Hello Everyone! 
Wednesday November 25, 2020 - NO RE  Happy Thanksgiving!

Do you know how the Church decides when Advent starts? 

Its based on the Feast of St. Andrew, which is celebrated on November 30th.  The 1st Sunday of Advent is the one closest to St. Andrew's Feast Day.  

Why is this?  Well, St. Andrew was the very first disciple called by our Lord.  After Andrew met Jesus, he hurried to his brother Peter, and told him that the Messiah had been found.  Andrew helped his brother find the Messiah, and he can do the same for us as our spiritual brother.  One of the most beloved novenas of all time is called the "St. andrew Christmas Novena".  This beautiful novena which is over 100 years old, is begun on St. Andrew's Feast Day and ends on Christmas Eve.  This novena is prayed not just once a day, but 15 times a day.  This prayer will allow you to meditate more fully on the profound mystery of the Incarnation.  Choose an intention that is very close to your heart when you pray this novena.  

This Monday, November 30th is the Feast Day of St. Andrew, so that means this Sunday, November 29th is our 1st Sunday of Advent.  The novena will start this Monday, here is the prayer:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.  In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.  Amen.

Prepare your hearts for the coming of Christ! Watch on "FORMED" St. Andrew Upperroom (great info) 

If you have any questions please call Renae @701-350-2204.  

Upcoming Events:  December 2, 2020  "Advent Kickoff Celebration"  @the Parish Center
                                  5:30-6:30pm K-6th grade (craft, game, fellowship)
                                  7:00-8:15pm 7-12th grade (craft, bingo, fellowship) 
 

Remember to call me anytime if you need anything 701-350-2204 (Renae), Thank you.  I am going to write something for everyone's 3nd Session you watched.
11/12th grade - The Invitation Session 3 - "What would you say to a Friend who said they didn't believe in God, because of all the suffering in the world?"  The key to Catholic doctrine on suffering is that God does not cause suffering.  Since God has given us free will - the ability to choose - there will be evil things.  As Catholics, we believe that Jesus, who is God, suffered, he is not distant from our suffering and we can unite our suffering to his on the Cross.  We can "offer up" our sufferings, uniting them with Jesus on the cross.   
9/10th grade guys - True Strength Chastity: Every man's battle pt 1 - This session was on pornography and how pornography abuses a woman's beauty.  A woman is beautiful because she is made in the image and likeness of God, if men reduce her to her body and not recognizing her soul, men are stripping her of her image and likeness.  Many times we hear people blame original sin on Eve because she was the first to eat the fruit.  This is not entirely true.  Adam was given the responsibilty to protect the garden, and the serpent entered the garden on his watch.  Like Adam, men are given the responsibility of being protectors.  We men look at pornography, they fall into the trap of becoming a predator of women instead of a protector.  Make a commitment to go and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we all need Gods grace and we can find new grace in our lives when we are reconciled with God.    
9/10th grade girls - True Beauty Chastity: Broken, Healed, and Holy pt 1 - The pressure for teenage girls in todays society is overwhelming.  The hurts and wounds young women experience can haunt them for years.  God is the God of second chances.  God wants to heal your wounds and will surround them with His grace, forgiveness, and love.  Remember you are never alone with God and there is hope in healing with Him, because He is bigger than any situation.   We all deal with pain and brokeness in our lives and want to be healed.  We can be tempted to hide our pain and appear "normal", but this is not the route to healing.  Jesus invites us to take down our walls so that He can enter our pain and heal us - He wants us to walk in His Light.  Darkness is unhealthy to our lives and relationships.     
5/6/7/8th grade - Is God really Divine?  session 3 - Jesus proved He is God by His actions - He performed numerous miracles.  The Resurrection is the greatest proof of Jesus' divinity.  Jesus wants each of us to decide "who He is" in our lives.  He posed this question to the disciples and he poses it to us today.  "Lord" expresses the recognition of the Divine Mystery of Jesus.  Remember when Thomas doubted Jesus until he touched his flesh?  We come to the same point in our lives as Thomas did - we know that Jesus is Divine, but what does that mean?  We have a choice to make.  When Jesus is Lord of your life, and you make that choice, it will change your life.  Think about the miracles Jesus has performed in your life or in the world around you.  How do they help you believe in Him? 
 

During this COVID-19 pandemic, our Wednesday night Religious Education is going to look different this year. But pandemic or not, the religious formation of our children is an essential part of our life. Please view our letter below for more details on this coming year. And please register your children using the form below. You may submit this form by mail or email using the addresses at the bottom of the form.