Hello everyone,

It was good to see you in class yesterday (though we had quite a shocking attendance esp from the gals – only 4 showed up?! Hmm… I wonder if it’s becos they donno that class has resumed this weekend, or if they have travelled to H1N1 affected areas and are being responsible citizens who are locking themselves at home before they go out again?)

Anyway, just a few admin matters first….

H1N1

For those of you who have recently travelled to H1N1 affected countries (Mexico, Melbourne, Malaysia, New York, etc) please stay at home for at least 7 days (even if you feel well) before you come for class. This is what our Singapore Govt encourages all citizens to do as well. Even if you’ve not been to any of H1N1 affected countries, if you’re not feeling well/ having a fever, etc, please DO NOT come for class. Just give any one of your catechists a call/sms and let us know you’re not coming and why, but you MUST produce a letter from your parents (we will verify with your folks so don’t even THINK abt forging your folks’ signature or faking a letter, ok?!) so that your attendance will not be affected.

Attendance for Term 1

For the benefit of those who did not turn up for class yesterday, I shared in class that a few of you have very poor attendance for the first half of this year (I think you know who you are). If you are serious about getting confirmed in Con 4, PLEASE buck up and turn up for class regularly. Remember you have to fulfil 80% of your attendance should you wish to proceed to Con 3 and be confirmed at the end of your 4 year journey. On the other hand, if you feel that you are not ready, or it takes a lot from you to drag yourself to class every Saturday, then we recommend that you have a chat with your parents and should you decide to drop out of catechism, please ask your parents to write a letter to us (your catechists) and to Fr Fred/Fr Greg to state your intentions. We will not force you to stay on if you don’t want to.

Syllabus for Term 2

For term 2, we will be covering “Sacraments”. For those of you who donno what that is, it is “an outward sign of an inward grace”. Sounds chim? Well, come to class and find out more! For the next few weeks, we will be delving into each sacrament – Baptism, Reconciliation (Confession), Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony (Marriage), Holy Orders (Priesthood), Annointing of the Sick. If you have any questions on any of the Sacraments, now is the time to ask! We may not have the answers to every question,  but we will try our best to clear your doubts, or even ask the priests or find out from CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church).

We also welcome Ryan, our new classmate who has joined us from Holy Family Church, starting from Term 2. Ryan has been very participative and enthusiastic in class yesterday. This can be evidently seen in his small group discussion with Jeremy and Naomi, when discussing about the poster to design for a Christian Fair. On the other hand, we had 2 “telepathic grps” yesterday who communicated via telepathy (duh!) with one another in their grps about their designs for the poster (if you know what I mean) We will be breaking all of you up from your usual cliques to provide opportunities of getting to know all of your classmates (some of you don’t even know their names after 1.5 yrs of being in the same class! Tsk tsk!). Please also try to open up and share (ie. TALK “in a spiritual way” words quoted from Jerome) with one another during your small grp sharing. Don’t be shy! =)

That said, may you have a good first week in school after a well-deserved holiday. We’ll see you all in class next week (with your Bible/ Journal) when we share about the Sacrament of Baptism!

~ Marlene

Here’s a pictorial look at week 1 and 2 of Catechism class!

Week 1 – 7 Feb 2009

Week 2 – 14 Feb 2009

Hey guys & gals,

Hope your exams went well and you’ve aced them! Fret not if you didn’t do as well as you should, there’s always next year to try harder!

For our year end party, I’ve booked a BBQ pit at East Coast Parkway on Sunday, 30 Nov. We haven’t decided if we should just cater food for the BBQ or have a potluck. What do you guys prefer??

It’s at BBQ Area C, Pit No. 32. It’s near Carpark C3/ Marine Cove/ Beach Cabana/ Raintree Cove.  For exact location, log on to http://203.208.249.111/NParks/Internet/search.php#

So do help to spread the word to your classmates and RSVP your attendance to catechist@ymail.com so we know how much food to order. You can also sms/call either one of us to let us know!

~ Marlene

Hi guys and girls,

Hope things have been going great for you so far. I just came across an article that talks about what we’ve mentioned in class — the role of the Bible (word of God) in helping us strengthen our relationship with Jesus (Word of God). It begins with…

Here’s the word: Catholics must know Bible to know Jesus, says bishops
By Cindy Wooden

The Catholic Church wants people to know and love the word of God — the Bible — so that they will come to know and love the Word of God — Jesus Christ.

While the world Synod of Bishops is focusing on ways to educate Catholics in the importance of reading, understanding and praying with the Bible, several participants addressing the synod Oct. 6-7 insisted that people understand that for Christians the Word of God is Jesus.

“When asked what ‘the word of God’ is, many believers respond, ‘the Bible.’ The response is not wrong, but it is incomplete,” said Italian Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, rector of Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University and president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Because the word of God is more than the Bible, he told the synod Oct. 7, Christianity is not so much a “religion of the book” as a “religion of the Word,” who is Jesus.

[...]

Click here to read the entire article.

Take care and God bless!

- Stephanie

Hi class,

Don’t forget it’s our last Catechism class this weekend! Do ask your friends who have been absent to come! See ya all soon!

Below is a good read, in case you are or know of anyone who’s worried about finances… 

God bless!

Marlene

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bob Dylan sang it many years ago, and it’s still true today: “The times, they are a-changin.” In barely two years, gas prices have more than doubled. Costs for diesel fuel have surpassed gasoline, and the result is a snowball effect that is sending our incomes into a downward spiral of lower and lower spending power. What’s a believer to do?

        Trust God. Or as He Himself told us, “Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear…. Can any of you add a cubit to his height by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:22b, 25-26).

         Really, why do we worry? We can’t control the weather; God does. We can’t control the seasons; God does. When it comes right down to it, there are a very limited number of things over which we have any control whatsoever, and even in those areas, our first and foremost priority as believers in Christ Jesus is still the same mandate: Trust God.

         Proverbs 3:5 reminds us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” Does that mean that we’re to plod through these tough times with no financial plan of action because we’re simply to “trust in the Lord”? Of course not. The teaching of Proverbs 3:5 continues in Verse 6: “Think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”

         Folks, the only person who needs a guide is someone who’s going somewhere! I don’t know about you, but I plan to get on with my life and His Commission despite the downturn in the economy and despite any other setbacks that may come my way.

         In the early 1980s my husband, Larry, found himself without a job. For two years we had no steady income. And it was during those two years that my penny-pinching savvy was honed like never before; so I can truthfully say that I’d not be where or who I am today were it not for the lessons learned during that tough stretch.

         But not only did we learn a lot of new “survival” skills, we learned how awesome our Heavenly Father was and is providing for our needs. Time and again, we received just what we needed just when we needed it. Of course, we did our part to bring in an income. In addition to selling real estate, I cleaned houses, did yard work, a little substitute teaching, and countless other odd jobs, all while trying to remain as much of a stay-at-home mom as possible. Larry found a couple of long-term temporary jobs and joined me in a lot of the odd job opportunities.

        Yet sometimes it still wasn’t enough. I recall that on more than one occasion, we prayed fervently for a way to earn enough money to buy groceries. Once, I was still in mid-prayer when the doorbell rang and a couple from our church stood smiling in the doorway. “We hope you won’t be offended,” our friend, Cheryl said, “but Daniel works for a grocery wholesaler and the company let us have all of the damaged goods in this week’s shipment.”

        Offended? I was elated! We quickly emptied their burgeoning pickup, stacking the less-than-perfect cans and boxes into our empty pantry and together thanking the Lord for His amazing love and perfect timing.

        Once, on my birthday, another friend, Helen, phoned. “I didn’t know what to get you for your birthday, so I bought you groceries. I hope you don’t mind.” I can still remember lifting that truly heavenly turkey breast out of the grocery bag and weeping with happiness.

        Then there was the time we found a refund check in our mailbox. Our insurance company had discovered that we’d been charged too high a rate for the whole past year.

          People of God, tough times are no reason to worry. They’re a time to get excited about the new and miraculous ways you’re going to see the Lord take care of you. Do your part to be a responsible manager of His blessings: Continue to tithe, cut back unnecessary spending, and make whatever other changes may be needed to reduce your regular expenses. But most of all, trust Him, and joyfully expect your Heavenly Father to take good care of you, His precious son or daughter.

Hi guys & gals,

I was just wondering how much you know about OLPS, our parish. Do you know how many ministries we have in church, and what they do?

For a better idea about what our Youth Ministries are, what they do, when do they meet, what’s in store…. do visit our OLPS Youth Ministry website at http://www.olpsyouth.org/

Feel free to ask us any questions about the youth scene in OLPS. Don’t forget, you are a youth in OLPS so you have a part to play in our parish!! =)

Cya all tomorrow in class for Part 2 of “Bedazzled”. Don’t forget to prepare your homework on writing a short script with Christian values for your very own movie!

God bless,

Marlene

Hi all,

Sorry haven’t been a real active contributor of our class blog cos sch juz started n real bz.

Here’s 2 blog entires I had to do for one of my modules in school.

It will tell u a bit more about me.

cheers

James

My 2 Adjectives to describe teachers:

1) Worn out

2) Tired

 Sorry if it does appear cynical n negative but sadly that’s usually the first thing I think off.

Why so is because people always have the impression that teachers have long school holidays and only work half days.

We all know that this is far from the truth.

I saw myself and almost all the teachers I know feeling tired and worn out which also means we are being stretched a lot..

It also boils down to the sch mgt n stuff, but let’s not dwell into that.

The fact that many are still teachers, speaks for itself.

We cannot let our feelings affect us as feelings change all the time.

Just like marriage, teaching must also be based on commitment, trust and promise; not just feelings as our human emotions fluctuate ever so randomly. The feel good factor does not last forever and it’s the commitment, trust and promise that will carry us through.

I believe that teaching has many aspects and perspectives as it is hugely measurable and unquantifiable, organic and evolving.

Just like a war, the greatest enemy and fear is sometimes within.

Conquer your enemies & fears within and you will find peace, just like in Batman Begins.

Batman Begins

The Joker

Hi class,

Yes Sasha, we know you posted the last entry.   Thanks for posting anyway even though the content IS confusing… haha. Donno where you got that from!

Anyway, just to give everyone a heads up, below is a list of things that you can blog. All you have to do is send us catechists an email of your post and one of us will upload it for you.

Alternatively, we will assign (or if there’s a volunteer, even better) someone or two (1 boy & 1 girl) to be adminstrators of our class blog. Whoever has anything to blog, please email them. Which do you guys prefer?

Blogging content:

1) Anything interesting, funny, inspirational and respectful

2) Any content that is not suitable or offensive (vulgarity, blasphemy, rude, etc) will not be uploaded for view!

3) Any interesting topic or even provocative questions for our discussion

Hope this is clearer now. If you have any questions, please email us at catechist@ymail.com

Looking forward to receive more entries from the class! =)

~ Marlene

Hi. The cathecists have been confusing me in class…are we allowed to post or not?!! well since you have said that we are not comming to the blog…this is proof that we are. i know we are probably not suppose to post anything that will freak others out of the religion but i couldn’t resist..sorry!!! Gospel of Thomas saying 114:

It was good to be back in class after being away for 2 weeks at World Youth Day in Sydney. Attendance was pretty good today. Today’s lesson was about “Jesus, a person for others”.

The first four to arrive for class

We started off by recapping last week’s session on “Jesus, a person of feelings”. I read out the story on “Lunch with Jesus”. It was about a boy and an old woman, sharing lunch together. They both saw Jesus in each other.

Next, we had the class to go out of the classroom and stay within the church compound to look for Jesus. Perhaps seeing Jesus in someone else or in nature.

When the teens came back to class, a few of them had nothing to share (as expected), while some shared rather interesting findings. One said she sees Jesus in the fan. It’s like how we take the fan for granted as it provides wind and coolness to the warm surrounding. Jesus offers us a lot of things in life but we tend to take him for granted.

The boys (Jerome and gang) said they saw Jesus in someone who has Jesus’ hairstyle. Naomi said that the fish reminds her of Jesus as it’s cute.

We reflected on the Bible passage of “The Blind Man in Jericho” Luke 18:35-43. Jesus healed the blind man because of his faith.

We showed a video “Go Light Your World” by Kathy Troccoli. The lyrics of the song was really meaningful.

Watching the video together

Meaning lyrics

Do we hold our candle even without a flame?

The class shared about the times when they have experienced the compassion of Jesus. The sharing of Gareth and John Paul particularly touched me. Gareth shared about how Jesus healed him when he was struck with a strange disease sometime last year and he had to go for an operation.

John Paul shared how he only had $5 which was not enough for his taxi fare. When he told the cab driver he didn’t have enough money to pay for the $8+ cab fare, the taxi driver didn’t scold him but instead told him it’s ok, $5 is fine. They each received a bar of French Nougat that I bought from Sydney for the wonderful sharing!

Engaging in group discussion

The group finally got talking after much persuasion

The boys who were ashamed of their looks...... except Jeremy! ;p

Penning down thoughts in their journals

It was a good class, I thought. I hope the teens learnt something today and will be a candle in the room of darkness. To be the light that shines brightly in others’ lives!

~ Marlene