Ms. Chermak's Blog

The very fine Saint John Fisher School class of ’09 hosted the opening school liturgy on Friday, September 5, 2008. I was delighted that our 73 eighth graders were excited about leading the rest of the student body to celebrate this year of Saint Paul. We began with a pre-liturgy story of Saint Paul with narratives from the main characters in his life. The eighth graders acted out this part, complete with props and other visual aids to keep the attention of the other 700+ students and teachers there. The eighth graders helped to make the connection with Saints Paul, Timothy, Barnabas, Priscilla, Aquila, Stephen, Silas and others. The students also became aware of the place names: Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica, Rome. When they hear Paul has written letters to these groups, they will have a better idea of these communities, and, I hope, think about towns they know today. Additionally, when they read in the newspaper that a vice presidential candidate used a passage from Thessalonians as a guiding principal, they will have greater comprehension of what that means.
We used the readings from the liturgy for the conversion of Saint Paul. (Lectionary readings for January 25th). The first reading from Acts echoed the pre-mass story and mentioned some of the same characters (Gamaliel, for example), with an additional reading from the feast of Timothy and Titus (January 26th). This second reading from a letter of Paul to Timothy included the favorite line: “I remind you now to stir into flame the gift of God that is in you.”
Speaking of Paul’s letters, for artwork, the eighth graders used ledger size paper (11x17) to write out in bold letters, selected passages from Saint Paul. We used these pages to form the background for our composite of class pictures – from 27 classrooms. When you look at this bulletin board, you see Saint Paul words, “I have never stopped thanking God for you” “I pray for you constantly and recommend you to God in my prayers.” “May the grace and peace of God be with you.” “There are different gifts but one Lord who gives them.” The gifts of the Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness….” “How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the good news.” “There is immeasurable scope of power within those who believe” for example. On these sayings are placed the classroom pictures. We hope this bulletin board, created by the eighth graders, will announce the theme to anyone who enters the building this year.

Attached below are the readings from the mass:
1. Pre-mass play, based on one provided by a major publisher and adapted for the needs of the Saint John Fisher school community. See the year of Saint Paul archdiocesan web site to see the original, un-adapted version of this play.
2. The intercessions from the mass: focusing on things important also to our students. Presidents, Cubs, Sox, Classmates, Family Members. We prayed for all people and places named, “Saint Paul.” And the hurricanes. (We actually have students named Hanna, Ike, Josephine….)
3. The post-communion meditation with a copy of the prayer cards we handed out to each student. The eighth graders filled in 700+ names. All students, teachers and staff members received a card.

These are the texts we used. They will give you an idea of the work and focus of the students here:

Happy Year of Saint Paul. Our community is praying for you, as we know you are for us. Thank you!

Pre-liturgy welcome and play about Saint Paul:
Welcome to this liturgy, welcome to the Saint John Fisher school year of 2008-2009 and welcome to the Year of Saint Paul!
This year Catholics all over the world, including here at Saint John Fisher School are celebrating the Year of Saint Paul. The pope named this the year of Saint Paul because 2008 marks 2000 years since Saint Paul was born. Saint Paul was born 2000 year ago in a town called Tarsus in what today is known as Turkey in Asia minor on the Mediterranean Sea. Maybe some of us will visit there some day.
Saint Paul was one of the first missionaries of Jesus and helped to make our church strong. Even though Saint Paul never met Jesus in person, he became one of his most famous followers. Saint Paul was so good at explaining the message of Jesus that people everywhere wanted to become followers of Jesus, too. Saint Paul inspired others to follow Jesus by praying, by visiting people and telling them about Jesus, and by writing them lots of letters to keep their spirits high and to encourage them.
Not everyone liked what Saint Paul said. In fact, some people were so worried about Saint Paul’s message that they threw stones at him sometimes and threw him in jail other times. On top of that – it wasn’t easy traveling on the sea back then two thousand years ago. Saint Paul was even ship wrecked! But he never gave up. Let’s listen to his story from some of the main people in his life who knew him best.
Hi, my name is Gamaliel. , I was Saint Paul’s teacher. Back then his name was Saul. I taught him all about Jewish teachings – everything in the book you call the Old Testament. Saul was an excellent student, and in time, became a teacher, too. His other job was to be a tentmaker – like his father before him. That was another important job in those days. Lots of people needed good tents to live in. Back in Tarsus, Saul began hearing about someone named Jesus. Saul did not believe Jesus was the son of God and Saul began to hurt people who followed Jesus’ teaching. Saul wanted to stop ANYONE from teaching about Jesus.
My name is Stephen. I was one first people to teach about Jesus after he died. I was arrested and had a trial. When it was my turn to testify, I spoke about my love for Jesus and told the people at the trial about Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection. The rulers didn’t like what I said and had me put to death. Saul was one of the people who watched while I was executed. I was one of the first martyrs for Christ. Saul stood by and did not help me.
I am Ananias, a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus. Like many of Jesus’ followers, I had heard about Saul and the way he did not help people who believed in Christ. In fact, he was known for hurting people who believed in Jesus! I met Saul in a most unusual way. One day in Damascus, I saw Saul riding on a horse. Suddenly Saul was blinded by a flash of light and he fell off his big horse. Saul said a voice asked him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
From that day, Saul name changed to Paul and the love of Jesus grew in his heart. He became one of the very best teachers about Jesus. Since Paul knew the Old Testament so well, he could see how Jesus came to fulfill the promise in the Old Testament, too.
My name is Barnabas. I was a follower of Jesus. I sold my farm and gave the money and all my possessions to the Jesus’ follows to help them take care of the poor and spread the message of Jesus. I met Saul in Jerusalem, after he fell off his horse in Damascus. I introduced Saul to the Apostles and convinced them that he had changed his ways and was a true disciple of Christ. Saul’s conversion had changed him so much that he became know as Paul, a new name for his new life. We worked together in Antioch, convincing many people to become followers of Jesus. We then began our first missionary journey, traveling throughout Syria and Asia Minor. It was during this ten-year mission that Paul began to preach to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews.
I am Timothy. I was converted to Christ by Paul during his first missionary journey and became his co-worker during his second and third journeys. During these trips, we revisited some of the Christian communities Paul had founded and then traveled to cities located around the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas where we established Churches in some towns you may have heard of. Listen to their names: Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, Philippi, and Rome, to name a few. Paul had such great love for these communities that he wrote letters to them to keep them strong in their faith and to give them guidance. These letters are called Epistles and they were so important, that we hear them in church today. Paul’s letters were treasured, saved and reprinted in the book we call the New Testament. We can read them today, anytime! Paul put me in charge of the Church in Ephesus and even wrote letters to give me advice on how to be the very best leader of this church that I could be. Read 1 and 2 Timothy to discover some of the wisdom Paul gave me.
My name is Silas and I, too, was one of the disciples who traveled with Paul. We were even arrested together! Luckily we were freed later on, but this wasn’t the only time people who didn’t like Paul’s message put him in jail. You have heard of my name. Every year at Christmas, you sing about Two for Paul and Silas. Well, that Silas is me – a friend and co-worker with Saint Paul. Two for Paul and Silas!
I am Priscilla, although I was also known as Prisca. My husband, Aquila, and I first met Paul in Corinth. We were converts to Christianity and we let Paul stay at our house while he worked there. We ate dinner with Paul many nights and heard about all his activities. During a persecution of Christians in Corinth, we fled with Paul to Ephesus. Our home became the “house church” where the Ephesian Christians gathered for worship, friendship, and to hear Paul preach. He taught us to “live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. He also taught us to give thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father” (Ephesians 5:8-10, 20).
My name is Julius. I was a centurion, the officer in the Roman army who guarded Paul after his final arrest in Jerusalem. He was charged with causing riots because of his preaching. As the son of a Roman citizen, (remember his father was a tentmaker who lived under Roman rule) Paul demanded his right to be tried in Rome. Paul spent two years in jail waiting for his trial. Then Paul was handed over to me for the voyage to Rome in what is now known as Italy. I treated Paul with kindness and allowed his friends to visit him when we stopped at a port to rest.
When we set sail again, we were caught in a violent storm that crashed our ship on the rocky shores of an island in the Mediterranean Sea called Malta. You can read about our shipwreck in Acts 27:14-44. After spending the winter in Malta, we boarded another ship and continued our journey. When we reached port, we traveled on foot, and walked together to Rome for Paul’s trial.
He was placed under house arrest, but he was allowed to have visitors and preach to the believers who came to hear him. He also was allowed to write letters to the Christian communities he founded.
After two years, he had his trial and this time was sentenced to death. The Roman authorities had him killed. He was beheaded. He died as a martyr for his everlasting faith in Jesus Christ and for sharing Jesus’ message throughout the world. A church in Rome is there today where Saint Paul died.
Many of the people who helped you learn about Saint Paul in this story were later recognized as official saints. They are Saint Stephen, Saint Barnabas, Saint Timothy, Saint Silas, and Sts. Priscilla and Aquila and of course, Saint Paul.
At today’s liturgy, you will hear stories from Saint Paul’s life, from Saint Paul’s letters, and from Jesus’ own words which also inspired Saint Paul. The songs we will sing and hear are also filled with words written by Saint Paul.

General intercessions Opening School Liturgy Year of Saint Paul
1. For all leaders everywhere, that they may be genuine instruments of Christ’s presence in the world, we pray to the Lord.
2. For the students and teachers of Saint John Fisher, that we may follow the example of Saint Paul and pray for one another constantly, we pray to the Lord.
3 For anyone who suffers from hurricanes Hanna, Ike or Josephine, from floods, famines or any natural disaster and for people who come to their aid, we pray to the Lord.
4. For those running for president and vice president, that God’s grace will inspire them to work for the needs of all people, we pray to the Lord.
5. For our city as we watch the Cubs and Sox play in first place, that the teams stay healthy and strong, we pray to the Lord.
6. For all new students, and for all people in our school and families who are named Paul, for all people who go to schools named “Saint Paul” in our country, and for all people who live in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that this year of Saint Paul will remind all people to spread God’s message of hope and blessings everywhere, we pray to the Lord.
7. For all who serve in the military, especially graduates of Saint John Fisher school, we pray to the Lord.
8. For those who are sick, especially members of our school community and our families, we pray to the Lord.
9. For those who have died, our special saints in heaven, we pray to the Lord.
10. For the intentions we hold deep in our hearts………. we pray to the Lord.

Post Communion reflection with prayer cards:
Hi, My name is _____________________________________ and I’m
_______________________________________.
We’re both in 8th grade. And we have a gift for you. This is the gift: Every school day this year, our whole eighth grade class – eighth graders, please stand and face the students – this year our whole eighth grade class will pray for all of you, every day. We will have all of your names in our eighth grade hallway and classrooms to help us remember – all of you! You can help us out. Today each of you will receive a prayer card. This prayer card has someone’s name on it. It includes a saying from Saint Paul which is: “From the time I first heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for one another, I have never stopped thanking God for you and praying for you….” Please keep this prayer card is a safe place – like attached to your religion notebook or taped to your desk, - and pray for that person each day. There are blank places on this card. For you to pray for people in your family, in your class, or for someone in the world who you think could use some prayers – Like one of the Cubs or White Sox, or a soldier, or someone running for president. Please come up to the altar now to receive your prayer card. Teachers, your prayer cards will be in these baskets near the organ. We invite all students and teachers to come forward, now. Thank you for your prayers.

(text from cards:)
Front:
The Year of Saint Paul of the Apostle
2000th Anniversary of His Birth
2008-2009

+

Loving God, you sent Saint Paul to tell all people everywhere about the loving message of Jesus. Help us, like Saint Paul, to be genuine instruments of the presence of Christ in the world. Help us to pray for one another and to be
peacemakers.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
AMEN.

For the Students of Saint John Fisher School
from the Saint John Fisher Class of ‘09

(back:)
“...From the time I first heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for one another, I have never stopped thanking God for you and praying for you….”
from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians 1:3,4: 13-19

I will pray this student from Saint John Fisher:

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

For my family:

For my class

And for this person in the world:

The 8th grade class will pray for you every school day….

These are the ways we inaugurated the year of Saint Paul. The music, too, was terrific – all songs based on Saint Paul writings. I am grateful for the talent in these children, presider and musician to create an event of beauty and inspiration.
~ Ms. Chermak

We began our day with this prayer:

Loving God,
On this September 11th day we especially remember all the blessings of our country and the ways we are a beacon of freedom, of opportunity, of justice and truth for the world.

Help us to work hard to support one another to make our country strong by being good citizens who are committed to forming supportive, happy, loving communities.

Help us never to take our liberties and freedom for granted. Help us to remember to pray for our country and to say the pledge of allegiance each day with a sincere heart.

On this day we remember the events of September 11th, 2001 – 7 years ago when our country was attacked in New York City, and Washington, D.C. We remember the people who died that day in those cities and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We also pray for the firefighters and other helpers who died then, and for their families who mourn them.

Through our remembering, help us to be peacemakers who try very hard to learn about the world and to understand the beliefs of all people. Help us to work out peaceful solutions to world problems. Guide our soldiers who love our country very much and who serve to protect our country. We especially ask you to watch over soldiers from our families and graduates of our Saint John Fisher school.

Help us to know, love and serve you, as we know, love and serve our great country, America.
(Help us grow to be great leaders of our world, and guide those who have the job today, and those who seek to be president in this next election.)

We ask your special blessings, O Lord on our country, this day, and all days.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
AMEN.

All are invited to our open house liturgy this weekend beginning with 10:00 a.m. mass.

We are in full swing with this school year. Last weekend was the highly anticipated Fisherfest, when our parking lot was filled with amusement park-size rides. Since the rains were so heavy and unrelenting this weekend, I doubted many would attend. I significantly underestimated the lure of Fisherfest! The children came nevertheless and rode every ride – multiple times, happily, in the rain. I talked with the dad who has run this carnival for years and as way of consolation mentioned that Great America charges extra for water rides! (they don’t, but the idea seemed to amuse him, somewhat). I extend my admiration to all the dads and moms and other volunteers who put on this parish festival year after year and make it all look so easy. As someone wise once said, “It takes a lot of effort to make it look like it didn’t take any.”

On Sunday early evening, the entertainment tent has a wonderful jazz band which reminded me of a great jazz band which was part of my high school experience. One of the dads Sunday mentioned this band at Fisherfest played at his wedding – 25 years ago.

Still my favorite Fisherfest story is one Sister Jean tells: One year a new family came to tour the school to see if it would be a good match for their children. It was fisherfest weekend and the parking lot was filled with rides. As Sister Jean walked them in that direction, one of the littlest children said, “Wow, Look at their playground!”

Imagine a school with that setup!

It continues to be an honor and privilege to be with your children and help them learn to become happy, responsible adults who know they are loved by God, their families and all of us - who work each day to help them become their best selves.

See you at the liturgy this weekend.
Ms. Chermak

Thanks to all who attended the liturgy and school open house last week end. Our church seats 1150 - it was great to see a full church with so many family groups there. The welcome, read by one of your students, included this thought:
We are grateful to God for all the blessings all students in every school has received and pray that all students everywhere use the gift of our education to create a bright future.

And maybe I’m biased because I’m one of the flute players, but I think our music at liturgy is some of the best.

Attending liturgy as a family is a great investment to make for your family’s and children’s future. I appreciate the church liturgy offering an opportunity for families to sit quietly together and contemplate the mysteries of life. Where else do you give your children a sense of mystery? Or help them contemplate their role in the world? In addition, this may be the only live music a family hears on a regular basis. Where else do you sing together, except maybe at a baseball game or birthday party? There is value for children and families to see others who are trying to think about what’s most important in life. I stand in the front of church for a mass or two each weekend, playing the flute. As I look out and see you there, your presence inspires me to continue to ask life’s most profound questions and to admire how you live out those answers in your own lives.

I appreciate hearing the same readings Catholics have heard for generations, and receiving the sacraments – a great gift to us through the ages.

I look forward to a year of seeing one another at our Sunday liturgies. This weekend we welcome those who are being the Children Faith Formation classes (former C.C.D.)