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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on January 27, 2012, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Welcome back to school after a wonderful Christmas vacation!  I hope that your time away from school was as blessed and fulfilling as mine was!

Catholic Schools Week is coming right up, January 29 – February 3.  The theme this year is Faith, Academics, Service.  We will open the week with 10am Mass on Sunday and have a prayer service on Monday morning at 9am.  It is really great to see Academics sandwiched in between the two important aspects of every good Christian, faith and service.  Here at St Elizabeth’s we put great emphasis on building our students with a living faith that can sustain the trials of everyday living.  They are learning to be a saint right where they are, in their lives as children.  This is a very valuable perspective for our students; to realize that faith is something we live, not just something we are tested on in class.  We also take the cue from our patroness, St Elizabeth of Hungary, whose church and hospital ruins I was privileged to visit on my recent trip to Marburg, Germany.  St Elizabeth put the poor and needy ahead of her own comforts and was desirous of doing the Will of God completely in her life; service was her way of contributing to the community and the Church.  We, too, promote service as a way of life and do a great job of instilling this concept in our students.  Please talk with your children about the service that they do, and let them know that we are the hands, feet and voice of Christ on earth.  We really do make the difference!

As we return to worship together as a community, we turn to the Church calendar to see that we have come again to Ordinary Time, the time that is counted between the Christmas season and the next great season of the Church, Lent.  Ordinary Time is a time to allow ourselves to rest in Christ and grow in his grace.  The Church color green represents this season and reminds us that growth in good and necessary.  We prepare ourselves in this holy season as one who is anticipating the experience of  nature in its finest moments.  It can be compared to a time when you, perhaps, have taken a nice long walk on a beautiful day and were aware enough of God in nature and you were transformed.  Ordinary Time is our time to open ourselves to God and ask for the grace of growth in Him and with our neighbor.  In this holy time of the year, before Ash Wednesday and the sacrifices of Lent, help your children to realize the beauty and majesty of God in your everyday life.  Whether it is the beauty of your children or talent that God has given them, or something that is delightful and remarkable in nature, God is here presenting us with His goodness in every way!

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Fifth – Eighth Grade Religion

Posted on January 27, 2012, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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Religion classes have been working very hard throughout the entire 1st semester and have accomplished a great deal!  Below is our focus for the next few weeks:

8th:  Faith Sharing #4 will practically be a thing of the past by the time you read this!!  I know that we are all excited about the end to these time consuming assignments.  Rest assured, however, that these assignments will help your child to be able to articulate their faith in God in a way that many of their contemporaries do not have.  We are moving on to the last bit of information before Confirmation, which will take place on Saturday, February 11, at the 5pm Mass.  Please be sure to have your student in the cafeteria no later than 4:15 on that day.  Pictures will be available to be taken.  More information on that soon.  The parish Confirmation retreat will be on Saturday, February 4.  More information will be forthcoming as more information is sent from the rectory.

8th grade will continue to study in our books about the Church, but we will add a timeline element which helps them to place important events and happenings in the Church and the world throughout history.  It is a very valuable timeline which they can take with them into high school.

 

7th: Our study of God and His Son, Jesus, in the New Testament will continue to take up our time.  We will review God’s Plan for Salvation, Moses, and the prophets in order to lead up to Jesus and how the Old Testament is being fulfilled in the New. We will begin to focus, then, on Palestine in the time of Jesus, making our huge paper maps as a precursor to the salt clay maps that are a tradition at St Elizabeth’s.

 

6th: Our study of the Old Testament continues as the sixth graders learn about Abraham, Moses, and the Ten Commandments.  We relate this to ourselves today and find that by following God completely, by listening for His call and asking for His help, we can grow to be the people God is calling us to be.

 

5th:  We continue our understanding of Creation with a focus on the angels.  Students will find that angels are pure spirits, a different ‘species’ than we are and, as such, are not what we become when we die.  God made us separately and lovingly.  We serve a purpose in life that angels don’t and vice versa.  We then will move to ourselves being made in God’s image and how Adam and Eve’s choices gave us Original Sin.  But God gave Baptism to wash away our sad inheritance from Adam and Eve.

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on November 30, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Happy Advent!

As we begin the new Church year, we turn our attention to the comings of Christ; both as an infant in the manger, and also in glory at the Second Coming.  Our preparation for this holy season traditionally includes an Advent wreath marking each week with anticipation and joy, and with Advent calendars which count down the days until Christmas.  Both practices help us to stay focused on Jesus.  But there are other events and devotions which can also help to turn our minds to Christ and all the joy of the Season.  The St. Elizabeth Christmas Program, under the direction of Mrs Kuterbach, is a great way to see how children can lead the way in our desire to remember to joy of the Christmas Season.  Our fifth graders traditionally depict the Jesse Tree and will do so under the tutelage of Ms. Vercillo.

The new translation of the Mass began the First Sunday of Advent and calls us to a greater devotion to the Mass.  Your child should have brought home a Mass pamphlet entitled, The Revised Mass Texts.  This pamphlet was offered to the school community in an attempt to help make the transition to the revised Mass a smooth one.  Please let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them, or will find out for you.

The month of January will include Catholic Schools Week, and we will be sending out the schedule and information in the upcoming weeks.

 

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Fifth – Eighth Grade Religion

Posted on November 30, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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8th grade:  We will continue our preparation of Confirmation, which will be held on Saturday, February 11, at the 5:00pm Mass.  All students, whether or not they are being confirmed, must come to the Mass since a grade is attached to the event.  The final Faith Sharing #4, will be due January 26.  The students have had the information since before Christmas, so the work should be smashing!!

7th grade:  The seventh graders will begin to study the parables of Jesus, and they will have two major projects due during the month of January.  The most important one for parents to be aware of is the Sacraments of Initiation booklet.

6th grade:  Our study of Creation has taken us to understand the Truth that is found in Scripture and we learn more about God’s covenant with the Hebrew People.

5th grade:  Our study of the sacraments continues through the month of January.

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on October 22, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Dear St Elizabeth Community,

I offer you peace!  As we advance through October and the Halloween Carnival, we come to November.  Please remember that we will have Mass on Tuesday, November 1, All Saint’s Day.  All faculty, staff and students are being asked to dress as their patron saint, or Confirmation saint.  This is not a chance to dress in any costume, but an opportunity for students to research and find out about the saint(s) who have been praying for them their entire lives!  This is a precursor to the Saint Game which will take place on Friday, November 18.  More information will follow.

I would also like to remind everyone that the New Mass will be instituted on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011.  We will be sending home a pamphlet on the New Mass during the month of November for families to familiarize themselves with the changes in the Mass.  These changes are few and conform more closely to the actual translation of the Latin in the Roman Missal.  Please let me know if you have questions about this.  I will be happy to help you!

My prayers are for you and your families and your intentions.  Please also pray for me.

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Fifth – Eighth Grade Religion

Posted on October 22, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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8th grade:  Congratulations to the 8th graders for their outstanding spirit and commitment to the Hike for Life!  They did an awesome job, and they should be proud of themselves, I am certainly proud of them!  As we move on through October and into November, we will focus on The Models of the Church and the contribution Avery Cardinal Dulles gave to the Church during Vatican II.  We will move on to The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

7th grade:  The 7th graders have made great progress in their own understanding of Jesus in their lives.  We are studying the difference between Reason and Faith.  We will move on to Divine Revelation in Faith and from there onto an in-depth study of Creation.  Scripture plays an important role in this study.

6th grade:  We are studying the Rosary and each of the mysteries through the end of October, whereupon we will take time to focus on the real meaning behind Halloween and the Day of the Dead.  In November we will begin to focus on the ancient view of the earth and how it differs from our modern view.  We will also begin our study of Creation by visiting the two Creation stories in the Bible and focusing on the Biblical Truth that God made everything and that human beings top the ladder of creation only after God and the angels.

5th grade:  The Rosary has been our focus and understanding why we should say it and discovering its importance in our lives.  Our project will depict each mystery in the life of Jesus and Mary.  Upon our completion of this, we will focus on The Creed.  We will also look at the ‘new’ words of the Nicene Creed from the New Mass to see how it has changed.  We will find out what we really do believe, and what we must believe to call ourselves Catholic.  We will segue into our study of the Trinity after that as we focus more completely upon God as Three Persons in One God.

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on September 19, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Welcome back to a wonderful new school year!   We have been working very hard and have begun the year with several Religious devotions and sacraments.

We began school Masses on Friday, August 19.  We invite all parents to join us each Friday at the 8:00 am Mass, where students lead the Mass.  It is wonderful to see them growing and maturing with faith and confidence on the altar.  We applaud our many altar servers who are new and also those returning who are dedicating their time to serving the Church.

I would like to to take a moment to remind our students who are not Catholic to refrain from receiving the Holy Eucharist during the Mass.  Each year we have students who are not Catholic, and are either curious or  interested in fitting in with their friends, receive Holy Communion.  This is unfortunate since the student who should not receive Communion in the Catholic Church is usually not aware that their family would not want them to do.  We ask that all parents remind their children to only receive Holy Communion if they have received their First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church.

We also participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesdays from 10:30-11:15.  Each class is usually scheduled to receive Reconciliation at least twice in the year.  We welcome parents to receive the sacrament as well.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the 9-11 Prayer Service by sending in their $1.00 for the LED flameless candles.  They were beautiful on the altar rail, as well as a symbol of the Light of Christ underneath our ‘We Work for Peace and Justice’ flag adorned with the crucifix.  Your children were somber, sincere and reflective during this prayer service.  It was beautiful.

The month of September is devoted to Mary as the Mother of Sorrows, and September 8th is Our Lady’s birthday.  Our students made spiritual bouquets, and a garland to honor Our Mother.

Every Wednesday the entire school has been joining together in the church to practice the Mass songs and to focus on specific Mass practices.  We have improved our Mass singing voices and have shown greater respect during the ‘Sign of Peace,’ putting the kneelers up and down, and putting our books away!  It is a wonderful thing to have this time to practice for our Holy Mass.  The month of October is the month of the Rosary, and each Wednesday, in addition to practicing Mass songs, we will recite the rosary.  All parents are welcome.  We will begin at 2:15 each Wednesday afternoon.

First Friday’s we have the blessed opportunity to go to Adoration in the chapel.  Students learn and practice what it means to be in the presence of God almighty in the form of the consecrated Host, which as Catholics, we believe contains the fullness of the Sacrament, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.  Our student genuflect on two knees and spend time praying and contemplating God and His Life in us.

I am very happy to say that this year is a blessing to us all and that the entire school community has been receptive to the many devotions, prayer services and sacraments that we have participated in thus far.  We welcome all parents to join us any time that you are able to experience just a portion of the Religious Education that is afforded your child at St Elizabeth’s.  Please let me know if I can be of service to you this year.  I welcome your emails:  bbelcher@saintspride.com

God bless you during this school year, and always.

 

 

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Fifth – Eighth Grade Religion

Posted on September 19, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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Welcome to Religion!

Fifth grade:  I am very happy to be teaching 5th grade Religion this year!  Your children are very sweet and well behaved.  They are also interested in sharing their stories and experiences which relate to Christ in their lives.  We have done a great amount of work on prayer so far this year.  We are also learning how to use a Bible; how to find chapters in specific books.  We also have learned a few songs which your children have enjoyed singing.  It really is a blessing to be with them.  As we progress in September and into October, we will be leading the Mass.  Due to the large numbers of students when combined for Religion, I have chosen to separate them just for the Masses that they lead.  5A  will lead the school Mass on Friday, September 23; 5B will lead the school Mass on Friday, October 7.  I hope you will be able to attend!

Sixth grade:  We have begun 6th grade this year with a great start!  It was wonderful to see all of you at the 6th grade parent night, and I have been most appreciative of parents who have emailed me and asked questions.  I have the same desire that you do, and that is to see your child succeed!  So far this year, we have been learning about Scripture; Bible books, chapter and verse; Myth as a literary genre found in Scripture; Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur.  Your children are learning more than they are ever aware of!  We will continue our study of Salvation History throughout September with a timeline of the characters in the Bible and end this timeline with ourselves, as we, too, are part of the Salvation History story.  October will bring a greater understanding of Creation.

Seventh grade:  We have been enjoying 7th grade and our Mass on Friday, September 16.  Your children did a wonderful job as they led the all-school Mass!  We have been focusing on Jesus, who He is, and what we know about Him.  We are now going to take this knowledge and bring it home to our own lives to discover who Jesus is for ME?  And how to make Jesus a more integral part of MY life!  As you know, we begin Confirmation preparation in 7th grade, and even if your child will not be confirmed at St Elizabeth’s, all students benefit from discovering how Jesus is a part of their daily living and how to bring ourselves closer to God.

Eighth grade:  We hit the ground running in 8th grade this year!  We have been responsible for 2 Masses, the 9-11 Prayer Service, are preparing for the Pines trip, and have Faith Sharing #1 due this week.  Whew!  It is exciting to see your children grow and become the Christians that God is calling them to be, as well as the polite and mature young people that parents and teachers are hoping they will become.  September 28-30 is our Confirmation/Team Building retreat at the Pines.  When we come back we will be leading the all-school Hike for Life on October 7.  We have finished our study of the Images of the Church and the Creed and will segue into the Models of the Church as we progress into October.

Please remember that I am as close as an email, and don’t hesitate to ask questions, make constructive comments, or ask for clarifications.  I thank you.

 

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on May 27, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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As we close down this 2010-2011 school year, I would like to offer all St Elizabeth families my prayers for your summer; for your safety while traveling and your family time together.  May you have time to relax, reconnect with your family and spend quiet time with God.  We look forward to seeing you next year!

***CATECHETICAL CORNER***

Please join us for Vacation Bible School this summer, July 18-22, 2011, 8am-12:30 pm.  This is an excellent opportunity for your children who are going into 8th grade to get service hours, and it is also a great way to connect with families at both the school and the parish.

Keep your child’s spirituality strong by enrolling them after all Masses on June 25/26, July 2/3 ,  July 9/10, or July 16/17!

All those wishing to volunteer should be prepared to come to the Volunteer Meeting on June 4, at 10am.  Should you have any questions, please contact Kathy Price at 214-331-4328, or at kprice@buz.net We look forward to seeing you!!

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Middle School Religion

Posted on May 27, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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Dear Parents,

This year has been a delight for me and I have enjoyed your children tremendously.  I have learned a lot this year, and I hope that your children can say the same!  I look forward to being with your children next year and building upon the religious foundation that we have laid this year.

8th grade:

Congratulations to each and every one of you.  I hope that the knowledge you have gained this year will help you in high school and that you will take away from St Elizabeth’s fond memories of all of the Masses, devotions and prayers that you have participated in and have learned.  I will continue to pray for you as you move forward in your spirituality.  God bless you, stay safe and enjoy your summer!

7th grade:

Students may begin to log 8th grade service hours starting on the day after 7th grade is out for summer.  Students are required to log at the very least 30 hours of service and are encouraged to log as many as they are able.  Each year students log more than 100 hours of service and are forever memorialized on the “100 Club” bulletin board in my room, to be an example and inspiration to future classes.  I will go over all of the particulars with 7th grade regarding service hours.

Binders are due next week, May 31st.  The 7th grade Religion final will take place on Wednesday, June 1st, it will be counted as two test grades.  Reviews are due before the final and are counted as one test grade.  Reviews should be done in the students own handwriting, should be done individually, and must be complete to be considered for full credit.

Reminder:  All 8th grade students go on the Pines team building and Confirmation retreat which will be held on September 28-30, 2011.  The total cost of the trip is $195.  If you have not made a deposit towards the Pines trip you may do so during the summer months, M-Th 9:00-12Noon.  The school office will be closed during the last full week in July.  All monies for the Pines trip will be due on September 1, 2011.

6th grade:

It is very exciting to see how far the 6th graders have come in their understanding of the Old Testament!  They will certainly be ready for the our study of the New Testament in 7th grade!

Binders are due next week, May 31st.  The 6th grade Religion final will take place on Wednesday, June 2nd, it will be counted as two test grades.  Reviews are due before the final and are counted as one test grade.  Reviews should be done in the students own handwriting, should be done individually, and must be complete to be considered for full credit.

*I pray that all students may have a safe and restful summer vacation and come back to school in August ready for a great year in Religion!!

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on April 18, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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As we come to the end of this holy Lenten Season, we are tempted to give up our sacrificial commitments since we can see the light at the end of the spiritual tunnel.  EASTER!!  But we should hang in there for just a little while longer.  Also, we should consider that if we have not been able to stick with our Lenten promises, we should simply begin again – it is never too late to recommit to Christ and His goodness!

We will be having Easter Egg hunts for the lower grades during Easter Week, which is the week after Easter Sunday.  The teacher will stagger times for the students to have their Easter Egg fun!!  We are also looking ahead to First Communion for the 2nd graders on May 7 at 10:30 am.  Please continue to keep these sweet children in your prayers.

Our school has been participating in Stations of the Cross and the 3rd grade will lead us all in the Living Stations of the Cross on Holy Thursday morning, April 21 at 8:00am.  We invite all parents to join us in this beautiful devotion.

As a reminder, all students in Middle School are encouraged to attend the Triduum, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil Mass, April 21, 22, and 23.  They are able to receive up to 15 points of extra credit for attending these three high holy days of our Church.  By coming to St Elizabeth’s they only need to see me and stay for the entire service.  If they go to another parish or church, then they will need to write a paragraph about what they saw, and their parent must sign it for them to receive up to 5 points of extra credit.  Please remind your children that the Triduum is considered to be one Mass celebrated over a three day period of time, and as such they would benefit from participating in the entire 3 days.  However, even if they attend only one day, they may receive credit.

 

****Catechetical Corner ****

The word Triduum means “3 days” and is a Mass which encompasses all three days.  We understand the 3 roles of Christ which we are baptized into; priest, prophet and king.

Holy Thursday celebrates the institution of the priesthood showing service, and consecration.  Though the laity does not share in the ministerial priesthood, as baptized members of the Church, we are part of the royal priesthood and see service as our privilege and duty.

Good Friday reminds us that virtually all prophets of the Old Testament were killed by those who did not want to hear what they had to say.  The word prophet means, “one who speaks for God,” and these were the brave souls who knew that they would put themselves at risk by preaching God’s Truth.  We, as Christians, honor the way to salvation which is through the cross, and through our acceptance of possible persecution as we also live God’s Truth.  We venerate, or honor, the cross as we approach the altar barefooted in order to kiss the cross, which Christ modeled as our means to salvation. This is the only day in the Church year where priests do not consecrate hosts, and with the church bare, it shows what our lives would be like without the Holy Eucharist, as the faithful process behind the priest as he removes the Eucharist to an altar of repose outside of the church building.

And finally, the Easter Vigil recognizes the kingship of Christ and our share in this as RCIA members become fully initiated through Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.  We share the roles of priest, prophet and king through  Baptism and understand ourselves to be heirs to the Kingdom and, as such, are held to a higher moral standard.

 

 

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Middle School Religion

Posted on April 18, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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6th grade:

We have been learning about Moses and have illustrated the ten plagues, helped to part the Red Sea and played the tambourine and rejoiced that the Egyptian Army who were pursuing the Israelites were drowned in the Red Sea.  We are  now beginning to see how the Law – The Ten Commandments – became the glue that made the Israelites the Jewish Nation; the Chosen People.  We will be having out Seder Meal on Wednesday, April 20 and will see the similarities and differences between this sacred meal and the Holy Eucharist.  We will continue to follow the Israelites into the Promised Land and as the year ends we will connect this journey to the Catholic Sacraments, and see how the Promised Land mirrors heaven.

7th grade:

We are learning about Life Issues and what the Catholic Church says about Life.  The Church says that ALL LIFE IS GOOD, even if the circumstances of that life are questionable; the Church teaches that all life is sacred and should be honored from conception to natural death.  Student’s compassion is being stirred as they couple this information with the question of poverty, the poor and marginalized.  ‘What can we do about this??’ is a common question.  We will continue to focus on the Beatitudes and the Pillars of Catholic Social Teaching.  We will also have a mini-Faith Sharing assignment so that students will see that they do not need to be scared of the Faith Sharing assignments for next year.  We will do this mini assignment in class – don’t worry!!  It will be based on the Precepts of the Church which are found in your child’s workbook on page 240.  Please take time to familiarize yourself with these very important minimal expectations of the Church.  We will end the year focused on the Sacraments and our connection to Christ and each other.

8th grade:

As the year draws to an end I would like to take a moment to thank you for sharing your children with me for the last few years.  I have enjoyed each one of them and I think we have all learned a lot from each other!

The Passion Play is almost here and your students have worked very hard preparing.  We will continue our study of Church History and will touch on the highlights of the last 2000+ years from the Council of Jerusalem to Vatican II.  We will also choose our Charitable Giving organization, do a presentation on Religious Orders and will prepare for our end of the year ‘good-bye’ pep rally.  So much to do!!!

 

***All Middle School students will receive their final review no less than 10 days prior to their Religion final.  The review must be done in the student’s own handwriting. They must turn it in before they receive the final test or they will receive a zero grade for the review.  The review is counted as one test grade.  The final is counted as two test grades.***

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or constructive comments.  Thanks so much!

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on March 7, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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*”All is grace…We should adore God’s will whatever it may be.”*
*     –St. Therese of Lisieux*

These words of St Therese help us to see that both our sunny Texas days and our winter snow days were both fun and grace-filled, even if a little bit crazy from time to time!  It was great to have a few days off, and then also to get back in the classroom to continue with the good work of the year!

We hope that you enjoyed our Catholic School’s Week activities, and the hugs and kisses that you received at dismissal from the 7th grade.  Our canned food drive  gave us hundreds of cans to feed the hungry and we are proud to be able to be counted among those in the Diocese of Dallas who are great contributors to Oak Cliff Aid.

Our 8th grade continues to prepare for Confirmation with a rehearsal/retreat on Saturday, February 26 from 9-12noon.  Confirmation will take place on Sunday, March 6, at the 12 noon Mass.  Please keep these students in your prayers as they move closer to becoming fully initiated adults in the Church.  The 2nd grade will also receive the sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday, March 19 at 10:30.  Please keep the second graders in your prayers.

We look forward to Lent with Ash Wednesday on March 9.  We will receive ashes at the 8:00am Mass and hope that you will be able to join us.  Our calendar does not allow us to participate in Stations of the Cross until almost the end of the month.  Stations of the Cross at the school are always on Fridays, at 2pm, and the dates are as follows:

March 25   (5th – 8th)

April 1  (PK-4th)

April 15  (5th-8th)

We will have a Living Stations of the Cross, led by the 3rd grade, on Thursday, April 21 at 8:00 am.  We hope that you will be able to join us for this beautiful devotion.

**CATECHETICAL CORNER: Answering some questions about our faith**

Why do we bow to the altar, but genuflect in front of  the tabernacle?

We bow, or reverence the altar when we pass it to honor the bones of the martyrs and saints that are found in each altar stone.  This practice emerged when early Christians would pray near the graves of the martyrs in hope that they would receive the same grace, strength and fortitude that the martyrs showed in time of persecution.

We genuflect on our right knee in recognition that God is our King.  Established in the early medieval days, subjects of the king would bow, with eyes averted, as he passed by in a carriage or on horseback.  While in the presence of the king, a person would never turn their back on him, ask him a direct question or look him in the eye, unless he was a Lord.

Today we still follow the physical expression of understanding that God is our King, and by genuflecting towards the tabernacle, we are acknowledging His actual Presence.  We do not need to avert our eyes; quite the contrary, we are encouraged to look at him and know him; and we can even receive him in our hands to consume His Body and Blood.

Now that the tabernacle is moved from the center altar in most Diocese of Dallas churches, we make a point of bowing towards the altar, but should remember that Christ is present in the Eucharist and we should still genuflect when we pass the tabernacle.

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Middle School Religion

Posted on March 7, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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6th grade:

Our 6th graders have been slowly making their way through the stories of the Patriarchs.  We are finishing the story of Joseph who was given the coat of many colors.  His life in Egypt was not an easy one, from being sold and falsely accused to saving humanity from certain death, Joseph prefigured Jesus who would come to save us from our sins.  We will move on from here to focus on the Catholic meaning of Mardi Gras, Lent and the forty days of sacrificing we do not only for ourselves, but for those going through RCIA.

7th grade:

The 7th graders have learned so much this year about themselves and are working on learning Jesus’ meaning about Parables and how we should read the stories in order to change our lives.  We will weave the Miracle stories in with Mardi Gras, Lent and our service which helps us to prepare for Confirmation next year.  We hope to attain a service mentality to help us see that when we all work for the common good we are then in solidarity with those in need and the entire Body of Christ is elevated by our outreach!

8th grade:

It is exciting to note that your child’s 8th grade year is soon coming to a close.  They are working on their 8th grade/Confirmation Student Treasure Books.  Each year students enjoy writing a book about themselves.  It should be quite wonderful!

The sacrament of Confirmation will take place on Sunday, March 6, at the 12 noon Mass. All students, whether receiving the sacrament or not, are required to attend this sacrament. If for some reason your child is unable to attend, he/she will be required to turn in a research paper – on a topic to be determined – within three days of the event. All students are graded on their participation of the event and it wouldn’t be fair to penalize a student from a fair grade if they are not able to attend.  If this date becomes a problem, parents should contact me before March 6, and I will work with your child on the topic of their research paper.

Any student who has been confirmed is eligible to be trained as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. I will give one training on Thursday, March 10, from 4:00- 5:00pm.  All students interested in serving should see me for a permission slip.  Serving in a ministry is a privilege not a right, and so no student may be trained unless a signed permission slip is turned in to me on March 10.

I look forward to working with your wonderful children as the year progresses.

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on January 18, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Welcome back to school! I hope that everyone had a peaceful and blessed Christmas break! We are off to a wonderful start for 2011! I would like to introduce CATECHETICAL CORNER to my blurb, where I focus on one explanation of Catholicity each month. Please see below for a short reflection on the feast of the Epiphany which we have celebrated earlier in this month.

Our all-school service project, Super Kids/Super Sharing, began on January 4 and will continue until January 18, as we join forces with the Super Bowl Committee and the Dallas Cowboy’s to collect sports equipment, board games, books and school supplies to donate to the needy in North Texas. As a thank you, the Dallas Cowboy’s have opened their stadium at reduced ticket prices ($9) so that families may have the opportunity to take a self guided tour. This will take place on Thursday, January 20, from 11:30 – 2:00. All families are asked to FAX their money and ticket request directly to the the following number FAX 817-892-4670. The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, January 12, 2011. Parents are responsible for their own transportation, tickets and that of their children. They are also responsible for their children while they take their own guided tour. All students must come to school that day and then be picked up to go to the stadium. They will be excused from class if they write a paragraph about their educational experience, have their parent sign in and turn it in to their homeroom teacher the following day. It will truly be an exciting day!

At the end of the month we invite you to join us for the Opening Catholic School’s Week Mass on Sunday, January 30, at 10am. All students who wear their Friday Mass uniform to this Mass will receive a dress down day on Monday, January 31. We have many wonderful activities planned for this great week which celebrates our collective commitment to Catholic Education!  Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for your children and their education!

Peace!

CATECHETICAL CORNER: The feast of the Epiphany,

January 6 is the feast of the Epiphany and the last day of the 12 Days of Christmas. It is the day the 3 Wise Men, Kings or Magi (whatever you wish to call them) came to adore Christ. It signifies that Christ came for all mankind, not just the Jews. When they left after adoring Jesus, they skirted Jerusalem and King Herod. In scripture it says that, “they departed for their country by another way.” (Mt 2:12b). This by another way tells us not only that did not pass through Jerusalem, but that they personally were changed and went home thinking differently about God and the meaning of their lives.

This feast day, though not celebrated the way ‘we used to,’ is a wonderful feast to contemplate. The word epiphany means “a manifestation of God; a revelation.” Take time today, if you can, to ask God to reveal Himself to you. I am sure that even if you can only take a minute or two for this spiritual exercise, you may go home tonight by another way.

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Middle School Religion

Posted on January 18, 2011, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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6th grade: I am very proud of your 6th graders as we begin the second half of the school year. They have learned so much about religion, but also they are smart and quick and excited to learn. We have a wonderful time in class each day. They have just finished the first unit of their Religion text, and now we will move on to Abraham, our father in faith. We will begin a long and arduous journey discovering God’s covenantal relationship with mankind and how from just one man comes the three great religions; Judaism, Islam and of course, Christianity. This is an exciting unit and your children will learn a great deal about themselves as well as salvation history.

Current Events are due on Tuesday, January 25. Students may use a print or online resource, or they may do a project.

7th grade: We will continue to discover our own family tree as we realize that to be a son or daughter of God means that we are adopted by God’s own grace. Jesus is the Son of God, and we are his adopted siblings. We have crossed the curriculum with this assignment and joined with 7th grade Literature class to see how the book, Feathers, has a religious tone. We will then move from our study of the Sacraments of Initiation to our study of Jesus’ parables. This is a particularly detailed look at the words of Christ, and it will culminate with a parable booklet.

Current Events are due on Tuesday, January 25. Students may use a print or online resource, or they may do a project.

8th grade: As we continue our preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation, we have been discussing the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit and how they affect our daily living. We will see how the Beatitudes give us another perspective on ‘right living.’ The students will discover that through the Beatitudes we come to learn that we can only be blessed when we allow God’s grace and action in our lives. We will follow this with a review of the Marks of the Church.

Please be reminded that the Confirmation Rehearsal/Retreat will take place on Saturday, February 26, from 9am -12noon. Sponsors only need to stay from 9am – 10am. All students, whether receiving the sacrament or not, are required to attend this rehearsal/retreat. If for some reason your child is unable to attend, he/she will be required to turn in a term paper – on a topic to be determined – within three days of the event. All students are graded on their participation of the event and it wouldn’t be fair to penalize a student from a fair grade if they are not able to attend.

The sacrament of Confirmation will take place on Sunday, March 6, at the 12 noon Mass. Again, all students, whether receiving the sacrament or not, are required to attend this rehearsal/retreat. If for some reason your child is unable to attend, he/she will be required to turn in a term paper – on a topic to be determined – within three days of the event. All students are graded on their participation of the event and it wouldn’t be fair to penalize a student from a fair grade if they are not able to attend.

The final Faith Sharing #4 is due on Thursday, January 27. Eighth graders do not have a Current Event due this month.

As always, I welcome questions and constructive comments. Please feel free to contact me at bbelcher@saintspride.com

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on December 8, 2010, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Happy Advent!

This is a time to reflect on our lives and how we will await the coming of Christ.  If you are like most people you hate to hurry up just to wait; we do this may times, such as, on the highway as rush hour begins and when we finally make it to the doctor’s office after preparing everything just so we can be away from our work for an hour or two.   But Advent is a time to contemplate the two comings of Christ; as a baby in the manger on Christmas Day, and in His glory at the Second Coming.  We see these events and in our heart of hearts, we desire to be ready to greet Him, to prepare ourselves and be at our best.  We clean and decorate our homes for Christmas, and we should also consider cleaning and preparing our souls for Christ to come more significantly into our hearts.  Going to the sacraments, especially Reconciliation, is a great way to prepare our hearts to meet God and connect with our families – to be ready to see Christ in others and know him in his comings.  Please note that the St Elizabeth parish Reconciliation services will take place on both December 15 and 22.  We hope to see you there!

Thanks to everyone who kept the 8th grade in your prayers earlier in December as we spent three days at The Pines in preparation for Confirmation which will take place on March 6, at the 12 noon Mass.   I hope that you have had an opportunity to spend time speaking with your child or visiting the school as so many wonderful lessons are being taught and learned about our faith and this Holy Season.  Please join the 1st grade class at the Children’s Christmas Eve Mass at 7:00pm, on December 24, as they depict the Gospel nativity story.  It is a beautiful thing to see our children so reverently honoring Our Lord’s birthday.

Students have made special cards, written letters to service men and women, and have sung at the local nursing homes in order to celebrate the Good News of our savior’s birth.  Thank you for sharing your children with us at St Elizabeth’s and for giving them a firm foundation in faith in order for us to build upon your good work.

Have a blessed and holy Christmas and New Year vacation.  I wish you peace.

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Middle School Religion

Posted on December 8, 2010, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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6th grade:

The 6th graders are doing a great job with their very first test review for Religion.  This review will be due before the test is taken on Wednesday, December 15.  They will hand them to me as they walk in the door on that day.  Any review not handed in before the test will result in a zero.  We are finishing up Unit 1 and will begin Unit 2 after the holidays and will begin to prepare for Catholic Schools Week which will occur in the last week of January.  I have enjoyed getting to know your children and look forward to a wonderful second half of the year.

7th grade:

Always bright and quick with answers to questions and information, this class is amazing!  I am enjoying them this year!  We are finishing up Unit 1 and will have a major project due Thursday, January 13.  They will receive the rubric on Wednesday, December 8.  We will begin Unit 2 in January as well as prepare for Catholic School’s Week.  Service hours can begin being logged by 7th graders on January 4 and will be due on May 11, 2011.  The students must do no less than 10 hours of service to be considered for full credit.

8th grade:

What a fantastic trip to The Pines!  We had a wonderful time and your children came back closer to God.  One student said to me, upon returning to school on Monday morning, “The Pines was great, Mrs. Belcher, I’m a changed person!  I wasn’t mean to my brother all weekend.  I really feel like I know God better!”  I think that this sums up what many of the students felt about their experience – they each came to know God better in one way or another.  We will continue preparing for Confirmation in class as we work more closely on the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit.  Also the last Faith Sharing (#4) will be due on Thursday, January 27.  As we return from Christmas vacation, we will follow up with Catholic Schools Week and a new service project!

All Middle School students will have a major vocabulary test on Wednesday, December 15.  This test is worth two (2) test grades.  The test review that they will turn in prior to the test will be worth one (1) test grade.  Any test review not turned in before the test will result in a zero. Sorry, but it’s true…

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on October 29, 2010, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Hello, everyone!

Can we possibly be at the end of the first quarter already? I am amazed at how quickly the time has gone by! I hope that you have been able to join us for at least one Mass so far this year, or possibly the Rosary which each department has said on Wednesday’s during the month of October. We have also shown our respect for LIFE and all LIFE issues through our Hike last month, posters around the school highlighting different aspects of life from birth to the elderly. Mrs Porter and Mrs LeRosen have also spearheaded the Military Prayer Project which focuses on our loved ones who are serving in the Armed Forces either at home or abroad. Lastly we have made a concerted effort to bring bullying to light with our students to help them see that there really is something that can be done when someone bullies you or you see someone else being bullied. We have actively been making LIFE a priority over this past month.

We head into November as we learn about twelve saints whom we have not learned about before. Our annual Saints Game will take place on November 19 at 2:00. We hope that many of our parents will be able to join us! This game is fun, shows how much your children have learned this year, and so many students get to participate!  Students will also be in the Mass procession that morning! It is quite wonderful! Our second graders will lead us in an all-school Thanksgiving Prayer Service on Tuesday, November 23 at 9:00am.

We will head into Advent shortly after Thanksgiving and begin the new Church year. Please pray for us at St Elizabeth’s and we will continue to pray for you and your intentions. All intentions sent to my attention are mentioned at Mass on the closest Friday to the time I received your email. Please be sure to contact me at bbelcher@saintspride.com I will be happy to add your intention to our list.

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Middle School Religion

Posted on October 29, 2010, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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8th grade:

Students are coming right along with Confirmation preparation! They have turned in two Faith Sharing assignments and are half-way finished!  We will continue to learn about the Church; models, prayer, the Holy Spirit as Sanctifier, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Your students have each written a prayer that they will be able to add to the morning prayers for the entire school. Soon they will say spontaneous prayer! They become pretty proud of themselves when they accomplish this. Please continue to pray for your son or daughter as they prepare for Confirmation.

7th grade:

We are continuing our understanding of Acts of the Apostles and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  We are moving towards knowing the Apostles and their contribution to our faith. We will also focus on Mary and the saints and why we ask their intercession as well as seeing them as role models even for today.  The seventh grade will begin their Apostles Wanted Poster project next week!

6th grade:

The sixth grade class has really come a long way since the beginning of the school year – I am so proud of them!  They are a smart and thinking class and do very well in Religion. We will continue to work on our Old Testament understanding of God and salvation history. We have just completed our Creation project, know what a myth is and are ready to take steps to understand how sin came into the world and the stories which illustrate God’s actions towards sin and sinners and how God developed a covenant with us, God’s children.

All of the classes have been going over bullying actions and reactions; finding ways to be true to one’s self and still care for another who is being treated in an unfair way. All of the classes are also reading the 7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens book and doing various assignments which have helped them to discover that good habits help to establish good character. Guidance class is a process of going over material and living in a way which models right behavior for students. Parents are the most influential role models for their children, as well as being the primary educator. Thank you in advance for working with your children to set good boundaries and help them to see that they, like the other students in the class, are a gift from God. Please feel free to contact me at bbelcher@saintspride.com

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From Beth Belcher, MTS – Director of Religious Education

Posted on September 29, 2010, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to a new and exciting year of learning at St Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic School. We have gotten off to a great start in fulfilling our baptismal promises of seeking Christ and bringing Him to other people. We are very happy that you have chosen to send your child(ren) to St Elizabeth’s, and we will do everything in our power to build upon the wonderful foundation of Christ that you have begun in your home. We are here to help, encourage, affirm, pray, and guide your child to a greater understanding of the love of God and the need for us to show this love to one another.

You will find information on my website which pertains to the Religious instruction and activities associated with St Elizabeth’s. These schedules include the Mass, Reconciliation and Religious Activities schedules for the 2010-2011 school year. Please go to www.belcher@saintspride.com in order to print these schedules. (Please keep in mind that the Reconciliation Schedule may change and is subject to the needs of the parish.)

Friday, September 24, from 9:30 – 11:30, directly after Mass, is the annual Hike for Life. This Hike is a major service project for 8^th grade, and we are accepting donations to support this worthy cause. Please join us to help moms and babies by walking if you are able.

We hope that this is a fruitful year and a blessed one for you and your family. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions, or constructive comments. I will continue to pray for you and your families as we walk this school year journey together. bbelcher@saintspride.com.

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Mrs. Belcher, MTS – Middle School Religion

Posted on September 29, 2010, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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6^th grade: The sixth graders have begun this year strong and are working to their full ability. They have learned the Old Testament Bible Books song, and are in the process of constructing a Biblical Timeline which begins with Adam and Eve and ends with us today; after all, we, too, are part of salvation history! They will complete this and begin to focus on Covenant love in the Old Testament and how it relates to God’s covenant love with the New Testament. The first half of the year is a slow, methodical process to understand how mankind came to know God and love Him through His help and guidance. Their booklet God’s Word is Alive in ______ was due on Wednesday, September 29.

7^th grade: Seventh grade has begun with a flourish! These students are amazing and have moved very fast in their understanding of basic information relating to the Bible and the New Testament. They have been learning about the ancient world and the life of people who lived at the time of Jesus. They are now working on a floor to ceiling map of ancient Palestine. Soon they will make their salt clay maps which will be due on Tuesday, October 5.

8^th grade: What an exciting year this is! These students have spent the first few weeks of this year focused on the Images of the Church! They will learn much this year concerning the Church, Church History and how Scripture relates to the Church. We will continue to prepare for Confirmation, go on retreat at The Pines and do a service project in both the 1^st quarter – The Hike for Life – and the 2^nd quarter – a project yet to be determined; your children will also vote on which organization should be the recipient of the 8^th grade charitable giving donation. Faith Sharing assignments are a big part of their Religion education before Confirmation. Though this work may become tedious, it is one of the best tools for your child to see what they really think about their faith and how committed they are to embracing it even more closely before and after Confirmation. I thank all of you in advance for the help and support you are offering your children throughout this process!

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From Beth Belcher, Director of School Religious Education

Posted on March 11, 2010, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Happy Lent!  I hope that everyone has had an opportunity to dive deeply into this season.  As you know, the sacrifices we make give courage and spiritual strength to those who will be coming into the Church this Easter season.  What a beautiful way to say, “Welcome!”

Congratulations are in order for both the 8^th graders, who celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, February 14, and the 2^nd graders who celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Saturday, March 6.  These students have prepared long and hard to receive the fullness that is Jesus Christ.  We are so proud of them!

Mark you calendars to join us at the school’s Friday Mass on March 26 at 8:00, as the 8^th graders depict the Passion of Jesus on that day.  They will also do the same at Palm Sunday 10am Mass on March 28.  This traditional depiction is always a moving tribute to the goodness of God as He sent his Son to proclaim the Kingdom and save us from our sins.  We hope that you will join us!

Easter is on Sunday, April 4, and as a reminder, all Easter egg hunts will take place on Tuesday, April 6.  We respect and honor the Lenten Season as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of the Lord.  Thank you in advance for your understanding and support of our Religious Education program.

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Mrs. Belcher – Middle School Religion

Posted on March 11, 2010, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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6^th Grade

We have spent a good deal of time on foundational information pertaining to the Old Testament.  We have studied the Patriarchs and have moved on to Moses and the Chosen People.  We have also looked at the highest holy days of our Church calendar and have talked about the Triduum.  We will celebrate a Seder Meal on Tuesday, March 31.  More information will follow as we get closer to this date.  After Easter, we will then move forward learning about the Ten Commandments.

7^th Grade

Our focus of parables has given us a greater understanding of Jesus and what God is calling us to:  to look through the words (of the story) to the wisdom of God.  We have discussed and dissected 14 different parables in class and the 7^th grade Parable Booklet is due Friday, March 12.  When we come back from Spring Break we will focus on the Miracles of Christ.

8^th Grade

We have just finished an in depth look at the Marks of the Church, the Jerusalem Cross, and we are now preparing for the Passion Play.  It is exciting to be working with your children on this beautiful tradition at St Elizabeth’s!  After Easter we will focus exclusively on Church History for the remainder of the school year.  Your students will be voting on their Charitable Giving Options this week and you will be receiving an email relating to that by Friday.

As always, should you have a question or constructive comments, please email me.  I will get back to you as soon as possible.

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From Beth Belcher, Director of Religious Education

Posted on December 10, 2009, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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As we prepare for Christmas and await the birth of Our Lord, and His Second Coming, I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Last Friday, Fr. Ben blessed candy canes for the school in honor of St Nicholas Day this week.  All of the students were delighted to have the holiday treats.

Please pray for the 8^th graders as they are participating in their Confirmation/Team Building retreat at the Pines Wednesday, Dec 9 – Friday, Dec 11.

The fifth grade will lead the entire school in a Jesse Tree celebration on Friday, Dec. 18 at 9:00 am.  The first grade will be acting out the Gospel at the 7 pm Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church.  There are so many other wonderful activities planned at this time of the year, and all of the students are involved in one way or another.

Please don’t forget the Giving Tree which has a deadline of this Friday, Dec. 11.  Please bring in a new or gently used toy to the 8 am Mass and bring it up to the altar at the Presentation of the Gifts.  These will be collected and given to needy families in the area.

Again, let me wish you a safe and holy Holiday Season.

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Mrs. Belcher – Middle School Religion

Posted on December 10, 2009, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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All of Middle School has a Current Event due Wednesday, Dec. 16 and a major vocabulary test on Thursday, Dec 17.  This will also include the St Gertrude the Great prayer.

6th Grade

The students have been learning about ‘sin stories’ and how sin entered the world, thanks to Adam and Eve.  We will move on after Christmas to studying about Abraham, and Jacob.

7^th Grade

Seventh graders have been working on the difference between the Gospel of Matthew’s account of the Nativity and the Gospel of Luke’s account.  There really is a difference!  We will move on to The Mission of Jesus and the learning about the Apostles after we come back from Christmas break.

8^th Grade

We have been working hard on the Faith Sharing pages and the very last one is due Thursday, January 8, 2010.  I am very sure that they will feel that a huge weight is lifted from their shoulders once they have completed this last page.  By the time Confirmation rolls around, they will be ready!  We have focused on the Models of the Church and once we are back from Christmas break we will look at Prayer and Service – St Augustine’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit and the Beatitudes.

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From Beth Belcher, Director of Religious Education

Posted on November 11, 2009, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Hello, St Elizabeth families!  Happy November!

This is the month of All Saints, and All Souls. We ask everyone to continue to pray for those in our lives who are sick, are adversely affected by our economy, have some kind of special need, or those who have died.  We especially remember Phillip Davis, dad of Trey Davis-Hale, and ask you to continue to keep him and his family in your prayers as they face this difficult time.

This month also ushers in our Saint’s Game, to be held on Friday, November 20 at 2pm in the gym. All of the classes will take part in the saint’s procession to be held on that same morning, at the 8:00 am Mass. We hope that as many of you, who are able, will join us to celebrate those who have officially been recognized as saints in the Catholic Church! It is always a wonderful procession and game! Be sure to mark your calendars for these great events.

A few other dates to remember would be the followingTuesday, November 17, the feast of St Elizabeth of Hungary – students will receive a free piece of ‘feast day’ cake at lunch

• Friday, November 20, Saint’s Mass procession (8am) and Saint’s Game (2pm)
• Tuesday, November 24, Thanksgiving Prayer Service, 9 am, 2nd grade leads the school
• Monday, November 30, The Giving Tree begins for the school community – please bring new unwrapped toys to Mass on Fridays and your child will bring these gifts up and place them under the tree in the sanctuary.

We encourage families to write their special intentions on the slips of paper outside of the front office and place them in the basket to be brought up to the altar during each Mass.  We consider your intentions to be private and will be prayed for silently; however, people for whom you’d like prayers should be directed to me or your child’s Religion teacher. The ‘basket’ intentions will eventually be used as kindling for the Easter fire during the Triduum.

As we move closer to the end of the month, to Thanksgiving and to Advent, I wish you and your families a blessed and peace-filled holiday season.

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Mrs. Belcher – Middle School Religion

Posted on November 11, 2009, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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8th Grade- SAINT PRESENTATIONS!!! These students did a fantastic job depicting their Confirmation saints and presenting their information to the students of the school. We got lots of great comments for their amazing presentations!! BRAVO!  We will move onto The Model’s of the Church, as was instituted by Vatican II, through the late Avery Cardinal Dulles.

7th Grade just finished their colorful and accurate Holy Land maps. Ask them questions about the different cities on the map!  We will move forward with the Infancy Narratives and the two different depictions of Nativity scenes in Luke and Matthew’s gospels.

6th Grade is studying Creation – both Biblical stories. They have just learned about the Ladder of Creation- ask them what they learned.  Next we will focus on sin, how it came into the world, and the biblical stories that show us this and the love and mercy of God which has redeemed us.

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Religious Education

Posted on September 24, 2009, by Beth Belcher, under Religious Education.

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Hello, all, and a hearty 2009-2010 welcome to you all!!  We look forward to a wonderful year with all of your children.

I would first like to offer my aid to anyone who may be in need of clarifications or questions answered about our Religious Education here at St Elizabeth.  Our goal is for your child to feel welcome and to know the love of Jesus Christ each day here at St. E’s.  Please let me know if you have questions or constructive comments to share.  I can be reached by email: bbelcher@saintspride.com.

Each Friday, at Mass, our classes offer prayers and petitions to be included with the gifts which are brought to the altar.  We would like to open this opportunity to all families by placing an Intentions basket on the round table outside of the office.  On that table you will also find a pad of paper that you may use to write your own petitions to be offered at Mass.  No one will read these petitions, they are from your heart and that will be respected.  God knows what you desire and how ardently you pray, so we would like to offer our prayers with yours for the good of all our St Elizabeth students, parents, faculty and staff.

Lastly, in honor of Respect Life Month, please begin sending in pictures of your families, any service men and women, grandparents, babies, etc.  We are constructing a ‘tree of life’ made from the pictures of the people in our lives, along with the handprints of all of our school children and staff.  Feel free to send in handprints from anyone in your family who does not already go to St E’s.  We will be constructing this tree next week, for the month of October, when the Hike for Life will take place.  Just send your pictures with your name, child’s grade and put it in an envelope marked:  Mrs Belcher, Tree of Life.  I look forward to seeing as many pictures as possible of our families so that we are all united for Life!

Below, please find the Mass schedule for the year.  This is subject to change since sometimes issues arise that are out of our control.  Please be sure to check with your child’s teacher to confirm Mass dates for your child.

• September 4^th – 8B; 11^th – 4A; 18^th – 4B; 25^th – 7A
• October 2^nd – 8A; 9^th – 5A; 16^th – 6A; 30^th – 6B
• November 6^th – 3A; 20^th – 3B
• December 4^th – 8A; 8^th (Tues) – 8B; 11^th – 4A; 18^th – 4B
• January 8^th – 7A; 15^th – 7B; 22^nd – 2B; 29^th – 6A
• February 5^th – 6B; 12^th – 3A; 17^th (Wed) – 5A; 19^th – 3B; 26^th – 7B
• March 5^th – 8A; 12^th – 1A; 25^th – 1B
• April 9^th – 2B; 16^th – 8B; 23^rd – 7A; 30^th – 7B
• May 7^th – 1A; 14^th – 1B; 21^st – KA; 28^th – Faculty

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Mrs. Belcher – Middle School Religion

Posted on September 24, 2009, by Beth Belcher, under Middle School Notes.

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6th Grade
We have learned the Old Testament songs and can sing them at a moment’s notice!! Pretty good stuff! We have looked at Hebrew (Old Testament) Scripture and will continue to do so as we make our way through Salvation History up to the time of Joshua and entering into the Promised Land. This will take us a good portion of the year, but we will continue to learn, at this point, about Scripture and how important it is – it is the Word of God, and how Scripture is TRUE but not necessarily FACTUAL. We then understand that spiritual truths are where we can learn the most and apply them to our daily living.

7th Grade
I am proud of your students as we have gotten off to a great start this year, singing the New Testament songs. We have looked at the impact of Christ in our lives, and we will move on to how His Church is accessible to us, through Scripture and Tradition. Christian Scripture (the New Testament) takes a huge roll this year, as we come to learn about the Evangelists and their impact on our lives today. We will also cover how the Gospels came to be written, why is Acts of the Apostles so important, and how truth is contained in Scripture even though all of Scripture may not be factual.

8th Grade
We have started off on a wonderfully great foot this year. I am so proud of your children and the work that they have done thus far. We will continue with our study of the Images of the Church, and move on to Respect Life Month, in October with the Hike for Life. Your children do receive 6 hours of Service for this event! They will also help to construct the Tree of Life that will be down the hall outside of the Social Studies, Library and Religion rooms. We will make Trinity rolls, to show how leaven grows and spreads, then we will move on to our roots of Christianity, deeply steeped in the Hebrew Scriptures, and reviewing Abraham, our Father in Faith.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or constructive comments at bbelcher@saintspride.com Looking forward to hearing from you!

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• Welcome Saints

  

  Welcome to the parents' online newsletter for St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic School. Published monthly from September to June, this is the place to read all the updates from our teachers, school administrators, and organizations.

• Mission Statement

  Our mission at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic School is to serve God through our ministry of educational excellence and to develop the spiritual lives of our youth within the framework of the Gospel and the tradition of the Catholic Church.

• Philosophy

  Our fundamental task is the education of the whole child, combining learning with faith, Catholic doctrines and moral teachings. We strive to instill in our students a lifelong commitment to learning, to Christian values and citizenship, and like our patroness, to community service. We are dedicated to achieving these goals within a supportive and diverse Christian community and to living our faith daily with the understanding that education is a process that never ends.