Our focus during the months of November and December is food insecurity. So many people in our community suffer from not having enough food to feed their family. Catholic Social Teaching based on Scripture instructs us to care for those who suffer and to assist when someone needs help. So for November and December, consider what you can do, as a family, to help those who are food insecure. Will you go shopping as a family and buy items for a family’s Thanksgiving or Christmas meal? Will you go shopping as a family and buy food to help stock a food pantry or contribute to our Turkey Day Race Food Drive? Will you run or walk the Turkey Day Race, since that helps provide funds for local pantries? What about volunteering at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter? There are so many possibilities! Decide, as a family, what you can do to make a difference this holiday season for those who have less.

AND this year, I want you to add something more into the lesson: PRAYER! How can your family include prayer into what you've done for the lesson? Will you say a rosary together, praying for those who are suffering? Will you go to Mass together and pray for the underpriviledged? Will you pray together before bed each night, with special intentions for those in need? Pray before meals each day? How will you, as a family, add prayer to this lesson?

Remember, this should take a minimum of two hours. This is due by December 30. Please be sure to send me a picture of what your family has done to receive the credit hours!

“Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” - Matthew 25:34-35

“If you cannot feed one hundred people, then just feed one.” - St. Teresa of Calcutta

“Feed the hungry” - Corporal Works of Mercy (CCC 2447)

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people"- Ephesians 6:18

Our focus for the month of January is “The Creed: Living our Catholic Faith.” Each week in church, we recite/pray the Nicene Creed:


I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Then Father says:

This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How does your family profess, or share, their faith/what you believe with others? For this month’s Living the Lesson, spend a total of two hours consciously “living your faith.” This is completely open ended and can be done any way you’d like! Those who believe in, and follow, Jesus Christ follow His teachings, which are shared with us in Scripture and at Mass. What does Jesus ask of us? What does our Church teach us to do? How are we the face of Christ to others, living in His image and likeness? Find ways, as a family, to live your faith! Will you attend Mass together at least twice this month? Will you spend time in Adoration? Will you volunteer at a soup kitchen, donate clothes and winter apparel to the less fortunate, become an altar server, lector (reader) or cantor at Mass? Will you make cards or send gifts to those in need or are lonely? Will you pray the rosary several times together as a family? Will you shop for someone who is unable to? Or cook a meal for someone in need? Will you go to Confession or attend or celebrate a Baptism? There are so many ways we can live our faith through prayer, service and the sacraments! How your family chooses to do it this month is completely up to you!

Remember, this should take a minimum of two hours. This is due by February 5. Please be sure to send Mrs. Mackey a picture of what your family has done to cmackey@syrdio.org to receive the credit hours!

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”- James 5:16


“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”- 1 Peter 4:10


“And the crowds asked him, ‘What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’”- Luke 3:10-11


“Nor can we fail to mention that seeking and pursuing the good of others and of the entire human family also implies helping individuals and societies to mature in the moral values that foster integral human development.”- Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti 112


“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all that call on Him in truth.”- Psalm 145:18

As you may know, each month Mrs. Mackey will be sending you a Living the Lesson assignment. These lessons correspond to the theme that we are working on in Faith Formation. It is expected that families complete the Living the Lessons assignments, as they are considered part of the hours needed to complete the diocesan requirement of 30 hours of catechesis (teaching) per year for a Faith Formation program.

This month, we are focusing on Jesus in the Sacraments! Carlos, our Youth Minister, spoke to our youth in grades 6-10 at this month's Super Sunday and taught them about the seven sacraments: Baptism, Communion (Eucharist), Confirmation, Confession (Reconciliation), Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders.

For this month's living the Lesson, spend two hours throughout the course of the month experiencing and learning about any of these sacraments. For example, your family can come to Mass each week and experience the Eucharist during Holy Communion or come to Confession once or twice during the month (children too young to receive these sacraments can still be present, except in the Confessional, and learn more about this by watching their parents receive). Would you like to get anointed? We can make arrangements with Father to anoint your family. This is the sacrament of healing and absolution of sin! Will your family be attending a wedding? Or can you, as a family, watch the video of your or a family member's wedding? Have you ever seen a priest's ordination? The diocese has videos of some of our more recently ordained priests' ordinations! The possibilities are endless! Decide as a family what you'd like to do to learn more about, and experience, the sacraments. Please be sure it takes at least 2 hours to complete. When completed, send Mrs. Mackey pictures so she can see the incredible things you've done!

This will be discussed in greater detail during our parent meetings for grades 1-5 on 10/16 or 10/17 and I can answer any questions you may have on this then!

This is due no later than October 31. Sorry, we will not be able to accept submissions for credit after that date.

What a wonderful year it has been! We have spent the year really focusing on how to serve those around us who are most in need. We have looked at those who are impoverished, marginalized and suffering, and have answered the call to serve! But for our final Living the Lesson, Cathy Mackey would like you to think about someone or some people who really seem to need a “pick me up” and perform a random act of kindness for them! For example, do you know a family member, neighbor, or friend who needs some help with yard work, spring cleaning, getting groceries, etc? Can you, as a family, help this person with that need? What about surprising someone you know with a homemade meal or dessert and dropping it off at their house with a handmade card? What can you do, as a family, to help make a difference in the life of someone you know, just by doing something unexpected and kind? It can be anything you can think of for anyone you can think of! Just be sure it takes at least two hours and that you complete this act of kindness as a family. When completed, please send me pictures of what you did! This is due no later than May 31.

"Living the Lesson: Matthew 25:35 “Whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers….”

Christ tells in in Matthew 25:35-40, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Recently, we have been learning about the plight of the homeless. We’ve worked on the Homelessness is One Paycheck Away project, had Keith Cieplicki from Brady Faith Center’s Jail Ministry come speak at our Winter Break Session, and will be having Dr. David Lehmann from Housecalls for the Homeless speak at our Sunday Sunday. How are ways that your family can serve and support those that are homeless and/or incredibly impoverished and desperate and for many, have nowhere to turn? We are now in Lent and the three pillars of Lent are Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. This Lent, how can you pray, fast and give alms for the homeless and suffering? Let me know what your family does! This is due by the end of Lent; April 17. Please send pictures to me at cmackey@syrdio.org and remember that all grades (1-10) need to spend at least two hours on this assignment to receive the credit hours for this lesson.

“Yours may be the only face of Christ they see…..”

Our focus during the months of November and December is food insecurity. So many people in our community suffer from not having enough food to feed their family. Catholic Social Teaching based on Scripture instructs us to care for those who suffer and to assist when someone needs help. So for November and December, consider what you can do, as a family, to help those who are food insecure. Will you go shopping as a family and buy items for a family’s Thanksgiving or Christmas meal? Will you go shopping as a family and buy food to help stock a food pantry or contribute to our Turkey Day Race Food Drive? Will you run or walk the Turkey Day Race, since that helps provide funds for local pantries? What about volunteering at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter? There are so many possibilities! Decide, as a family, what you can do to make a difference this holiday season for those who have less. Remember, this should take a minimum of two hours for grades 1-5 and two and a half hours for grades 6-10. This is due by December 30. Please be sure to send me a picture of what your family has done to receive the credit hours!

The lesson for this month is to "build" something together as a family. It can be a lavish meal, a complex dessert, a puzzle, furniture, whatever you choose! Also, talk about why you think this project has been assigned. What does this have to do with Theology, God or our Church? Please be sure it takes at least 2 hours to complete (for Grades 1-5), or 2.5 hours to complete (for Grades 6-10) in order to receive full credit. When completed, send a picture so we can see the incredible work you've done! 

Homelessness is One Paycheck Away is due by February 13. The January 9 Super Sunday was canceled. Our speaker was going to speak about his work with the homeless. Since we cannot meet in person, but will have the speaker come to discuss this topic during our March Super Sunday, we will have students complete an assignment called "Homelessness Is One Paycheck Away."

This assignment was sent via email on Wednesday, January 5 at 6:00 pm. It is a complex one and is worth 5 credit hours (replacing the 2.5 hours in person and the 2.5 hours for Living the Lesson- there will be no additional Living the Lesson assignment this month). Therefore, students are expected to complete the assignment in full, according to the directions, in order to receive the full 5 hours of credit.