Dear Parents,
The next Do This in Memory Mass will take place on Saturday, 15th February 2014 at the 6.30 p.m. Mass, in St. John the Baptist Church. The following suggestions may help you to prepare your child for the Mass.
Mass Leaflet
This week the Mass leaflet will be sent home from school with your child and you might like to go through the order of the ceremony together. Mass becomes more meaningful and relevant for the child when they can participate in the ceremony and answer the responses and say the prayers. You might like to focus on the responses after the Introductory Rites, before and after the Gospel and after the prayers of the faithful. Please remind your child to bring the leaflet with them to Mass.
Forgiveness
The theme of this Mass will be forgiveness & peace. This is particularly appropriate for the children who are preparing to receive the sacrament of Forgiveness, their First Confession, on March 10th 2014 @ 7pm. You might like to talk with your child about the value of forgiveness and the different ways in which you are challenged to forgive yourself and others. Your child may like to know the different ways you show forgiveness and to know that God is full of forgiveness and compassion for all of us. Over the next few days in school, the children will learn about forgiveness and the meaning of the word Shalom, that is, being at peace and at ease within ourselves and with others.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of mass and take your place towards the front of the Church. We would ask each child to sit with their family until the Priest invites them to stand at the alter for the Gospel. The children will return to sit quietly with their family after the homily.
Grapevine
At the end of mass please remind your child to collect their copy of the Grapevine at the alter.
We look forward to meeting you there,
The Parent Representatives Group
Fr. Robert