Hello HSYM Parents and Teens,
Time for another update on this week’s HSYM Catechesis Sunday. The topic of this Sunday was “Lent.” In a few days we will celebrate Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten Season. We started the evening in our prayer circle and lighted candles which spelled out the word “Lent” on the ground in the middle of the circle. I briefly spoke about Lent being upon us and the teens should study and think about this time of year in an adult frame of mind and how they can make this season very special for themselves and their families. We then turned down the lights and listened to a Jeremy Camp song called “This man.” Here is a link to the song/video for your enjoyment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df9mFYO02f4&feature=PlayList&p=4A6D190B29306302&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
Fr. Paul came in and spoke to the teens about the meaning of Lent. This talk was very informative and inspiring about the Lenten Season, Lenten traditions, and how we can make it a part of our daily lives. Ask your teen about it and what they learned this evening. The Teens then broke into their small groups and discussed about seven questions on this night’s topic. When we all came back together in one group I spoke to them about the four themes of Lent (Prayer, Fasting, Penitence, and Almsgiving) and how they could incorporate these themes into the family life during the Lenten Season:
1) Prayer: Families can use prayer to spend quality time together in the evening instead of watching television. Select a special area of your home and decorate it with religious articles so your family can pray together, thank God for all that is good in your life or pray for special intentions.
2) Fasting: Teens should be fasting during Lent and abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays. This reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on Good Friday. Fasting also builds self-discipline which is extremely important in these teen years.
3) Penitence: Families can attend Church Penance Services or go to Confession as a family. Families can pray together at home and forgive each other for wrongs that have done to one another.
4) Almsgiving: Families can also do something or give of themselves during this Lenten Season. Work at local Charities as a family, collect money from giving up special things and at the end of Lent give all the collected money to the poor, or teens can promise to do what their parents ask the first time without arguing or complaining about the task.
We ended the night with a game called “Chubby Bunnie.” We had four 1st Year and four 2nd year students represent and play the game. The idea is to see who can put as many marshmallows in their mouth, one at a time, and say “Chubby Bunnie” clearly in the microphone. Congratulations to 1st year student Ernie Castellenos who won with 7 marshmallows in his mouth. Next week is Teen Mass/ Social/ Fellowship Sunday. Reminder – All students must be at the Parish Center at 4:30pm. This is when class starts, not at 5pm or later. Students will be marked absent if not on time and this can cause problems with successfully completing the course. Please be on time. Our Fellowship project will be making Care Packages for the Military. I have attached a list of items your teen can bring to class that can be purchased for a few dollars. Let me know if you cannot read the attachment and I will email you the list of items. All students were also given a copy of the list to bring home. I wanted to show a video at the end of class to remind all the teens that the Lenten Season is preparing us for Easter Sunday and the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us all but the internet connection was not working properly in the Parish Center. I have attached it for your viewing and please share this with your teen. Enjoy your week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXcbGxvgyR4&feature=related
Sincerely,
Kerry & Maura Condon
“God is good. All the time.All the time. God is good.”
