 Dear CCD Families: A lot has happened since March 2020. Last year was an adventure for all our families having to do schoolwork and CCD classes through virtual classes and zooms. We are so very happy to be back in person this Fall. BUT we have learned a lot. It was special to be in your homes for our CCD classes and for you to be in mine! I showed you my advent wreath, you showed me your Christmas trees, we shared stories, and it was great to have you-- the families --so involved. It is no coincidence that the Pope has declared this to be Amoris Laetitia Familia---“The Joy of Love in the Family!!! So, keeping this in mind, we, with the Archdiocese, and our Parish Council have determined that CCD needs to be more family friendly! Our Masses need to be more lively and joyful. We need YOU to accomplish all this! A lot of you are too busy to take on the role of a single Catechist responsible for 15 kids for an entire year. It’s time consuming and maybe a bit scary. We understand. We would however ask you to accompany your child and participate in our Family CCD Workshops—which would run like VBS. These workshops would take place on a Sunday—just 7 Sundays!!!!—before or after the 10AM Mass for 45 min to an hour. These 7 Sundays, you would go to our Workshop—run by CCD and laypeople involved in certain ministries in the parish and then you would participate in Mass as a family. Jesus is present in the Mass in 4 very important places. The Word (Scripture), the Presider, the Eucharist, and in EACH ONE OF US! We need to be united together to be the Body of Christ. We need not only to “go” to Mass but to have full, active, conscious (and joyful) participation in the liturgy! Let’s get our kids involved!!! They can be Lectors, Ushers, Altar servers, and Choir, etc. Our next step is to pick dates. We need to head to Recreation—find out bye weeks etc. If you are aware of anything major happening in the morning of any Sunday that will affect many of the children—please let us know. Family Catechesis is just for Grades1-6. There will be no Tuesday CCD Classes offered. Grades 7 and 8 have their own program on Monday night. Another Google form will be sent out with exact dates and time choice of before / after Mass. Please pray for the success of this venture—the Holy Spirit has always done amazing things through and with the families of STM. Sample Sunday Session for October  Our goal is to have our children realize that being a Catholic-Christian is a way of life. This spiritual journey involves a head to heart understanding of what it means to make a Christian difference in this world. Parents teach by their word and example as the primary educators in the Domestic Church. Our parish catechists support families by providing quality religious education in a nurturing, faith-filled environment. Through the cooperative effort of parents, catechists, our parish family, and students, our children will grow in their love for God and knowledge of their Catholic faith, develop their God-given gifts and talents, and live to be Jesus’ hands, feet, and heart in this world!  Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year is now open! Please review our annual Registration Letter here. Then, click here for our online Family Registration Form.  Catechists are in great need for all grades to ensure we can offer our full schedule of classes! If you would like to serve our parish in this important ministry, please contact our CCD Office at 973-227-3607 or STMCCDFairfield@gmail.com as soon as possible. Help us pass on the great gift of our faith!
"Go therefore...teach!" Matthew 28:19-20  STM Rocky Railway VBS All Aboard --our Train leaves the station on Monday August 2 and will continue on its adventure till Friday August 6. We will be an indoor / outdoor event following CDC guidelines. Registration form is attached below. Please fill out a form for each child. Checks should be made out to St. Thomas More . Please mail back to CCD Office (12 Hollywood Ave) or drop in mailbox. Deadline is July 6 ! Camper Letter will be sent to all registered campers at the end of July. Jesus's power will pull us through and keep us on track!!! 
Hello Confirmation Candidates and Families! We are having 2 Confirmations to accommodate social distancing. More info is in the letter and attachments (below). Please read over and email back with any questions. We are in the office in the morning Mon-Thurs (9-12:30)-973-227-3607 or please call rectory 973-227-0055 and leave us a message.. We no longer have an answering machine. Please fill out the google registration form. Click here You are able to pay tuition online with myEoffering (directions attached below) or mail a check back to us. Tuition is $85. Looking forward to this important sacrament! So happy we can go forward and celebrate you all being sealed with the Holy Spirit! Peace and Prayers, Cabrina
  Our Special Project for the First Communicants
As you can see in the collage--- all the crosses beautiful!!!! Our winners received a Pizza kit to celebrate! First Holy Communions are being celebrated during regularly scheduled Masses during July / August. Also the following Masses were added: September 12, 19, & 26 at 11:30 AM. "May you always know the Peace of Jesus, the Light of His Love, and the JOY of His Life within you! Amen."   The Archdiocese of Newark has required that all CCD Classes be virtual this year--or at least till Jan 1, 2021. Our publishers saw this need in advance and we are continuing with Sadlier for Grades 1-6 (Christ in Us) and Loyola for Grade 7 (Finding God). We are supplying each student with a printed book and an online portal. For Grade 8 we will be using Dynamic Catholic (Decision Point) which has a printed book, decision topics, and movie clips. Our classes will meet three times a month. Two sessions will be thirty-minute zooms. The third session will be live streamed with a timely topic or game. This is a year to think out of the box. We will be creative, interesting, and filled with the joy of our faith. All homework and tasks can be completed online. The Domestic Church is vital in this endeavor!!! We need you and we are aware you are pulled in all directions. We will meet with you, our CCD families, September 21 and 23 to talk about details and what is best for you and your children! Time and place are in Registration Letter. The Registration Letter and Registration Form are included under the Forms tab. As soon as we have the monthly schedule we will post it!  From our Patron Saint:
“If any good thing shall go forward, something must be adventured.” St. Thomas More, guide us on this adventure. Amen! Our Sunday Mass is live streamed every Sunday at 11AM. Please go to our facebook or front page of our website. To watch and participate! STM really needs your support at this time. Our Easter Season collection helps support us throughout the year. A Gofundme page is set up and all the proceeds from this page go directly to our parish! Please be as generous as you have in the past....we really need your help! The link is found on the front page of our website. Special thanks to all the Catechists for all you did throughout the CCD year and all the virtual learning! We at CCD and our entire parish appreciate the time you took, your advice on lessons, and the time you took to implement the head to heart learning. We are blessed to have you all share your witness and love!!! And this is where we stand with the rest of CCD Classwork Grade 1-5 All previous homework sent home is due. A review Sheet will be sent home and due by May 15. Grade 2 Please finish your “We Believe” First Communion Book. A Eucharist Video link will also be sent home. Grade 6 is complete! Grade 7 Monday Eve is completed Grade 8 Monday Eve All Homework is due along with saint essay and sponsor info Test / Assessment TBA Grade 7 Family All homework assigned is due. New Assignment Chapter 20 and 22 will be sent and due on 5/15 Grade 8 Family All Homework is due along with saint essay and sponsor info Test / Assessment TBA Summer CCD Last Easter Workshop Packet will be sent via email by 5/8. Remember every Summer CCD students need to complete three workshops. Note: Summer CCD is hopefully still on-it can be virtual if needed! Also, it can be over extended amount of time. Details to follow. We will see how it all goes by June.  Dear First Communion Families:
Normally this is one of the busiest weeks in CCD. Last CCD classes, Communion Practice, and of course our First Holy Communions. This year is very different.!!! Two weeks ago, we had a Zoom Meeting (who would have thought!) with the Archdiocese and all the Essex County DREs. The Archdiocese informed us that we are not to give out any dates at all for future First Communions now, this summer or September until we are told by the Archdiocese to do so. I think they are seeing how it all goes and want us to be in sync. As Catholics, we know that the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith: it is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. Pope Francis has called it the "Sacrament of Love". For children and their families who are preparing to receive their First Holy Communion, this is a big deal. And for all of us, no matter how many times we have received Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, it should always be a big deal. As soon as the Archdiocese mandates a policy, we will contact you! We will work with you to the best of our ability. Boxes are made of cardboard, not stone—we promise this year above all other years, to think outside the box! At this time CCD and our parish would like to recognize all the Catechists that have helped prepare our children for this Sacrament of Holy Eucharist! Angel Barbarossa, Dawn Behnken, Dennis Della Terza, Lillian Coyle, Kristy Giordano, Adriana Marino, and Claudette Murray. Thank you so much for sharing your faith and love with the children and their families! |
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