Proclamation

Post Date: December 23, 2022
Author: Laura Stephens

The birth of the Newborn Savior is here! The Creator of the World waited in silence, then was born in complete humility and helplessness.

To most of the world at that time, His arrival was unknown; but for the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, the greatest miracle of all occurred – the gift of life and the fulfillment of God’s promise.

It is this part of God’s humble plan that really struck me this year as I reflected on that first Nativity. God had planned to redeem humanity and restore us to Himself. As God, He could have fulfilled this promise any way He wanted. Imagine a superhero coming or a royal prince appearing or even a mighty lightning bolt crashing down. But that was not God’s ultimate and perfect plan!

Instead, He chose to ask permission from a humble Jewish woman so that He could dwell nine months in secret within her womb in the most profoundly HUMAN experience! He chose to be an unborn baby, fully human and fully divine, awaiting the experience of the world that He created.

His presence as a growing baby inside Mary just a month or so after conception was recognized and celebrated by her cousin St. Elizabeth and her unborn baby St. John the Baptist at Mary’s Visitation. What a proclamation of the dignity of the life of unborn babies!

This should strike at all of us – the profound dignity that the Incarnation gave to human life. God, a Supreme, Infinitely Perfect Being, wanted to world to know the preciousness of human life in all its forms and ages! So precious that He came to Earth born as one of us to redeem all of us. Every human life is precious to God.

In humble adoration, we bow down and celebrate the King of Kings, born not in a castle or even a comfortable home but a manager with animals around. Lowly shepherds and their sheep were His first visitors. The brightest announcement of His arrival was the star shining above. His first proclamation to the world was the gentle cry of a newborn baby held in the arms of His loving parents – human life is worth living and dying for!

Merry Christmas! May your family have a joyful and blessed celebration of the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

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Para el segundo año de preparación sacramental, los padres siguen siendo los primeros maestros de la fe (CCC n.º 2226). Este es un rol continuo tanto para los padres como para la vida de los estudiantes.

La preparación sacramental se llevará a cabo una vez al mes. Se pide a las familias que asistan semanalmente a la misa dominical, compartan el Evangelio en casa, participen en un retiro, recen el Rosario y que los padres asistan a una charla mensual con nuestro querido sacerdote.

Se ponen recursos a disposición de los padres, especialmente en lo relativo a la misa. Se pide a los estudiantes que traigan un misal para que lo firmen al finalizar la misa de su elección (sábado o domingo).

A continuación, se presentan las fechas de las charlas dirigidas a los padres. Los estudiantes asistirán a clases en un aula en la misma fecha y horario: de 6:30 p. m. a 8:00 p. m.

Se realizarán evaluaciones a los estudiantes; por favor, consulten las Pautas Sacramentales.

La preparación para la Primera Reconciliación y la Primera Comunión está abierta a todos los jóvenes bautizados - a partir del segundo grado escolar - que cumplan con los siguientes requisitos del programa:

  • La familia debe ser miembro registrado de la Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón. Si no son miembros registrados del Sagrado Corazón, los padres deben presentar una carta del párroco de la parroquia en la que estén registrados, otorgando permiso para que el niño se prepare y celebre los sacramentos en el Sagrado Corazón. También se requiere el permiso del párroco si la familia está registrada en el Sagrado Corazón, pero solicita que la celebración se realice en otra iglesia católica.
  • Los padres deben presentar una copia original del certificado de bautismo del niño antes de la fecha límite establecida. Si el niño no ha sido bautizado en la fe católica, realizará una "Profesión de Fe".
  • El niño debe contar con un mínimo de un año de educación religiosa previa, cursada en el programa de formación en la fe de la parroquia (FE EN EL HOGAR) o en una escuela católica.
  • El niño debe estar inscrito y participando activamente en el año actual del programa de educación religiosa de la parroquia (Preparación Sacramental) o en una escuela católica.
  • La familia debe asistir a la Misa dominical con regularidad.
  • El niño y sus padres deben asistir a TODAS las sesiones de preparación sacramental.
  • Una vez completadas todas las sesiones de preparación requeridas, el niño participará en una entrevista para evaluar su disposición para recibir los sacramentos.

El Párroco, el Coordinador de Preparación Sacramental y los padres determinarán conjuntamente la disposición del niño - tanto catequética como espiritual - para recibir los sacramentos.

El año pasado, las familias de primer año siguieron el nuevo plan de estudios «Fe en el hogar». Aunque todavía tenemos mucho en lo que podemos crecer, nos alegra enormemente que nuestras familias hayan completado el año y que ahora estén practicando su fe y siguiendo un nuevo estilo de vida. «Fe en el hogar» es un programa novedoso en el que nuestras familias no tienen que asistir en persona ni semanalmente, sino solo una vez al mes. Se pide a las familias que asistan a la misa dominical cada semana, compartan el Evangelio en casa, participen en un retiro, recen el Rosario y que los padres asistan a una charla mensual con nuestro querido sacerdote. Hay recursos disponibles para los padres, especialmente para la Misa. Se pide a los estudiantes que traigan un libro de misa para que lo firmen al finalizar la misa que elijan (sábado o domingo). A continuación, se presentan las fechas de las charlas para padres; los estudiantes estarán en clase el mismo día y horario: 6:30 PM a 8:00 PM.

For year 2, sacramental preparation, parents are still the first teachers of faith CCC#2226. This is an ongoing role for the parents and for the students' lives.

Sacramental preparation would be once a month. Families are asked to attend weekly Sunday mass, share the Gospel at home, participate in a retreat, pray the Rosary, and have parents attend a monthly talk with our beloved priest.

Resources are available to parents, especially for Mass. Students are asked to bring a Mass book to be signed by the end of the Mass of their choice (Saturday or Sunday).

Here are the dates for parent talks. The students will be in a classroom setting on the same date and time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Evaluations will be held for students, please refer to the Sacrament Guidelines.

First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation is open to all baptized youth, second grade or older, who meet the following program requirements:

  • Family must be registered members of Sacred Heart Parish. If not registered members of Sacred Heart, the parents must provide a letter from the pastor of the parish in which they are registered, granting permission for the child to prepare and to celebrate the sacraments at Sacred Heart.  Permission must also be granted by the pastor if registering at Sacred Heart, but requesting the celebration at another Catholic Church.
  • The parents must provide an original copy of the child’s Baptism Certificate by the declared deadline. If not baptized catholic, the child will make a “Profession of Faith”.
  • The child must have a minimum of one year of previous religious education in the parish faith formation program (FAITH AT HOME) or catholic school.
  • The child must be enrolled and actively participating in the current year of religious education in the parish religious Sacramental Preparation or catholic school.
  • The family must attend Sunday Mass regularly.
  • The child and their parents must attend ALL sacrament preparation sessions.
  • Upon completion of all required preparation sessions, the child will participate in an interview to evaluate the child’s readiness to receive the sacraments.

The Pastor, Sacramental Preparation Coordinator, and the parents together determine the child’s readiness, both catechetical and spiritual, to receive the sacraments.

Last year, first-year families followed the new Faith at Home curriculum. Even though we have a lot to grow in, we are very happy that our families have completed the year and are now practicing their faith and following a new way of life.  

Faith at Home is a new program where our families do not have to come in person weekly, but once a month. Families are asked to attend weekly Sunday mass, share the Gospel at home, participate in a retreat, pray the Rosary, and have parents attend a monthly talk with our beloved priest.  

Resources are available to parents, especially for Mass. Students are asked to bring a Mass book with them to be signed by the end of any Mass of their choice (Saturday or Sunday).  

Here are the dates for parent talks. The students will be in a classroom setting on the same date and time:

April 20th from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

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