My Dear People: Our Lady of Sorrows Church August 27, 2017 From the Pastor s Desk A note of gratitude for those wonderful parents who make the effort to fulfill their obligation to bring their children to the Parish School of Religion classes on Sundays. Not too long ago, a parent of a child who has fallen from the faith told me how much that parent regrets not sending her children for religious instructions. She thought the child would pick up the faith simply by going to Mass on Sundays. She is not the only parent who suffers remorse after the children have left the faith. Parents incur a serious obligation to raise the children in the faith, and if they are not going to a Catholic school they need instructions K-12! The vast majority of you send your children on Sunday mornings and the children learn and appreciate the faith. There are a few that fail miserably. Without the efforts of the parents, the marvelous instructions for our children on Sunday mornings simply would not take place. There is another essential element to what happens on Sunday mornings. It is the role of the catechists. Helping them are teen helpers. The Catechists give up not just their Sunday mornings, but other time, which is spent in preparation for their classes. The Catechists are in their classrooms on Sunday morning from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m.; class starts at 10 a.m. The PSR year runs 28 weeks, and August 20, was the first of 28 sessions. Each session is important. This is the only formal education in the faith these children will have for a life-time. There is also a class for three year olds (Growing with God) and a class for both K4 and K5. In grades 1-8 we have two classes for each grade. All classes have at least two teachers. High School has three catechists, including our Youth Minister, Ginny Dooley. Catechists are the unsung heroes of Catholic education in the sense they are volunteers, and unless you have children in the PSR program you hardly hear about the marvelous work of the Catechists. Unfortunately, after 8 th grade Confirmation, many believe they no longer need religious instructions. They do need religious instruction. They can forget, and we all need reminders. High School Instruction is given on Sunday morning and summarized during the Youth Group meetings on Sunday night. The schedule on Sundays nights is that happy blend between the catechetical, social, and prayer. Parents should make sure their teen is attending either the Sunday morning or Sunday evening instruction. I just don t see how parents can skip the religious instruction for their teens without good reasons. I beg our teenagers to give the program a try at least for a couple of months and see the benefits that come from this. Parents, please take seriously the obligation to educate your children ages 1-12 grades in the faith. No one wants life-long, or longer, regrets. Thanks again to our Catechists and parents who know the importance of God in the lives of their children. With prayers and blessings, Father Muller Vivian Bonamy, Vita D Amico, Mary Ann Huie, Melanie Gilchrist, Charlie Kai Wadsworth Adult Education will not meet on September 3. We will resume on September 10.
Confirmation: All 7 th and 8 th graders should be enrolled in PSR to prepare for the class. The sacrament is received in 8 th grade. Monday, Aug. 28 Sam McDavid Sp. Int. A.C. Graham Gina Fontana Tuesday, Aug. 29 Sp. Int. Nap & Sandra Barranco & family Wednesday, Aug. 30 Sp. Int. Carl & Bonnie Barranco & family Thursday, Aug. 31 Lena Lucia Friday, Sept. 1 Frank Diergo Louise Battaglia Saturday, Sept. 2 Donors to OLS School Foundation Louise Battaglia William J. Stephens Sunday, Sept. 3 CHAPEL OF OUR SAVIOR People of the Parish Alastair Watson The Chapel needs permanent Committed Adorers for: Wednesday at 6:00 PM (With Partner) Saturday at 4:00 PM (With Partner) Our goal is to have at least 2 people on each hour. These are the hours needed, but do select an hour that best fits your schedule. Please call Mary Claire Brouillette at 871-2909 or Trudy Carpri at 643-0248. PSR Faith Formation for children ages 3 to 18 has already begun! It s not too late to join. Contact the PSR Office at 871-1413 or psr@ourladyofsorrows.com to register. Sacramental Preparation Classes: First Holy Communion: All 1 st and 2 nd graders should be enrolled in PSR to prepare for the class. The sacrament is received in 2 nd grade. Youth Protection I training will be held on September 14, from 6-8 p.m. in the Family Life Center. This class is for anyone who volunteers with children or youth in our parish. Must be 21 or older to participate. Registration deadline is September 12. Register at www.ourladyofsorrows.com. What s Goin on In High School Youth Group? No Meetings over Labor Day! Sunday, Sept. 10: 7-8:30 p.m. Dinner, Small Groups, and Adoration in the Church. Every Wednesday we meet in the youth room from 7-8:30 p.m. for dinner, small groups, scripture, discussion, reflection and more! All are welcome. We have a LOT going on this Fall. Please email youthminister@ourladyofsorrows.com to sign up for any of the following trips: Eucharistic Congress, Sept. 23: A full day centered on vocations at the Hancevill Shrine! This is for current 8 th -12 th graders. If you plan to ride with OLS, please meet at 8 a.m. We will return by 9 p.m. Cost: $5 The Pro-Life March in D.C. Jan. 17-21: Cost: $150. Deadline to register is Oct. 1. Fall Retreat at Camp Hargis Nov. 11-12: Glory Revealed. A retreat focusing on prayer and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. (Saturday morning-sunday evening). Cost: $25 Camp Covecrest: A Catholic camp in Tiger, Georgia with daily Mass, Adoration, small groups, white water rafting, messy games and more. This will be June 2018, but I need to know soon if you plan to send your child because we reserve our spots in late September. olsyouth.com
Here s the Scoop on MID Youth Group! Sunday, Aug. 27: Join us for an Edge Night on Morality from 7-8:30 p.m. Carol Wiget is speaking on how we use our free will to make choices in life and that these choices determine where we go in our lives good or bad. Meet in the Assembly Hall for dinner. All 6 th -8 th graders welcome! Wednesday, Sept. 6: Join us for a Parent Meeting in the Youth Room (3 rd floor of the FLC). Come learn about what is in store for Edge this year! Teens are welcome. Contact Carol at carol@olsyouth.com to RSVP. Saturday, Sept. 23: The Diocese of Birmingham is hosting the first annual Eucharistic Youth Congress! This event is from 10 a.m. 7 p.m. at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville and features music by P.J. Anderson. Open to 8 th -12 th grades. Contact Ginny (ginny@olsyouth.com) or Carol (carol@olsyouth.com) for more information or to register. BIBLE STUDY All are invited to attend a 20-week Bible Study on Thursday nights beginning September 14, in the Parish Hall from 7-8:35 p.m. This year we will be studying Acts of the Apostles, a study produced by Ascension Press and featuring weekly video teaching by Jeff Cavins. Please do not let the fact you may not be able to attend every Thursday night prevent you from joining in the study. Study materials must be ordered, so if you are interested in attending or have questions, please contact Kent Graeve at kentgraeve@gmail.com or 999-3474. Give back to God and become involved in His Church! If you are hesitant to participate in the ministries of the Church, just come and see what a blessing it can be to serve the Lord by serving others and your parish family. There will be a parish-wide Ministry Fair on Sunday, September 10, in the Family Life Center. Please join us after the 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Come by for coffee and doughnuts and see how you can be a part of this blessed parish! Extraordinary Ministers and Altar Servers: If you are interested in being an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist or if you have children in 4 th Grade or above who are interested in altar serving, please contact Kent Graeve at 999-3474 or kentgraeve@gmail.com. Training for new altar servers, 4 th grade and above, will take place in September. Please register with Kent Graeve. Bible Study for Women The apostles had the privilege of speaking and listening to Jesus face to face, and today we have the great gift of the Word in the Holy Bible. Plan to join other women of the parish as we break open the Word with a study on the book of Ephesians. We meet every Tuesday morning beginning September 12, from 9-11 a.m. in the Family Life Center. Each Tuesday there will be a light breakfast, followed by praise, lecture and small group discussion on weekly lessons. To register or for more information, please contact Mary Ann Graeve at 908-2728. Bereavement Committee: Have you ever wondered what you could do to help those grieving the death of a loved one? Father Muller has graciously given permission to form a committee to serve a meal following funeral services of an OLS member. If you feel called to this ministry, there will be a meeting Monday, September 11, at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Formation of teams and how they will function, as well as menus and other details will be discussed. If you cannot attend this meeting, but are interested, please contact Jane De Meis at 337-0023.
OLS Sodality invites ALL ladies of the parish to join us for our New Members Event! Monday, August 28 th 6:30 pm FAMILY LIFE CENTER Southern Vittles & Entertainment with RSVP Jeanne Bearden 563-6366 or Jane DeMeis 337-0023
Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love. Let our Adoration never cease! St. Pope John Paul II These sixty-three faithful Prayer Warriors have been blessed to keep their appointed Holy Hour with Jesus for twenty-five years in the Chapel of Our Savior from August 15, 1992 to August 15, 2017. Rev. Martin Muller Paul Martina Antoinette Alfano Barbara McClary William Askew Gaethea Messina NOTE: We are including Kathleen Born Mary Lois Milazzo three names that were Mary Claire Brouillette Bill Mills forgotten last week. Walter Busenlehner Lee Molay Luis Cabrera Stephanie Murdock Susana Cabrera Mary Jane Noto Robert Cahill Joseph Pitts Josephine Cahill Sharon Pitts Eugenia Carlo Paul Porter Trudy Carpri Irene Porter Angela Cashio Antoinette Raine David Coombs Annette Reina Margie Curry Rosemary Reynolds Theresa DiChiara Fran Ross Robertson Chris Gattina Susan Rosko Joe Guarino Chris Rosko Mary Jo Gustin Sam Salerno Lee Hines Peggy Salerno Linda Hunnicutt Peggy Sandlin Jimmy Hunnicutt Anthony Saway Pete Hunton Vicky Schifano Sara Marie Lamoureux Nina Smeraglia Al Lamoureux Joseph Snoe A.V. LaRocca Mildred Stephens Mary Ann LaRussa Claudia Tombrello Ruth Lee Jude Tombrello Margo Lemonis Josephine Tortorice Jeannette Lovell Anthony Troncale Jack Marino Janet Waters Anthony Marino Well done, good and faithful servant. (Matthew 25:23)