LEAVING HOME
When a young person leaves for college, it is a time of very mixed emotions and a transition for the whole family that deserves attention and celebration. Give your grown children a memory of happy family prayer. Put together a box of essentials for them and attach tags to each item. Shampoo: Never forget that God loves you so much that every hair on your head has been counted. Soap: Never be afraid to get your hands dirty in the service of others. Window Cleaner: May you always care for your visions and listen to your dreams. Dust pan/brush: May it remind you never to sweep unpleasantness under the carpet, but to pick it up and deal with it. Tissues: May your tears be few. Aspirin: May there be less pain than joy on your journey. Bubble Stuff: May you never leave your childhood totally behind. Key to the house: We give you the key to the house so that you know you can always come home. As you have been loved, may you love. As you have been nurtured, may you nurture. As you have been joy to us, may you be joy to others. May God go with you and bring you peace. (Based on a ritual by Sandra DeGidio in her book “Enriching Faith Through Family Celebrations”).

A Prayer Before the First Day of School
We pray that all children everywhere will experience loving teachers and good classes.
We pray that the school year will be filled with good friends, exciting school activities and God's love.
We pray that we have a minimum of illness, missed homework and missed busses.
We pray that our children will help new children to be less lonely and less frightened these first days of school.
We pray that the coming school year will educate us and help us to fulfill god's plan for us in His World. Amen
(Adapted from Dolores Curran Family Prayer/The Complete Guide for Praying Families, West Mystic, CT Twenty Third Publication. 1978)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Catechists and assistant teachers are needed for the new Religious Education school year beginning September 2010.  Grades 1-5 will be offered on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. All grades will be offered each day. First and second choices will be accepted on a first come first served basis. Please call Peg at the Religious Education Office 508-852-1784 if you can volunteer.

PIETA
Monday, August 9
7:00 pm
Conference Room
Pieta is an ongoing support for bereaved parents. Anyone who has experienced the death of a child is welcome to attend.

ALZHEIMER AND DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP
St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center holds this group entitled "Making the Reminiscence Journey" on the third Wednesday of each month from 1:15 to 2:15 pm in the Sisters' Dining Room. They are located at 101 Plantation St. in Worcester. Call 508-775-8605 ext. 157 for more information.

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - Sunday, August 15

ST. GEORGE'S BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Monday, August 30
6:30 pm
Conference Room (Church Hall)
A dinner of summer salads will be followed by discussion of a A Banqueters Guide to the All-Night Soup Kitchen of the Kingdom of God by Patrick T. McCormick. All are welcome. For more information contact Eileen Charbonneau 508-853-1739.
 

FATHER MISGIVINGS
Friday, September 17
6:00 pm
Saint George's Church Hall

How Can I Keep My Kids Catholic

My Children Are No Longer Catholic

How to Help Our College Age Kids Stay Catholic

Grandparenting is Not for Sissies

Should My Teen Read Twilight?

At Home With Our Faith

Catholic Infertility

Small Children at Mass? We Need More of Them

St. George and the Dragon

A tramp knocked on the door of the inn known as St. George and the Dragon. The landlady answered the door. The tramp said, "Could you give a poor man something to eat?"  "No," said the woman, slamming the door in his face. He knocked again and said, "Could I have a few words with George?"

Jesus Knocking?

A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening the little ones' chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own heart. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four year old David's comment. Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ears and placed the disk over his heart. "Listen", she said..."What do you suppose that is?" He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap - tap - tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked, "Is that Jesus knocking?"