New Religious Education Plan Announced
Dear Parishioners,
 Peace to you from the rectory and Happy Easter! Six weeks ago, I indicated that I was considering changing the class day for our Religious Education (RE) program. Moving our program off Sundays to a weekday evening would enable the other priests and me to be more supportive of the RE parents and children - a very high priority - while at the same time freeing us priests to be more focused on celebrating the Eucharist for the community on Sundays - an even higher priority. To help with this discernment, Pam Copley, our Director of Religious Education (DRE), prepared a survey for RE parents and volunteers, which was due March 26.
On the question of changing the day, things were pretty much even, slightly against moving off Sundays: 52% of parents and 55% of catechists contra the idea. The survey allowed space for comments, with a few respondents even writing emails. These comments were also fairly even, with some indicating they would go with the home-based approach or even transfer to another parish if the class day were changed, and others writing that their children are presently enrolled in programs at other parishes in order to be in a weekday class, but would transfer back to St. Philip if a change were made.
While I was mostly interested in responses to the day change question, there were three other questions whose results struck me. Each question, along with the percentage agreement, is listed below:
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I would like the priests of the Parish to be more involved in the Religious Formation of my child.
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▸ 65% Agree |
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I would like the RE program to provide us (the parents) with more resources & guidance so we can better form our children in the faith.
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▸ 65% Agree |
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I would like the Parish to offer us (the parents) more resources on difficult issues faced my many adolescents. (i.e., cell phone addiction, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, bullying, gender identity confusion, etc.)
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▸ 78% Agree |
These responses are not surprising - who wouldn't want more priest involvement or more help with difficult issues? There is however, something touching about the magnitude of agreement, expressing as it does the strong desire on the part of parents that their priests be with them and that they get more guidance as they face the daunting challenges of living in our highly secularized culture.
It is this parental desire - growing in the hearts of priests, too - that moves me now to change the class day, so that we can accompany one another even more closely in following Jesus Christ amid great challenges.
I am convinced that unless more attention is given to assisting parents as the first teachers of their children in the faith, then the steady stream of young people leaving the practice of the faith will continue. A weeknight evening would give us more time and enable us to devote more resources to working with parents, which might bring about a better outcome.
I know this decision will disappoint many. My goal for the coming weeks will be to meet with you and do whatever I can to persuade you of the blessings I foresee coming to our children, families and parish community with this change and the value for families and priests to sacrifice in order to accommodate this new approach. I will be joined by Fr. Steven and Pam Copley at these meetings, and together we will speak about the RE program, including details on the proposed RE weekday evening schedule and its connection with parish youth ministry. So far, the following dates are on the calendar for the groups indicated:
- Wednesday, April 18, at 7:00 pm in Hayden Hall, for RE volunteers.
- Sunday, April 22, at 2:45 pm in Hayden Hall, for RE parents, meeting in Spanish.
- Tuesday, April 24, at 7:00 pm in Hall Hayden, for RE parents, meeting in English.
It is my hope that this disruption in our way of doing things will be a blessing in the long run for the families and young people of St. Philip Parish. I would be most grateful if you kept this intention in your prayers over the coming weeks and months. St. Philip the Apostle - pray for us!
Your servant in Christ, Fr. Donahue
Del Escritorio del P. Donahue...
Estimados Feligreses,
¡Paz desde la rectoría y Feliz Pascua! Hace seis semanas, indiqué que estaba considerando cambios en el día de las clases de Educación Religiosa (ER). El desplazo del domingo de nuestro programa a una tarde en la semana permitiría a los otros sacerdotes y a mi prestar más apoyo a los padres y niños de ER - una prioridad bien alta - y al mismo tiempo nos desocuparía para estar más enfocados en la celebración de la Eucaristía para la comunidad el domingo - una prioridad aún más alta. Para ayudar a discernir, Pam Copley, nuestra Directora de Educación Religiosa (DRE, por sus siglas en inglés), preparó una encuesta para padres y voluntarios de ER, a entregarse antes del 26 de marzo.
En la pregunta sobre el cambio de día, los resultados fueron bien parejos, levemente en contra de la salida del domingo: 52% de los padres y 55% de los catequistas contra la idea. La encuesta dio espacio para comentarios, con algunos participantes incluso enviando emails. También estos comentarios fueron parejos, indicando algunos que usarían la opción de la enseñanza en casa, o incluso que se transferirían a otra parroquia si el día de la clase se cambiara, y otros indicando que actualmente sus hijos están inscritos en programas en otras parroquias para poder asistir a clases en la semana, pero que se transferirían a San Felipe si se hiciera el cambio.
Mientras me interesa mucho la respuesta al cambio de día, hay tres preguntas cuyas respuestas acaparan mi atención. A continuación cada pregunta, junto con el porcentaje de aprobación:
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Deseo que los sacerdotes de la parroquia estén más involucrados en la formación religiosa de mi hijo.
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▸ 65% De acuerdo |
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Deseo que el programa de ER nos proporcione (a los padres) más recursos y guía para que podamos formar a nuestros hijos en la fe de mejor manera.
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▸ 65% De acuerdo |
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Deseo que la parroquia nos ofrezca (a los padres) más recursos en temas candentes que los adolescentes enfrentan. (Es decir, adicción al celular, depresión, drogas, autolesiones, bullying, confusión de identidad de género, etc.)
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▸ 78% De acuerdo |
Las respuestas no son sorpresa - quién no querría más presencia sacerdotal o más ayuda con temas difíciles. Sin embargo, conmueve la magnitud de aprobación, la expresión del fuerte deseo de los padres que sus sacerdotes los acompañen y el deseo de tener más guía en los desalentadores desafíos que encaran viviendo en una cultura altamente secularizada.
Es este deseo de los padres - también creciendo en el corazón de sus sacerdotes - que me motiva a cambiar el día de la clase, para que podamos acompañarnos más estrechamente en el camino a Jesucristo en medio de desafíos inmensos.
Estoy convencido que a menos que se dé más atención a proveer ayuda a los padres como primer educadores en la fe de sus hijos, entonces la corriente de jóvenes abandonando la práctica de la fe va a continuar. Una noche en la semana nos daría más tiempo y nos permitiría dedicar más recursos al trabajo con los padres, lo cual puede significar un mejor resultado.
Sé que la decisión va a decepcionar a muchos. Mi objetivo para las próximas semanas será reunirme con ustedes y hacer lo posible por persuadirles de las bendiciones que preveo para nuestros niños, familias y comunidad parroquial con este cambio y el valor para las familias y sacerdotes de sacrificarse para hacer lugar para este enfoque. El P. Esteban y Pam Copley se me unirán en estas reuniones, y juntos hablaremos del programa de ER, incluyendo detalles del horario de ER propuesto y su conexión con el ministerio juvenil parroquial. Estas son las fechas paea cada grupo:
- Miércoles 18 de abril a las 7:00 pm en Hayden Hall, para voluntarios de ER.
- Domingo 22 de abril a las 2:45 pm en Hayden Hall, para padres de ER, reunión en español.
- Martes 24 de abril a las 7:00 pm en Hall Hayden, para padres de ER, reunión en inglés.
Espero que este vuelco en cómo hacer las cosas sea una bendición a largo plazo para familias y jóvenes de la Parroquia San Felipe. Les estaría muy agradecido de sus oraciones por esta intención en las semanas y meses venideros. Apóstol San Felipe - ruega por nosotros.
Su servidor en Cristo, P. Donahue
Help Celebrate Fr. Steven's Birthday!
Summer Cook-Out, Chili Cook-Off and Raffle Sat., April 28 at 6:30pm
 The Youth of the Parish are throwing Fr. Steven a Birthday Party! Come and enjoy a cook-out, including a Chili Cook-Off! All proceeds from the party will support Saint Philip Youth Ministry.
- $20 per person
- Kids under 18 half-price
- Kids under 5 eat for free
$20 Admission Price Includes the Following:
- All-You-Can-Eat Hot Dogs, BBQ, and, of course, Chili!
- 3 Tokens to Vote for your favorite Chili (Kids under 18 receive 1 Token)
- 1 Raffle Ticket! (Kids under 18 do not receive a Raffle Ticket)
Saint Philip Raffle
Drawing will be held during the party; you do not need to present during the drawing. Prizes include:
- Cook-Out with the Priests (dinner for 12 people)
- Holy Happy Hour with the Priests (dinner for 6 people)
- Date Night! (Includes dinner, a movie, wine, and more!)
- Paint-Ball with Fr. Steven (Paintball for 6 people; must be 7th grade or older to participate)
Raffles prizes are still be sought. Please contact Mary Walker if you'd like to donate a basket or gift for Fr. Steven's birthday that we can add to the raffle prizes.
Calling All Cooks! Enter The Chili Cook-Off!
Would you like to participate in the Chili Competition? If so, please contact Mary Walker for more details. There is only room for 20 contestants, so sign up soon!
Explore "The Bible and Prayer" at St. Philip
Six-part Bible study offered Thursdays at 7:30 starting April 12
Join Us for "The Bible and Prayer," a 6-part Bible Study from the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology offered here at St. Philip. Classes will be held in Room 5.
 Explore the power of prayer- Learn the art of vocal, meditative, and contemplative prayer
- See how towering figures in Scripture conversed with God
- Discover how to get the “right” answer every time you pray
If you are looking for a deeper prayer life. If you want to know more about the different types of prayer. If you are curious about what the Bible says about prayer. A $15 materials fee will be collected at the first class.
Pig Roast and Family  Festival
Sunday, April 22, 3-6pm on the St. Philip Field
People of Praise's NoVa Action Division's Pig Roast and Family Festival is a family event with great food, music, a moon bounce, and camaraderie. Fun for the whole family! The event supports the work of building God's Kingdom in real and tangible ways.
Your financial support contributes to the group's teen and adult outreach work in Louisiana and Indiana, where they host summer camps for kids and rebuild houses in impoverished areas. From Shreveport, LA to Indianapolis and Evansville, IN, you can help People of Praise make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.
Come join People of Praise'for an afternoon of good food, family fun, fellowship, and music.
Costs:
Pork BBQ Plate $10
Corn Dog Plate $6
Beer: $5
Soda: $1
Contact Lisa Tychsen at (703) 585-8323 for more information.
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