On Sunday, February 9, the 2nd and 3rd grade students, along with their family members, participated in the Parish School of Religion Family Class. After listening to God’s Holy Word in the Gospel, those in attendance learned how to make a difference in the world by being “the salt and the light.” Through kind words and actions we can help people see God’s love for all of us and lead others to Jesus.
The teachers, Becky Prelee, Randi Volk, Kim Jenkins, Lisa Love and Lena Dunkerly, led various craft and game stations. These activities were used to teach about God’s most awesome gift of love—Jesus; the Ten Commandments, which show us how to love God and others; and ways we can share God’s limitless love with all.
May each one of us follow Christ’s perfect example of love by being kind, patient, forgiving, welcoming and compassionate to everyone we meet. Let all our good deeds be done in praise and glory of God our Heavenly Father. Be the light of Christ today and every day.
Jesus said to him, “You must love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” —Matthew 22: 37-39
Over the past several weeks I have featured the young stewards of our parish. We have read beautiful witnesses from junior high school students, high school and college students and young families as well. They have all expressed their love and devotion to God and to Mother Church and their families. We are so blessed to have this young and vibrant spirit flourishing in our parish.
My name is Thomas Pesa, and I’m in 8th grade at St. Rose Catholic School. I currently serve in two ministries, Teen and Altar Servers. I greatly enjoy both. Altar Serving helps me become closer to God. During the Mass, it feels good when I help father and the rest of the parish. I feel called to help my parish in any way that I can. In Teen Ministry, we have service projects such as Thanksgiving Dinner and food pantry to name a few. I enjoy doing a lot for my church because it helps not only St. Pats, but the rest of the community. I will make my Confirmation next month. When that happens, I can help the Church even more, and I can hardly wait for that. I enjoy when I help St. Patrick’s because I know that everyone will appreciate it. When someone cannot serve, I like to step in because that is God’s calling to me. In Teen Ministry, we talk about all the ways that we can help the community. For example, we recently had a drive for bath and body goods such as soap and shampoo. When all the donations were sent, it felt good to know that we helped our community. I know that there are always things to help with, and that is why I love contributing to my community in any way I can.
When I was considering what stewardship means to me, I thought about all that God has given me and how to use his gifts to give back. God has blessed me with an able body to help those around me whether it was packing Miss Judy’s car after a long day of dance classes or decorating my Kindergarten PSR classroom. God has blessed me with an able mind to obtain the knowledge I need in the classroom to start my professional career and the ability to listen to the life lessons taught to me by my personal experiences, my friends and my family. God has blessed me with an able spirit to serve him through being a Eucharistic Minister and a Kindergarten Aide of PSR. God has blessed me with so many incredible things and I feel like it’s my duty to give back to him through my acts of service.