Faith Formation Update Newsletter
Sts. Mary & Matthew Faith Community - 4/30/23
KFC - Middle School Youth Group Canceled this Evening
There will be no KFC this evening (Wednesday, April 26) due to conflicts with our young people. Music concerts and lessons! The young people in our parish are VERY busy!
See you next time!
A Note from Jeanette
This weekend we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Easter (aka Good Shepherd Sunday) and our readings convey an imagery of sheep and shepherd. In the gospel passage Jesus reminds us. “I am the gate for the sheep...Whoever enters through me will be saved.” (Jn 10:9) As Catholics, we learn early on to place our trust in Jesus. We learn that Jesus is the means to all life. We are taught that Jesus leads us, and we, his sheep, follow. How do we live out our Catholic faith by following Jesus? What does it mean to be Catholic? As you can imagine, there are a multitude of answers to this, but I will just tell you briefly what it means to me personally.
For me, being Catholic is much more than what I believe. Rather, it has more to do with how my beliefs cause me to act and live out my faith. Being Catholic is a distinct part of who I am; it is key to my identity. Along with being a mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, I define myself as a Christian – a woman of faith who strives daily (and some days I am better at this than others) to be a disciple of Jesus. I certainly don’t consider myself a perfect Catholic. God doesn’t expect perfection (humans will never reach that status) but we can try to be our best. Each day we have an opportunity to begin anew, working on our relationships with others, and most especially with God. In doing that, we become more like the person that God created us to be.
At times, being our best may seem like an impossible task. Life, with all its ups and downs, can be challenging to say the least. But our faith assures us that God walks with us through it all, and...we have an advantage! Our Catholic faith gives us the incredible gift of the sacraments. Beginning with baptism, we become part of a wonderful, large community of believers, and we are called to follow Jesus in all that we do. Our baptism initiates us into the Catholic family. The reception of all the sacraments assists us on our journey of faith. They gift us with the grace to open wide our hearts and minds to God. Because humans are flawed, we have the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where we admit when we mess up, and try to be better. Eucharist – the gift of Jesus himself, carries us through it all – the good times and bad, because Jesus actually becomes a part of us! How amazing is that?
I credit the love of my Catholic faith to my sweet mother. She loved being Catholic. She was a woman of steady, simple, profound faith. She was devoted to our Blessed Mother, prayed her rosary daily, and never (and I mean never) missed mass except for the birth of her children, and at the end of her life, when she was too ill to leave the house. I couldn’t help but admire her conviction of faith, and the joyful way she expressed it. What a gift she gave to me. She followed the adage from the old hymn, “they will know we are Christians by our love.” For me, I would say that sums up what it means to be Catholic – it’s sharing our faith (in all that we do) through love. As St. Paul tells us, “Your every act should be done with love.” (1Cor 16:14). And there it is. Love should be the starting and ending point in all we do for living our lives as Christian Catholics.
Faith Formation, Youth Ministry and Sacramental Schedule
Saturday, April 29:
- First Communion Session at 10:30 AM at St. Matthew's.
Sunday, April 30:
- Faith Formation Classes for Gr. K-5, following 8:30 AM Mass at St. Mary's and 9:15 - 10:15 AM at St. Matthew's.
- CLOW (Children's Liturgy) during both Sunday Masses.
- Crossroads (High School Youth Group) meets from 6:30 - 8:00 PM in the youth room at St. Matthew's.
- Celebration of First Holy Communion will take place on May 7 at the 10:30 AM Mass at St. Matthews, and on Sunday, May 14 at the 8:30 AM Mass at St. Mary's and the 10:30 AM Mass at St. Matthew's. GOD BLESS OUR FIRST COMMUNICANTS!
- KFC (Middle School Youth Group) will meet again on Wednesday, May 10 at St. Matthew's in the youth room.
- Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will take place on Thursday, May 11 at St. Mary's in Canandaigua.
Prayer to Jesus the Good Shepherd
Lord of the 23rd Psalm,
I have known death, and you have refreshed my soul.
I have known fear, and you have comforted me.
I have known hunger, and you have set a feast before me.
In the darkest valley no calamity of humankind or nature has separated us.
Teach me to walk as you walk - beside those in mourning so that they will know joy,
Beside those in fear - that they will know comfort,
Beside those in hunger - that they will feast until their cup overflows.
As your goodness and love follow me, may mine follow my neighbor, that the threat of the worst terrors, may turn to the knowledge of the comforts of the house of the Lord, where you have invited us to dwell forever.
And so let me strive to help build on earth, what you have promised us in heaven.
In the face of all calamity, present and yet to come, let me lead my neighbor beside quiet waters, the quiet waters of the Good Shepherd.
AMEN.
(from Catholic Relief Services)
Pope Francis, Eucharistic Revival, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and Women Voters at the Synod - Oh My!
POPE FRANCIS EXPANDS PARTICIPATION IN SYNOD TO LAY MEMBERS - this includes women! Read the article in the link below:
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“We come to Eucharist not to receive a prize for being perfect,
but to receive the medicine and nourishment we need.” – Pope Francis
As we continue on with the NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL, I share with you a quote from our Holy Father, and links for information and updates through our diocesan webpage and the National Eucharistic Revival website.
https://eucharisticrevival.dor.org/
https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/
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2023 marks the 60th Anniversary of the WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS, which is observed this Sunday, April 30, 2023 on the occasion of "Good Shepherd Sunday." The purpose of this day is to "publicly fulfill" the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord's call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes. Resources for promoting vocations can be found on the USCCB website: www.usccb.org
An excerpt from the, "MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR THE 2023 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS"
"God’s call, includes a 'sending'. There is no vocation without mission. There is no happiness and full self-realization unless we offer others the new life that we have found. God’s call to love is an experience that does not allow us to remain silent. Saint Paul says, 'Woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!' (1 Cor 9:16). And the First Letter of John begins with the words, 'What we have heard and seen, looked at and touched – the Word made flesh – we declare also to you, so that our joy may be complete.' (cf. 1:1-4)."
For the complete document, follow this link to the Vatican website:
Readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter
"I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me."
Scripture Blog & Resources
Family Faith Sharing Questions
Sts. Mary & Matthew Faith Community Office of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation Mission Statement:
We strive to…
- Impart the Catholic faith as living and life-giving, teaching what Catholic’s believe and live, in response to that message of faith.
- Inspire students and families to be involved in the life of the parish, with opportunities for worship, community, and service.
- Encourage adults to continue their own religious development.
- Build a community of faith [together] where all feel welcomed, respected, safe, and loved.
Email: Jeanette.Housecamp@dor.org
Website: www.stsmaryandmatthew.com
Location: 6591 Richmond Mills Road, Livonia, NY, USA
Phone: (585) 346-3815
Facebook: facebook.com/stsmaryandmatthewfaithcommunity