Families wishing to register a child in our program for the first time are asked to stop by the RE Office Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Fridays by appointment) or
download the forms from our web site and mail or fax them to our office.
(FAX:813-671-2994 10428 Saint Stephen Circle Riverview, FL 33569)
RETURNING
STUDENT REGISTRATION FOR 2008-09
Returning students will receive re-registration forms in the mail at the beginning of May. Please return the completed forms as soon as possible, to ensure your choice of class day and time.
We will be closed December 24-28 and Dec. 31-Jan 4.
Our office will open Monday and Tuesday, December 29 and 30, and resume normal hours on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009
Blessed Christmas wishes from all of us! Nancy, Sue, Kelly, Kim, Jeff, Ed, Rosie, Cindy, & Jeanne
SAFE ENVIRONMENT CLASS
A Safe Environment Class will be offered at the ROC Center on Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for all volunteers who work with our parish children and youth and have not already attended this training (sorry, no child care provided at this location). Call the Religious Education Office @ 671-4434 to register to attend. Seating is limited.
A Parent Class will be offered on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 6:15 p.m. in the Flex Room at the school. We encourage all parents to attend this informative class.
Interested in helping out? Click on Volunteer Opportunities for suggestions of how you can be a part of our program. Many thanks to our returning catechists and support staff!
to leave your special intentions and pray for those left by others!
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PLEASE NOTE: To enroll your child in a Religious Education class, you must be registered parishioners. New parishioner registration takes place every Sunday at 10:45 a.m. in Room 2 at the church building. If you are unable to attend on a Sunday, call our office to schedule an appointment during our office hours.
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If you are also registering your child for sacrament preparation (First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, or Confirmation) we will need a copy of their Baptismal Certificate. If your child has not yet been baptized, and is 7 years of age or older, contact our office for information about our children's OCIC class.
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Infant baptism classes are held each month for parents with a child under 7 years of age. Contact the RE Office for information.
Each week in our church bulletin we’ll provide a question for families to discuss on the way home, or during the week, about the Sunday readings. Then in Religious education class the catechists will allow time for children to share with their classmates what they discovered, and how the readings relate to their life today. It is important for children to connect going to Mass each week with their faith development. There are also many web sites we encourage your family to visit, with links for each Sunday’s gospel. One in particular we recommend is www.catholicmom.com
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Upcoming Events
GRADE 8 CONFIRMATION FAMILY RETREAT will take place on Saturday, January 24th. We begin with 8:00 a.m. Mass. One parent must accompany their child. Sponsors are also invited to attend. Bring your journal and sponsor log! Contact youth minister Jeff for more information. 671-4434 or jfalanga@ststephencatholic.org
EDGE BASIC TRAINING has begun! Learn about your Catholic faith in a fun, friendly atmosphere. Bring a friend - they don't have to be Catholic to come with you. This will take place every Thursday night (except the1st Thursday of the month) at
EDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP meets after the Saturday 6PM Mass at the ROC Center on January 10 & 24, February 7 & 21, March 7 & 21, April 4 & 18, May 2 & 16. Food, fun and fellowship! Bring a friend! They don't have to be Catholic to come with you!
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PAGEANTS will take place at the 4:00 & 6;00 p.m. Masses on December 24th in the church and tent. We are in need of adults to direct each pageant. This is a simple production that is acted out during the reading of the Gospel. Costumes are provided. Please call the Religious Education Office @ 671-4434 if you'd like to help. Your family will have reserved seats at the Mass you help with. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays, December 9 & 16 at 3:15 p.m. and Dec 23 at 9:30 a.m. in the church. There will be only one tent rehearsal on Tue, Dec 23 at 10:00 a.m.
Now REGISTERING HIGH SCHOOL and ADULTS who are in need of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Contact the RE Office for more information.
No Religious Education clsses for Preschool, OCIC, OCIY, Kindergarten through Grade 5, & Middle School. Our classes will resume in January 2009 ............................ Merry Christmas and much joy in 2009 !
Online seminars are perfect for parents busy raising a family. There is no scheduling of babysitters, no extra time needed to drive to a meeting location, and no assigned time to meet with your instructor or classmates. Lectures can be accessed at the convenience of participants, day or night. There is a weekly presentation, a short reflection response, and discussion opportunities with other parents and Dr. Turcic. As a couple, you can spend as little or as much time as your schedule allows with this seminar. To fully participant in this seminar, CDU recommends three hours each week in reading, discussion and assignments.
(call the Religious Ed office to sign up to help @ 671-4434)
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This is a great opportunity for students going into Grade 8 to get a head start on your 20 hour Confirmation service hours.
Be sure to register for this program for the 2008-09 school year if you have not already done so. For information on other Confirmation requirements, visit the Handbook.
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SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2009: Watch for upcoming opportunities.
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Looking for a way to serve your community? Why not help Cardio Start pack boxes of medical supplies? They are located at 610 Hartford Street in Tampa. This is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to assisting children and adults with heart disease. The charity performs free life-saving heart and lung surgery, and orphanage assistance to underserved countries throughout the world. CardioStart has undertaken 36 overseas missions in 18 countries and provided over 500 surgeries, utilizing medical, technical and non-medical experts from around the world. If interested, contact Administrative Joanne McGuire Director at McGuireJM212@aol.com or 740-2698 for a list of dates when they need help. This is a great way for our Confirmation Candidates to get service hours, or to continue providing service to our community! Adult help is also welcome.
NOTE TO PARENTS: The Religious Education web pages have links to other websites that contain useful information, as well as suggestions and fun activities for developing your family's faith life. We encourage you to visit them. As always, we advise supervising your children when they are online.
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CLASS TIMES FOR THE 2008-09 YEAR
PRESCHOOL: Sundays 9:30AM at the church building. Please
contact the RE Office (671-4434) for more information.
SPECIAL NEEDS: Please
contact the RE Office (671-4434) for information.
KINDERGARTEN - GRADE 5: Classes are offered at four different times at the school building: Sundays 9:00AM - 10:15AM and 11:00AM - 12:15 PM, Wednesdays 4:15PM - 5:30PM and 6:00PM - 7:15PM. Contact Kelly Gourdreau for more information
MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY: The EDGE for Middle School youth is held 6:00PM - 7:15PM for 6-7 graders and 7:30PM - 8:45PM for 8 graders on Monday nights at the Church Building. Visit our page or check the weekly church bulletin for current youth group events. Call Jeff Falanga, our Middle School Youth Minister, for more information (671-4434) or send him an e-mail: JFalanga@ststephencatholic.org.
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY: Join us for 'Pizza Rolls and Stuff" every Wednesday Night at the ROC Center from 7-8:30pm for food, fun, and informative discussions. And join us on Sunday Nights for the 5:30pm LifeTeen Mass, followed by Life Nights at the ROC till 8:30pm. Call Ed Lugo, our High School Youth Minister, for more information (671-4434) or send him an e-mail: ELugo@ststephencatholic.org.
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY: Come Join Us! Young adult ministry is a new group at St. Stephen Parish! We are a group for individuals out of high school through age 29. If you are interested in learning more about your faith, meeting others who share similar values to your own, or are interested in opportunities to make our community better, you've come to the right place! Currently we meet the second Friday of every month at Buffalo Wild Wings (corner of Bell Shoals and Boyette) at 7pm for a social activity, and once a month for a service activity. For details click here, or contact Ed Lugo at the Religious Ed Office @ (813) 671-4434 or e-mail: ELugo@ststephencatholic.org. Check the weekly church bulletin for upcoming events.
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation): Please visit the OCIA Webpage or contact Rosie Bridges for more information. (671-4434)
