St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish and School – Denver, Colorado

VBS 2010 “Crocodile Dock”

Click to hear the “Crocodile dock” theme song

When is it happening?

It is all happening on June 14th – 18th

At what Time?

From 9am – 11:30am (you will be home in time for lunch)

Where will it be held?

Same as last year we will have all this fun in the school gym.

How much?

The cost is only $50 per child for the week

How do I register for this great event?

You can either come to the office and register, or download the form, print it off, and mail it into the office (marked attention V.B.S 2010 and make out the check to St Catherine of Siena) V.B.S. Registration  

Click here to see what kind of fun we will have

Click here for a sneak preview of our 1st day craft

What is The Manhattan Declaration?

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Click on link below to access site:

Denver Catholic Schools Receive High Praise

DENVER CATHOLIC SCHOOLS LAUDED
BY INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY

The Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools, including St. Catherine of Siena School, participated in and earned district accreditation this past October, 2009.

This honor is significant for our school and our system of Catholic schools, and it is the culmination of active involvement from many of our stakeholders who participated in the process through surveys, interviews, and on-site visits.

Accreditation is a method of quality assurance, which evaluates and verifies an institution’s quality and encourages continuous improvement. District
Accreditation is a new and challenging model, and we are only the eighth
Catholic School System to earn this designation. Our brand is “The Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools.” We are a system of
Schools unified by a common tradition, purpose, and vision; yet, our schools are distinctive, proud, and self-governed.

In October 2009 Advanced, an international organization and the parent organization of North Central Association, validated our brand by accrediting our system.

This is good news to be celebrated! It validates the strong education provided by the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools and commitment to continuous improvement. It also conveys our dedication to the brand promise: confidence that our children will experience more complete development and unsurpassed academic and personal success.
The faculty and staff of St. Catherine of Siena School would like to thank you for your investment in Catholic education; this is an investment that pays dividends for life for our children and our Church.

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”
~Benjamin Franklin

Why Choose our Catholic School?

Catholic Schools:

Purpose and ministry: the purpose of this article is to encourage parents who may be considering the choice of a Catholic school for their child’s education. This alternative will require that you commit to a considerable investment of your time, talents, and financial resources for your child’s educational future. So why should you choose a Catholic school? There are many compelling reasons, beyond the benefits of higher academic achievement.
Catholic Identity of Catholic Schools: Statement of beliefs we believe that:

• The Catholic school is an integral part of the Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel, build faith communities, celebrate through worship, and serve others.
• The commitment to academic excellence, which fosters the intellectual development of faculty and students, is an integral part of the mission of the Catholic school.
• The Catholic school is an evangelizing, educational community.
• The spiritual formation of the entire school community is an essential dimension of the Catholic school’s mission.
• The Catholic school is a unique, faith-centered community which integrates thinking and believing in ways that encourage intellectual growth, nurture faith, and inspire action.
• The Catholic school is an experience of the church’s belief, tradition, and sacramental life.
• The Catholic school creates a supportive and challenging climate which affirms the dignity of all persons within the school community.

Click on link below to read the expanded document:

Reasons to choose a Catholic School

Religious Education 2009-2010

We started the 2009-2010 Religious education Classes.

There is a $40 Tuition fee per family asked by the parish, plus there are separate book fees which differ in cost by class. Please be aware that we do not want to turn anyone away from the R.E programs and sacramental preparation classes offered here at St Catherine’s. At St Catherine’s we do not want cost to be a burden for you and your family, we are more than willing to work with you in this.

Information you will need to have before each child can receive the Sacraments:

• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate (If the child is baptized)
• Full Contact details of Parents/Caregiver. (Phone numbers, email etc)

Calender for Classes 2009 (Please note that classes are not every weekend )

December 2009

Calender for Classes 2010

January 2010 February 2010 March 2010

April 2010 May 2010

Religious Education Classes
This is available for all children not involved with sacramental preparation. Classes are available for children ages K through 7th Grade.

Religious Education Classes are an excellent way to continue your child’s faith instruction. All our teachers are highly motivated in working with your family and assisting you with task of raising your children in the Catholic Faith given to us by Jesus
First Communion/Reconciliation.
This is available for all children who have received the sacrament of baptism and are Currently 2nd grade or older.

Confirmation. This is available for all teenagers who have received the sacrament of baptism and who are 8th grade or older.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A).

This program is for non-Catholic adults and children (past second grade) who wish to live the Catholic Faith.

Non-Baptized Adults will be prepared to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, which normally tales place at the Easter Vigil.

Baptized non-Catholics will be prepared to make a Profession of Catholic faith, and to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

Baptized Catholics and uncatechized will be prepared to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

At St Catherine’s our R.C.I.A classes normally start in the Fall of each year and follows an annual cycle, with all eligible candidates making the “Rite Of Election” (at the Cathedral), the eligible candidates will then receive all the their sacraments at the Easter Vigil, in the presence of St Catherine’s faith community that has been praying for them during this time.

Please call the parish office for more details 303-455-9090

Vacation Bible School 2009 Highlights!!!

This year we had TWO Vacation Bible Schools this summer

The FIRST V.B.S was held in June and was called Jerusalem Marketplace. During this V.B.S children and families discovered exciting ways to learn more about Gods love and Jesus’ sacrifice. And the best part is that they learned by becoming immersed in authentic Bible -times culture.

We hope Jerusalem Marketplace made God’s Word very real to the children that came.
Here are some photo “Highlights” from Jerusalem Marketplace

The SECOND V.B.S was held in July was called Power lab

During this V.B.S each the children took part in fun Bible learning where they saw, herd,
touched, and even tasted! Wacky Bible Point crafts, team-building games, lively Bible songs, and tasty treats were just a few of the Power lab activities that helped faith
flow into real life.
Power Lab was great fun for the children of all ages; even teenagers enjoyed singing and dancing to the music everyday. We also had team of Crew Leaders who helped the younger children.

WE HAVE CD’S AND SOME D.V.D’S  STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

Don’t miss out. Buy yours now.

Here are some photo “Highlights” from POWER LAB

THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED. THE VOLUNTEERS, THE LEADERS, THE PARENTS AND THOSE WHO DONATED SO MUCH TO MAKE THESE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS A GREAT SUCCESS. SEE Y’ALL NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVE CD’S AND SOME D.V.D’S  STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

Don’t miss out. Buy yours now.

Now Enrolling at St Catherine’s School

We offer full and half day preschool for three and four year old’s in our newly renovated facility.We have before and after school care that includes a great homework program.Our elementary and middle school academic program includes all core subjects as well as music, art and foreign languages (Spanish and French)All Students attend Mass every Friday Please call the school office 303-477-8035.

Review Our School on Google

Alumni and currently enrolled families please spread the word about St. Catherine of Siena School. Click here to write a review on Google!

You will need to have a Google or Gmail account.

Thank you for your support!

e5Men

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up himself up for her.

MEN: HUSBANDS FASTING FOR THEIR WIVES

The e5 Man fasts for his bride to imitate Jesus as described by Saint Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5 (for which e5 is named). Fasting is eating only bread and water.

Jesus made a bodily sacrifice on the cross for His Bride the Church to present her to God the Father “without spot or wrinkle”.By fasting for our earthly bride and joining our sufferings to Christ’s we intercede for grace for our brides. At the same time our act of bodily love in union with Christ accelerates our own conversion.

By making this sacrifice for the women in our lives we live out the essence of the gospel through a very particular act of self denial. To lay down one’s body out of love for another is the central message of the gospel.

Register as an e5 Man. Click here.

Click here to watch the e5 video.

NOT ONLY FOR MARRIED MEN

Membership is not limited to married men. For single men, their fast may be dedicated to their future bride. For widowers or those unlikely to get married, the beneficiary of their fasts may be for a deceased wife, a daughter, a sister, or a granddaughter, or any other women in great need. For the consecrated celibate man the benefit of their fast can be for the benefit of the community they serve or for consecrated celibate women.

REQUIREMENTS

Except for medical reasons, the minimum requirements to be an e5 Man are that you:

1. Be a baptized Christian man.

2. Register with e5. Register as an e5 Man. Click here.

3. Fast on plain bread and water at least one day a month for your bride for her spiritual growth and healing – preferably on the first Wednesday of the month.

ADDITIONAL INTENTIONS OF THE E5 MAN

The intentions of the e5 also include:

1. All the other e5 Men’s brides or primary intention.

2. For all the e5 Women registered with us.

3. For all women sinned against by men.

4. For the petitions sent to us by women for women.

5. And in general for all women.

Many e5 Men choose to fast more than once a month and often choose other beneficiaries for those days such as sisters, mothers, or friends. see e5 Special Forces.

Register as an e5 Man. Click here.

OUR PRIVACY POLICY

Your postal address and e-mail address will never be sold to another organization. You will receive a monthly reminder e-mail with a short reflection several days before the first Wednesday of the month. From time to time you may receive other information from us that seems appropriate. In short, we will treat your personal information with respect.

E5 HELPFUL FASTING TIPS
by Steven Habisohn, e5 Founder

Fasting is often difficult not only because of our own weaknesses but because in God’s wisdom He allows it to be harder for some than for others. Sometimes Satan himself desires to discourage us and will put barriers in our way. This is especially true the first few times. It doesn’t take much to throw us off, especially if we live hectic lives.

Here are a few ideas that might help with your fasting if you are having difficulty.
Having a specific intention is important

We are meant to love others so when we fast only for ourselves it just doesn’t seem to be as easy to do. As men we are made to lay down our lives for our brides – fasting taps into this part of our masculine hearts.
Prepare the night before with some prayer time

I find that waking up in the morning having not made a firm commitment the night before makes a fast more difficult.
Pray for the one you are fasting for during the fast

Short prayers during the day are especially helpful. You might find spiritual road blocks throughout the day will turn into simple road bumps with the recitation of the Lord’s prayer for your intention.
Call an e5 buddy and ask him how it’s going

I have one e5 friend who loves to leave voice messages about steak dinners and rolls dripping in butter. It sure makes it a lot easier to do the heavy lifting knowing you’re not alone.
Start fasting once a week instead of only once a month

Although not so obvious, this sometimes can make it easier. Perhaps you could fast every Wednesday for lent and see how it works. Check out e5 Special Forces.

Start a consistent meditative prayer life if you haven’t already

When you fast you are ridding yourself of the joys of the flesh for a day and it reveals the emptiness in your heart that wants to be filled. Instead of filling it with food, fill it with Christ’s love. However, if you are not in the habit of praying often, it could be a very painful mental and emotional experience to fast . You may only feel the emptiness and suffering which used to be filled with the simple joys of food. This experience certainly gives new meaning to the phrase “comfort food.” Fasting is a challenge to make God your comfort but if you do not have a developed prayer life you will certainly notice the emptiness when you are fasting.
Change the start and end time of the fast

An easier way to do the 24 hour fast (slightly modified) is to go from dinner time one day to about dinner time the next. For instance start after dinner on Tuesday and end right before dinner on Wednesday. I use this schedule when there is a social engagement where I should eat. It’s a nice variation to have ready, especially for those that are fasting every week. There are quite a few e5 Men always do it this way because they need and/or want to eat with their families. Often it is a way to keep the fasting more private from family members.
Have minor fasts throughout the month

Perhaps choose to fast at least from one meal every Friday between first Wednesdays to keep up the fasting mentality.
Modify and ramp up to the 24 hours

If you can’t seem to fast for the 24 hour minimum, set out to have some type of fast at least once a week and over time slowly build to fasting for the whole 24 hours. Take as long as you need.

Attend an evening of devotion

Attend an evening of devotion like a mass, prayer meeting, rosary group, or bible study on your fast day. You will be particularly receptive to what the Lord wants to give you at those times and your satisfaction from the day of fasting will be increased.

Ask in prayer specifically for the grace to accomplish the fast

Any good work is only accomplished through the goodness of God living and working through us anyway. Ask for more of it. Ask especially when you feel particularly weak in your ability to accomplish the fast.

Be as gentle on yourself as Jesus is

Remember that God gives us the gift to make the gift. Be patient with yourself. He makes it harder for some than others according to His will. One fast for you may be as important as 5 for another.
Remember to Eat bread and drink water

Often one might forget sufficient water on a fast day. Also some might get into the legitimate habit of not eating anything; then on a particularly difficult day they forget that they can eat some bread. The e5 Fast is not about radical physical suffering; it’s about taming the sensual passions for the sake of another. Being tired and aching is not necessarily the point. The point is to take away the pleasure that food brings to cooperate with God in ordering our bodily passions towards love of another and not self love.

Live a less hectic life

Often the chaos of the day takes a lot out of us and we don’t even realize it. Fasting can be a real battle sometimes, and for some every time. The chaos in our life is often a factor in not being able to do the mental work it takes to follow through on a fast. A simpler life in general but specifically on the day of the fast will help greatly.

Hope these help.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) Q & A

QUESTIONS ABOUT NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

What is Natural Family Planning?

Natural family planning (NFP) refers to the practice of achieving or avoiding
pregnancies according to an informed awareness of a woman’s fertility.

Why is NFP the best in family planning?

NFP provides a medically safe, healthy, highly effective and very low cost
method of planning your family. It is convenient (no birth control devices to
use), and it’s immediately reversible for achieving or avoiding pregnancy. It
is increasingly available throughout the world, it tells you when you have
achieved pregnancy, and it’s morally acceptable.

What’s the basis for NFP?

It is scientifically established that during each menstrual cycle a woman
normally becomes fertile and then naturally infertile. The fertile time is the
part of her cycle when sexual intercourse can result in pregnancy. Her body
provides certain physical signs to indicate her fertile and infertile times.

What are the signs of fertility and infertility?

The primary signs are a normal discharge of cervical mucus and changes in a
woman’s waking temperature. Secondary signs include changes in her cervix and
a feeling called “ovulation pain.”

Cervical mucus is nature’s way of helping a man’s sperm to reach a woman’s
egg. Her flow of cervical mucus generally starts in a small way several days
before she ovulates (releases an egg); it is a very positive sign that her
fertile time has started. About the time she ovulates, her mucus may be
abundant and have a consistency something like raw egg-white. After ovulation,
her mucus normally disappears.

A woman’s waking temperature is lower before ovulation and rises slightly but
distinctly after ovulation. After it has been well elevated for several days
(while her mucus has been disappearing), it is a very positive sign that she
is infertile.

What is the Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning?

The Sympto-Thermal Method is a system of using the mucus and temperature signs
in a crosschecking way for the highest confidence and reliability in family
planning. The secondary signs are also used by many women.
Is this what used to be called”the Rhythm Method”?

No. The Rhythm Method was the Calendar Rhythm Method developed in 1930. It was
based on some biological averages, but it did not work well for women who had
irregular cycles. It was the 1930’s model of NFP, and great progress has been
made since then.

Can NFP work with irregular cycles?

Yes. Modern NFP assumes that every woman is irregular at least some of the
time. In general, if her fertile time comes earlier or later than usual, she
knows about it because the start of her cervical mucus comes earlier or later.

Does NFP take much time?

No. With NFP’s Sympto-Thermal Method, a woman needs just a few minutes to take
her temperature when she wakes up each morning. During the day she takes a
moment now and then to become aware of her cervical mucus. Her husband records
a dot for the temperature on a chart, and at night she records a symbol to
describe her mucus. This simple process gives them an accurate, day to day
picture of her fertility.

Is NFP SAFE?

Yes. Natural Family Planning uses no birth control devices or drugs. Every
drug has potential side effects and should be taken only when necessary to
cure or relieve an illness, etc. But fertility is a normal process, not a
disease. Birth control pills and implants are unnecessary drugs, and most
intrauterine devices (IUDs) were taken off the American market because of
health-related lawsuits; some physicians have linked spermicides with birth
defects.

NFP is HEALTHY: what does that mean?

NFP is health enhancing. Through NFP charting, a woman becomes aware of her
normal fertility-menstrual cycle. Some kinds of cycle irregularities can alert
her to possible underlying problems, and she can seek early health-care
assistance.

How EFFECTIVE is NFP?

Numerous studies including one by the U.S. government, have shown that the
Sympto-Thermal Method of NFP can be used at the 99% level of effectiveness for
AVOIDING pregnancy. That’s equal to the birth control pill and better than all
the barrier methods.

Can NFP help ACHIEVE pregnancy?

Yes. With NFP you will become aware of the most fertile days in your overall
fertile time, and you will learn certain practices to maximize your mutual
fertility. In addition, your charted cycles may reveal certain patterns that
can contribute to infertility and which sometimes can be corrected simply by
better nutrition. Many couples of marginal fertility are helped by NFP
training to achieve much wanted pregnancies, and the charts of those who may
need medical help can assist the knowledgeable physician.

Can breastfeeding space babies?

Yes, but only when a mother practices a very natural form of baby care
characterized by mother-baby closeness. This is called “ecological
breastfeeding” to distinguish it from “cultural breastfeeding” which does not
space babies.

In addition, the ecological breastfeeding taught by the Couple to Couple
League helps you to keep your baby healthy and contributes greatly to the
emotional enrichment of both mother and baby.

Is NFP morally acceptable?

Yes. All the major religions including the Catholic Church accept the use of
natural family planning when couples have a sufficiently serious reason for
spacing babies or family limitation.

On the other hand, the teachings of the Catholic Church, some Orthodox
churches, some parts of Judaism, and an increasing number of Protestants are
opposed to sterilization and the use of contraceptive or abortifacient drugs
and devices. It should be noted that intrauterine devices and birth control
drugs (both the pill and implants) can cause very early abortions.

Is Natural Family Planning “Natural”?

In other words, is it natural for a married couple to practice sexual self-
control? Yes. No one denies that at times this is difficult, but such
difficulties do not make periodic continence “unnatural.” “Natural” means
living up to the demands of our human nature, a nature “created in the image
and likeness of God.” All of the Ten Commandments are sometimes difficult to
follow, but all of them spell out the challenge of being true to our own
nature.

How does NFP affect a marriage?

Sexual self-control can help build the marital relationship, and therefore
most couples report that NFP has a positive effect on their marriages. They
find that periodic abstinence helps keep their sexual relationship fresh,
improves their communication, and gives them a deeper respect for each other.

In addition, the practice of NFP helps to develop the same strength of
character that is necessary for marital fidelity and lifelong marriage. NFP
couples have an extremely low divorce rate.

This makes sense because couples who respect the natural moral law, God’s
order of creation, can expect to enjoy its benefits.

So NFP builds better marriages?

Yes, but not automatically. Couples rarely begin to practice Natural Family
Planning out of a desire to improve their marital relationship. However, if
they are going to practice NFP harmoniously, they soon find that they have to
communicate more fully with each other and practice continence creatively.
(Many are helped by a CCL brochure, Creative Continence.) Couples do not
ignore each other at times when they choose to avoid sexual relations; rather
they develop non-genital ways of expressing their love and affection, which is
the art of marital courtship.

How can I find out more about NFP?

Creighton Fertility Care System

The Creighton Fertility Care System is a model of Natural Family Planning that involves an introductory session in group-setting and as many as eight private and individualized follow-ups over the course of a year, based on your personal needs. The method relies on a detailed observation of external cervical mucus as the main indicator of fertility. There are several trained Creighton practitioners in the Archdiocese of Denver who work on an individual basis. For more information contact one of the following practitioners:

Aurora:
Britta Conway, FCPI 303-752-3789
Kathleen Morroni, FCPI 303-471-1308
Terri Vyner, FCP 720-870-3246

Denver:
Christina Coughlan-Watson, FCPI 720-232-4478
Ann Zimmer, FCPI 719-649-3223

Highlands Ranch:
Carrie Keating, FCP 303-471-8624

Littleton:
Caitlin Burnett, FCPI 303-791-9393
Linda Hannon, FCP 303-933-3339

Parker:
Olivia Demsko, FCPI 719-231-6447

To learn more about the Creighton FertilityCare System, please visit their website at: http://www.creightonmodel.com

Couple to Couple League

NFP Courses with the Couple to Couple League (CCL) are taught in a classroom setting by a trained married couple in a series of three meetings at monthly intervals. For registration information, please call the NFP Hotline at 303.715.3239 or click on the NFP Schedule. For further information on the Couple to Couple League, please see the CCL website at http://www.denver.ccli.org/

CCL Home Study Option
If necessary, and with your pastor’s approval, this course can also be taken in a home study format over the course of six months. If you are interested in the home study option, please call the Office of Marriage and Family Life at 303-715-3259.

Northwest Family Services
NFP Courses with Northwest Family Services (NWFS) are currently being offered by Carolyn Hochanadel in the Fort Morgan/Eastern area of Colorado. This course is taught through a series of three classes and follow-up meetings. For more information and to register please contact Carolyn at 970-867-5879 (It is best to call in the evenings).

NWFS On-Line Option
In extreme circumstances, and with your pastor’s approval, this course can also be taken in an on-line study format. If you are interested in the on-line course, please call the Office of Marriage and Family Life at 303-715-3259.

Natural Family Planning International
NFPI courses are taught in metro Denver by a trained, married couple in a series of three monthly classroom meetings plus a follow-up. In addition to the Sympto-Thermal Method, NFPI also teaches the Ecological Breastfeeding method of NFP. For registration information, please go to www.nfpidenver.org and/or call Ann and K.L. Berry at 303-758-4442.