Tonight, before taking the kids to church for their monthly Mass, we will focus on our upcoming Mercy Experience (formerly known as service projects!). On April 21, we will be going to the Ronald McDonald House near Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL, to prepare and serve supper for about 30 people currently residing there. Kudos to my DRE, Deb, and to St. Cajetan for strongly suggesting that EVERY grade of religious education be involved in some type of service!
Ronald McDonald House is a guest house for parents and families of critically ill children being treated at
nearby hospitals. All meals are prepared and served by volunteers which makes it an excellent opportunity for young people in religious education programs to participate in a mercy experience, both corporal and spiritual – a particularly appropriate experience for younger children who may not be mature enough to experience a soup kitchen, etc.
Tonight, we will go over all the details of the experience, have the children sign up for the dish they will be bringing, and send home the permission form for parents to sign and return. I’m providing you here with the permission form used by the parish (tweaked for this particular event) along with a fact sheet about the event and a sign up sheet for bringing food.
Mercy Experience Permission Form – Fact Sheet – Sign Up Sheet
After this, we will take the kids to church for their monthly Mass, an opportunity to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation! Only 9 months to Christmas! Mary teaches us today that the future is shaped by the choices we make today. May all our choices be life-giving!
Leave a Reply