St. Joe Hill’s RCIA Session are the place to see the “who, what, where, when, how & why” of it all.

For more info or to sign-up for the coming year’s classes/session contact C.R.E. (Coordinator of Religious Ed), Lisa Whitaker at LisaWhitaker@StJoeHill.org or phone the Rel. Ed. Office at 246-3969.

Watch for upcoming Inquiry Session!

Parents, Grandparents, Adults, Young Adults, High School Teens-Join us this year in volunteering to help make this VBS the best yet!  Your ideas and involvement are important and vital to our event being a success!   Our theme this year is “Water of Life” centering around three major Salvation History events:  Noah, Moses, and Jesus.

Email or phone C.R.E., Lisa Whitaker to volunteer.  Helpers are needed before our VBS day, as well as on the day of VBS itself. To help prepare beforehand and/or help during the actual day of VBS, be sure to contact Lisa.

Our next volunteer meeting is set for Monday, May 14, 6:00 pm and we’ll be meeting at St. Paul’s.

Look for VBS Registration Forms early in June to sign up your Kingdergarten through Fifth Graders.

What a blessing each one of you are to our parish family & those who are seeking to learn more about the Catholic Faith.  Sharing yourself with others through our RCIA team , many of you have expressed that you have a sense of fulfillment knowing that you’ve allow God to work through you and your talents, knowledge, and gifts you’ve brought in being an active part of our RCIA Process/Team.

Many thanks go out to the following RCIA Team members:  Terry & Mary Wright, Kelly Vogt, Bill Brewer, Barb Rainbolt, Ray Helms, Fr. Bob-Pastor, Lisa Whitaker–C.R.E.

Thanks, too, to those of you who presented on various topics throughout the year as guest speakers, blessing us with your love for Christ & His Church!

We are so grateful to the following persons who shared their time and talents within our Religious Education Program this past year:  Barbara Burgin, Silvia Brewer, Carrie Hollkamp, Karen Craft, Kayla Craft, Debbie Kirchgessner, Janet Austin, Chris Sams, Gail O’Neil, and Dana O’Neil.

Thanks also to Kelli Drescher who helped, when available, in the Library-greeting folks and being present for general questions, Library help, and extra classroom needs, including snack time requests.

Many of you have shared that you are always amazed by your students, their insights, and the excitement of when the children realize how much God loves them and how living their Catholic Faith makes such difference in their family life, with friends, and even with those they may find difficult to love.

THANK YOU for making a difference in the lives of each child and helping to assist their family in teaching/sharing the beautiful truths of our Catholic Faith!

Bishop Christopher Coyne has requested that all in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis pray for Pope Benedict as he discerns who will be our new Archbishop.

Bishop Coyne has specifically requested that we pray the Prayer from the Roman Missal for the Election of a Pope or a Bishop.  Please pray this prayer individually and with your family.  The prayer the bishop has requested is listed below.

When you pray the Rosary during the month of May, please offer it for the intention of our new Archbishop and Bishop Coyne.

Prayer from the Roman Missal for the Election of a Pope or a Bishop
O God, eternal shepherd,
Who govern your flock with unfailing care.
Grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church
Who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

St. Joseph Hill wishes our Religious Education, Level 2 students and their families Congratulations on receiving their First Holy Communion!

The Religious Education Children who received Jesus for the first time in Holy Communion during our Sunday 11:00 a.m. liturgy.  We are so happy for the following children and their families:  Nathan Austin, Matthew Alcorn, Trevor Montgomery, Giovanni Morris, Gretchen Parsons, Anna Kate Reynolds, Maddie Sams, and Nathan Teusch.

Thanks to everyone for helping to make this day special for the children and our entire our church family.

Congratulations!

Our parish would like to recognize and welcome these, our following newest members:  Brittney Cobb, Ashley Smith, Rachael Collard, Justin Collard, Lynell Chamberlain and Jennifer Henderson.  We ask for your continued prayers for the Neophytes “New Catholics” and all those who entered into the family of God around the world, on Easter Vigil night.

We have been truly blessed that Christ, the Good Shepherd, has added to His flock these individuals.  Please pray for those who remain active in the Catechumenate process of our RCIA who are currently working on and/or awaiting the annulment process.

We give thanks to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph (our parish patron) for their continued intercession for our RCIA classes/sessions.

St. Joe Hill’s Spiritual Women’s Enrichment Group Bible Study has begun studying The Lambs Supper: A Deeper Understanding of the Mass, the Eucharist & the Book of Revelation by Dr. Scott Hahn.  Participants already are saying this study is going to be well worth their time.  We meet in the Library Room-Gather at 6:30 pm, study begins from 7-9pm.  Includes DVD presentation of Scott Hahn & Mike Aquilla as well as time to review and discuss our study guide questions and answers.  We’d love to have you enter into the liturgy and the Book of Revelation more deeply.  Come Join us!

Coordinator of Religious Education, Lisa Whitaker, and C.L.O.W. (Children’s Liturgy of the Word) volunteer, Janet Austin, would like to once again thank those volunteers who helped during the Lenten Season to share the scripture readings with the children in a way they could understand.  We are so blessed to have folks who freely give of their time and talent to our Religious Ed programs here at St. Joe Hill.  Please be sure to thank our volunteers for their generosity and involvement!

The Sacrament of Baptism welcomes children into the family of God and into the St. Joseph Hill Catholic Church family. Baptism is the first of three sacraments which fully initiate members into the Roman Catholic faith.

Parents wishing to have their first child baptized are required to participate in one preparation class prior to the reception of the Sacrament. This Baptismal Preparation Class will clarify the roles of parents, godparents, and the various symbols that are used within the baptismal ceremony.  Classes are held three times a year, during the months of February, June and October, so please plan accordingly.  It is highly encouraged to attend a class while pregnant and awaiting your child’s arrival.  Our next Baptismal Preparation Class will be held on Sunday, June 24. Registration for this class is required. Deadline to register is Sunday, June 10. Call or email the Religious Education office to be sure your name is on our list of attendees and that we may order the necessary materials and supplies by the upcoming scheduled class.  Our next class is scheduled for October 2012.

In addition to infant baptism, Saint Joseph Hill Catholic Church welcomes adult members to be baptized and initiated into the faith through the RCIA process (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).  Contact Lisa Whitaker, C.R.E., through the Religious Education Office to inquire more about this particular process.

“Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in the newness of life.”  ~Romans 6:3-4