Sunday School First Day is September 18, 2011
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LETTER FROM FR. JOSEPH
2011 – 2012 SUNDAY SCHOOL PERSONNEL LIST
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND FAITH IN THE DOMESTIC CHURCH
THE MELKITE HOME
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
2011-2012 SUNDAY SCHOOL CALENDAR
2010-2011 CLASS SUMMARIES
August 21, 2011
Dear Parents,
We have celebrated forty years together as a parish community and that gives one quite a perspective. I am speaking about what happens to our youngsters who attend catholic schools. Before I begin, don’t think that I am making a diatribe against the catholic school system, far from it. They do an excellent job. They make their students into good Latin-rite Catholics. That is what they are supposed to do. When our students go to catholic schools, very often we lose them for our church. In my many years as a priest, I have seen this happen over and over again. What to do?
We all want our children to have the best education we can provide. In some cases this takes place in the catholic school system. If your child is enrolled in the local catholic school you have an additional job to do. I need your help to keep our children in our church. Please inform the school authorities that your child is Greek Catholic and therefore has been Baptized, Chrismated and has been receiving Holy Communion since birth. In addition, you should see to it that they are excused from mandatory participation in these classes preparing for these sacraments. Above all, it is not enough to merely prevent them from participating; you have to replace them with programs offered here at our parish church.
Why do I stress this? Simply because I will not preside over a parish that allows its youth to be lost to us all in the name of accommodation. If you want your children to stay a part of our church, you have to bring them to the Divine Liturgy, to Sunday School and to youth activities. We offer a Religious Education program that is first rate for students from toddlers thru high school. In addition, we also offer Adult Education. I am counting on you to take the responsibility to get them up, dressed and here on time on Sunday mornings. I will be here, I hope you will too.
Sincerely yours in Christ our God,
Archimandrite Joseph Francavilla, Pastor
2011 – 2012 SUNDAY SCHOOL PERSONNEL LIST
PASTOR
Rt. Rev. Joseph Francavilla,
CO-ORDINATOR
Georgianna Kostak
STAFF
Cathy Baroody
Alicia Rosov
Mary Baroody (advisory)
JUNIOR CHOIR DIRECTORS
Protodeacon David Baroody
Paul Baroody
TEACHERS
Toddlers
Maria Cowen
Monique Murray
Classroom Monitor
Craig Cowen
Pre-K and Kindergarden
Laura Audi
1st Grade
Megan Fakhouri
2nd Grade
Victoire deLeusomme
Melissa Olt
3rd Grade
Judy Handal
4th & 5th Grades
Margaret Klimon
6th & 7th Grades
Robert Salem
+
8th & 9th Grades
Protodeacon David Baroody
Deacon David Black
Deacon Joseph Olt
Deacon John Fleshman
Deacon Sabatino Carnazzo
10th, 11th & 12th Grades
Anne & Phil Benedicto
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Anne & John Gallagher
Lila Black
Danielle Kabban
Linda Black
Joseph Korban
Jo Ellen Quint
Michele Poynton
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND FAITH IN THE DOMESTIC CHURCH
The role of parents in the Christian education of their children is of vital importance. The starting point for faith at home is the daily activities of the family. How family members interact, communicate, make decisions, solve problems – all these are the domestic church in action.
Faith which is celebrated and lived out within the family has certain characteristics:
It is our hope that the religious education program here at Holy Transfiguration will provide a link between children and parents to help the family grow in faith.
The Importance of the Parents’ Attitude toward Church and Sunday school
The parents’ attitude toward Church and Sunday school is crucial. There are parents who are habitually late for Church. There are parents for whom the tiniest little bit of rain will discourage them from Church attendance. Yet most of these same parents would never stay away from work on Monday morning because of rain. So the child early learns that work is more important than God. Is it a wonder, then, that children grow up to adopt a system of values that leaves God out entirely or relegates Him to a hobby or to left-over time. The child is being taught that almost anything is more important than God and our duties and responsibilities to Him. Is it a wonder, then, that children can grow up to adopt a system of values that leaves God out entirely?
There are parents who do not take very seriously their obligation for the Christian education of their children. Children miss classes because of the slightest reason or inconvenience. The continuity of lessons is destroyed because of birthday parties the child “must” attend or relatives the child “must” visit. Classes are disrupted continually by late-comers and early-leavers. After spending time in diligent class preparation the teacher becomes frustrated when parents take less seriously the importance of Sunday school itself. But even more important is what happens to the child. The child knows that for important things one has to be on time, i.e., public school for example. The habit of dismissing Church or Sunday School for insignificant reasons, or the habit of arriving late and leaving early teaches the child that god is not as important as public school or the piano lesson for which one has to be on time.
The parent is the best of teachers. He and she teach best when they practice what they preach, when they regularly attend Church on Sundays and Holy Days, when they themselves get involved in continuing education. A child who constantly hears the positive will see the positive. A child who constantly hears the negative will see the negative. Parents must take responsibility for the perception their children receive about their church, its ministers and God. Parents must take responsibility for the attitude of their children towards God and His church. “Bring up a child in the way he should go…”
Reprinted from: The Christian Home – The Domestic Church
Every Christian has the obligation to grow in the spiritual life and in the knowledge and love of the Lord and His Church. This responsibility falls upon parents, godparents and the whole of the parish community – young and old alike. The study of Divine Revelation through the Sacred Scripture and Holy Tradition of our Church is an absolute must for the spiritual growth of every member of our parish.
While parents and godparents have a special responsibility in fostering spiritual education within the family, the home being the “Domestic Church” and parents being the first and foremost teachers of the faith, at the same time the parish will always try to provide the best in religious formation and instruction for all age categories. It is hoped that all parishioners will take advantage of these programs. Our Parish School of Religion and the adult Religious Education Programs should have a strong priority in the life of our parish and in our individual lives. Not to take this obligation seriously is to weaken the entire Body of Christ.
Since our Eastern Catholic heritage and our mode of expressing and living out our Christian faith is unique and different, we have the most serious obligation to foster it, preserve it, fully understand it and pass it on intact to our young, to future generations. Our fidelity to this mission is imperative in a society where we are a minuscule minority and our faithfulness to it contributes to the universality of the Church.
Parents and godparents are again reminded of the necessity of seeing that their children are properly enrolled in the religious education programs of Holy Transfiguration.
2011-2012 SUNDAY SCHOOL CALENDAR
CLASSES BEGIN AT 9:15
| 2011 | |
| SEPT | |
| 18 | FIRST DAY SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:15 |
| SUNDAE AFTERNOON - CELEBRATION | |
| 25 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 0CT | |
| 2 | S.S. - 9:15 |
| PARENT’S MEETING DURING SUNDAY SCHOOL | |
| 9 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 16 | SUNDAY SCHOOL BENEFIT BAKE SALE |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 23 | SUNDAY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 30 | OKTOBERFEST |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| NOV | |
| 6 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 13 | BISHOP’S VISIT DURING CLASS |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 20 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 24 | THANKSGIVING |
| 27 | THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO CLASS |
| DEC | |
| 4 | ST. NICHOLAS PARTY AFTER LITURGY |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 11 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 18 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| PAGEANT AFTER LITURGY | |
| 25 | NATIVITY OF OUR LORD |
| CHRISTMAS BREAK – NO CLASS | |
| 2012 | |
| JAN | |
| 1 | NEW YEAR’S DAY – NO CLASS |
| 8 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 15 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 22 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 29 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| FEB | |
| 5 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES | |
| 12 | SUNDAY OF MEATFARE |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 19 | SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 20 | FIRST DAY OF GREAT LENT |
| 26 | SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY PROCESSION |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| MAR | |
| 4 | ST. GREGORY PALAMAS |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 11 | SUNDAY OF HOLY CROSS PROCESSION |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| FIRST MYRRH-BEARERS REHEARSAL AFTER DIVINE LITURGY | |
| 18 | SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN KLIMAKOS |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 2ND MYRRH-BEARERS REHEARSAL AFTER DIVINE LITURGY | |
| 25 | ST. MARY OF EGYPT |
| FIRST CONFESSION | |
| GRADE 2 – PARENTS MUST ATTEND THIRD MYRRH-BEARERS REHEARSAL AFTER DIVINE LITURGY | |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 31 | LAZAROS SATURDAY |
| DIVINE LITURGY – 10:30 AM | |
| BREAKFAST & DECORATE CANDLES AFTER DIVINE LITURGY | |
| FINAL MYRRH-BEARERS REHEARSAL | |
| APR | |
| 1 | PALM SUNDAY |
| PROCESSION BEFORE LITURGY | |
| 4 | GREAT WEDNESDAY |
| YOUTH READ EPISTLES – 7:30 PM | |
| 6 | GREAT FRIDAY |
| PROGRAM – DECORATE TOMB & HELP PREPARE EGGS 11:00 AM TO 3:00 PM | |
| MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN – 7:30PM | |
| 8 | GREAT & GLORIOUS PASCHA |
| NO CLASS | |
| 15 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 22 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 29 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| MAY | |
| 6 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| 13 | MOTHER’S DAY |
| S.S. – 9:15 | |
| 20 | S.S. – 9:15 |
| FINAL SESSION - AWARDS CELEBRATION AFTER LITURGY |
Toddler’s
This school year the Toddler Class started off learning the Sign of the Cross and the story of creation and that God made everything and we thank God in prayer for all his gifts. We sang a song about some of the things that God made and gave us and then sang to thank him for all his gifts. We talked about prayer – in Church; at home – when we wake up, eat, at bedtime, etc; for family and friends; anytime, like when we are afraid or upset or happy or it’s a beautiful day or rain for the flowers. We went over Bible stories like Noah’s Ark, Daniel and the Lions’ Den, Jonah and the Whale. . . We discussed the Church Holy days and to listen when the Gospel is being read. We went over some of the Bible readings for that day and colored pictures that would help us remember. We talked about behavior in Church and at home. We did counting exercises – 12 apostles, 40 days, 2 of each animal. We talked about how each of us is different and are gifts from God. We identified our eyes, nose, ears, mouth, hands, etc. and why God gave us these gifts. We went over basics – please, thank you, may I please, no thank you, sharing, caring, helping, etc. Rules at home, in church, and that God gave us rules – the Ten Commandments. Which then led into the importance of saying “I’m sorry” when we do something wrong (breaking a rule) and to try not to do it again. We practice prayers. At then end of the school year we talked about the importance of going to Church on Sunday’s and Holy days and praying everyday and remembering our manners.
I would like to thank you for the opportunity to help the Toddlers of our Church grow in their knowledge of our Faith.
Maria Cowen, Teacher
Pre –K & K
1. Family – church family, our families and our extended families
2. Church
a. Narthax, Nave and Alter: what each is and where one cannot be (step up to the alter)
b. Deacon Joseph brought and taught:
i. Diskos
ii. Chalice
iii. Communion (children were taught how to approach with reverence to communion)
iv. Crosses (each child made a cross and taught why:
1. we have crosses
2. We venerate a cross (proper way to venerate)
3. We prostrate (Sunday of Holy Cross) and proper way of doing it
4. How to make the sign of the cross and meaning of why we hold our fingers to cross ourselves and when we should cross ourselves
c. Eucharist (Holy Bread and wine) body and blood of Jesus
d. Incense (censor) why we use it in our liturgy
e. Psalms (prayers) – talking to God (Jesus) like they talk to us
f. Candles (Jesus is the Light of the world and our light) why and how we light candles (took children into church and had them each light a candle after venerating the icon) the difference between the one candle and the three candle stick the bishop blesses with
g. Holy Water and Baptism (children attended a Baptism) (Each child was given a flask of their own Holy Water). Discussed Jesus’ Baptism and the Icon representing it
h. Holy Oil and anointing of the sick
i. Holy Icons (each child made the Icon of Jesus with Children)
j. The Iconostasion – The icons on our Iconostasion – and where the Holy Transfiguration Icon is located representing our church
k. Bishops, Priests and Deacons
i. What role each is in the church
ii. Different vestments of all three
iii. Symbolism of color in their vestments
l. Bible (each child made their own bible with different versus relating to children, Jesus and love) – learned different Bible versus thru hand gestures
m. Parables – different stories that Jesus told the people and his disciples
n. Thanksgiving – always giving thanks to God
o. Little Entrance – Bible procession
p. Great Entrance – Communion procession with stating people’s names that we need to pray for
3. St. Nicholas and Saints of our church (apostles)
4. Discussed the Annunciation
5. Birth of Jesus and meaning of Christmas- Nativity (not materialistic)
6. The Three Wise Men
7. The 40 day blessing and the presentation of Jesus (and babies) into the church
a. Blessing of a priest – how children should and can ask a priest to bless them anytime just by holding their hands out and asking him to bless them
8. Discussed Orthodoxy and Orthodoxy Sunday and carrying our icons at the procession
9. Discussed Lent –
a. being kind, giving, helpful, compassionate, considerate, thinking of others
b. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Pascha – colors used during lent
c. Fasting (not just from food, but in our hearts by asking for forgiveness from God
d. Confession (talking) to God when we are bad
e. Palm Sunday – why we celebrate it, why we have (carry) palms, candles and flowers
10. Discussed the Theotokos (Mother’s Day) and what Theotokos and mothers mean to us
11. We touched upon the different Church Feast Days and each child was given a “sticker” for each of the Feast Days which they glued to a collage
12. We discussed Holy Angels
For each different lesson, the children performed a project specific to our topic of that class. My objective was for them to understand the liturgy, what is in our church, why it is in our church and how each different item in our church is used and why it is used. I wanted the children to learn the difference between bishop, priest, deacon, reader, teacher (all kinds of God’s disciples)
With our projects, I needed to insure that the each of the children were able to create a “home church” in their rooms with what they have learned, made and were given (Bible, prayer book, icon, cross, holy water, candle).
I tried to arouse their senses – smell (incense); see (seeing the wonders of our church in every sense of the word), hear (hearing the beautiful prayers that we chant); taste (tasting the bountiful body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ); feel (feeling the spirit and grace of God in our hearts while in church and taking that with us during the week while at home, school and play.
Also, they were taught the need to write cards to thank others (thank you to Deacon Joseph, Father Joseph’s anniversary) and to their mothers for Mother’s Day.
Laura Audi, Teacher
First Grade
Students of the 2010-2011 Holy Transfiguration First Grade Sunday School year excelled in their learning/comprehension of the readings, projects, worship and Eastern Christian beliefs put before them.
During the year, the students read Bible stores and learned about the lives of many of the Saints. They listened to stories of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Moses, Daniel and Lions Den, Jonah and the whale, Zachariah and Elizabeth, St John the Baptist, and the Apostles. One special event occurred when one of the students was asked to retell and explain the story of Jonah and the whale to a classmate who had missed the previous Sunday. The teachers were amazed at the students recollection of the story down to him identifying “Nineveh” as the place where God told Jonah to go and preach. There were several discussions on Baptism and a walk through the Baptistry with explanations of the icons and the Baptismal font. Again, teachers were pleased that the students were able to recollect many of the explanations given during the tour; such as the eight sides of the font. We discussed Patron Saints and many of the students knew the stories of their Saints. While we touched on many of the Feast days, they were not studied in much depth except for the Feast of the Nativity and Pascha.
They were given instruction on the importance of the Theotokos as the “God Bearer” and Mother of God. They read from the text books and learned about family, both their own and being part of God’s family. They created prayer books of daily and special prayers. Most of the students memorized the Jesus Prayer and the Our Father. Some students also memorized the Morning Prayer which we prayed at the beginning of each class.
During Great Lent, the class spoke of their efforts for fasting (from TV and video games), prayer, and alms giving. The students also drew pictures and made crosses which exemplified their study concerning sharing, forgiveness, and loving God. They also completed a final project of creating an icon from selected prayer cards of either Christ or of Christ and the Theotokos, with gold leaf and wooden board. The class also discussed how to pray with icons and why we honor the saints and martyrs. We also discussed the importance we place in icons to help us focus during prayer.
Miss Mary and Miss Barbara will miss the students and wish them all God’s blessings as they begin their year in Second Grade and continue their study and worship of God and participation in the Holy Mysteries throughout their lives. Thank you for the privilege of letting us help to guide the minds and spirit of such precious treasures of our Church, its children.
Mary Battey and Barbara Fleshman, Teachers
Second Grade
The main focus of the 2nd grade curriculum was to prepare children to receive the Mystery of Holy Confession. Classes emphasized the importance of taking responsibility for our own actions, asking for forgiveness, and forgiving others. In particular, we studied the creation of man in the image and likeness of God, freewill, each person as “Icons of Christ,” the fall of Adam & Eve, sin (ancestral and personal) and its consequences, responsibility, the Mysteries of Initiation, and forgiveness.
In the weeks leading up to Great Lent, we focused on the Gospels dealing with repentance and forgiveness – Zaccheus, the Publican & the Pharisee, and the Prodigal Son- and discussed how they help us to understand the Mystery of Holy Confession.
First Holy Confession is a gift that God wants them to have. One of the children in the 2nd grade once said he felt like he had been hugged by God after he received Confession for the first time. It is our deepest hope that every child we teach in second grade will have the same experience when they receive First Holy Confession and every time after that. We pray they will be helped to grow in peace and love.
Victoire deLeusomme and Melissa Olt, Teachers
Third Grade
Text used:
Sharing God’s World by Elizabeth White. Part of series on “Living Our Orthodox Faith.”
Goals:
To understand God’s plan for the salvation of the world through Christ
To read, listen to, memorize and appreciate Scripture, God’s Word revealing his love for us
To live out our faith in love for others
To participate more fully in the Holy Mysteries of Holy Communion and Reconciliation
Specifically, the students:
* Learned of timeline of salvation history-Creation, Fall of man, Christ, Holy Spirit, Heave
* Learned prayers of the church including Troparion for each Sunday
* Learned to include praise, adoration and thanksgiving in prayer in addition to petitioning God and interceding for us.
* Learned to invoke Holy Spirit to understanding of scripture and ask intercession of the Theotokos to help us grow closer to Christ
* Learned about Jesus, the Good News of salvation, His miracles, His disciples, His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.
* Read about Biblical figures from Old Testament and their relationships with God
* Read about Christ’s followers: Peter and John, Stephen the first martyr, Saul, Cornelius, Polycarp, Cosmas and Damian and Nicholas
* Learned names, symbol and usage of objects during Divine Liturgy.
* Learned how Divine Liturgy celebrates Christ’s Incarnation and Passion.
* Learned about Epistle readings and Gospel readings.
* Learned to prepare well for monthly confession.
* Learned Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, almsgiving
* Learned ways to show Christ’s love to others.
Judy Handal, Teacher
Fourth Grade
In the Fourth Grade this year we covered the following:
3 Units of the book “Growing with God”
Learning about how to read in the Bible
Annual Calendar of Major Feasts and Sundays
Experiencing Growth with plants
Various Activities related to the book topics
Prayer of St. Ephraim and Psalm 50
Joseph Korban, Teacher
Fifth Grade
This year went well. We accomplished delving deeper into the Divine Liturgy. We really enjoyed the Heaven on Earth book because it broke the Liturgy down into very understandable sections. One example is Heaven on Earth started the year explaining how even the church’s architecture is important and why it is important. We had Deacon John come and speak to the children about the Icons in church and why certain Icons are used. We also learned about the major feast days.
Margaret Klimon, Teacher
Sixth & Seventh Grades
In 2010-2011, the 6th and 7th grade class focused on the Holy Mysteries, with discussion centered on the Mysteries in the context of the sacramental life of the Church. Also, the Mysteries were compared and contrasted with the practices and beliefs of other Christian communities and traditions. Also, a number of classes were specifically devoted to preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord, St. Patrick's feast day, Lent, and Pascha. Finally, the last class was devoted to the past 2,000 years of Church history.
Phil Battey, Teacher
Eighth & Ninth Grades:
Each student was given his own Bible at the beginning of the year. We spent a little time familiarizing ourselves with the structure of the Bible and reading a few selected passages from the Old Testament. However, for the greater part of the year we read and discussed the Gospel of Mark. On those Sundays when our class was scheduled for confession we reflected on the Ten Commandments and what Jesus taught about them.
Linda Black and David Black, Teachers
Tenth, Eleventh & Twelfth Grades
Our identity as Melkites is always the theme for grades 10-12. From year to year, the materials and approach are altered but the theme is the same. This is our last chance to strengthen our children's foundation as members of the Holy Transfiguration family before they go out on their own.
This year10-12 grade Sunday School spent their time addressing our identity as Melkite Christians. In addition to the perennial topics of "What is Faith?" and "Melkite History", we used a new book as our core curriculum. The book used this year was "Ascending the Heights" by Father John Mack. The book is an excellent way to cover the concepts in St. John Chrysostom's "Ladder of Divine Ascent" from a layman's perspective. Although the Ladder of Divine Ascent is primarily directed toward monastics, there are many lessons and tools that apply to all of us. The seniors in the class shared that they thought it was one of the best books we have used in our class. In addition to giving the students practical advice and a foundation for living our faith, the book also provided a window in to our Eastern Catholic spirituality. All classes were supported with biblical references and occasionally film clips from PG-13 movies.
In addition to our core curriculum, our class watched the film "The Ultimate Gift". Over the course of four classes, the students watched the movie and discussed what the film meant to them and also how it might apply to their life. The movie is a very well produced Christian film. The film experience gave the students an opportunity to get to know each other better and create a positive peer environment as they shared how much they agreed with the values represented in the film.
To further reinforce our Melkite faith, we consistently were mindful of the liturgical calendar and tried to incoporate current feast days and readings into all lessons.
As usual, the last class consisted of a Jeopary-like quiz show in which all of the topics reviewed during the year are covered. Students always enjoy this last class and are usually very dilligent about studying to try to win the game. It is a great way to summarize the year and perform a review of all of the material.
Phil and Anne Benedicto, Teachers