catholic focus

A Free Informational Evening on...

Theology of the Body for Teens

Theology of the Body for Teens presents the two hottest topics on the planet - God and sex - and "marries" them through Pope John Paul II's compelling vision for love and life. It speaks to the deepest meaning of why we were created, the purpose of love and sexuality, and the meaning of life. These topics are important for all, especially teens. They're yearning for answers to life's deepest questions, as well as a positive portrayal of their sexuality. John Paul II's vision for the meaning of our bodies and our sexual desires is a topic that connects with teens in a way that speaks to the deepest desires of their hearts.

Theology of the Body for Teens helps them unlearn the misguided teachings of the modern culture and provide them with the very key to life-the key to happiness and peace. It helps them discover the ultimate purpose for which God created them-communion with him.

Come hear Damon Owens, an acclaimed speaker on TOB4Teens. He is an incredible presenter for the Theology of the Body Institute who will share an overview of Theology of the Body with us! Mark your calendars & plan to attend!

WHEN: Friday, March 12th, 2010 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
WHERE: St. Raphael Parish Lunchroom, 525 Dover Center Road, Bay Village, OH 44140
QUESTIONS/CONTACT: Pat Counselman 440-234-6830 stadalbertym@gmail.com

August 28, 2009

Dear Parents,

Your child is bringing home a box containing collection envelopes.  The children of the day school will use these envelopes for Friday liturgies during the school year and at Sunday liturgies when school is not in session.  The envelopes should be filled out by the children, if possible. 

In the first section, they should write down who they prayed for during the week.  In keeping with the theme "Walk with Jesus at St Adalbert", they should record in the middle section how they used their time and talent for others. Did they help someone?  Were they kind to brothers or sisters even when it wasn't easy?  Did they give up a TV show or videos games to spend time with someone in need?  Please be on the lookout for examples of how your child was Christ for others during the week.  Remind them they could use that action for their envelope.  Have your child write their name on the envelope.

If they earned any money during the week for allowance, or doing extra chores, please encourage them to give a portion of their earnings to the church.   Do not give them money for the envelope.  The sacrifice should come from them.  If they did not earn any money that week, please emphasize that giving of time and talent is just as important as treasure.  Beginning in September, we will include a section in the bulletin highlighting children's envelopes.   We will record examples from the prayer and time and talent section as well as any treasure the children have given.  I think this will be a wonderful way to show the parish the amazing gifts our children have and how they are using them.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

God Bless,

Annette Klanac

Director of Religious Education

440-234-6830 ext 222

stadalbertdre@hotmail.com

Thank you to the following businesses who made donations to our 2009 Parish Festival:

Akron Aeros

Berea Laserwash

Bonne Bell

Bucci's Brick Oven

Chambers Funeral Home

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

 Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Cleveland Metroparks Chalet

Cleveland Metroparks Golf Courses

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Coit Cleaning

Columbus Crew

Complete Auto Repair Service

Conley Enterprise

COSI

Creekwood Golf Course & Range

Don's Pomeroy House

Donte's Restaurant and Pizza Shop

Dr. Majacher DDS

Emerald Woods Golf Course

Erie Shores Golf Course

Harpo's Sports Café

Huge Heating & Cooling

Kwik Car Wash

Lake County Captains

Lake Erie Monster Hockey

Lake Metro Farm Parks

Lakefront Lines

Lifeworks of Southwest General

Lolley the Trolley

Luna Marketing

Malley's

Mootown Creamery, Berea

Northfield Park Harness

Petitti's Gardens

Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Club Home to Hilarities 4^th Street Theatre

Quaker Steak & Lube, Valley View

Santo's Italian Restaurant

Shaft's Grocery Store

Shooter's

Spanulo Concrete

Swings N Things

Teri's Hair Design

The Improv

The Ohio Lottery

Tilma

TNT Tanning

Toledo MudHens

Upper Deck Sports Café

Westpark Station Restaurant

Z Salon

Thank you to our super supporters!

Caryn Cua

Vicky Struzynski

Dan & Kim Smith & Family

Mary Myers

Jan Zarn

Spanulo Family

Mr. Conley

Pat Bocke

Wirtz Family

Jon Tabar

Joyce Gisztl

Joyce Robertson

Chris Zerucha

Diane Springer

Dennis and Mary Kushlak and Family

Swiers Family

Conley Hauck Family

Angelo Costanzo

Dave & Rhonda Smith & Family

Will & Mary Smith & Family

Joyce Soltis

Bob and Diane Keller & Family

Marie Hill

Dorothy Hoover

The Mucklo Family

Sue & Joe Krause

Les & Cathy Weston

Medina Family

Clare Larca

Sue & Dave Nesky

Mike & Kathy Augustine

Our apologizes if we missed  anyone!  

Thank you for all those who have donated baskets and supplies!

** A special thank you to our Sanctuary Guild for donating the postage for the mailing for the basket raffle!

St. Adalbert Parish Festival

Sunday, August 2nd

1-8 PM

There is something for everyone:

• For your listening and dancing pleasure - polka music by Jimmy K and Ethnic Jazzfrom 3-7 p.m.
• Lots of delicious homemade food.
• Cake Walk & Wine Walk
• "Clowning Around" with our resident clown, Kid's Games & Petting Farm 2-4 PM
• Cornhole Tournament 2-6 PM (get a team together & sign up the day of the festival)
• Bingo & Instant Bingo
• Basket Raffles (Need not be present to win.)

• Volunteers are needed in all areas. Please contact Jodi Forst at 440-476-1746 if you are interested in helping at the festival.

Attention All Bakers:  We welcome your baked goods for the Parish Festival Bakery Table.

What: Bring us your favorites such aspies, cookies, sweet breads, muffins, brownies, etc. And...don’t forget cakes for the ‘cake walk’!
Where & When: Bring them to Keller Center on Saturday, August 1st between 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. or Sunday, August 2nd after all Masses.
Questions?: Call Marie Foley at 440-891-0768.

There will be a Vacation Bible School volunteer meeting on Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the Keller Center.  If you haven't registered your child(ren) for VBS (June 22-29) there is still time to do so.  Cost is $20 for the entire week.  Call Cathy Kimpel at 440-234-2860 to register.

St. Adalbert Parish Presents

A Summer Vacation Bible School Experience

Children ages 3 to 9 (or entering 4^th grade) will explore the caves of the Underground Church, meet the Apostle Paul, create cool Bible-times projects, experience thrilling real-life dramas, play high-energy games, sample tasty Middle Eastern snacks and hear unforgettable music! Vacation Bible School will be held Monday, June 22nd through Friday, June 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.  Registration forms are available in the church lobby.  Cost is $20 for the entire week.  If you have any questions, please call Cathy Kimpel at 440-234-2860.

We are seeking volunteers (parents, grandparents, Jr. High, High School & College students) to help with the following:

• Registration
• Publicity
• Story Telling
• Games
• Crafts
• Coordinating Student Volunteers
• Snacks (preparing & serving)
• Music
• Service Projects
• Group Leaders (escort children to activities)

Help is needed NOW with the planning of this fun-filled week for our children. This is also a great opportunity for older students to fulfill some of their service hour obligations.

Click here to view/print the St. Adalbert Church bulletin for Sunday, May 11, 2008.

OVERVIEW

Christian initiation is celebrated in Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  Through these visible actions, a young person is incorporated into the Church and shares its mission in the world: full initiation into the Church occurs by stages.

Sacramental Catechesis has traditionally been of two kinds: preparation for the initial celebration of the sacraments and continued enrichment by their reception.

Requirements for the reception of First Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation are determined by Canon Law:

• Age of reason (to be able to distinguish right from wrong)
• Proper knowledge of sacraments
• Emotional and spiritual preparation
• Approval by parent, pastor, catechist, Director/Coordinator

The policy of St. Adalbert Parish is that a child who will prepare for the sacraments (First Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation) must have had a minimum of one year of religious education immediately before entering the Sacramental Preparation Program.

FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST EUCHARIST

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1457

According to the Church's command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."⁵⁶  Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.⁵⁷  Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.

From The Code of Canon Law, Can. 913 §1 & Can. 914

The administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion. 

Can. 914.  It is primarily the duty of parents and those who take the place of parents, as well as the duty of pastors, to take care that children who have reached the use of reason are prepared properly and, after they have made sacramental confession, are refreshed with this divine food as soon as possible.  It is for the pastor to exercise vigilance so that children who have not attained the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed do not approach holy communion.

Preparation

Preparation for these sacraments starts in second grade and begins with the Rite of Enrollment in February.  First Reconciliation is celebrated in March.  First Eucharist is celebrated in early May.  The program consists of classes during the school day in the Academy of St. Adalbert or on Monday evenings in the PSR program.  In addition, there are parent sessions which are designed to provide background and information on both the sacraments and the textbook material.  This will enable parents to help prepare their children at home.  Parents are required to attend these sessions.  All children preparing to celebrate their First Eucharist must first be prepared to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1457).  In January, a letter is mailed to each family announcing the dates of all classes and parent sessions.

Registration

Registration for the Reconciliation and Eucharist programs takes place in the fall.  A separate letter is mailed in January indicating the date and time of the first Parent Session for the Sacramental Program.  Please call the office the last week in January if you do not receive this information.  A separate fee is charged for the Reconciliation/Eucharist Program, which is collected in the spring.

CONFIRMATION

From The Code of Canon Law, Can. 879

The sacrament of confirmation strengthens the baptized and obliges them more firmly to be witnesses of Christ by word and deed and to spread and defend the faith.  It imprints a character, enriches by the gift of the Holy Spirit the baptized continuing on the path of Christian initiation, and binds them more perfectly to the Church.¹²⁵

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1309

Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life.  To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. the latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.¹²⁵

Overview

As a Sacrament of Initiation, Confirmation is intimately related to Baptism and the Eucharist.  Christians are reborn in Baptism, strengthened by Confirmation, and sustained by the food of the Eucharist.  In Confirmation, young people are signed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and become more perfect images of their Lord.  This sacrament renews and strengthens their baptismal call to bear witness to Christ before the world and work eagerly for the building up of his body.  The candidate must be baptized.

As the primary educators of their children, parents are to be intimately involved in catechesis for Confirmation.  This will help them renew and strengthen their own faith, besides enabling them to set a better example for their children.

The policy of St. Adalbert Parish is that any student who seeks entrance into the Confirmation Program must:

• be in at least the eighth grade
• have had a minimum of one year of religious education immediately before entering the Sacramental Preparation Program
• have completed all essential religious education curriculum
• be currently enrolled in a Religious Education Program covering elementary or junior high curriculum

Any student in eighth grade or above who did not attend religious education classes before the last year will be required to take make-up classes.

It is our hope that the Confirmation Program will provide the following opportunities for each student:

• to examine his/her own personality
• to develop a spiritual relationship with Christ
• to understand the meaning of commitment and discipleship
• to become an active member of the Christian community
• to develop a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Confirmation
• to participation in Apostolic Work which is encouraged as an integral part of the preparation

Letters are mailed to all eligible students and their parents/guardians giving the dates and times of the first parent meeting and the Rite of Enrollment Mass.  Students who wish to be considered as a candidate for the Sacrament of Confirmation must attend this Mass.  After the Mass, parents need to register for one of several meetings scheduled for the following week.  A separate fee is charged for the Confirmation Preparation Program which is discussed at the first meeting.

WHO IS ST. NICHOLAS?

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time, the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

The absence of the "hard facts" of history is not necessarily an obstacle to the popularity of saints, as the devotion to St. Nicholas shows. Both the Eastern and Western Churches honor him, and it is claimed that, after the Blessed Virgin, he is the saint most pictured by Christian artists.

As many of the saints, however, we are able to capture the relationship which St. Nicholas had with God through the admiration which Christians have had for him and admiration expressed in the colorful stories which have been told and retold through the centuries. His most well known deeds came around the time of Christmas, when he would leave gold in the homes of poor families on Christmas Eve, and give help to any person who needed it.

Over the centuries, this particular legend evolved into the custom of gift-giving on the saint's feast. In the English speaking countries, St. Nicholas became by a twist of the tongue, Santa Claus - further expanding the example of generosity portrayed by this holy bishop.

Today miracles and wonders are directly associated with the Saint. In anticipation of St. Nicholas's nightly visits, children put their shoes in front of the fire place or outside of their door where St. Nicholas puts a surprise.

The Academy of St. Adalbert had a very special visit from St. Nicholas on his feast day, Wednesday, December 6th. St. Nicholas was accompanied by his elves and black jacks. Once he found out how wonderful the students at the Academy of St. Adalbert were, he passed out candy canes to all.