Our new Blended Learning model seeks to share and reinforce our rich Catholic heritage by providing a number of traditions and prayers to learn together as a family. Each family will choose and participate in two faith activities each month. We offer a variety of options to support families on their individual faith journeys.
We would love to see any pictures that you are willing to share. Email them to: religioused@stpaulkensington.org.
In December, during Advent, we await the celebration of the memorial of the birth of Christ on Christmas Day as we eagerly anticipate His second coming! Advent, which begins on Sunday, November 27 this year and ends on December 24, is, as the Catholic News Agency explains, a beautiful "season in the Church’s life intended to renew the experience of waiting, and longing, for the Messiah. Though Christ has already come into the world, the Church invites us to renew our desire for the Lord more deeply into our lives, and to renew our desire for Christ’s triumphant second coming into the world." Please click on this DECEMBER SIGN UP GENIUS link to sign up so we will know which two Family Faith Activities your family chose. In the comment section, type your child(ren)'s name and grade. And remember, we love to see and share pictures of your family participating in an activity! Please email them to: ourphotos@stpaulkensington.org. Thank you!
ANGEL TREE - (PLEASE NOTE: IF YOUR FAMILY CHOSE THIS ACTIVITY IN NOVEMBER, PLEASE CHOOSE A DIFFERENT ACTIVITY FOR DECEMBER. THIS EVENT WILL NOT COUNT TWICE.) All are invited to take an Angel (or a few!) from one or more of the Angel Trees at St. Paul Church and Sacred Heart Church, purchase and wrap the gift noted on the back of the Angel, and return the gift, with the Angel attached, by Dec. 11th. The gifts will be distributed to several local organizations including the Klingberg Family Center, Worthington Manor Retirement Center, Ledgecrest Health Care Center, CCARC, and more. The gifts listed on the Angels were specifically requested by clients/residents at these local facilities. The Angel Tree Project will also support the Boxes to Boots organization this year. Parishioners are invited to purchase $25 Amazon gift cards for this charity. (Boxes to Boots was formerly named Hero Boxes and was established by Berlin's Karen Cote in 2015.)
PARTICIPATE IN A ST. PAUL CHILDREN'S MASS! - Please use THIS LINK to sign up for this option.
PARTICIPATE IN THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS "KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS" POSTER CONTEST - There are 3 age categories. Entries are due by Sun., Dec. 4. A completed copy of the entry form must accompany the 11 x 17 poster. Cash prizes are awarded to winners at the local and district levels. The entry form has been emailed to all families.
LIGHTING OF THE PARISH GREEN - Join us as we light up the Christmas Tree on our Parish Green on Sat., Dec. 3rd after the 4 p.m. Mass! Festivities will include a ceremonial Tree Lighting and complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. Luminaries will light up the pathways along the Parish Green as well. The event will occur "snow or shine". Please remember to dress warmly! In the event of inclement weather the lights will go on, but festivities may be moved indoors. Proceeds will benefit the youth of Saint Paul.
MASS ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING - We invite families to light the Advent Wreath candles at the Masses leading up to Christmas. Near the beginning of Mass, your family will come up to the where the large Advent wreath is located on the Altar stairs and light the candles for that week. Please use THIS LINK to sign up for this option.
FAMILY ADVENT WREATH - Advent begins Sun., Nov. 27. Families who have Advent wreaths in their homes will light a candle on each of the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas as a way of preparing for the birth of our Lord. This is usually done at a family gathering like a meal. If you don't own a wreath, you can make your own! HERE is a great DIY idea.
ADVENT WREATH CRAFTS FOR KIDS - These are a great way to remember that the season of Advent is about waiting and preparing for Baby Jesus!
CHRISTMAS WAFERS (OPLATEK) - Those of Polish and Slavic ancestry are likely familiar with the sharing of the oplatek (pronounced o-pwa-tek) at Christmas and in particular at the evening meal (wigilia) on Christmas Eve. This thin, unleavened wafer is shared and broken among all members of the family along with greetings for a blessed Christmas and New Year, but also incoprorates a request for forgiveness from each other for any hurts that might exist. The oplatek are available on the table in between the two wings of the church at St. Paul as well as in the Parish Center. A free will donation will be gratefully accepted.
MAGNIFICAT ADVENT COMPANION DEVOTIONAL - Read this reflective daily devotional together as a family throughout the season of Advent. The ushers passed the booklets out after each Mass on the weekend of the 1st Sunday of Advent.
MERCY MONDAYS - "Let the Church always be a place of MERCY and HOPE, where EVERYONE IS WELCOMED, LOVED and FORGIVEN." (Pope Francis) Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord and an opportune moment to clean up our spiritual lives by availing ourselves of Jesus’ mercy and forgiveness. With this in mind, extra times for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered on the last 3 Mondays of Advent on Dec. 5, 12, and 19. These Mercy Mondays will have all four priests available for confession from 7 to 8 p.m. as well as exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA - Visit with Santa, take pictures, and enjoy fun activities and yummy food! Sun., Dec. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon in the St. Paul School gym.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT & GRECCIO - Enjoy a live enactment of the 1st Christmas with your family! Sun., Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. in St. Paul Church.
November features All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, and of course Thanksgiving! It's a month when we honor deceased loved ones, pray for the souls in purgatory and cultivate grateful hearts, giving thanks to God for all of our blessings. Please click on this NOVEMBER SIGN UP GENIUS link to sign up so we will know which two Family Faith Activities your family chose. In the comment section, type your child(ren)'s name and grade. And remember, we love to see and share pictures of your family participating in an activity! Please email them to: ourphotos@stpaulkensington.org. Thank you!
ALL SAINTS' DAY MASS - Tues., November 1, at 7am, 8:45am (School Mass - ALL are welcome to attend), 12 Noon, and 7pm. There will also be a Vigil Mass on Mon., October 31 at 4pm.
ALL SAINTS' DAY FOR KIDS VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcPXns6gilk
ALL SAINTS' DAY PEP TALK VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mad1Jgf0jow
ALL SOULS' DAY VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfWfuP0DCMM
ATTEND ALL SOULS' DAY PARISH MEMORIAL MASS - Wed., November 2, at 7pm
CHILDREN'S ROSARY - Meets the 1st Saturday of every month at Sacred Heart Church in East Berlin at 10am.
PRAY THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY IN SONG - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKlOLyYs3Os
WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN SONG - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frfbgf9WeWM
HOLY KIDS: IMITATING THE SAINTS! VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTAaAjdGiWU
THANKSGIVING: MORE CATHOLIC THAN YOU KNEW VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSP5mK3UqjM
FR. MIKE SCHMITZ THANKSGIVING SPECIAL: SQUANTO VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_06UHMDk778
MAKE A THANKFULNESS PUMPKIN - https://aleteia.org/2018/10/26/how-to-use-a-pumpkin-to-teach-your-kids-to-be-thankful/
PARTICIPATE IN THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS "KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS" POSTER CONTEST - Deadline is December 2
PARTICIPATE IN A ST. PAUL CHILDREN'S MASS! - Please use THIS LINK to sign up for this option.
ANGEL TREE - All are invited to take an Angel (or a few!) from one or more of the Angel Trees at St. Paul Church and Sacred Heart Church, purchase and wrap the gift noted on the back of the Angel, and return the gift, with the Angel attached, by Dec. 11th. The gifts will be distributed to several local organizations including the Klingberg Family Center, Worthington Manor Retirement Center, Ledgecrest Health Care Center, CCARC, and more. The gifts listed on the Angels were specifically requested by clients/residents at these local facilities. The Angel Tree Project will also support the Boxes to Boots organization this year. Parishioners are invited to purchase $25 Amazon gift cards for this charity. (Boxes to Boots was formerly named Hero Boxes and was established by Berlin's Karen Cote in 2015.)