Monthly Parent E-Newsletter

Parenting E-Newsletter

September  2010                   Volume 7, Number 9

Please register your child for Faith Formation classes for 2010-2011!

First Communion Orientation

Parents of eligible children are invited to a First Communion Orientation on Monday, September 13 at 7:00 pm.  A child is eligible for First Communion if they are in second grade, have been Baptized in the Catholic Church, and have attended previous religious education.  This meeting is for parents only.  At this gathering, parents will be informed of class requirements, schedule of all meetings, and the date of First Reconciliation and First Communion.  This year we will be trying a completely different approach to textbooks!  You can learn more about the First Communion program at the parish web site at http://www.catholicgators.com/first-communion.

High School Confirmation

High School Confirmation at St. Augustine is for teens in grades 10, 11 and 12.  To be eligible they must have been baptized Catholic, received their First Communion, and have participated in religious education.  A parent orientation meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 20 at 7:00 pm in Hurley Hall.  At that time, I will orient the parents regarding the requirements of the program, the complete schedule of meetings, and necessary documentation.  You can learn more about this program at the parish web site at http://www.catholicgators.com/high-school-confirmation.

Parish Nursery

As many of you are aware the Parish Nursery has been closed due to budgetary problems.  With the recent reorganization, it has been decided there are not enough funds to any longer pay UF students to staff a parish nursery.  The plan is to reorganize the nursery as a co-operative.   As of this point forward, the responsibility for the parish nursery is being transferred from Tom Rinkoski to Gail Fitzsimmons-Welker who is on the Director of Stewardship.  As of this writing, I do not know a probably start-up date for nursery services.  You can contact Gail at the parish office at (352) 372.3533, extension 134 or you can e-mail her at stewardship@staugustine.cfcoxmail.com.

CYA – High School Youth Ministry

In the recent reorganization of staff responsibilities, programs have been added, shifted and others dropped.  I regret to report that High School Youth Ministry (known at St. Augustine as CYA) is being dropped.  While we will continue to offer High School Confirmation preparation here, we will no longer offer the regular Sunday night CYA program that has been a part of the Faith Formation Department.  We are encouraging our high school youth to participate in youth ministry programs at our neighbor Holy Faith Church.  Their group also meets on Sunday nights at 7:00 pm.  The person to contact at Holy Faith is TiAnna Alford who serves as their Youth Minister.  You can learn more about their youth ministry programs at http://www.holyfaithchurch.org/MinistryDetails.aspx?id=37.

Protecting God’s Children Training

The Diocese of St. Augustine mandates that all people who work with vulnerable populations participate in a Safe Environment Training as proscribed by the Diocese.  This training is offered at St. Augustine Church by Tom Rinkoski several times in the fall.  In September, it will be offered on Thursday, September 9 at 6:30 pm, Saturday, September 18 at 9:30 am, and Wednesday, September 22 at 6:30 pm.  To register to attend go to www.virtus.org and follow the prompts.

Faith Formation Programs @ St. Augustine

Sunday Morning Faith Formation: Grades K – 5

• Register your family NOW!
• St. Augustine Church sponsors a Sunday Morning Family Faith Formation program for parents with children in grades K – 5 (inclusive).  This program is held on Sunday mornings from 10:30 am till about 12:30 am. As we discussed this past year we will be adding some time to the program.  The parents have a meeting in the Parish Lounge, while the children meet in Hurley Hall.  Families are encouraged to attend the 9:00 am Mass and join us right after.
• The opening session will be Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 10:30 am in the Parish Lounge!
• This program is taught by UF student volunteers under the guidance of our parish Director of Faith Formation.
• We use textbooks published by RCL (Resources for Christian Living) which are approved by the Bishops of the United States.
• Check it out on line at http://www.catholicgators.com/k5-faith-formation.  You can see pictures, register on-line, see the complete calendar and find a list of frequently asked questions (and answers).

First Communion Preparation

• Register your family – NOW!
• Our parish First Communion Preparation program is for families with children in grade 2 and above.  In order to participate, these children will have been baptized in the Catholic Church.  The program includes mandatory meetings for the parents and children.  In the fall semester, we prepare for the sacrament of Reconciliation, and in the spring semester for First Communion.
• These children’s classes are led by UF student volunteer teachers, and the parents meet with the parish Director of Faith Formation.
• The opening session will be Monday, October 4 at 6:30 pm in Hurley Hall.
• Check out all the information at http://www.catholicgators.com/first-communion.  You can see some pictures, see all the meetings dates for the program, and register on-line.

Middle School Religious Education

• The parish sponsors a religious education program for middle school students on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30 pm in Hurley Hall.
• A Parent Orientation Session will be sponsored on Wednesday, September 29 at 7:00 pm in Hurley Hall.  This meeting is for parents only.  The opening session for the teens is Wednesday, October 6.
• This program is taught by a team of UF volunteers and the parish Director of Faith Formation.
• The schedule and application form for the 2010-2011 year is posted on-line at the parish web site at http://www.catholicgators.com/Middle%20School%20Religious%20Education.  There are even pictures from previous years!
• Register your teen – NOW!

High School Confirmation

• This program of preparation is open to all High School Students in grades 10, 11 or 12 in academic year 2010-2011.  In order to be eligible, they must be baptized in the Catholic Church and have received their First Communion.
• There will be a parent orientation meeting for this program on Monday evening, September 20, 2010 at 7:00 pm in Hurley Hall.
• Register NOW!
• The opening meeting for this program is Monday, October 11 at 7:00 pm in Hurley Hall.
• All information for this program is available on-line at http://www.catholicgators.com/high-school-confirmation.  There you can read the schedule of meetings for the entire year, register for the program on-line, and see pictures of former classes.

The Knots Prayer

Dear God, please untie the knots

That are in my mind, my heart and my life.

Remove the have nots

The can nots and the do nots

That I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots, the may nots and the will nots

That find a home in my heart,

Release me from would nots, could nots and should nots

That obstruct my life.

And, most of all, dear God, I ask

I ask that you remove from my mind , my heart and my life

All the ‘am nots’ that I have allowed to hold me back,

Especially the thought that I am not good enough.

Amen