Monica’s Praise Report 4/19/23

Post Date: April 19, 2023
Author: Monica Hebert

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever! Praise be His Holy name! Praise be God the Father! Praise be the Holy Spirit!  Praise be to the three in one! 

Thank You God for all thy benefits!  Thank You for the graces received in the Sacraments. Thank You for community. Thank You for the communion of saints. Thank You for Your constancy. Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for the season of Easter. Thank You for Your most perfect love and mighty power. Thank You! Thank You for the cross. Thank You for the hardships. Thank You for the struggles. Thank You for the Resurrection. Thank You for ALL of it. 

Forgive me Lord when I doubt. Forgive me Lord when I fail to see You in every situation. Forgive me Lord when I forget to recall all the blessings in my life.  Forgive me Lord when I reject You in any way. Forgive me Lord when I fail to live according to Your will.  Forgive me Lord when I forget to nurture my soul with all that You have provided.

This week I was refreshed and renewed. It felt so good to gather and Praise Him alongside others who just needed the same experience, to witness the Holy Spirit inspire and guide where two or more were gathered in His name, to pray alongside other warriors in the ongoing battle while in this world as we look forward to the next. 

I know I am not the only weary warrior. I know I am not alone in this battle. I have to remind and be reminded that our strength comes from the Lord and all that He has provided for us. I encourage you to be refreshed and renewed. The battle is ongoing, and we need to remember that it is difficult to fight when we do not tend to our own wounds and exhaustion. Fight the enemy’s tactic of trying to convince you that you are alone in this, that you can’t share your struggles with others. Reject the lies of the enemy.

For me, refreshment and renewal comes from gathering with other women to pray, to share our struggles and present them to our Lady and our Lord, to listen and experience His guidance through images, words, and Scripture. How do you find renewal and refreshment?  How do you tend to the wounds suffered in this battle?  What is your weapon of choice?  Could someone you encounter need to know the answers to these questions? Could your fellow warrior need what you have to offer?  Reach out! Invite others to battle alongside you! You will be blessed and be a blessing!

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

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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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