A note from the Scoop Factory:
Some changes to our Seder Meal's date,timing and venue.
Look out for it in this week's TAKEAWAY!
Some changes to our Seder Meal's date,timing and venue.
Look out for it in this week's TAKEAWAY!
FLAVOUR OF THE DAY
My dear brothers and sisters in the Catechists Ministry,It’s been a week since the Confirmation 4 Retreat began, and I’m hoping that our desire to praise and thank God for all He’s done for us in that short time never ceases. As a team of Confirmation catechists, it was arguably the most meaningful time we’ve ever had with our teens.
Trying Something New…
At the beginning of the term, we the Confirmation 4 catechists were excited yet apprehensive about the Youth in the Spirit Seminar (YISS) materials we were told to use over the next six weeks. Most of us had not experienced the YISS in any form for ourselves, and yet, now we were supposed to prepare our teens? Yet, filled with a confidence that we ourselves could not explain, and could only have come from God the Father, we overcame our fears and tried to do the best we can.
In the five weeks prior to the camp, we created opportunities for the teens to share in their groups about various topics, such as “Experiencing God’s Love”, Come, Be My Disciple” and “God, the Holy Spirit”. This sharing was done to varying degrees of success. It was a struggle for us. Over time, however, as each of the catechists found our own ways of creating an attitude for sharing, we began to better experience the teens and how they felt about these topics.
We knew the teens were desiring an experience of God, but so far, despite the sharing sessions in class, it was difficult to gauge whether they were ready or not for the Sacrament of Confirmation. A couple of us were worried if they’d ever be ready.
With God’s grace, however, the Retreat this past week became, without a doubt, the climax of our YISS programme and, as I said earlier, arguably the climax of our whole Confirmation journey.
Overcoming Difficulties With Love And Humility
It was almost a Retreat that wasn’t going to happen. We had secured the location at FMM House of Prayer along Holland Road, but the priests were difficult to confirm and we barely managed to rope in the help of the Youth Council a month before the retreat proper.
There are two lessons to be learnt from this, of course:
First and foremost, do ALL your planning way beforehand! Priests are extremely busy people and are likely to turn you down, VERY reluctantly, if you contact them even a fortnight before. We were most fortunate that our own Father Chris was able to rope in our former Altar Server chairperson, Father Damian De Wind to help Father Aloy out with the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the last minute. As we had over 50 teens in attendance, we were also blessed to have Father Jivan Daniel OFM from the Church of St Mary of the Angels help out as well.
Secondly, and more importantly, do ask for help from other ministries in the parish and show your teens that there’s more to the parish than just the catechists. For our camp, the Youth Council (YC) was instrumental, possibly crucial, in their role as group facilitators, musicians and leaders for Praise and Worship, but most significantly, as representatives of the youth of the parish. About 15 members of the YC showed up at various points during the Retreat and at least half of them stayed throughout the whole event, despite having their own commitments that weekend. I’m sure the teens were well aware and moved by this gesture of love.
The Importance Of Being A Team
Despite all the generous help we received from the YC and the various priests involved, including Father Clifford Augustine OFM who presided over our in-house Mass, the Retreat wouldn’t have been a success if not for the wonderful team of catechists I have been blessed to work with.
Shaun, our co-ordinator worked tirelessly in ensuring that no detail was omitted during the planning of the camp. He was so dedicated to his role that he even took leave on the first day of camp in order to ensure that all the logistics were accounted for. He did this so that no one else would be inconvenienced.
Yet, despite his role as leader and co-ordinator, Shaun chose the attitude of a servant as he remained opened to the ideas of the other catechists and tried his best to accommodate all the suggestions that were brought up during our meetings. He alone worked with the strength of two and freed us all to serve the teens to the best of our ability.
We continue to thank God who, in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to equip our team with catechists who have invaluable gifts, not least of all, driving licenses and fast cars. Seriously though, the gifts this team were blessed with, including prayer, administration and story telling, complemented one another so well that it is beyond a shadow of doubt how God’s hand continues to guide our way.
Based on these experiences:
In the five weeks prior to the camp, we created opportunities for the teens to share in their groups about various topics, such as “Experiencing God’s Love”, Come, Be My Disciple” and “God, the Holy Spirit”. This sharing was done to varying degrees of success. It was a struggle for us. Over time, however, as each of the catechists found our own ways of creating an attitude for sharing, we began to better experience the teens and how they felt about these topics.
We knew the teens were desiring an experience of God, but so far, despite the sharing sessions in class, it was difficult to gauge whether they were ready or not for the Sacrament of Confirmation. A couple of us were worried if they’d ever be ready.
With God’s grace, however, the Retreat this past week became, without a doubt, the climax of our YISS programme and, as I said earlier, arguably the climax of our whole Confirmation journey.
Overcoming Difficulties With Love And Humility
It was almost a Retreat that wasn’t going to happen. We had secured the location at FMM House of Prayer along Holland Road, but the priests were difficult to confirm and we barely managed to rope in the help of the Youth Council a month before the retreat proper.
There are two lessons to be learnt from this, of course:
First and foremost, do ALL your planning way beforehand! Priests are extremely busy people and are likely to turn you down, VERY reluctantly, if you contact them even a fortnight before. We were most fortunate that our own Father Chris was able to rope in our former Altar Server chairperson, Father Damian De Wind to help Father Aloy out with the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the last minute. As we had over 50 teens in attendance, we were also blessed to have Father Jivan Daniel OFM from the Church of St Mary of the Angels help out as well.
Secondly, and more importantly, do ask for help from other ministries in the parish and show your teens that there’s more to the parish than just the catechists. For our camp, the Youth Council (YC) was instrumental, possibly crucial, in their role as group facilitators, musicians and leaders for Praise and Worship, but most significantly, as representatives of the youth of the parish. About 15 members of the YC showed up at various points during the Retreat and at least half of them stayed throughout the whole event, despite having their own commitments that weekend. I’m sure the teens were well aware and moved by this gesture of love.
The Importance Of Being A Team
Despite all the generous help we received from the YC and the various priests involved, including Father Clifford Augustine OFM who presided over our in-house Mass, the Retreat wouldn’t have been a success if not for the wonderful team of catechists I have been blessed to work with.
Shaun, our co-ordinator worked tirelessly in ensuring that no detail was omitted during the planning of the camp. He was so dedicated to his role that he even took leave on the first day of camp in order to ensure that all the logistics were accounted for. He did this so that no one else would be inconvenienced.
Yet, despite his role as leader and co-ordinator, Shaun chose the attitude of a servant as he remained opened to the ideas of the other catechists and tried his best to accommodate all the suggestions that were brought up during our meetings. He alone worked with the strength of two and freed us all to serve the teens to the best of our ability.
We continue to thank God who, in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to equip our team with catechists who have invaluable gifts, not least of all, driving licenses and fast cars. Seriously though, the gifts this team were blessed with, including prayer, administration and story telling, complemented one another so well that it is beyond a shadow of doubt how God’s hand continues to guide our way.
Based on these experiences:
My recipe for a successful Confirmation retreat:
2 scoops of servant leadership
1 scoop of detailed administration
1 scoop of honesty, sincerity and respect for your teens
1 HUGE scoop of trust in God and fellow human beings (including priests and everyone you might have roped in to help out)
Sprinkle a generous amount of fervent prayer and unconditional love, and serve with a huge dollop of openness!
2 scoops of servant leadership
1 scoop of detailed administration
1 scoop of honesty, sincerity and respect for your teens
1 HUGE scoop of trust in God and fellow human beings (including priests and everyone you might have roped in to help out)
Sprinkle a generous amount of fervent prayer and unconditional love, and serve with a huge dollop of openness!
This recipe may be tweaked to meet your needs and wants, but we, the Confirmation 4 catechists definitely know one thing:
It worked for us.
TOPPINGS
The Prayer of Peace
Peace before us
Peace behind us
Peace under our feet
Peace within us
Peace over us
Let all around us be peace.
Peace before us
Peace behind us
Peace under our feet
Peace within us
Peace over us
Let all around us be peace.
This song was used as the closing for our recent catechist formation. I felt a kind of serenity within me as the tune was being played. The actions which Sr Francisca taught us also added meaning to the soothing tune and simple lyrics. The word “Peace” can be replaced by “Love”, “Light”, “Christ” and finally the whole song replaced by “Alleluia”. Praise the Lord for “The Prayer of Peace”. You can find this song from the CD “Blest Are They” vol 1 by David Haas.
A sneak peak of treats at a Passover Meal (Pesach)!
The Unleavened Bread (Matzah)
The sweetness of unleavened bread as compared to the sourness of leavened bread symbolizes the sweetness of freedom out of slavery in Egypt. Another symbolism was that the Hebrews baked the bread with haste.
They had no time to wait for the bread to rise.
Hard-Boiled Egg (Beitzah)
A symbol of new life and hope for the future!
Bitter Herbs (Maror)
A symbol of bitterness of life in bondage and the suffering of the Israelites.
Green vegetables (Karpas)
It represents hope and redemption
Haroses ( a mixture of apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon)
It represents mortar used by the Jews in the construction of buildings when they were slaves.
Wine - A symbol of celebration and rejoicing.
Represents God’s 4 Promises
Cup of Sanctification
Cup of Deliverance
Cup of Redemption
Cup pf Praise and Thanksgiving
Zeroah (a piece of roasted lamb)
It symbolizes the paschal sacrificial offering
TAKEAWAY
Why is the night of 05 April going to be different from all other nights?Because you are warmly invited to partake in a special meal to remember God's promises to His people!
Let us join together in this meal to also remember what God has done for us and give thanks for his saving grace.
What can make it more special?
None other than your humble presence!
Passover Meal
05 April 2007, Holy Thursday Night!
Time: 8.15pm- You'll find out when you're here!
Venue: Holy Family Church, 3 Sea Ave (#02-02)
Some ice-cream for your diaries?
Penitential Celebration - 28 Mar 2007
10.30am, 7pm, 9pm
Holy Thursday- 05 Apr 2007
10.30am: Chrism Mass
6.30pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Adoration till midnight)
Good Friday – 06 Apr 2007
8.30am: Stations of the Cross
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
9am, 12pm, 3pm, 5.30pm (Mand)
Holy Saturday – 07 Apr 2007
8pm: Easter Vigil and Baptism
No mass in the morning
No Novena Service
Easter Sunday! – 08 Apr 2007
7.15am, 9.15am, 11.15am, 6pm (Mand)
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