Catechism

From the Office of Religious Education

"GO THEREFORE, AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU."

(MT.28:19 & 20)

What is a Catechist?
A Catechist is a devoted individual who dedicates his or her time and talent to teach children the way of the Lord.

In Our Lady of Fatima Parish coordinated by Linda Neves Augusto are:

Grades 1 thru 8 are held at the East Street School starting mid-September and ending the end of April.

The 1st Communion class (2nd grade) continues until the 1st Saturday of May.

May 7, 2005 - 35 students received the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

The High School Program
Grades 9 - 11 run from mid September to end of December

Classes are held on church grounds as follows:

On January 8, 2006, 40 students received the Sacrament of Confirmation with Msgr. Richard Sniezyk officiating.

Striving to keep Holy the Lord's Day 5 years ago we initiated a mass card program.

The children of the parish receive a 3x5 preprinted folded card.

After whatever Mass they attend, they go to the sacristy and get the cards signed.

The Children's Mass begins the second weekend of CCD. Mass is at 5:00 PM. It is a children's liturgy with a children's choir. During the Homily, Father invites all the children to sit with him in front of the altar and discuss "the story" that he read.

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Seasonal Events

Advent
On the second Sunday of Advent is a visit from "St. Nicholas". The children gather at the 5:00 PM mass and during the Homily the children are given a package of seeds to take home and grow. At the end of mass, St. Nicholas arrives and gathers them in the church hall where they sit on his lap, tell him what they want for Christmas, are handed a candy cane and bookmark with the "Story of the Candy Cane."

The 7th and 8th grade students volunteer to do a live nativity play. The characters are a real newborn as Baby Jesus, Angel, Mary, Joseph, donkey, cow, shepherds, sheep, innkeeper, and even the three kings led by the "Bright Light" North Star.

Easter
We have an Easter egg hunt immediately following 5:00 PM mass on Easter Sunday. Volunteers are busy stuffing eggs and hiding them. The Easter bunny comes in immediately following mass and directs everyone out to the church grounds for the hunt.

New Spirit Retreats
For the last eleven years, The New Spirit Inc. led by Pat Sears has held retreats for our 10th and 11th grades.

These retreats are held as part of the confirmation program.

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Youth Group

The future of our parish

Adult leader - Linda Augusto
Youth leader - Jessica Chaves

Our Lady of Fatima parish believes in the power of our youth and the important role they will play as leaders and members of our Church today and in the future.
The creation of a youth group is a priority at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. We are looking for new members to join the group already started.
The group will meet monthly for planning, conversation and snacks.

THE GROUP MISSION:

WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!

First Event
On October 21, 2005, Our Lady of Fatima Youth Group held its first event. The group organized a trip to the Haunted Hay ride in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was a huge success. 12 parish youths and 3 adults attended the trip. Of course, that night happened to be one of the coldest nights of the year, but everyone was well bundled and too busy on the lookout for scary monsters to even notice the frigid temperatures. On the ride itself, the group huddled together in their seats on the wagon. The ride was approximately 20 minutes long through an abundance of farmland and cornfields which were filled with creepy and scary creatures all desperately seeking to scare each and every one of us.

The ride concluded with all of us required to exit through a dark and spooky haunted house. At each turn, we were greeted by more frightening creatures trying to horrify us a little more before we left. Thankfully we all made it out in one piece and even though none of them will admit it, I feel everyone was at least a little scared at some point in the night. The Yout Group is off running and we hope to see many more of you on our future adventures.

- Paul Marta.