St. John the Apostle Building the Body of Christ

1. St. John the ApostleBuilding the Body of Christ Building Program Information Session Results Confirmation Spirit Day

2. Building Program NewsSeptember 21 Information Meeting Over 100 people participated at the 4pm session Two data collections tools were used to gather information: Please keep me informed!!! Name: __________________________________________ Email address: ___________________________________ Would you like to be contacted as volunteer opportunities arise? Yes No Would you like to receive building program updates via email? Yes No What is your preference for frequency of communication? Short weekly highlights Monthly summaries of progress Quarterly review of progress and future plans Other Help Us Understand What is the most important thing you want the building committee to consider as we move forward? Was there any information you were expecting to hear today that was not addressed? Who would you recommend for leadership roles to ensure the success of our building program and the upcoming capital campaign? Given where we are today with the building program, were your questions addressed? If not, what additional information should be provided? Do you have any additional comments regarding the building program?

3. Chairperson Communication Scribe Finance Bill Knauer At Large Diane Beauchamp Betty Eisenmann Arts & Liturgy Barry Nelen Jim Wynn Sue Patania Hospitality Jack Hanssen Jim Patania Karen Stapleton Katie Maceda Building Program NewsSeptember 21 Information Meeting Building Committee Members were introduced Fundraising Jack Fox Phil Rusciolelli Bio Summary Sheet is available in the literature racks in vestibule

4. Would you be willing to volunteer as opportunities arise? Would you like to be updated via email concerning the building program? Building Program NewsSeptember 21 Information Session A “Keep Us Informed” card was completed by 69 of the individuals/couples who attended: Additional yellow cards are available in the vestibule Complete a card and deposit in the box provided to begin receiving email updates

5. Given where we are today with the building program were your questions addressed?

6. What is the most important thing you want the building committee to consider as we move forward? “Communication, Additional fundraisers” “Should be beautiful inside” “Renewable Energy” “Build a holy sanctuary” “An architectural plan firmly rooted in our faith, tradition, air of reverence . . .” “Room or space for parents with small children – perhaps a large foyer . . .” “Build a beautiful traditional church for the glory of God and for our future families” “Impart a clear sense of direction and accomplishments to the goal” “Balance building design vs. financial ability” “Don’t settle for less than planned, we will only build one church . . .” “Art lifts our hearts & minds to God” “Having a functional building” “Future maintenance costs” “Build a Catholic Church in the Catholic tradition” “Mass overflow, meeting places, hearing assistance” All responses can be found in the Information Meeting Summary Report posted on www.stjohnleesburg.com

7. Building Program News We have a workable plan, a dedicated building committee and many parishioners ready to volunteer to get our church built!

8. Building Program NewsSeptember 21 Information MeetingPosted Information Speakers Comments Questions & Answers Summary Report of all written comments Committee Members Biography Check out: www.stjohnleesburg.com Hard copies of this package can also be picked up in the parish office during business hours.

9. Spirit DayPreparation for Confirmation picture

10. 2008 Confirmation ClassSpirit Day 80 students participated in the 10:00am Mass Each student was given a cross Father reinforced the theme for the day: "Take up your cross“ as he asked the students to lift up their crosses, “Lift them up high!” We then traveled to Emmitsburg, MD

11. National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes The National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton Why Emmitsburg? The day was a pilgrimage to help us connect to our Catholic heritage • We learned about Catholicism’s roots in the United States right at the time of the birth of our nation • We saw the hardships that were endured to establish Catholicism in our land

12. National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes“We are half in the sky” • This memorial campanile dedicated to the glory of God and His Blessed Mother stands at the entrance to the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes and marks the site of Saint Mary's Church which was built in 1805 by Father John DuBois. • Father DuBois was founder of Mount St. Mary's College and Seminary, and served as a tower of strength to Mother Seton in the founding of the Sisters of Charity in the United States • The Confirmandi spent 90 minutes exploring the wooded paths leading to the Grotto which are marked by beautiful Stations of the Cross and scenes from the Mysteries of the Rosary We walked paths that the first American born saint walked – Elizabeth Ann Seton

13. Elizabeth Ann Seton1774-1821 • Born into a prominent Episcopalian family in New York • Converted to Roman Catholicism following the death of her husband – she was a 29 year old widow with 5 young children • She founded the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph's, the first new community for religious women to be established in the United States.  She also began Saint Joseph's Academy, the first free Catholic School for girls staffed by Sisters in the United States. Her enduring legacy includes: • six religious communities with more than 5,000 members, • hundreds of schools, • social service centers, and • hospitals throughout America and around the world.  The extraordinary manner in which Elizabeth lived an ordinary life flowed from the centrality of the Word of God and the Eucharist in her life.

14. Mother Seton in Emmitsburg In 1808 Elizabeth arrived in Emmitsburg with her five children. Elizabeth and her girls moved into the stone house which was built in 1750 along with 12 other women. There she founded the Sisters of Charity on July 31, 1809. In 1810 the “white house” was built to house the nuns and served as the first Catholic School in the United States. By 1821, when Elizabeth died, there were 80 students boarding at the school and 60 sisters. The National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton was built in 1965. The remains of Mother Seton are entombed under the Altar of Relics in the Basilica. Mother Seton was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975.  She was the first citizen born in the United States to be Canonized

15. What did you like about Spirit Day? “Meeting cool people who go to my Church” “Hanging with friends” “Being with my friends”

16. What did you like about Spirit Day? “walking where a saint did” “the grotto” “I liked being outside and looking at the stone statues.” “Drinking the holy water and saying a prayer.” “the scavenger hunt” “seeing the stone that Elizabeth sat on” “walking around the grotto”

17. What did you like about Spirit Day? “Learning about Elizabeth Ann Seton’s life” “being spiritual” “meditating” “The Basilica – I want to get married there!” “Watching the movie” “the big Church” “the relic” “visiting the Basilica” "Wow! If we had a church like this I'd go every day!" “the Basilica” “I liked visiting Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Shrine.”

18. What did you like about Spirit Day? “the bus ride” “the bus ride” “the bus ride” “the bus ride” “the bus ride” “The bus ride over and back was a blast, too.” “the bus ride” “the bus ride” “the bus ride” “the bus ride”

19. Confirmation – What’s Next • Bishop Loverde will confirm our students on December 6th in the Parish Center during two Saturday Masses • In preparation the students are: • Performing service and keeping a service journal • Prayerfully selecting a confirmation name • Working with their chosen confirmation sponsor to explore their faith more deeply • Participating in an overnight retreat at Mar-Lu Ridge Retreat center • Preparing a personal letter to Bishop Loverde expressing their desire to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, completing their full initiation into the Catholic Faith. Please pray for our candidates as they complete their preparation.