A Note from our Faith Formation Director . . .
This weekend marks the beginning of our family’s favorite week in the liturgical year – Holy Week. It starts on Palm Sunday which always filled my children with excitement as we waved our palms in procession remembering how Jesus was hailed with enthusiasm as he entered Jerusalem. It was also our family’s tradition to attend the Chrism Mass on Wednesday where the bishop blesses the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of Chrism that will be used by all the parishes in the diocese for the year. It was especially meaningful when we knew that someone in our family would be anointed with one of the oils we saw being blessed during their baptism or confirmation. On Thursday night our family loved participating in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper as we watched people have their feet washed by the priest, then joined in the procession to the Tabernacle where we prayed in Thanksgiving for the blessing of our faith. On Good Friday we would go to the church at 3 o’clock in the afternoon to recall the suffering and death of our Lord. When Holy Saturday morning came, we would watch people bring their baskets filled with their food for Easter Sunday to church to have it blessed. Finally, we were filled with excitement as we dressed up in our new Easter outfits and met our friends and family at church to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night or on Sunday morning! The church would be transformed by flowers and ribbons and beautiful voices singing the “Alleluia” that we had not heard all during Lent. Afterwards there were pictures taken and good food shared as we feasted in celebration of the knowledge that God loves us with an everlasting love. We have proof of that each and every Sunday when we celebrate a “little Easter” by receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. I hope you and your family experience the joy to be found in celebrating Holy Week with us here at Nativity Catholic Church this year.
 
First Eucharist Retreat Reminder:  The First Eucharist Retreat will take place on the morning of Saturday, April 22 ^nd from 8:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Each student must be accompanied by a parent or other adult family member. Snacks will be provided. First Eucharist will be celebrated at all the Masses on the weekend of April 29/30 ^th. Families who do not know which Mass their child is signed-up for, or who need to make changes, should contact the Faith Formation office as soon as possible.
Confirmation Preparation Reminder:  The first sacramental preparation session for Confirmation is this Monday evening, April 10 ^th, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Parish Center. Confirmation candidates and their parent(s) must be present for all six sessions.  Sponsors are strongly urged to attend if it is not a hardship for them. The Confirmation sacramental preparation sessions take place over six consecutive Monday evenings from April 10 through May 15 ^th.  Candidates and sponsors (or a stand-in) must also be present for the Morning of Reflection/Rehearsal on Saturday, May 20 ^th from 9:00 a.m. – Noon. The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated by Bishop John Noonan here at Nativity Catholic Church on Sunday, May 21 ^st at the 11:30 a.m. Mass.
Children’s Faith Formation Reminder: There are no faith formation classes on Palm Sunday, (April 9th) or on Easter Sunday (April 16^th). Sunday Faith Formation classes will resume on April 23^rd. The next Wednesday Family Faith Formation will take place on April 19th at 5:30 p.m.