RE Teachers Needed

We are still in need of volunteers to teach Religious Education classes in the following sessions:

Sunday Family A (begins Sept. 23):  grade K, 1, & 2 and teacher/aide for grade 6 & 7.

Sunday Family B (begins Sept. 30):  grade K & 3

Wednesday 6:30 p.m. (begins Sept. 26):  grade 1

Co-teachers and aides needed in various sessions & grades

If you can help, email Ellen Ward at ward@stfrancisa2.org or call 734-821-2132.

Confirmation Meeting (for 8th grade) September 16 & 19

Confirmation Meeting September 16 & 19 for Spring 2013 Candidates (8th grade or High School), Parents, and Sponsors

Preparation for the  Sacrament of Confirmation normally begins in the 7th grade and is celebrated in the eighth grade at St. Francis.  The preparation meeting for 8th grade students, (or High School), their parents, and sponsors (if available) is scheduled for (please plan on attending one of these meetings with your child):

Sunday, September 16 at 3 p.m.
or Wednesday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m.
in the Parish Activities Center (PAC)

This parent and student meeting will review the requirements for Confirmation, provide Confirmation preparation materials, including the “Celebrating our Faith” Confirmation book, and present information on completion of the book.  If your youth’s sponsor is able to attend the meeting, please invite and encourage them to come along with you and your son or daughter.

Retreats (Oct. 19-21 and Nov. 16-18)
The retreat experience is a key part of the preparation for Confirmation.  We are again fortunate to be able to schedule overnight weekend retreats at Bethany House in DeWitt.  Modeled after a well-rounded youth ministry program, the retreats are scheduled for the weekends of October 19-21 and Nov. 16-18 and will allow for a fuller experience of faith and relationships of trust with God and with one another.  The focus of the retreats is the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Retreat forms are available on-line (Please refer to your email or call 734-821-2130 or email ward@stfrancisa2.org for the password to use the on-line form) and from the Religious Education Office.  Retreat forms are due by September 19.  Please register early to ensure space in the weekend of your choosing.

Questions?  Please contact Ellen Ward at ward@stfrancisa2.org or 821-2132.

2013 Confirmation Date: Sunday, April 21 at 2 p.m.

We just received word from the diocese that the date for the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation for St. Francis of Assisi Parish is Sunday, April 21 at 2 p.m. (church).

Children's Liturgy of the Word Begins Sunday, August 26

The Children’s Liturgy of the Word begins Sunday, August 26 at the 8:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses (and will run every Sunday, except May 5, through June 30)

The Children’s Liturgy of the Word is designed for children in grades K-3. At the time of the scripture readings in church, Father calls the children forward to the altar.
The children then follow the adult leaders to the chapel, located in the basement of the church. In the chapel, the children hear the readings proclaimed and explained to them at a child’s level. At the time of the offertory, the children are brought back up to church and return to their parents. No pre-registration is necessary.

 Also, thank you to Sara Huige for her years of service and welcome to Joan Desjarlais, our new Children’s Liturgy of the Word coordinator.

To volunteer or for more information on the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, please contact Joan Desjarlais at jdesjarlais106@yahoo.com or email stfreled@stfrancisa2.org or call the RE office at 821-2130.

Enjoy a Slideshow of VBS 2012

Enjoy a slideshow of VBS 2012:

Thank You VBS Families!

Thank you to all those who volunteered to help make VBS a delightful and faith-filled week for the children!

Happy Summer to all the VBS families!

A slideshow of pictures will be posted soon!

VBS Special & Playground Toy Collection

If your plans include attending the 8:45 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Masses this Sunday, July 22, then after Mass, stop by the Parish Activities Center (PAC) for a VBS special of donuts, fruit & cream, and coffee & juice.

Also, this weekend is the collection of playground toys to help the children of St. Louis Center.  If you are able, please purchase some of the toys from the list below and bring them up at the time of the offertory (when Father calls for the canned food), and place them in or near the basket by the altar in the front of the church.  Thank you so much!

Play Toys (to be brought up during the offertory at Mass the weekend of July 21/22) include:

sidewalk chalk                                                        
pop-up soccer nets
plastic sand trucks (durable)                                    
basketballs
sand toys (durable)                                                 
butterfly nets
Sprinklers bug 'houses'
playground balls
other fun playground toys

(For more information on the playground collection, please go to http://www.stfrancisa2.com/religious-education/vacation-bible-school and scroll towards the bottom of the page).