CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS (see pages 3, 5 & 6 for event details)

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1 Dear S.A.M.S Members, Here we are, settled into the long, hot summer. Looking on the bright side, we have a delightful spring and its mild weather to look back upon, quality time with our children to enjoy in the present, and some great events within the SAMS ministry to look forward to. I've been trying to truly bask in the present recently. I know that there will be moments to cherish all along the journey of life, but my babies are going to be babies for only a blink of an eye. My 3- year-old already seems to be on the verge of her teen years. Moments that I will hold close to my heart include attending mass with visiting grand/godparents exactly one year since baptism and my girls experiencing their first movie in a theater. Granted, it was only a 14-minute butterfly documentary, but holding 3D glasses on my 15-month-old while she sat mesmerized on my lap, snacking on cereal like it was a big bucket of popcorn was a sweet little moment that I'll cherish. I'm excited to report that SAMS will be hosting a retreat in September. If you're looking for a day filled with reflection, prayer and meditation, please mark it down on your calendar. All women are welcome! It promises to be a great day to commune with friends, old and new, and also to have some quiet time for yourself. We also have several organized play dates and Mom's Night Out volunteer opportunity at Feed My Starving Children on the calendar to help fill up your summer. Safe journeys to those taking a family vacation or traveling to visit friends and extended family (in cooler climates, I hope!) And best wishes to the children and educators going back to school in the next month or two. Hope to see you at a SAMS event soon! Peace, Mary Schoellman SAMS Welcoming Chair CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS (see pages 3, 5 & 6 for event details) July 16 Mom's Night Out Feed My Starving Children and Nello's August 15 Pottery Painting Burst of Butterflies in Gilbert August 25 Mom s Night Out Perfect Pear in Tempe September 19 Women's Retreat Hennessy Hall July August September 2015

2 S.A.M.S July August September 2015 Calendar of Events Month Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Playdate at Cara Walsh's home 9:30am 3 4 Independence Day 5 6 Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Chuparosa Park/Splash Pad Playdate 9:30am 11 July Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Gospel Reflection 9:30am; 2 3 Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Mom's Night Out at Feed My Starving Children & Nello's (Mesa) 6pm; See page 6 for details Playdate at the Noffkes' home 9:30am 7 8 Aug Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Assumption of Mary Burst of Butterflies Playdate 10am Nursery Cleaning & Greeting Card Decorating 9:30am Gospel Reflection 9:30am; 25 Mom's Night Out at Perfect Pear in Tempe 7pm; See page 6 for details Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Sep Labor Day/Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Meet in nursery to discuss the Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Gospel Reflection 9:30am; Childcare Coverage in the Nursery during Reconciliation 3:30pm 4:45pm See page 3 for details Women's Retreat 9am 3:30pm See page 3 for details 22 Mom's Night Out at Zinburger in Gilbert 7pm; See page 6 for details Ride the Sky Harbor Sky Train 10am Gospel Reflection 9:30am; DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE OCT-NOV-DEC CALENDAR? PLEASE CONTACT: Erica Noffke S.A.M.S Newsletter Planning Coordinator Page 2

3 Thank you to all who provided meals to Julie Parchesky and Jose Calzadilla's family! family! Welcome, new members! Kendra Duran Brooke Ringer ~ SAVE THE DATE ~ Saturday, September 19 th 9am 3:30pm Hennessy Hall All women are welcome! Watch your and the bulletin for more details as the date approaches. Gospel Reflection Reminder Join S.A.M.S members on Monday mornings at 9:30am in the nursery to discuss the upcoming gospel while our children play. (The nursery is located just west of the main entrance to the church narthex, then past a small courtyard with a St. Francis statue and garden) Childcare Coverage for Confession Please join us in the nursery and take advantage of having a child-free confession! Saturday, September 12 3:30pm 4:45pm Thanks to the volunteers for covering the nursery! Page 3

4 Get to KNOW Get to KNOW Kendra Duran Children's Name & Ages: Aurelia (3 years), Anthony Jr. (1 year) How long have you lived in the valley? 2 months but on and off for 3 years for husband's job Favorite food or restaurant: New Mexican All-time favorite movie: The Notebook Dream Vacation: European Disney cruise! Something most people don't know about you: I grew up in a small town with one Main Street! Favorite children's book or author: Jennie Bishop's children's purity books What has having children taught you? This life is not about me! Favorite last-minute and easy dinner for your family: grilled cheese Advice you would give new moms or dads: Just know that as much as you love your kids, God loves us even more and will lead us to be the gracious parent He is; just trust and seek His face! Jessa Thomas Children's Name & Ages: Scout (2.5 years), Clementine (14 months) How long have you lived in the valley? 3 years in September Favorite food or restaurant: Chinese or Japanese food All-time favorite movie: Funny Girl Dream Vacation: Greece Something most people don't know about you: I'm 100% pure blooded American Indian (Pima, to be exact or Akimel O'Otham also known as "River People") Favorite children's book or author: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. It's just so much fun to sing anywhere! What has having children taught you? Not to be selfish (anymore) Favorite last-minute and easy dinner for your family: Indian Fry Bread. YUM! Advice you would give new moms or dads: Everything changes and you discover a new meaning to love that moment you meet them. Page 4

5 About Us: Introduction to Little Church by: Mike Noffke Little Church is currently offered from August to May during the 11am Mass. Our schedule is similar to the Chandler schools and therefore we are off for certain holidays, along with spring and summer breaks. As an option, we usually try to communicate with the parents via as to which Sundays we are available along with providing the Gospel Reading and craft information for that week. We proclaim each week s Gospel at a preschool level. We tell the Gospel stories of Jesus and his disciples through stories while using puppets and other props to act them out. We provide a unique craft each week based on the Gospel and then take a break for snack before allowing them some free play. We currently have 1 full time teacher and 2-3 helpers in the classroom. Everyone volunteering has had Safe Environment training as required by the Diocese. Parents can drop their kids off as early as 15 minutes before Mass and pick them up after Mass is finished. Requirements: Any preschoolers between the ages of 3-5 can attend Little Church as long as they are potty trained. Parents of Kindergartners and older grades are asked to send their kids to the Children s Liturgy which is announced during Mass and provided in a separate room. Registration: Registration forms are required to ensure there is space available for your child and a $10 per year donation is requested to help cover the expense of craft materials. In August, we provide an open house to allow parents to talk with the teacher and see the classroom along with some samples our crafts. To register for Little Church or for further questions, please stop by the Religious Education Office or contact Suzie Malloy at (480) ext.111. * PLAY DATES * Thursday, July 2, 9:30am: Play Date at Cara Walsh's home RSVP to Cara at Thursday, August 6, 9:30am: Play Date at the Noffke's home RSVP to Mike at Saturday, August 15, 10am: Burst of Butterflies Pottery Painting 41 West Boston Street Chandler, AZ RSVP to Mary at Friday, September 25, 10am: Ride the Sky Harbor Sky Train Meet at the 44 th St. Sky Train Station (44 th St. & E. Washington St.) and ride the train to Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor airport. We'll watch the planes and grab lunch inside the terminal. RSVP to Mary at CHARITABLE WORKS Tuesday, August 4 th, 9:30-10:30am: Nursery Cleaning + Card Decorating Please join us as we sanitize the nursery toys. The little ones will help clean and decorate cards for homebound parishioners. THANK YOU! Much gratitude to those who donated items to the Habitat for Humanity housewarming basket. You, you're the one! You're the one who does something nice for one person, and they turn around and do something nice for someone else. You're the one who changes the world! - Kelly M. Wahlquist, Created to Relate: God's Design for Peace and Joy Page 5 Page 5

6 - Mom's Nights Out - Thursday, July 16: MNO + Volunteering! Feed My Starving Children (6-7:30pm) 1345 S. Alma School Rd. in Mesa Nello's (7:30pm) 2590 S. Alma School Rd. in Mesa Join us for a volunteer opportunity that literally changes the world: FMSC serves kids on the brink of death by providing them with a full year worth of meals one at a time to re-establish their health. As volunteers, we'll measure and weigh the dry food and pack it up to send around the world. It's a very meaningful (and fun) experience! Prayer Intentions Please pray for these moms awaiting an addition to their families: Julie Nelson to be determined Adoption in process After, we'll head to Nello s Pizza to eat. If you're unable to make it to FMSC, that's okay! Just meet us at Nello s at 7:30pm for Mom's Night Out! RSVP to Paula at by July 14 at noon Tuesday, August 25, 7pm: Perfect Pear Bistro 9845 S. Priest Dr, Tempe, AZ (NE corner of Ray & Priest) RSVP to Laura at by noon Tuesday, September 22, 7pm: Zinburger 344 N. Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ RSVP to Laura at by noon Are you expecting? Please contact S.A.M.S Outreach Coordinator Marla Fitterer to let us know. We d be happy to deliver meals to your family and offer our support. Feel free to also contact Marla with any prayer requests that you d like sent out to the group. We are on Facebook! We are a closed group meaning that only members can post and see posts, comments, photos, etc. Search for: Saint Andrew Moms (S.A.M.S) Request to join our group. You will be approved to join momentarily. Post away! This is important for playdates! Page 6

7 Introduction to St. Andrew's Atrium What is the Atrium? Atrium is the name for the environment used by the children who attend the religious formation program called Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a religious education program being offered as an option in many parishes and dioceses in Arizona, around the country and even worldwide. At St. Andrews, the first level of the catechesis is offered to address the religious nature and needs of the pre-school child (3-5 years old). This approach to catechesis recognizes the particular developmental stages of children at this age and is set up to satisfy the child s most basic needs: the child s sense of wonder and sheer enjoyment of the presence of God. What is taught? Our focus is three-fold: Jesus Christ, Catholic liturgical expression and Scripture. This catechesis follows the church s liturgical year, allowing the child a fuller participation in the liturgy each Sunday. Some of the key topics at this level include: the life of Jesus through the Infancy Narratives and Biblical Geography (Advent and Christmas); Christ, as the Good Shepherd, through the parables of the Kingdom and the Last Supper (Lent and Easter); Articles (the altar and vestments of the priest; Baptism/Christ as the Light and Pentecost. How is it taught? A typical session includes a presentation by a trained catechist and time for meditation or reflection, based on questions posed by the catechist, responses by the children (through song, silence and spontaneous prayer), and further work time, which is time the child uses to work with the various materials provided. This extends their experience and aides in the internalization of the presentation. We end each session with communal gathering time at the prayer table for praise and prayer. What materials are used? Materials used with presentations are a means of rendering the child independent from the adult...(enabling) the child to reflect, on his own... The material becomes an aide to prayer, finding its basis as a tangible form of what is found in the Bible and in our Liturgy. Though the adult is present, the work the child does with the material allows the adult to make his presence more discreet...so that the Word of God stands out as sovereign. Materials are usually handmade and are sized appropriately for smaller hands (i.e. often they are miniatures). They may include: dioramas and figures, miniature articles of the mass or signs and symbols of sacraments such as Baptism, prayers cards, art supplies, or other materials for busying the hands. What about the catechists? The catechist s job is to be as peripheral as possible, allowing God s own Word and the deep bond between God and His creature to take hold in the child. The catechist s task is to create specific conditions so this relationship between God and the child can be established, but then to withdraw as soon as the contact occurs. Thus, catechists are the proclaimers of the Word, but also listeners with the children. They pose questions for meditation, but do not provide answers, allowing each child to see his/her encounter with God s truth. Catechists are certified at each level through a national association and/or through the diocese, to teach Catechesis of the Good Shepherd after hours of coursework. We currently have 5 certified catechists in our parish. Training is provided for classroom aides. Anyone helping in the classroom needs to take Safe Environment Training which is offered here and at parishes throughout the city. Once you have completed the class (or renewal) please bring your documentation to the Atrium for us to keep on file. If you are interested in becoming a part of this ministry in either capacity, feel free to contact Barb Waterkotte for further information. If you volunteer as a catechist or aide in the program and have a child enrolled in our program, your RE fee can be waived. When do the children come? Children come to the Atrium once a week for 1.5 hours from September to the end of April, 24 sessions. Class size is limited to 10 children, with a catechist and an aide in each session. We are currently offering 5 classes for your

8 convenience. Please be sure to sign up as soon as possible in order to be placed in the class of your choice. If the session you desire as your first choice is unavailable, we ask that you be flexible and check on a second or third choice. Registration: Registration begins in July. Watch the bulletin for details for RE registration. Students must be 3 by Sept. 12th and completely toilet trained. According to our Safe Environment Guidelines, the catechist/aide is not able to assist in the bathroom with your child. Please make sure your child is independent in the bathroom before signing them up for our program.

9 S.A.M.S Board us at Mary Schoellman Welcoming Chair Paula Cook Charitable Works Marla Fitterer Outreach Erica Noffke Spiritual Enrichment/ Newsletter Mike Noffke Spiritual Enrichment Laura Underwood Calendar/ Special Events Cara Walsh Parties Invite a FRIEND! Invite a STRANGER! Help us keep S.A.M.S a welcoming and inclusive ministry. DO YOU HAVE AN ARTICLE SUGGESTION FOR THE OCT-NOV-DEC NEWSLETTER? PLEASE CONTACT: Erica Noffke S.A.M.S Newsletter Planning Coordinator Did you know that the Saint Andrew Moms Ministry relies 100% on your donation? Two easy suggestions to give: 1. Offering envelopes Call church at (480) to request. Write Saint Andrew Moms Ministry on your check memo line. 2. Securely online Click GIVE link at standrew-cfc.org Please consider Saint Andrew Moms in your weekly offering. Page 8