ST. JOHN the EVANGELIST CCD
Grades:  Kindergarten through Junior High
Phone: 916 -483-4628
Email: ccd@sjecarmichael.org

January 24, 2021

On Sunday, January 17, all our children were happy and excited to join our virtual Zoom presentation of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Visit of the Shepherds, the Visit of the Magi, and the Birth of Jesus. All of our teachers were very pleased with this portrayal of the Gospels because during the last two months, they had covered these Gospel readings in class. What was amazing to me was the great many details that the younger students had focused on, and how delighted they were to meet the older teenage students, who were in this production. One little one was very worried about the baby Jesus not being warm enough in the wrap that our little doll was wrapped in, and she was also concerned about the fact that Jesus did not have a crib. Our five actors were totally energized during their portrayals of the characters in their scenes. Our actors’ zeal to lead the children to an appreciation of the strength of characters of the Blessed Virgin, Elizabeth, the shepherd, and the Magi, and other lead figures in these nativity scenes reminded me of the same zeal that our Saint of the Week, St. Francis de Sales, exhibited when he wrote Introduction to a Devout Life in 1609, which became a great spiritual classic. This book was written when numerous people asked him for spiritual direction. His Treatise on the Love of God, which made St. Francis famous throughout all of Europe, was so intent on the teaching of holiness to the layman, that it was considered novel for this period. Most writers say that St. Francis was the most lovable man that ever lived during that time. At the age of fourteen, Francis traveled from Savoy to Paris, the intellectual center of Europe, to study Philosophy and Theology, because even at this young age, Francis showed a strong inclination for the priesthood. His father was determined that Francis become a lawyer, but Francis who loved to be with many types of people, not only studied law, but he also learned how to dance, to fence, and how to ride a horse. Becoming an attorney at the age of twenty-four, Francis was offered a seat in the Senate of Savoy. Being the most eligible bachelor of the nobility, his father planned a distinguished arranged marriage for Francis, but Francis refused to marry because he was determined to become a priest, so he was ordained a priest. Laboring zealously for all people, he eventually became the Bishop of Geneva. His service extended everywhere, and he preached outside his diocese, at a time when Calvinism was becoming very strong and hostile. Later, he founded the Order of the Visitation with the help of Baroness de Chantal, who is now known as St. Jane Frances. Throughout his life, Francis dedicated himself to the Lord. He was most anxious to lead all people through preaching, individual conferences, and the written word, to become closer to Christ, and he encouraged the religious community to adapt to the new needs in society. St. Francis taught that holiness is for everyone, young and old, from a housewife to a queen, and from a soldier to a pope. It was his goal with guidance from God to open the gates of holiness to everyone, so that all people can become saints. The last word on the lips of St. Francis de Sales before he died was “Jesus.” May St. Francis de Sales and Our Lord inspire us to dedicate ourselves to the service of all of our brothers and sisters.

God bless you all,
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Joanne Giffard, CCD/Religious Education Coordinator

The January-February 2021 issue of Catholic Herald magazine has been published. The theme for this issue is "Hope through Catholic education."

The digital edition of the magazine is available at https://www.scd.org/catholic-herald-magazine.