December 7 Class Update: Mary and More

Advent Greetings class!

I first want to offer a big thanks to all of you for your submissions for the activities, and for your generosity in contributing money to our class Christmas Angel gift.  You all raised a total of $91.  Good work!

Recap of Last Class

For the first half, we had a visitor join us virtually: Will Haeni is one of my college friends from Valparaiso University.  He grew up in the St. Louis area and currently is a weekend on-air meteorologist for WWMT-CBS 3 TV in Kalamazoo, MI.  He shared about his work and what faith has meant in his life.

We also spent some time learning about Mary, especially in light of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which was on December 8.  It celebrates the dogma that Mary was free from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, named by tradition as St. Anne.  (By the way, there's a St. Anne statue in church, with Mary right in front of her.)

Mary of the Immaculate Conception is the Patroness Saint of the United States.  The Basilica of the National of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., is a church dedicated to her.

The exterior of the National Shrine

The interior of the National Shrine's Great Upper Church

Activity For this Week

Please take some time to explore the Basilica on a virtual tour.

Go to the Shrine's website virtual tour page.

Pick a chapel and look at the artwork.  There are numerous chapels to choose from, many of them dedicated to different versions of Mary from various countries all over the world.

In this Google form, please describe what stood out to you.

Last week's update listed some extra credit opportunities toward the bottom of the page.

In addition to those opportunities, you can attend Advent Evening Prayer at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Parish on at 7:30 on Monday evenings, December 13 and 20.  You can also attend evening prayer at Ascension at 7 PM on Wednesday evenings, December 15 and 22.

Again, these opportunities are not required: They are optional, and are great ways to engage more deeply with our Roman Catholic traditions.

Looking Ahead

We'll spend time looking ahead to Christmas Day and what it means at our next class on December 14, our last class before Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Break. Customarily, we gather with the other RE students to attend a pageant, but this year, we're going to experience the pageant in a condensed version in our classroom.  And as time permits, we'll continue the video series on the Mass.

Also, we're going to have some schedule adjustments over the next month or so because of a required meeting for 8th graders on the evening of January 18 at OPRFHS.  Details are forthcoming.

Please let me know if there are any questions, etc.

This Saturday, December 11, is the midpoint of Advent 2021, and Gaudete Sunday follows on December 12, when we light the rose candle on the Advent wreath.  That day is also the Feast of La Señora de Guadalupe.

Let us rejoice that our Lord is coming and has made Himself known to people all over the world of all races and ethnicities.

Together we all are connected as One Church: All my relations.

God's blessings as you continue the Advent journey,

Paul

P.S. We started class with the prayer that concludes the Litany of St. Joseph.  The Year of St. Joseph concluded on December 8.

Toward the end of class, we entered into a spirit of prayer with the song "Be Born in Me".

Also, one of the exit slip questions I addressed was the meaning of the word "Hosanna".  It is a Hebrew expression that means, "Save!"  The crowds shouted it as Jesus entered Jerusalem just days before His Passion.

Another question was about how Pope Francis became such a holy person.  He grew in holiness by growing in relationship with God through prayer and participating in the sacraments, especially reconciliation and the Eucharist.  We all can answer the call to holiness by praying and going to reconciliation and Mass, along with serving those in need.