September/October 2007

Memory Verse

What good is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit one's soul? -- Mark 8:36

News From our Sunday Schools

St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ

Superintendent Andrea Carden wrote the DYE an inspiring note about their Sunday School's Lent and Easter schedule: "I'm enclosing the check for the 2007 Lenten Fund Drive……it has been a busy year! The amount of $2013.50 was raised by selling "boosters" for $1.00 that we hung all over Sunday School, a collection jar, and mostly due to our wonderful eighth grade, led by Donna and John Azarian; they take on Easter Communion/Breakfast with a vengeance! They sell Easter basket raffles, have an egg hunt, and take photos with the Easter Bunny. We had over 200 parishioners for Communion that day! it's a beautiful thing. I also enclosed some photos that are pretty self-explanatory. Seeing our students at St. Leon get excited about helping others in need is humbling. I am so proud of their efforts!"

St. James, Watertown, MA

At a recent New England Region Superintendents Association meeting, Superintendent Marsha Alabachian shared some of the beautiful projects (as did the other superintendents) their students participated in during Lent – heart-warming and helpful to so many: donating baskets of single-use shampoo and soap and food to Father Bill's Place, a local homeless shelter and Easter baskets to the Watertown Food Pantry. On what is called 'Community Service Sunday" students gather to assemble all the baskets (which the ACYOA donates, among other items; all students participate by buying in advance whatever is indicated on a slip of paper in a plastic Easter egg). Younger children put together the Easter baskets and Grades 5 and up cut and wrap soap for the shelter. On another occasion, students also prepare boxed lunches for Father Bill's Place. Congratulations for all the love and hard work!