The Upper Room

Confirmation Mass Assignments and other Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:19:00 +0000

1. At what time will my child be confirmed?
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Thomas Donato, will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation upon the candidates from St. John the Apostle Church on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Candidates whose last names start with the letters A-L will be confirmed at the Mass at 10:00 AM. Candidates whose last names start with the letters M-Z will be confirmed at the Mass at 2:00 PM.

2. What time should my child and his/her sponsor be at the Church?
Candidates and sponsors must meet in the school auditorium one half hour before the beginning of the Confirmation Mass.

3. How long is Mass? Is there a reception afterward?
Mass will last about an hour and a half. There will be a reception with light refreshments and an opportunity to have snapshots taken with Bishop Donato immediately following each Mass.

4. What is the dress code?
Regarding dress code, candidates should remember that when they are confirmed, they will be fully initiated into the Church. They should dress in such a way that reflects the solemnity of the occasion. Jeans and sneakers are not acceptable for Confirmation Mass. Young men should wear a jacket and tie with nice slacks and dress shoes, or a suit. At the least, the young men should wear a shirt and tie with dress pants and dress shoes. Young ladies should wear a modest dress that comes to the knee or dress slacks and blouse with dress shoes. Sponsors should follow the same code as the candidates.

5. Where will parents sit? Is there reserved seating?
The candidates and sponsors will sit together in the front of the Church. In the section behind the candidates and sponsors, there will be a reserved seating section. Each candidate will be given 4 seats for family members or guests in this section, 3 sets of four seats to a pew. It is up to families to decide who will sit in these reserved seats. Behind the reserved section will be open seating for all guests and family members. Please note that the church (including the choir loft) holds about 650 people. About 100 seats will be occupied by candidates and sponsors and about 200 more seats will be in the reserved section.

If you have any other questions, please call Amy Giglio at (908) 376-6223 or email agiglio at sjanj dot net.

Service Hours

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Got Hours?

Community Service Opportunities for Confirmation Candidates

Updated 12/7/11

1. Christmas Church Decorating
When: Saturday, December 17 from 12:30 pm-finish
Where: St. John the Apostle Church
Details: The parish needs unlimited candidates to help decorate the church for Christmas. No RSVP required. Questions? Call Lois Bass at (908) 296-5266.

2. Parish giving tree
When: Weekends after Masses starting after Thanksgiving until December 11.
Where: St. John the Apostle Church
Details: The Social Concerns Committee needs help making sure that gifts get from under the tree and into the sacristy and into committee members' cars for delivery. Candidates can also refresh the tags on the tree from the basket next to the tree.
No RSVP required.

Visa support letters

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:59:00 +0000

Occasionally, a family will ask the RE Office for a letter to the US Consulate so that a family member who is a citizen of a foreign country has an easier time getting a visa to visit the USA for their child's First Communion or Confirmation. The RE Office is happy to help. Please contact Amy Giglio if you have a family member who is in need of such a letter.

Inscription Make-up Mass

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:40:00 +0000

Please note that there is a make-up Inscription Mass tomorrow, Sunday, November 20 at 7 PM. This is a required part of Confirmation Prep and was discussed in the information meetings in October. We hope to see the 25 candidates who didn't make the Masses on the 6th and 13th.

Make-up meeting for Confirmation

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:34:00 +0000

If you missed the Confirmation Information meetings for candidates and their parents, please come to the meeting on Wednesday, November 9 from 6:00-6:30 PM in the Msgr. Price Room (across the hall from Church). Attendance at this meeting is ABSOLUTELY required for anyone who missed the mandatory meetings October 11, 12, and 13.

clarification on Mass attendance logs

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:24:00 +0000

Just a point of clarification on the mass attendance logs: you do NOT have to have the priest sign you log sheet. All you have to do is write down the time you went to Mass and the name of the priest who celebrated Mass. Father does not have to sign anything. He won't mind telling you his name if you're not sure of it, but please don't ask him to sign your log sheet as it is not necessary.

reminders!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:51:00 +0000

1. The first of your choice of Inscription Masses is this weekend. All candidates must attend an Inscription Mass. Choose either Sunday November 6 or 13 at 7:00 PM. Candidates will be given an Inscription Promises sheet in CCD or in school. Bring this completed sheet with you to Mass. If you go to CCD on Monday, you can print one here, or you can get one from Mrs. Giglio in the hallway outside of the church before Mass begins.

2. Only 56 out of 110 people who are eligible for Confirmation prep have registered. The deadline has been extended to November 7. If you do not register for this program online, I assume that you are not interested in pursuing the Sacrament of Confirmation at this time.

3. Please don't forget to do your Community Service hours!

New Translation of the Roman Missal

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Over the last year or so, you have probably heard that there is a new translation of the prayers that we pray at Mass coming on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. Here at St. John's, we have already started singing the new translation of the Sanctus, or Holy, Holy, so that we all get acclimated to the new songs.

It's important to know how these translations came to be and why the Church has decided that we needed a new translation. These videos, produced by Lifeteen, are a great way to start understanding the who, what, where, when, why, and how of it all. These videos are all between 7 and 10 minutes long. Please take some time to watch them and to share them with your families and friends. The more we all know, the easier it is for all of us to understand.

For Middle School Youth:

New Roman Missal for Middle School Youth - Word for Word by Life Teen from Life Teen on Vimeo.

For High School Teens:

New Roman Missal for High School Teens - Word for Word by Life Teen from Life Teen on Vimeo.

For Parents:

New Roman Missal for Parents and Adults - Word for Word by Life Teen from Life Teen on Vimeo.

Date of Confirmation 2012 Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:50:00 +0000

The Most Reverend Thomas Donato will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation upon the candidates from St. John the Apostle Parish on Saturday, April 21. There will be two Masses, at 10 AM and 2 PM, that day. Candidates will be assigned to each Mass alphabetically by last name. More details will be available at the Confirmation Information Meetings October 11, 12, or 13. All candidates must attend one of these meetings with at least one parent or guardian. See you there!

Confirmation retreat for 2012 finalized

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Giglio) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:29:00 +0000

The Confirmation retreat is Saturday, March 31 from 10 AM-4PM in the Auditorium. This retreat is an Archdiocesan requirement and is mandatory for anyone seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. John the Apostle this year. It will be a great day of prayer, reflection, worship, and fun! Please block this date on your family calendar right now.

FAQs about Confirmation

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:52:00 +0000

Frequently Asked Questions about Confirmation

Q: When is practice? Who has to come to practice?
A: Practice is on Wednesday May 4 in the church. Candidates being confirmed at 10 AM Mass will practice at 5:30 PM. Candidates being confirmed at 2 PM Mass will practice at 7:30 PM. All Candidates and their sponsors should attend. If the sponsor cannot attend, a parent should come to the practice to stand in the sponsor’s place.

Q: Will the Confirmation Masses satisfy our Sunday Obligation?
A: No, the Masses will not satisfy one’s Sunday Obligation. Also, there will not be a collection.

Q: When do my child and his/her sponsor have to be at the Church on Confirmation Day?
A: Your child and his or her sponsor must be in the Auditorium one half hour before Mass begins (9:30 AM or 1:30 PM). Candidates and sponsors will process into the Church 15 minutes before Mass begins and the Bishop and concelebrants will process in 5 minutes before. Mass will begin at 10 AM or 2 PM sharp.

Q: Is there reserved seating for the families of Candidates, like there is for First Holy Communion?
A: There will be reserved seating, but each candidate will have space for 4 people in their reserved section. Pew positioning (center aisle, window or middle of the pew) is outlined on the pew marker. There will be a seating chart outside of the church and names will be on the pews. There will be limited open seating in the back and in the choir loft. There will be a half pew reserved for the handicapped near the baptismal font. Please be aware that there are about 65 people being confirmed at the 10:00 Mass and 60 at the 200 Mass. That means that there are about 120 people sitting in the front, plus over 200 reserved spots. Our church holds only 650 people. Please keep this in mind when inviting guests.

Q: Our parking lot seems pretty small. What should we do about parking?
A: Our parking lot is pretty small. We’ve all been to church on Christmas and Easter. It can get pretty hairy. Carpooling with any guests would probably be the best way to make sure that things don’t get out of control in the parking lot that day.

Q: Is there a reception after Confirmation?
A: Yes. You can pick up your child and his or her Certificate at the reception in the Sr. Donna Marie Auditorium (downstairs from the church). We will serve light refreshments (pastries, coffee, water, and punch) and the bishop will be present for a short time for snapshots with the candidates.

Q: How should my child dress for Confirmation Mass?
A:
• Boys should wear at least a dress shirt and tie, dress slacks and dress shoes. A suit or sport coat is preferable.
• Girls should dress modestly. This means blouses must have sleeves and a modest neckline. If your daughter chooses to wear a skirt, it must be knee length. A girl can wear a dress or pant suit as well. If your daughter’s outfit has a sleeveless top, a sweater, wrap, or blazer must be worn to cover her shoulders. Anyone who comes to church for his or her Confirmation Mass dressed outside of these guidelines will be sent home to change outfits before the Mass begins.

Q: Can I take pictures? What about video?
A: You can take pictures from your seats, but no one will be permitted in the sanctuary area (near the choir and the chairs on the floor where the lectors sit, nor on the altar stairs) to take pictures. To have family members crowding the sanctuary to take pictures or video is very distracting for all of the people celebrating the Liturgy.

Confirmation retreat is this weekend!!

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:33:00 +0000

The Confirmation retreat is this Saturday, April 16 from 10 AM -4 PM. Registration opens at 9:30 AM. The parish is providing a pizza lunch (plain pizza, soda or bottled water, and chips). If you need to bring a bag lunch, we can refrigerate it for you.

Do not bring your cell phones, money, or personal belongings. You won't need them. Do wear comfy clothes and sneakers that will not mark the gym floor. The RE Office will be staffed during the retreat in case of an emergency. If we do not pick up the phone it is because we are doing registration or serving lunch. Please leave a message and we will get right back to you. (732) 388-1253

We are not aware of any Confirmation retreats in Union County that take place AFTER ours. Stay healthy, people! This retreat is an Archdiocesan requirement and is non-negotiable.

Upper Room Session begin March 24-TOMORROW!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:07:00 +0000

Dear Parents and Candidates,

I emailed an excel spreadsheet that has an alphabetical listing of all the candidates by last name and the groups that the candidates have been assigned for the Upper Room Sessions that start tomorrow night (March 24) in the school gym at 7:00 PM. These sessions begin at 7:00 sharp. Please make sure your child is there a few minutes early so that we can begin on time. We have a lot to cover in an hour and 15 minutes.

Next week, I will send home a sheet asking you to check to make sure the information we have on file is correct. I will also ask for some new information. Please have your child return the completed form to the Upper Room Session on March 31.

If you cannot open the document, or if you did not get the email, please email me at agiglio(at)sjanj(dot)net [please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with a period] and I will send you the link to the spreadsheet on the web. The spreadsheet is available online only to people who have link. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Amy Giglio

Reminders

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:09:00 +0000

Your Confirmation service hours log sheets are due in the RE Office NOW.

Upper Room Confirmation Prep Sessions are: March 24, 31, and April 7 and 14 from 7-8:15 PM. Attendance at all of these sessions is mandatory. All sessions meet in the Auditorium.

The Confirmation retreat is April 16 from 10AM -4 PM in the Auditorium. Attendance at the retreat is mandatory.

Confirmation Practice is Wednesday May 4 in the church. This is the ONLY event Sponsors should attend. If the sponsor cannot attend, a parent or other trusted adult should attend in the sponsor’s place. Candidates should not come to practice alone. Candidates being confirmed at the 10 AM Mass practice from 5:30 PM- 7:00 PM; Candidates being confirmed at the 2 PM Mass practice from 7:30 PM -9:00 PM.

If you asked for a change in Mass time, please email me at agiglio(at)sjanj(dot)net to confirm the change.

Service Hours and retreat

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:28:00 +0000

Please note that 20 hours of community service are due by today, March 1, 2011. Please submit your log sheets immediately.

The Confirmation Retreat is Saturday April 16 from 10 AM- 4 PM. It is NOT this Saturday. The St. John the Apostle School March calendar is incorrect in this regard.

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:15:00 +0000

CCD Classes for Tuesday Feb. 1 are cancelled due to the weather forecast. Let's be careful out there!

snow cancellation

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:34:00 +0000

The RE Parent Teacher Conferences scheduled for tonight (Jan. 26) are cancelled. If you need to reschedule your priest interview due to the weatehr, please call the Rectory at (908) 463-6363.

Upper Room Registration Form

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 01:52:00 +0000

The Upper Room Registration form is available online as a Google Doc. You can get it here. You can print it out and mail it back or drop it off, or you can save it, fill it in, and email it to Amy Giglio at the following email address: agiglio at sjanj dot net.

Updates

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:57:00 +0000

Good morning, candidates and parents! A few things:

1. There are several students who have not returned their Confirmation Prep Registration Forms. These forms were due on November 1, 2010. Letters to these students went out starting last week. These forms must be turned in by Friday, January 14. Students who do not submit the form by this Friday will not be scheduled for their Priest interviews, which will start the week of January 24. Not completing a priest interview puts your candidacy for Confirmation in jeopardy.

2. Some candidates did not attend the required Inscription Masses in December. These candidates must contact Mrs. Giglio in the RE Office. If these candidates do not contact the RE Office by January 14, their eligibility for Confirmation in May is in jeopardy.

3. Help is needed with the Blood Drive this Saturday, January 15. Please call the RE Office to sign up for a shift. A notice was sent home last week. Monday CCD students will get the notice tonight.
Please remember your 20 hours of community service must be completed and forms turned in by March 1. This may be the last activity the RE Office will let you know about before that date. Don't let this slide!

4. Priest Interview schedules will go out this week to those candidates who have returned their Registration Forms. Interviews start the week of January 24. Your Workbook must be completed by the date of your interview and brought with you to the interview. Since candidates who attend St. John the Apostle School will interview during class time, they should have their workbooks at school starting January 24.

Confirmation 2011 announced

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:04:00 +0000

Dear Confirmation Candidates and Families,

St. John the Apostle Church is happy to announce that the Most Reverend David Arias, D.D. will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on our candidates on Saturday May 7, 2011 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. An informal reception with light refreshments will follow each of the Masses

Students with the last names starting with A-L will be confirmed at the 10:00 AM Mass. Students whose last names begin with the letters M-Z will be confirmed at the 2:00 PM Mass.

Practice for the Confirmation Masses will be on Wednesday May 4, 2011 in the church. Those who are being confirmed at the 10:00 Mass will practice from 5:30-7:00 PM. Those who will be confirmed at the 2:00 Mass will practice from 7:30-9:00 PM. Sponsors are required to attend these practices when geographically possible.

Please watch for more communication from the Religious Education Office in the coming weeks for more particulars about Confirmation. Please call the Religious Ed Office at (732) 388-1253 or email Amy Giglio at agiglio at sjanj dot net if you have any questions.

got hours? Community Service hours available-updated11/2

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:00:00 +0000

got hours? (updated: 12/13/10)

The parish needs your help at the following events.
Please contact the person listed to sign up.

1.Church Decorating: Saturday, December 18, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 PM in the church. Contact Lois Bass: (908) 296-5266.

2. Valley Road School PTA needs help with the following projects. All events are at VRS unless otherwise listed. Contact Mrs. Diane Kehrle (732) 388-8553
• 2 to 3 students to help babysit at PTA meetings 6:45 pm- 8:30 on the following dates: November 17th, January 19th, February 16th
• Blood Drive January 28, 2011 from after school until 8:00 PM

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:47:00 +0000

The Advent homeschoolers event scheduled for today has been CANCELLED and will not be rescheduled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Inscription Masses Announced

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:30:00 +0000

The Confirmation Candidates' Inscription Masses are as follows:

Sunday December 5 at 7:00 PM

Sunday December 12 at 7:00 PM

Each Candidate must be present at one of these Masses. You do NOT need to sign up in advance.

Inscription Promises sheets will be sent home the week of November 28. Please bring the sheet with you to Mass. The sheets will be collected at the Mass and will serve as proof of your attendance.

Please contact the RE Office with any questions.

Question from the Confirmation Workbook

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:33:00 +0000

A few parents called the RE office with questions about Question #14 at the top of page 8 in the Confirmation Workbook. The question is: "The Church has 4 distinguishing marks. She is: __________, ______________, _____________, and _____________."

We're looking for the four marks of the Church. This term is found in the glossary of all of the textbooks the students use. These four marks are also listed in the Nicene Creed.

When we refer to the Church, we refer to her as feminine, because she is Christ's spouse. That's why the question asks what "she" is.

Confirmation Workbooks 2011

noreply@blogger.com (St. John's Sacrament Prep team) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:38:00 +0000

The Confirmation Workbooks came in during the meeting on Tuesday. We will give them out at the meetings tonight and Thursday night. We will send them to the candidates who attended the Tuesday meeting through their religion and CCD classes. Keep an eye out!