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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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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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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• 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.