SCofA Office of Faith Formation Newsletter

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1 SCofA Office of Faith Formation Newsletter WEEK OF DECEMBER 3, 2012 Office of Faith Formation Hours During sessions and by appt. only Sunday 10 am 11 am St. Clare of Assisi will have an Advent Communal Penance Celebration in Gibbstown church on December 10 th at 7 p.m. A Communal Service brings the community together to reflect on the scripture, pray for God s mercy and for one another and celebrate God s forgiveness and love. Individual confession is part of the experience. The whole parish is encouraged to participate in preparation for Christmas. There will be additional Priests to assist our Priest at this service. Monday 5 pm 7:30 pm Tuesday 6:30 pm 7:30 pm Phone # Office is closed on Fridays Confessions will also, on Saturday, December 15 th after the 9 a.m. Mass in Swedesboro and at 3:30 p.m. before the 4:30 p.m. Mass in Gibbstown. Confessions available at other local Parishes for Advent St. Gabriel, Carney s Point, NJ, Penance Service on Thursday, December 6 th at 7 p.m. Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, Mullica Hill, NJ Tuesday, December 11 th, 7:30 p.m. Incarnation, Mantua, NJ Wednesday, December 19 th from 4 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, December 22 nd from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sacrament Corner Confirmation Level One Applications - Applications are available on the website and s have been sent out to all that are eligible to apply. Deadline is Tuesday, December 4th. First Reconcilitation - The second preparation class will be held on December 9th in the Swedesboro School Building for CS, DS, DP & ASREP students.. Those who came to the 11/13 preparation class may now complete Chapter 4 at home. The lesson plan was given to you during the prep class. Please make sure to complete this lesson within the next few weeks and to do a review of the first four chapters before the First Reconciliation Retreat on January 12th. If you should have any questions please contact the x101 or by faithformation@stclareofassisiparish.org The Feast of the Immaculate Conception On December 8 th, we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is a holyday of obligation and Mary by this title is the patroness of the United States. The sinlessness of Mary has been held in the Church from the beginning of Christianity. Rooted in Scripture, found in the Hail Mary, seen in writings of the Middle Ages and accepted as a dogma of faith in 1854, the Church sees this truth as a reminder that God has always planned and been present to us throughout history. He prepared Mary, and graced Mary with salvation and life from the beginning of time. There will be a Vigil Mass in Gibbstown on December 7 th at 7 p.m. and a 9 a.m. Mass in Swedesboro in honor of Mary, Our Blessed Mother. Page 2 Parish News OFF Facebook Page Page 4 & 5 All about the First Sunday and First Week of NEW IMPORTANT: St. Clare On the Alert~ Advent Parish Advent Gathering a Success! Page 6 Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration Page 3 GARS News ADVENT WREATH From Sister Marty Camden Diocese Info Catholic Outreach Info CAP Info

2 The Office of Faith Formation is now on FACE- BOOK! Not only do we have our St. Clare of Assisi Office of Faith Formation website where all information is posted about sacraments etc. but now you can Like us on Facebook! Scan the QR code below and when you open up your Facebook page and we have posted something you will see it in your News Feed! This can be really convenient when something important is happening in the parish that you should know! If you do not have an app for scanning, search St. Clare Parish Faith Formation and hit like and we will be saved in your like pages list. This page is read-only. Nothing can be posted or messaged through this site. Check it out! Links to : Camden Diocese website, the Guardian Angels Regional School website & Facebook page, St. Clare of Assisi Parish website, St. Clare Religious Education web site and the St. Clare Parish Facebook page! Also information on things happening in the parish, Sacrament information and updates, service opportunities, Faith Formation events and ideas for adults and things of interest to all Catholics. Week of December 3, 2012 Page 2 GLOUCESTER COUNTY ALERT Wonderful news! St. Clare of Assisi Parish is now registered with Gloucester Alert. What do you need to do?? Go to and register your address and cell phone number and begin receiving emergency alerts. Please make sure to join St. Clare Parish Group in the dropdown box. Going forward there will be no more mass phone calls since we have this new alert system which is FREE to use. This is a great means of immediate communication for the entire parish and more specifically the Religious Education Program, and the need for such was experienced during our recent lockdown in Swedesboro. FACEBOOK Have you liked us yet??? KYW NEWS In addition, parents with children in religious education know through our handbook etc. that we post our class closings throu KYW NEWS and that this information can be obtained on KYWW s website or by calling. The information is also posted as a scrolling banner on CBS 3 and The CW Philly stations. Just use our School number You can also register with KYW to receive text alerts for closings. Sign up at CBSPhilly.com/mobile and click on the School Closings link. ST. CLARE PARISH NEWS ADVENT CHRISTMAS CAROL PARISH CELEBRATION- Over 200 parishioners gathered in the Swedesboro Campus parish hall to pray, sing Christmas carols, share family traditions and enjoy home made cookies and cider. Advent calendars and Advent wreath kits were provided to each family to take home. Las Posadas is a nine-day celebra tion lasting from December 16 to Christmas Eve (Noche Buena or "Holy Night") and includes a candle-lit procession of children and parents reenacting Mary and Joseph's journey through Bethlehem. Father Renee Canales read the Gospel during the prayer service and St. Clare s pastor, Father Dave Grover sent everyone home with a beautiful blessing. Approximately twenty middle school children from the parish made the most of this fun service opportunity by handing out programs, serving refreshments, and lending their voices in song. Here they are shown listening to members of St. Clare s Hispanic community, who presented a lovely musical tradition, Las Posadas. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the day s success! This is the second year that the Christmas Carol event was held at St. Clare parish. Another is planned for next year s Advent season. Don t miss it!

3 more St. Clare Parish News... Page 3 Guardian Angels Regional School We wish you and your family a Blessed Advent Season The Guardian Angels Regional School community would like to wish you and your family a blessed Advent season as we prepare for Jesus birth. We invite you to join as we celebrate this beautiful season with our 1 st -8 th grade Christmas program on Wednesday, December 12 7pm at Paulsboro High School and our Pre-K & Kindergarten Christmas program on Tuesday, December 18 6:30pm in St. Michael s Church of St. Clare of Assisi Parish. CAMDEN DIOCESE NEWS Please Join Us in Celebrating the Year of Faith Presenter: Rev. Joseph Capella Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lindenwold NJ Heeding the call of our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, the Franciscan Missionaries Sisters of the Infant Jesus invite you to join us in celebrating this Year of Faith. Throughout this year, the FMIJ community will host a variety of events that will help to deepen and renew faith, hope and love as we answer the call to be disciples in our world. Walk with us through the door of our faith in order to see our neighbor in the face of our God and to see our God in the face of our neighbor that awaits us. Renewing our Relationship with Jesus and His Church WHEN: Thursdays, December 13th WHERE: Mother Mary Joseph Center of Hospitality 1215 Kresson Road,Cherry Hill, N.J TIME: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. COST: Free will offering by participants To register, please call: Sr. Angela Pia Camillotti, or or at mmjhospitality@yahoo.com CHILD ASSAULT PREVENTION - sessions (CAP - safe environment training program for adults) attendance is mandatory for anyone who has regular contact with minors. If you are a volunteer for St. Clare Parish having regular contact with minors and need to fulfill this requirement, contact the Office of Faith Formation for assistance. CAP 1 must be taken before CAP 2 CAP Phase 1 Thursday, December 6, 2012, 7:00pm, St. Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, School Gym Wednesday, December 12, 2012, 7:00pm, St. Teresa Regional School, Runnemede, School Hall To attend one of these classes, please call the CAP registration line in the Office of Safe Environment for Children, Youth and Adults at (856) or ddiggons@camdendiocese.org to register. Please register at least five days before the session you would like to attend. In case of inclement weather please call the location of the CAP session you are attending. The Meaning of the Advent Wreath By: Sr. Marty Gentilini, SSJ Pastoral Assistant ADVENT WREATH The Meaning of the Advent Wreath Obscure in origin it is believed that the Advent Wreath may have had its beginnings in the pagan fire wheel. In Christian symbolism the wheel or wreath stands for eternity. Its use is especially fitting during Advent the season of the anticipation of the coming of our Lord. Children love the beauty of the simple traditional ceremony. Lighting candles in an Advent Wreath is a simple way to start a tradition of family worship in the home. Those who participate will cherish the experience all their lives. The Advent Wreath Ceremony The ceremony is simple. It starts at the evening meal on the Saturday before the first Sunday in Advent with the blessing of the wreath. December 2 nd, we begin the New Liturgical Year and Advent. A common custom of Advent in homes is the Advent Wreath. This is a concrete way to express our longing for Christmas and see the progression of Time. [On the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent, the family gathers around the wreath decorated with greens. One candle should be lit.] Leader: We gather around our wreath to begin the celebration of Advent. Let us ask our Father in heaven to fill our hearts with grace. Silent pause for prayer Leader: Heavenly Father, we look forward to the celebration of Christmas and to the coming of the Lord in glory. Bless this Advent wreath and all of us. As we pray daily around it, fill us with your life and strengthen us for our daily tasks. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. Leader: Heavenly Father, as we begin this Advent, give light to our eyes and peace to our hearts. May the Lord find us watching and waiting in joy when He comes. We pray in Jesus name. All: Amen. Please don t forget our folks that have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Donations are still being accepted to aid our seaside neighbors whose homes have been destroyed. Hurricane Relief c/o Catholic Charities Diocese of Camden 1845 Haddon Ave. Camden, NJ 08103

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6 Page 6 Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish Saint Clare of Assisi Parish Feast of Lady of Guadalupe Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Day: 12/12/ 2012 / Time: 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Location: Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish (Corpus Christi Church) 369 Georgetown RD Carneys Point, NJ Program 5:00 p.m. Procession From parking lot to interception of Golfwood and Georgetown Rd and Back). 6:00 p.m. Mass with the presence of our priests: Fr. Paul Harte, Fr. Robert Ngageno, Fr. Dave Grover, Fr. Grace Manano, Fr. Rene Canales and our Deacons and Religious of our area. 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Light refreshments at Msgr. Rocco Hall, Corpus Christi.