FFE

May the grace and peace of our Lord fill your hearts and home throughout the year. We are beginning our registration and re-registration process for the 2010-2011 religious education programs. If you are registering a child for the first time, please come into the Family Faith Enrichment Office with a copy of your child's baptism certificate. The office hours are from 8:00am - noon and 1pm - 4:00pm or by appointment by calling us at 581- 4266 ext. 121 or 122. Please complete and return the enclosed registration form to the Family Faith Enrichment Office by July 1, 2011 to take advantage of the $50.00 early registration discount. You may also download a copy of the registration form through our parish website: www.stmaryseastislip.org.

We ask that every family participating in any of our Family Faith Enrichment programs to contribute to the financial support of the parish. The support fee can be found at the bottom of the registration form (please deduct $50 if registering before July 1^st). Any family that contributes at least $10 each week through the use of weekly envelopes is exempt from the support fee.

In the beginning of September we will mail out a letter informing you of the class schedule we set up for your child/children along with a schedule of days you will be able to come to the office and pick up your child's religion book(s).

The parish of St. Mary’s believes that every child’s first experience of God’s love for him or her comes from their homes. What the parish offers is meant to support, encourage and help all parents in sharing the gift of faith with their children. We strongly encourage every family to participate in the Sunday Eucharist since it is the heart of what we are and do as a faith community.

It takes a lot of people to make this process effective and enjoyable. We need volunteers to be catechists, classroom aides, scripture sharers, assistants and hall monitors. In addition, we need volunteers to help with Youth Ministry and with the many events that take place here at St. Mary’s. Please consider sharing your faith and time with the children in our parish by completing the volunteer registration process, background check, and VIRTUS training program if you have not done so already.

We pray that the coming year will be filled with God’s many blessings. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Family Faith Enrichment Office. Let us pray that all that we do to proclaim the gift of faith will bear abundant fruit in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones.

Sincerely yours in the peace of Christ,

Linda Crowley                                                                   Biagio Arpino
Director of Religious Education                                       Director of Religious Education
grades 1 - 4                                                                      grade 7
                                                                                         Confirmation Preparation

Religious Education for grades 1: The parents of the children in first grade will be expected to teach their children at home and meet once a month at the school for instruction.
Religious Education for grades 2 - 7: Children in grades 2 - 6 will meet in the school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 4:30 - 5:30pm. The children from JFK will meet on Tuesdays, the children from Islip will meet on Wednesdays, and the children from Timberpoint and Islip Terrace will meet on Thursdays. Children in grades 2 - 6 also have the option of coming Tuesday evenings from 6 - 7pm. Children in 7th grade will meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 - 8:00pm. All grade levels will meet for a total of 24 weekends beginning in September and ending in April.

First Eucharist: preparation for First Eucharist is a two year process which usually begins in First Grade. Each child must complete both level one and level two in order to celebrate the sacrament of First Eucharist. In addition, there are three Saturday celebrations for the families, a retreat and the Sacramental celebration of First Penance. By the end of November parents should receive a letter asking them to list their preference for a First Holy Communion date.

Reconciliation (confession –penance): is part of the curriculum for every grade. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a very important part of our faith tradition and families are invited to take part in a communal penance celebration either during Advent of Lent. The sacrament is also offered on Saturday afternoons from 4 - 4:45pm and again on Wednesday mornings from 8 - 8:45am.

Confirmation: preparation from Confirmation is a two year process which usually begins in the 7th grade and is celebrated in the sprig of 8th grade. The children meet in the classrooms on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 - 8:00pm.

Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation for older children: St. Mary’s offers catechetical groups for children who for some reason were unable to celebrate these sacraments with their peers. If you have an older child who has not yet celebrated the sacraments of Initiation, please come to the office and we will be happy to get you started on the journey.

Dismissal Mass: (Liturgy of the Word for Children.) Pre-K through 3rd grade. Attending Mass with your children is an essential way to teach your children about our faith traditions and about being active members of our faith community. The Eucharist is central to everything we do. In this process, families come to the Sunday morning Mass at either 9:15am or 10:45am and sit together as a family. After the opening prayer, the children are "dismissed" by grade level to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word. They go and listen to the scripture reading proclaimed and discussed on their own level. They return for the Liturgy of the Eucharist after the gifts are brought to the altar.

Good Shepherd Catechesis: This program is currently being offered for children ages 3, 4 and 5. The groups meet during the week for about 90 minutes in the Mary Room, located underneath the Parish Social Ministry Office. The gatherings center on the liturgy, scripture and tradition. The children are taught to be reverent in a Church atmosphere. Space is limited and the children are placed in groups based on a lottery system. It’s a wonderful program and we would love to open it up to more children, but we need more catechists. We are looking for catechists who are willing to participate in a 90 hour training program. Please contact the office if interested.

Parent Meetings: These meetings are for parents who have a son or daughter preparing for Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation. These meetings are usually held in the Fall at different times and days so that parents can attend one that fits their schedule. The dates and times will be mailed out in September. Parents only need to attend if they have not attended for another child in the past.

Special Needs: We have catechists available for children with special educational needs. Please call the office for more information.

United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen
Rose Alfini 669-4581 (call or just show up) no age limit
Set-up between 9:30-lOam
Clean-up 12:15
Corner of Deer Park Ave and James St

Hone Missionary Soup Kitchen (Hope Baptist Church)
Bethany House
Mike Kelly (cell 275-8913) call to set up date
100 Lemon St CI
Rte 111 (Delta gas Station) make Rte on lemon St 2 ‘/2 blocks

Jacob’s Light (Pack boxes for Service Men)
1st Ave and Pt Street American Legion Hall in Brentwood
Jacobslightfoundation@yahoo.com
6:45pm on the last Tues of the month

Life Center in Deer Park
243-2373
Lorraine Gambaldi 516-798-8746
Help fold clothing etc

Long Island Cares
582-3663 Christine
Davis Ave (call for directions)
Stock shelves

Food Pantry Donations

We are always in need of food and non perishable items
for our food pantry here at St. Mary’s.

Did you know that food stamps do not allow for the
purchase of toilet paper or paper towels?
It may seem like a small donation but there are many people in
need of these items. It seems that people give so generously
during the holidays but the poor are among us all year long!

Why not hold a food drive at one of our local grocery stores
to help fill up the food pantry?
You could also send a letter to all your neighbors asking for
donations to be placed by their mailboxes to be picked up
on Saturday morning.

Please call the Family Faith Office for a sample letter on
St. Mary’s letterhead.

Please bring any donations to either the
Parish Social Ministry Office or the Family Faith Office.

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Attention:
Catechists and everyone interested in discovering resources for furthering your child's religious education.

"Blest Are We" is the series that we at St. Mary's use for the children in our Religious Education program.

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CLASS SCHEDULE FOR FIRST GRADE
		2011 - 2012

WK. #	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY
1	10/18	10/19	10/20
2	10/25	10/26	10/27
3	11/15	11/16	11/17
4	11/29	11/30	12/1
5	12/13	12/14	12/15

6	2/28	2/29	3/1
7	3/6	3/7	3/8
8	3/13	3/14	3/15
9	3/20	3/21	3/22
10	3/27	3/28	3/29

CLASS SCHEDULE FOR GRADES 2 - 6
		2011 - 2012

WK. #	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY
1	9/20	9/21	9/22
2	9/27	9/28	9/29
3	10/4	10/5	10/6
4	10/11	10/12	10/13
5	10/18	10/19	10/20
6	10/25	10/26	10/27
7	11/1	11/2	11/3
8	11/15	11/9	11/10
9	11/29	11/16	11/17
10	12/6	11/30	12/1
11	12/13	12/14	12/15
12	1/3	1/4	1/5
13	1/10	1/11	1/12
14	1/17	1/18	1/19
15	1/24	1/25	1/26
16	1/31	2/1	2/2
17	2/7	2/8	2/9
18	2/14	2/15	2/16
19	2/28	2/29	3/1
20	3/6	3/7	3/8
21	3/13	3/14	3/15
22	3/20	3/21	3/22
23	3/27	3/28	3/29