Help Kids Embrace People s Differences

Transcription

1 August 2017 St. Kilian Congregation 428 Forest Street Hartford, WI Dennis Vlasak, DRE ext. 406 Attendance ext. 307 Help Kids Embrace People s Differences POWERSOURCE ASK GOD: 1. To give your children a loving, accepting spirit toward all people. 2. To help you and your kids look beyond appearances to see people s hearts. 3. To help your family live out Christ-like compassion daily. As a parent, you likely teach your children to love and accept all people. This directive becomes more challenging for kids when y begin school and meet classmates with various abilities, skin colors, cultural backgrounds, and religious beliefs. Children are often unsure how to interact with people who look and act differently from m. Young kids may be fearful, while preteens may resort to name-calling. It s important to discuss topic in age-appropriate ways, emphasizing how Jesus loves everyone and wants us to do same. Follow se tips: Acknowledge differences children notice in people. Answer questions honestly and factually. Brushing over inquiries may send message that re s something wrong with a person. Let kids explore ir differences. Allow m to interact with peers from or cultures. Discuss or religious beliefs, while emphasizing that re s only one true God. Encourage children to look for positive qualities in people. Focus on what makes each person special and unique. Kids who feel secure are less likely to feel prejudice toward ors. Model love and acceptance. Through your actions, show children how to respect differences. As your role model, use Jesus, who befriended society s outsiders and outcasts.

2 Valuing Our Varied World When children enter school, y re often exposed to bullying, racism, and or forms of teasing or discrimination. They need to hear that God created a wide range of people with different skills and interests to add variety to his world. Start a conversation with your children using se questions: How are your friends or classmates alike? How are y different? What have you learned from people who are different from you? If everyone looked and acted same way, what would life be like? How does it feel to be judged based on what you look like? When we judge someone by appearance, what do we miss? What are some ways we can show love to people who are different from us? TEACHABLE MOMENTS Building Kindness Have family members spread out at least an arm s length from each or. Give m each eight building blocks. Say: Quickly build a tower with six of your blocks. (Allow time.) Now stand by your tower and use your two extra blocks to knock down or towers. You can protect your tower, but you have only 10 seconds. Go! Then ask: How did it feel to have or people tear down your tower? How does it feel when or people tear you down with ir words or actions? Read aloud Ephesians 4:29. Say: When people are unkind, it tears down or people s feelings. But Jesus calls us to build each or up through love and kindness. Ask: What are some things you can say and do to build up or people? For each answer, have family members pick up a block and add it to a tower. Close in prayer, asking Jesus to help you build up ors with kindness. Expanded Horizons Choose books, shows, games, and toys featuring a range of ethnicities. Read about children and adults who deal with physical and mental challenges, and discuss how y deal with or try to overcome m. Meet and Greet Invite someone with a different cultural background to your house. At dinner, have him or her share customs, traditions, and stories. Also ask people who might normally feel left out to join you on family outings; for example, single parents and ir children, kids from less-privileged backgrounds, and so on. Common Ground When children point out people s differences, have m help you brainstorm ways that everyone is alike (we re all God s children, we all have feelings, and so on). Kindness Croquet Set up a croquet course, using family members and friends as wickets. Say: The goal is to show kindness and to help everyone win. As someone kicks a ball (of any kind) toward a wicket, that wicket should move to let ball go through, if possible. Remind players to show kindness through words and actions. Give everyone a chance to play and to be a wicket. Afterward, read aloud 1 Corinthians 13:4a, and discuss how we show love to ors by being kind to m. Crowd Around Tape toger four different-colored squares of paper to form a large game board. Read aloud 1 John 4:7-12. Say: Jesus says we are to love one anor because love comes from God. Let s play a game and show love. Shout out color of one square. Have everyone stand on it and perform a loving act; for example, red is Give high fives, yellow is Tell each or what you like about m, green is Give two people a shoulder rub, and blue is Shake someone s hand and say, Jesus loves you, and so do I. Breezy Kind Time Draw or tape a smiley face on an old sheet. Have family members stand in a circle and hold sheet with both hands. Play music while passing sheet hand-to-hand in a circle. Stop music; have whoever is closest to face sit under sheet in middle of circle. Everyone else should wave sheet, creating a gentle breeze, and take turns saying kind things about person. Play until everyone gets to be in middle. Clo yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience Above all, clo yourselves with love, which binds us all toger in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12, 14

3 MEDIA MADNESS MOVIE Title: Leap! Genre: Animation, adventure, comedy Rating: PG Cast: Elle Fanning, Nat Wolff, Carly Rae Jepsen, Mel Brooks Synopsis: Félicie, a poor 11-year-old who dreams of being a ballerina, runs away from an orphanage with her best friend, Victor, an aspiring inventor. The two head to Paris, where y become separated. By assuming anor girl s identity, Félicie enters a prestigious ballet school and begins training. Our Take: This movie, which released last year in Europe under title Ballerina, emphasizes determination, courage, and hard work, but doesn t shy from tension and challenging situations. Discuss with kids what s needed to turn a dream into reality. Games, Sites & Apps Yooka-Laylee This 3-D platform game (rated E10+) was named one of 2017 s most exciting familyfriendly titles. The main characters are a bat and chameleon, and play includes exploring worlds, unlocking secrets, and solving puzzles. Players can overcome obstacles at ir own speed. WhatsInside.it Far-son duo Dan and Lincoln Markham became a YouTube sensation by cutting open random objects. Each week, almost 5 million curious people tune in to see destructive pursuits performed with safety gear. As website s tagline notes, We cut stuff open so you don t have to! BOOK Title: The Bad Guys Author: Aaron Blabey Synopsis: This series, aimed at kids ages 7 to 10, will have four books released by end of summer. Boys especially previously reluctant readers are devouring se graphicnovel hybrids. In books, a group of typical bad guys undertakes silly missions that turn out to be good missions. Our Take: These fun stories get kids and ir parents laughing, and it s great that books are attracting children who don t usually care to read. Expect some off-color humor, at times, along lines of Captain Underpants series. But se books are backed by reputable Scholastic Paperbacks, winner of many awards. Pango Build Park This interactive app, available for both iphone and Android, lets kids create ir own fun attractions or select from nine pre-made worlds. Young builders can customize to ir heart s content, with no rules, timers, or scores. The app is for ages 3 and up. No reading is required. CULTURE & TRENDS Non-Mean Memes The Internet may be becoming a bit kinder and gentler, thanks to a wave of more wholesome memes. In response to recent negativity in society, people have been creating messages of hope and empowerment. We don t have to be angry all time, says Reddit CEO Steve Huffman. (time.com) Treats That Bite Back The sweet heat food trend is extending to candy. Skittles and Starburst, for example, are incorporating a spicy kick to some flavors. In fact, food-trend experts have declared spicy new sour. (foodbusinessnews.net) QUICK STATS Refugee Relief Six million Syrian children now rely on humanitarian aid for survival. Their plight prompted a California mom to launch Operation Refugee Child, sending thousands of filled backpacks each with a personalized letter to young refugees in Greece and Jordan. (unicef.org; operationrefugeechild.org) Time Out Children with special needs might be disproportionately disciplined in schools. A study in Texas reveals that although only about 9% of elementary students re receive special services, y account for 22% of out-of-school suspensions. (dallasnews.com) This page is designed to help educate parents and isn t meant to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our prayer is that you ll make informed decisions about what your children watch, read, listen to, and play.

4 August, 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY St. Alphonus Liguori St. John Vianney 11 Dedication of Basilica of St. Mary Major 12 The Transfiguration of Lord th Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Maximilian Kolbe 21 St. Dominic 15 The Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Day of Obligation 22 St. Lawrence St. Clare th Sunday in Ordinary Time st Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Pius X 28 St. Augustine The Queenship of Blessed Virgin Mary 29 The Passion of St. John Baptist St. Bartholomew RE Registration forms are due today!! RE classes start on Sunday, September 10 th!

5 3) Does that mean it is an ex cadra statement and that we have to believe it? Yes. Since it is a dogma defined by pope (rar than by an ecumenical council, for example), it is also an ex cadra statement (delivered from chair of Peter). The Assumption of Mary: 9 Things to Know and Share August 15th is solemnity of Assumption of Mary. In United States, it is a holy day of obligation. 1) What is Assumption of Mary? The Assumption of Mary is teaching that: The Immaculate Mor of God, ever Virgin Mary, having completed course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory [Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus 44]. 4) Does dogma require us to believe that Mary died? It is common teaching that Mary did die. In his work, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Ludwig Ott lists this teaching as sententia communior (Latin, more common opinion ). Although it is common understanding that Mary did die, and although her death is referred to in some of sources Pius XII cited in Munificentissimus Deus, he deliberately refrained from defining this as a truth of faith. John Paul II noted: On November 1, 1950, in defining dogma of Assumption, Pius XII avoided using term "resurrection" and did not take a position on question of Blessed Virgin s death as a truth of faith. The Bull Munificentissimus Deus limits itself to affirming elevation of Mary s body to heavenly glory, declaring this truth a "divinely revealed dogma." 5) Why should Mary die if she was free from Original Sin and its stain? 2) What level of authority does this teaching have? This teaching was infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950 in bull Munificentissimus Deus (Latin, Most Bountiful God ). {A papal bull is a specific kind of public decree, letters, patent, or charter issued by a pope of Roman Catholic Church. It is named after leaden seal (bulla) that was traditionally appended to end in order to aunticate it.} This means that it is a dogma in proper sense. It is thus a matter of faith that has been divinely revealed by God and that has been infallibly proposed by Magisterium of Church as such. Being free of Original Sin and its stain is not same thing as being in a glorified, deathless condition. Jesus was also free of Original Sin and its stain, but he could and did die. 6) What are earliest surviving references to Mary s Assumption? John Paul II noted: The first trace of belief in Virgin's Assumption can be found in apocryphal accounts entitled Transitus Mariae [Latin, The Crossing Over of Mary ], whose origin dates to second and third centuries.

6 7) How did Pius XII prepare for definition of Assumption? John Paul II noted: In May 1946, with Encyclical Deiparae Virginis Mariae, Pius XII called for a broad consultation, inquiring among Bishops and, through m, among clergy and People of God as to possibility and opportuneness of defining bodily assumption of Mary as a dogma of faith. The result was extremely positive: only six answers out of 1,181 showed any reservations about revealed character of this truth. 9) How can we apply this teaching to our everyday lives? According to Pope Benedict XVI: By contemplating Mary in heavenly glory, we understand that earth is not definitive homeland for us eir, and that if we live with our gaze fixed on eternal goods we will one day share in this same glory and earth will become more beautiful. Consequently, we must not lose our serenity and peace even amid thousands of daily difficulties. The luminous sign of Our Lady taken up into Heaven shines out even more brightly when sad shadows of suffering and violence seem to loom on horizon. We may be sure of it: from on high, Mary follows our footsteps with gentle concern, dispels gloom in moments of darkness and distress, and reassures us with her morly hand. Supported by awareness of this, let us continue confidently on our path of Christian commitment wherever Providence may lead us. Let us forge ahead in our lives under Mary's guidance [General Audience, August 16, 2006]. 8) What Scriptural basis is re for teaching? John Paul II noted: Although New Testament does not explicitly affirm Mary s Assumption, it offers a basis for it because it strongly emphasized Blessed Virgin's perfect union with Jesus destiny. This union, which is manifested, from time of Savior s miraculous conception, in Mor s participation in her Son s mission and especially in her association with his redemptive sacrifice, cannot fail to require a continuation after death. Perfectly united with life and saving work of Jesus, Mary shares his heavenly destiny in body and soul. There are, thus, passages in Scripture that resonate with Assumption, even though y do not spell it out. The Assumption of Mary is a popular subject in Christian art. Above is one of most famous - The Assumption of Virgin, by El Greco. It can be seen in Art Institute of Chicago.

7 Questions about Catechism: A Continuing Series 12. Does Catechism replace or catechetical documents of Church? REGISTRATION INFORMATION Registration information will be sent beginning of August to all families who were in Religious Education during year, to students who graduated from St. Kilian School, and to new families that have requested information. I will have a working online form perfected by date registration material is mailed out that will allow you to register online. Registration fees are $ per child with a maximum of $ per family. There is a $20.00 late fee for forms turned after August 31 due date. If you are aware of anyone who is new to area or of a family or individual who has children who should be attending Religious Education Classes, please have m call Religious Education Office, or you can contact me, and I will send an information packet to m in August. Direct any questions or concerns to Dennis Vlasak Director of Religious Education at ext. 406 or dre@stkiliancong.org. Keep up to date; be first to know! RE Website address: No. The Catechism stands beside or catechetical documents such as, Catechesi Tradendae, Evangelii Nuntiandi, General Directory for Catechesis and catechetical documents of episcopal conferences. These documents create part of context in which Catechism is received and mediated to particular circumstances of local or national Church. The Catechism is intended to be a resource for continuing renewal of catechesis and development of future catechetical materials. 13. Is Catechism simply a list of doctrinal formulations? 13. No. Is The Catechism Catechism presents simply a history Although and tradition it is translated of into list Church's of doctrinal doctrine formulations? in a complete yet summary several languages, way. It draws re is heavily from Scripture, Church Fars, only one liturgical Catechism texts for and No. lives The and Catechism writings of presents saints to illustrate whole Church. doctrinal The content. Catechism history The witness and tradition of se of sources, especially contains words what and Church example of Church's saints and doctrine scholars, in underscores a complete Church's holds and ongoing, teaches living throughout yet tradition. summary way. It draws world. It is a resource for heavily from Scripture, development of Church 14. Is this Fars, Catechism liturgical intended texts to be culturally-sensitive used "as is" in all catechisms and pluriform lives Churches and writings throughout of and world catechetical that make materials. up By saints universal to illustrate Church? doctrinal content. The witness of se its own acknowledgment, sources, especially words Catechism does not intend to Although it is translated into several languages, and example of saints and achieve this re cultural is only sensitivity one scholars, Catechism underscores for whole Church. The Catechism itself. Rar contains "such what Church's holds ongoing, and teaches living throughout indispensable world. It is adaptation, a resource for tradition. development of culturally-sensitive required catechisms by differences and catechetical of materials. By its own acknowledgment, culture, Catechism age, spiritual does not life, and 14. intend Is this to achieve Catechism this cultural intended sensitivity social itself. and Rar ecclesial "such condition to indispensable be used "as adaptation, is" in all required by differences among God's of culture, people," age, belongs pluriform spiritual life, Churches and social and ecclesial condition in or among catechisms God's inspired people," by throughout belongs in or catechisms world that inspired by this this work, work, and and is is particular particular make task of up those who universal teach faith. task of those who teach Church? faith. The Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Mass Times Masses for Holy Day of Obligation will be held: Monday, August 14 th 6:30 pm at St. John Tuesday, August 15 th 8:20 am at St. Kilian

8 Catechists needed for upcoming classes Our children and youth are depending on passionate Catholics to form m in faith. If you think God may be nudging you to serve in this very rewarding ministry, call Dennis Vlasak, DRE, at ext. 406 or dre@stkiliancong.org. Dennis is glad to answer any questions you may have. 2017/18 RE St. Kilian Needs: Sunday Morning Program (10:00-11:00am) One Team-Teaching Catechist Gr. 1 One Team-Teaching Catechist Gr. 2 One Catechist for Grade 4 One Catechist for Grade 7 Sunday Evening Program (6:30-8:00pm) One Catechist for Grade 8 One Catechist for Grade 10 One Team-Teaching Catechist Gr. 10 One Catechist for Confirmation (Grade 11) We are also looking for people to be on our substitute catechists list for both Morning and Evening programs. Subs fill in when a regular catechist is sick or unable to be at class that day. Training is provided... mentors are available no one should feel inadequate in ir faith knowledge we are all on this journey toger! You're welcome just as you are. God loves you. God is waiting, ready to connect with you. Love of God, Love of Church and belief in power of Holy Spirit are only prerequisites! PLEASE, ANSWER THE CALL TODAY! ST. KILIAN ATHLETICS Attention all parents of students in Grades 5-8!! For parents of students in Grades 5-8, who wish to participate in any of our parish-based Athletic Program offerings, you are asked to fill out registration form found on Athletics portion of website here. This is especially important for our female athletes who wish to participate in volleyball this season. It is starting soon. Please, it is important to sign up as soon as possible! Here is direct address if click through link does not work: RE CLASSES All classes will be starting up again for new year on Sunday, September 10 th. Morning Program First Class Reception, Sunday, September 10! 4K - Grade 7 Parents and students will gar on Sunday, September 10 th in Cafeteria at 10:00 am. Class lists will be posted. We will be serving cookies, juice, and coffee to begin our time toger. We will have a welcome from Fr. David. Dennis will n introduce each Catechist and call forward children that are assigned to ir class. The Catechist will walk ir students to ir room for an introductory session. Parents may walk with children if desired. All parents are asked to return to cafeteria after walking children to ir class rooms, or remain in cafeteria. There will be an Informational Meeting with Dennis until 11:00 am dismissal. SPECIAL REQUEST Parents willing to provide cookies, milk, or juice for morning reception and/or to help with set up, serving, and clean up are asked to please call Dennis at ext. 406, or dre@stkiliancong.org.

9 Ordinary Time: Not So Ordinary Dr. Kathie Amidei July 6, 2017 In conversation, I mentioned liturgical season of Ordinary Time. My friend responded, That s that dead space between Easter and Advent. At that comment, I looked up and n I saw twinkle in his eye. He knew that was not how I characterize this liturgical season. marinated, so to speak, in his life, miracles and teachings. We walk through a Gospel journey deeper into paschal mystery. The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green, a color of hope and reflecting color of growth in nature. As in nature, process of maturing may not appear as a dramatic change but often is slow and sometimes imperceptible. Spiritual maturation often occurs when we allow time for reflection. There are six seasons in liturgical year, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time. We are currently in Ordinary Time. This season is divided into two phases, a four-to-eightweek span following Christmas Season and anor longer segment following Easter Season, lasting about six months (which ends at Advent). My friend s comment made me laugh but also hints at a possible perception some may have that this season of Church year is less important than or seasons. In that mindset, we can miss some real treasures of our faith embedded in readings and teachings in Ordinary Time. In Ordinary Time, we walk with Jesus through Gospels. One year it is through Matw, n Mark, n Luke, to better understand meaning of being a disciple. If we don t have context, we might wonder if we should reconsider renaming liturgical season of Ordinary Time. It might not seem right to have season that reflects on life of Christ identified by a name possibly misunderstood as unimportant. In this context, word ordinary does not mean mundane or nondescript or dull. In fact, term comes from Latin word Ordinis. It refers to time that we order or count or number. Ordinary Time means ordered time or numbered time. The readings of season take us through life of Christ, and gives us opportunity to deepen our own conversion as a follower of Christ. We learn to live more auntically as a Christian and evidence this through our everyday choices and what we prioritize in life. If we are listening to Scripture readings of Ordinary Time, we would have to say that y tell an extraordinary story. Far from unimportant, two segments of season of Ordinary Time reflect upon and celebrate mystery of Christ. Bishop Richard Malone, Bishop of Buffalo, said this is time we are Anna Quindlen in her novel One True Thing wrote about a family walking through cancer death of mor of family. The novel begins with grown daughter, reflecting after mor s death. She says, I remember last completely normal day we ever had in our lives She describes that say with appreciation and warmth. Then she goes on to say, Afterward I wondered why I hadn t loved that day more But you only know that, I suppose, after its not normal and everyday any longer. As we move through Scriptures of Ordinary Time, we can reflect on our own day-today journey in light of Christ. We are invited to a deeper walk in extraordinary call to follow Christ. This is a season to mature in our understanding of life of Christ, mystery of God, and grow in our faith as we marinate in lessons offered to us.

10 Thank you for your participation! GREETERS A New Family Ministry THE POWER OF A WARM WELCOME! A revitalization of Greeter Ministry is taking place at St. Kilian Parish! The parish will be focusing on families in Greeter Ministry. A Church Greeter is one of most important roles in Church! Greeters are first people that parishioners and visitors see. It is vitally important to be welcoming especially to our visiting guests! The greeter may assist, and care for needs of, those entering for worship. Following example of Jesus who welcomes everyone to Table, we too are called to offer hospitality and welcome to everyone in name of Lord. New this year, we are having each Religious Education student family schedule six (6) Masses where family will be greeters at doors to Garing Space or Breezeway. More about sign-up in next month s newsletter. Why is parish doing this? There are a number of reasons, but one very important reason is to have children, youth, and adults experience serving and being Christ to ors through service of hospitality and greeting or parish family members. After all, we are a faith that values community! Thank you for being a part of our family here at St. Kilian Parish and for fulfilling responsibility you assumed when you had your child or children baptized that you would be first teachers of your children in ways of faith. Helping you to be best teachers is reason that St. Kilian provides Religious Education programs for your children. We understand that life is demanding and that religious education of your children competes with many or activities in your weekly schedule. Please know that first and most important religious education tool at your disposal is weekly celebration of Mass and participation in sacramental life of Church. When you look at Ten Commandments you see that first three have to do with God keeping God first in our lives; respecting his Holy Name; and keeping holy Lord s Day [by participation at Mass] se are first because we are called to love God before anything else. Our love for ors and things of world flows from our love for God. GREETERS: THE POWER OF A WARM WELCOME! A greeter s role at parish liturgy is to greet New people this as year, y come we are into having church and welcome m into celebration each about Religious to take place. Education Great greeters are those who can put ors at ease and student convey and countless ir family good to wishes for those y greet with a simple smile or hello. schedule The six primary (6) Masses role where of ministry of greeters is to help people feel welcome family will as y be greeters gar at for Mass. 1- An Arrive open doors to Garing Space at door church and doors warm smile of greeters help set tone for Eucharistic Breezeway minutes celebration, before offering Mass hospitality in name of Lord. There are starts. a few basic responsibilities of Why greeters: is parish doing this you 1- Arrive 2- Be at available church before doors Mass 20 minutes ask? before There Mass are starts. a number of 2- Be available to open doors before and Mass to open doors reasons, and welcome but a very and important assist both regular welcome members and and assist visitors both with a smile. reason Be is to attentive, have especially children to elderly, regular offer members assistance and with wheelchairs and youth or walkers. experience being 3- Provide visitors directions with a to smile. restrooms, Be sacristy, Christ to garing ors through space kitchen, ushers, attentive, etc. especially to service of hospitality and 4- Be present elderly, at offer end assistance of Mass to open greeting doors and of assist or parish people family as y leave, with wishing wheelchairs m a or good week. members. walkers. 3- Be present at end of Mass to open doors and assist people as y leave, wishing m a good week. 4- Provide directions to sacristy, restrooms, garing space kitchen, etc.