Good Shepherd 3-6 year olds-Mrs. Phyllis Kalkowski, Mrs. Beth Russo, Miss Naomi Kinkela Who is the Good Shepherd?  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  And as the good shepherd, he calls his people to mass where he is present and gives himself in the body and blood.  He reafirms that we are the sheep.
To announce the Good Shepherd as the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, Jesus gives himself in the signs of bread and wine and affirms that we are the sheep.  Jesus the Good Shepherd calls his sheep to come receive him.
Children learned in December- February:

• How to say prayers "Our Father," "Hail Mary" and "Guardian Angel"
• The articles on the altar
• What the priest wears (vestments)
• The liturgical calendar and feast days the Church celebrates
• How to take care of things (crayons, pencils).
• How to genuflect and make the sign of the cross.
• Liturgical colors- purple, green, red and white.
• Altar pieces
• Specific saints
• Being quiet and prayerful
• Visit to the church
• Map of Jerusalem puzzle map.
• Nativity narratives
• Annunciation of Mary and Visitation to Elizabeth
• Nativity of Our Lord

2nd Grade True Vine Class Prepares for First Reconciliation-Mrs. Carrie Sutter, Mrs. Bailey Sutkowi  Our 2nd grade True Vine class has been spending much of their time in joyful preparation for their First Reconciliation! The students have been learning about the 5 Steps of Confession, practicing through mock confessions, and understanding how doing penance helps us make up for our sins and grow closer to God.Through discussions, role-playing, and reflection, our students are gaining confidence in this important sacrament, recognizing God's endless love and mercy. Congratulations to all our students who made their First Reconciliations in the past two weeks! In the coming months we will shift our focus to preparing more thoroughly for their First Communion on May 4^th at 2pm! 

3rd-4th GradeMrs. Caroline Muller, Mr. Matthew Muller The 3rd/4th grade class is continuing to review concepts regarding the seven sacraments, the creed, and daily prayer. Recently, we put together folders with a big review of concepts and a bracelet sheet. This bracelet sheet has different activities/actions that allow the students to earn beads, so at the end of the year, they can make bracelets based on what they have done in class. Some examples of activities/actions include sharing a time that they showed God's love to someone else, going to adoration or confession, sharing a time they forgave someone, leading prayer during class, or reciting the seven sacraments/ten commandments from memory.

Some questions that you could ask your children include "What are the seven sacraments?", "What are the ten commandments?", "What season is next in the liturgical year", "What is something that we could do as a family during the Lenten season?". We ask you to discern taking your children to confession or adoration during Lent to help support our learning in class.

5th-6th Grade November 2024 to February 5, 2025 - Mrs. Mary Smoker, Ms. Laura Bodary  The students have journeyed through The Word of the Prophets, identifying them by name and their purpose, to promote change with the Israelites to repent their sins. This lesson plan included discussions about Isaiah and Jeremiah and John the Baptist. Students were challenged to identify false Gods in today’s world and how this impacts our life and salvation. The Birth of Jesus included teachings and discussions on the Incarnation, the Presentation, Simeon at the temple and the Seven Sorrows of Mary. We discussed the threat of King Herod which led Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to flee to Egypt, the return of the holy family to Nazareth and Jesus’s childhood including the role of Joseph in Jesus’s life. Jesus’s Baptism by John the Baptist, the meaning and purpose of it all. We explained how the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove, declaring him as the Son of Jesus. In this lesson, students were asked the importance of Baptism, for the forgiveness of our sins. The importance of confession, forgiveness and penance were reviewed. Jesus in the dessert, tempted by Satan, identifying the three temptations. Students role played Jesus and Satan in the dessert and how Jesus conquered temptation. The students enjoyed learning some of the Bible parables including the Mustard seed, Prodigal Son, Treasure in Heaven, the Wheatfield.  Each student had the opportunity to read a parable out of the Bible and then discuss the meaning.  Following Christ was a class theme, including the 12 Apostles as Jesus’s followers. Students identified as many Apostles as possible on the Chalk board. We discussed the role Apostles had with preaching the Gospel and how Jesus gave them the power and Authority to forgive and abolish Sin. The last couple of weeks we touched on Vocations discernment and how to listen for Gods voice. Living Gods will in our lives and keeping the faith and trust. Laura and I both shared our past and present journey with vocation and discernment. Many of the students thought they may want to grow up, get married and have a family. We identified different vocations and their roles.  Classes included Scripture from the Bible, Lesson Plan teachings from the Credo text. Review Quizzes, Lesson writing activities, Prayerful moments, and Activities in the Social Hall. 
Below picture- Vincent acts as the priest during a Baptism.  Baptism gives us special graces and theological virtues which were identified and discussed. Students reviewed the words of Baptism, “I Baptize you in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.”. We visited the Baptismal fountain in church and renewed our Baptismal Rites.  

7th-8th Grade Mrs. Maura Campbell, Mrs. Kathy Truitt Mrs. Maura CampbellRight before Christmas, the 7th and 8th grade happened to talk about the minor and major prophets. The student read pieces of the book of Isaiah and saw how Isaiah foretold way before Christ was born-- how He would suffer and die to be the Savior of the world. They also read about John the Baptist who was the last great prophet.  He was the bridge between the old covenants and the Herald for the coming of the final Great Prophet, Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The class learned about Jesus. They reviewed the birth of Christ and then using the Bible, looked up many of the miracles Jesus performed during the time he was preaching and teaching. They learned that Jesus could be divine and human and that he was true man and true God. They saw in the readings how Jesus was Son of God, a teacher, the Great Prophet, a High Priest, and The King of Kings. This led to a brief study of the Mass. During the mass and at the consecration, Catholics get to participate in Jesus' Perfect Sacrifice over and over every time we receive him in the Eucharist--Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Now the class has moved on and is in process learning about he early Church, the apostles, Hierarchy of the Church and much more.

Confirmation class Year 2 (9th grade)Mr. Brendan Barnes, Mrs. Ellen Nightingale The class continues to deepen their understanding of faith- that faith is a higher form of knowing.  They also had an activity where they went Christmas Caroling in our St. Ann neighborhood (see below).  We recently had a parent meeting focused on the Eucharist and the Presence retreat.  Please pray for our Confirmandi as they go on their Presence retreat February 28- March 2nd.

Professions of FaithWe have had several students make professions of Faith this year.  This is when a Baptized Christian professes their faith in the Catholic Church.  Thanks Father Dave for helping to bring families into the faith!

Happy First Communion Rose!We Celebrate Rose Johnson's First Communion February 23rd after lots of study.  Congratulations Rose!

Epiphany Pageant January 8th.St Ann religious ed joined with Light of Christ Academy to host an Epiphany pageant on January 8th!  We joined at the end to have a joint choir as we sang Christmas songs.  Thanks everyone!

Keep Christ in Christmas Poster ContestThanks to all those who participated in this year's Knights of Columbus Keep Christ in Christmas poster contest!  The winners are
5-7 year olds: #2,  Elijah S8-10 year olds:#1 Tori P from 3-4th grade Religious Ed11-14 year olds: #7, KatieThank you, all participants!

First Reconciliations:  As we prepare for First Communion, we are thankful for all those able to go to their First Confession!

Upcoming events:

• NO CLASS 3-5-25 Ash Wednesday.  8:15am and 7pm mass
• Stations of the Cross: Fridays of Lent at 5:30pm! (New 2025), then dinner to follow: 3-7; 3-14; 3-21, 3-28, 4-4, 4-11 
• Parish Lenten Study on the Beatitudes starts March 12th (above flyer)
• St Joseph Men's Group March 18th 6:30pm @ Dock (above flyer)
• NO CLASS 4-2-25 Spring Break
• NO CLASS 4-23-25 Easter Break- Happy Easter!
• Sunday May 4th, First Holy Communion, 2pm
• Last day of class: May 7th May Crowning and Simple Supper