuring water: for example, the Creation, the Baptism of the Lord, or the Wedding at Cana. Depending on your children’s ages, your family might enjoy a water balloon toss, splash contest in the pool, experiments with floating, sinking and evaporation, or a bathtub-duckie race.
Go Stargazing. Even if you don’t own a telescope, taking a drive into the country side on a clear summer’s night to watch the stars has a definite celestial feel to it. As a child, I would look for the Big and Little Dipper constellations, but I also marveled at
the bright lights of distant planets and
the twinkle of the occasional shooting star. Pondering the immensity of the cosmos in relation to our miniscule presence on earth is another gateway into conversation about God’s vastness and our gratitude for the beauty of the night sky.
Build a Backyard Obstacle Course. Use the theme of Exodus as your inspiration. With your backyard sandbox “desert” and wading pool “sea,” you’ve got a starting point for an obstacle course your kids can build out of their favorite outdoor toys. Make it a maze, including things to creep under, jump over or crawl through. Wind up at the “Holy Land” with a picnic lunch feast!
Some Summer Activity Ideas for Your Family
POWERSOURCE ASK GOD:
1. To help you nurture your
children’s developing faith.
2. To assure your children that he’s
with them as they grow.
3. To remind you to make your
children’s summer faith filled,
special, and memorable.
SStt.. KKiilliiaann
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442288 FFoorreesstt SSttrreeeett
HHaarrttffoorrdd,, WWII 5533002277
Dennis Vlasak, DRE
262-673-4831 ext. 406 Attendance 262-673-4831 ext. 307
Prepare for the Sunday Gospel Tune into a series of weekly podcasts from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee with Fr. Phillip Bogacki, Pastor of Christ King Parish, Wauwatosa and St. Bernard Parish, Wauwatosa, and Fr. Ricardo Martín, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Racine and Vice-Chancellor for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, to help you start thinking about this Sunday’s Gospel reading.
Sit down, listen and pray with Fr. Phillip Bogacki and Fr. Ricardo Martín as they brainstorm about their homilies and reflect on the Gospel reading.
Questions about the Catechism: A Continuing Series
10. What exactly is in the Catechism? The Catechism contains the
essential and fundamental content of the Catholic faith in a
complete and summary way. It presents what Catholics
throughout the world believe in common. It presents these
truths in a way that facilitates their understanding.
The Catechism presents Catholic doctrine within the context of the
Church's history and tradition. Frequent references to Sacred
Scripture, the writings of the Fathers, the lives and writings of the
saints, conciliar and papal documents and liturgical texts enrich the
Catechism in a way that is both inviting and challenging. There are
over three thousand footnotes in the Catechism.
11. How is all this organized
in the Catechism?
The Catechism, like the
Catechism of the Council of
Trent, is divided into four major
parts. They are referred to as the
"four pillars" on which the
Catechism is built. In his
Apostolic Constitution
promulgating the Catechism,
Pope John Paul II called them
the "four movements of a great
symphony." They are 1) the
Creed (what the Church
believes), 2) the Sacraments
(what the Church celebrates),
3) the Commandments (what
the Church lives) and
4) the Our Father (what the
Church prays).
The Catechism consists of
2,865 paragraphs, each of
which is numbered. There is
an internal cross-referencing
system among the paragraphs
which makes it simple to find
all the passages in the
Catechism which treat a
particular subject. In
addition, the Catechism
provides several indices for
ease in locating particular
passages. Indices are
organized according to
themes, Scriptural citations,
symbols of the faith,
documents of ecumenical
councils, documents of other
councils and synods,
pontifical documents,
ecclesiastical documents,
canon law, liturgical texts
and ecclesiastical authors.
2017-2018 RE Schedule
The calendar for the 2017-2018 year is in
this newsletter! Some minor changes are still possible.
June, 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1
St. Justin
2
Sts. Marcellinus and
Peter
3
St. Charles Lwanga and Companions
4 Pentecost
5
St. Boniface
6
St. Norbert
7
8 9
St. Ephrem
10
11 Most Holy
Trinity
12
13 St. Anthony of
Padua
14
Flag Day
15
Confirmation
Practice 7:00 pm
16
17
18 Corpus Christi
Confirmation Celebration
2:00pm
19
St. Romuald
20 21 Summer Begins
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
22
St. Paulinus of Nola, St. John
Fischer, St. Thomas More
23
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
24
The Nativity of John The Baptist
25 12th Sunday in Ordinary
Time
26
27
St. Cyril of Alexandria
28
St. Irenaeus
29
Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
30
The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman
Church
Journey On …. “Then Jesus turned to the twelve and asked, ‘Are you also going to leave me?’”
John 6:67
As Religious Ed classes end and the school year winds down, there is an interesting phenomenon that occurs here at St. Kilian. Sunday Mass attendance drops considerably. I am not sure how much it drops, but it often seems about half the normal amount of pews have people in them. One of our faithful and faith-filled catechists refers to this as “The ‘Mass’ Exodus” – you would almost think the Egyptian charioteers themselves had suddenly chased people out of the building!
The summer Gospels of Ordinary Time are full of the main body of work of Jesus’ teachings, and contain the parables and miracle stories that help us all understand the love, compassion, and mission of Jesus the Christ. Most of us would not attend a concert or sporting event, join an organization, or even read an article and skip half of it, or more. There would be no continuity and our understanding would be skewed or disjointed. We, along with our children, would not be getting the entire story of Jesus. We are also cheating our children out of becoming comfortable with our Parish Community. This Community may one day be, or already is, a source of great strength, witness, support, and/or comfort to them.
I am wondering if we and society in general have become so self-sufficient that we no longer have gratitude for our blessings? Do we no longer give God credit for the blessings in our life? God’s blessings and faithfulness never end - or even take a break, yet in our human weakness and, dare I say, fickleness, we do!
Many national Catholic education experts caution their fellow Catholics against the practice of going on “vacation” when it comes to practicing our faith. Jesus came to
not only teach about how to have a relationship with God, but also with one another. Catholic theology teaches that when we gather, all of us together, we make up the Body of Christ. When members are absent, we are a fractured Body, we do not function well, both within the community and in the broader world in which we live. The Body suffers.
When your children were baptized as infants, the statement is made that you, the parents, are the first and the best teachers of your children in the way of the Faith. St. Kilian is blessed to be able to help and guide you.
Thank you for the privilege of allowing us to help form your children this year! Our faithful volunteer catechists do an amazing job! I wish you and your family many blessings as your children continue to grow in faith and wisdom! Have a blessed summer, and….
See you at Mass!
2017-18 - Religious Education Schedule - 4K-Grade 7
Class Time - 10:00-11:00 am - Attendance Phone Line - 673-4831 ext. 307 September 10 10:00 am Class – Cafeteria - Welcome - Dismiss students
to Classrooms – Parent Meeting in the Cafeteria 17 9:00 am Mass - 10:00 am Class - Gospel Procession - Grade 7
Catechetical Sunday
Report Directly to Church for Mass - Children’s Collection
24 No Class
October 1 10:00 am Class - Fire Drill - 10:30 am
8 10:00 am Class - Reconciliation - Grade 3 - Other Grades - Class
15 9:00 am Mass - 10:00 am Class - Gospel Procession - Grade 6
Report Directly to Church for Mass - Children’s Collection
22 10:00 am Class
29 No Class
November 5 10:00 am Class – Daylight Saving Time Ends
12 10:00 am Class - Reconciliation - Grade 4 - Other Grades - Class
19 9:00 am Mass - 10:00 am Class - Gospel Procession - Grade 5
Report Directly to Church for Mass - Children’s Collection
26 No Class
December 3 10:00 am Class - Reconciliation - Grade 5 - Other Grades - Class
10 10:00 am Class
17 9:00 am Mass - 10:00 am Class - Gospel Procession - Grade 4
Report Directly to Church for Mass - Children’s Collection
24 No Class – Christmas/New Year’s Break
31 No Class – Christmas/New Year’s Break
January 7 10:00 am Class
14 9:00 am Mass - 10:00 am Class - Gospel Procession - Grade 3
Report Directly to Church for Mass - Children’s Collection
21 10:00 am Class
28 No Class - Catholic Schools Week - SKS Open House
February 4 10:00 am Class
11 10:00 am Class - Reconciliation - Grade 6 - Other Grades - Class
18 9:00 am Mass - 10:00 am Class - Gospel Procession - Grade 3
Report Directly to Church for Mass - Children’s Collection
25 No Class
March 4 10:00 am Class - Fire Drill – 10:30 am
11 10:00 am Class
18 9:00 am Mass - 10:00 am Class - Gospel Procession - Grade 2
Report Directly to Church for Mass - Children’s Collection
Reconciliation - Grade 7 - Other Grades - Class
25 No Class
April 1 Easter – No Class 8 10:00 am Class - Tornado Drill - 10:30 am
15 9:00 am Mass - 10:00 am Class - Gospel Procession - Grade 2
Report Directly to Church for Mass - Children’s Collection 22 10:00 am Class
29 No Class
2017-18 - Religious Education Schedule - Grades 8-11
Class Time - 6:30-8:00 pm - Attendance Phone Line - 673-4831 ext. 307
September 10 6:30 pm Class - 7:30 pm Evening Prayer
17 6:30 pm Class – Catechetical Sunday – 8:30 am Mass
24 No Class
October 1 6:30 pm Class - Fire Drill - 7:00 pm
8 6:30 pm Class - Grades 8-11 - Regular Class Time
Confirmation Parent Meeting - 6:30 pm – St. Theodore Room
15 6:30 pm Class
22 6:30 pm Class
29 No Class
November 5 6:30 pm Class
12 6:30 pm Class
19 6:30 pm Class
26 No Class
December 3 6:30 pm Class
10 6:30 pm Class
17 6:30 pm Class
24 No Class – Christmas/New Year’s Break
31 No Class – Christmas/New Year’s Break
January 7 6:30 pm Class
14 6:30 pm Class - Grade 8 - Individual Reconciliation
21 6:30 pm Class
28 6:30 pm Class - Normally there’s no class on the last Sunday of the
month. However, we have class tonight to allow catechists & students the
opportunity to watch the Super Bowl on Feb. 4th
.
February 3 (Sat) - Grade 10 - Day of Reflection – 9:00 am-5:30 pm – Gather in
the St. Theodore Room – Students dismissed following Mass
4 Grade 11 – Confirmation Candidate/Sponsor Day of Reflection
9:00 am Mass ~ Reflection Time 10:00 am–12:00 pm ~ Lunch to Follow ~ Reflection Time
12:30-3:30 pm
4 No Evening Class - Super Bowl Sunday
11 6:30 pm Class - Grade 10 – Individual Reconciliation
18 6:30 pm Class
25 No Class
March 4 6:30 pm Class – Fire Drill – 7:00 pm
11 6:30 pm Class
18 6:30 pm Class - Grade 9 - Individual Reconciliation
25 No Class
April 1 Easter – No Class
8 6:30 pm Class - Tornado Drill - 7:00 pm
15 6:30 pm Class
22 6:30 pm Class
29 No Class
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation Practice
Confirmation Candidates are reminded of the Confirmation Practice Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 7:00 pm in St. Kilian Church. All candidates are required to be at the practice. Sponsors are asked to be present with the candidate for the practice. If a sponsor is unable to be there, a parent is asked to attend in their place. Please arrive by 6:50 pm so that we can start on time. Practice should only take an hour if everyone is on time and attentive to what is going on!
Confirmation Celebration
St. Kilian and St. John parishes will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 2:00pm with new Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Haines. There are 20 young people from St. Kilian and 7 young people from St. John that will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please include these young people in your prayers as they prepare to be confirmed in several weeks.
Candidates are reminded to be in Gathering Space by 1:40 pm on June 18th for the entrance line-up.
Information about Registration for the 2017-2018 RE year
Registration information will be sent the beginning of August to all families who were in Religious Education during the 2017-18 year, to students graduating from St. Kilian School, and to new families that have requested information. I hope to have an online form perfected by the date registration material is mailed out that will allow you to register online. If you know of anyone who is new to the area or of someone who has children who should be attending Religious Education Classes, please have them call the Religious Education Office, or you can contact me, and an information packet will be sent to them in August. Direct any questions or comments to Dennis Vlasak in the Religious Education Office at 262-673-4831 ext. 406 or [email protected].
Reconciliation
and 1st Eucharist for 2017-2018
Parents of students who will be preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation First Eucharist next year will have parent meetings on September 18th or 23rd for Reconciliation and January 19th or 23rd for Eucharist. Dates for the Sacraments are still being determined. 1st Reconciliation generally is early December. 1st Eucharist generally is several weeks after Easter.
Confirmation for 2017-2018
Parents of students who will be preparing for Confirmation next year will have a parent meeting on October 8th. The date for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation is determined by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I will let the parents know as soon as I know the date.
A summer vacation Bible camp opportunity at nearby St. Boniface Parish – W204N11968 Goldendale Rd., Germantown.
30+ FUN SUMMER IDEAS FOR PRE-TEENS, TEENS AND THEIR PARENTS
1. Go to a jump park. There are new “parks” in Menomonee Falls and Grafton.
2. Go roller skating. There are roller rinks in West Bend and Cedarburg .
3. Go roller blading. Skate around your neighborhood or load up the skates, pads, and helmets and go to an area park to enjoy God’s creation!
4. Head to an indoor rock climbing center. They are opening up around us.
5. Take a class – art, cooking, pottery, archery, gun safety – whatever interests you and you teen(s) share or want to learn that might be fun exploring together.
6. Start a family book club. Find several books that you all will enjoy and have your family book club. Keep them reading all summer – it will help them come fall!
7. Start a family movie club. Find movies at second run theaters, rent or stream movies you can enjoy together and then talk about them. Many movies have discussion guides that can be found online!
8. Go out for ice cream. Take scheduled breaks if need be!
9. Make homemade ice cream or ice pops. You can find lots of recipes online!
10. Go camping – even if it is in your backyard or at Pike Lake.
11. Go swimming as a family. Make use of the new Veteran’ s Pool, or travel to Slinger Pond, Regner Park, or another community pool.
12. Take a hike or nature walk. Use the trails at Pike Lake, Heritage Hills County Park near Slinger, Polk Kames State Ice Age Trail between Slinger and the east side of Cedar Lake. These are several close by. Include trying to identify trees and/or plants.
13. Do a Service Project. Pick a project the whole family can do together. Before beginning, discuss the project and what everyone thinks about the situation and its cause. Discuss again when the project is completed. What things in society need to be changed to help or to eliminate what causes the problem?
14. Go to an amusement park. Six Flags might be expensive, but Bay Beach in Green Bay is VERY family friendly in their pricing – and there is no entrance fee!!
15. Combine Bay Beach with a visit to Lambeau! Tours are available all summer; the Packer Hall of Fame is impressive. During training camp find out about how you might be involved in having a player ride your bike to the training field ! Picture opportunities are plentiful, there are also opportunities to get autographs – bring your Football Cards or a Packer helmet or mini-helmet and a Sharpie!
16. Start a family fitness routine. It could even be walking every night after supper!
17. Go Geocaching. Use Google to find the many, many geocaching areas near us!
18. Start a journal together. A shared journal might be fun to get everyone’s perspective on family activities or just general day-to-day life! Sometimes it is easier for kids to say something in a journal than in person.
19. Go on a shopping adventure. This can be fun even if you don’t buy things! Try on silly hats or masks and take pictures on your phone or share photos of what you might buy someone if you had the money. It will make them smile knowing that you are thinking of them!
20. Go thrift store shopping. Check out St. Vincent de Paul stores in other towns. The items are inexpensive and you are helping the mission of a great Catholic organization.
21. Have a movie or TV series marathon. This is especially fun if you have a favorite movie, or TV, series. Make popcorn and/or pizza and watch them all in order.
22. Play laser tag or Paint Ball. Use Google to find locations.
23. Make a special breakfast together with and for the family! Or , go out to breakfast.
24. Play Frisbee, or perhaps learn and play Frisbee Golf. Use Google to find Frisbee Golf Courses near us.
25. Find and head to a Go Kart track.
26. Try horseback riding. There are riding stables in the area – try Google!
27. Have a video game marathon. There are many non -violent, family-friendly games for the whole family.
28. Go to a Timber Rattlers game in Appleton, a Beloit Snappers game in Beloit, a Chinooks game in Mequon, or a Madison Mallards game in Madison. All are very family-friendly and much less expensive than a Brewers family outing!
29. Play fun games in your yard, like badminton, volleyball, croquet, bean bag toss , or corn-hole/bags. Maybe make up a family tournament.
30. Have a water gun or water balloon fight. You’re never too old for this!
31. Go bike riding around town. Or, load up the bikes and ride a bike path.
32. Be a “visitor” in your own town, county, or area. Visit spots that you have never been to. Have you seen the local Auto Museum, the County Historical Society, the Domes, the Milwaukee County Zoo, or the Milwaukee Public Museum?
33. Pray the Rosary as a family. There are many resources on-line that will explain how to pray the Rosary. This is a great skill to pass on to your children!
34. Host a sleepover. Okay, maybe this is something you do not really want to do with them, but it just might get you “cool parent” points!
35. Take advantage of the City Library’s summer reading programs and other activities.
36. Google is your friend! Google Catholic family summer ideas - lots of ideas pop up!
SUMMER READING IDEAS
The website ala.org is run by Librarians. Check out the Youth Media Awards section. There you
will find Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, and
Printz Award winners, along
with many other literary award winners. The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for books that exemplify literary excellence in young adult literature.
thereadingwarehouse.com is a website that contains books at a reduced price. They have a recommendation section based on age. They also have Scholastic Weekly Readers for summertime and Summer Bridge Activities, the #1 teacher recommended series to help stop summer learning loss.
bookoutlet.com has bargain books at read-iculously low prices every day. They have kids, fiction, cooking, young adult and so much more!
aquinasandmore.com has books for children, teens, and adults on Saints, fiction, literature, church documents, etc.
brandonvogt.com/best-catholic-books-of-all-time is a blog list composed by the Content Director of Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.
Footsteps
“Walk a little slower, Daddy,” Said a child so small.
“I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very
fast, Sometimes they’re hard to see, So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.
Someday when I am all grown up,
You’re what I want to be, Then I will have a little child Who will want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true, So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you.”
-Author Unknown
Summer
Prayer Creator of all, thank You for summer! Thank You for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight. Thank You for the beauty I see all around me and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation. Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family, and for the more casual pace of the summer season. Draw me closer to You this summer. Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing. Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence, and light my path with Your Word and Counsel. As I enjoy Your creation, create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You. Amen.
Baccalaureate Mass
All graduating High School Seniors who are members of St. Kilian and St. John Congregations are invited to attend the 4:30 pm Mass on Saturday, June 10th. Please meet in the Gathering Space at 4:15 pm wearing your graduation gown and any tassels, stoles, etc. (no caps). Graduates will process in at the beginning of Mass and will have reserved seating.
An appetizer reception will follow Mass in the Gathering Space sponsored by the Confirmation students and parents. Everyone attending Mass will be invited to stay and celebrate with our graduates. (Confirmation parents are the hosts of the appetizer reception.)
REMINDER
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee recommends and St. Kilian requires, at least one year of religious formation prior to a student preparing for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Students in their first year of Religious Education during the 2017-2018 year will receive First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in the 2018-2019 year. The Archdiocese recommends and St. Kilian requires participation and attendance in Grades 9 and 10 Religious Education prior to the direct preparation for Confirmation in Grade 11. *NOTE* - This does not apply to Catholic High School students, contact the DRE.
CONFIRMATION
One large group picture will be taken following Mass. All young adults receiving Confirmation need to be on the picture as it is placed in the parish archives. Envelopes to order pictures were sent. Parents can take their own pictures after the photographer has taken the group picture. Please wait until the photographer has finished, as other camera flashing affects the quality of the picture.
The Religious Education website is
http://www.stkiliancong.org/religious-ed/