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How shall we send off the old year and welcome the new?

Rev Fr Michael Chua

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It is has become conventional for people to throw yearend parties on the eve of the New Year with countdowns to midnight climaxing with everyone belting out Auld Lang Syne. But the Church has customarily viewed this as an occasion to offer thanksgiving to God.
Β 
Instead of Auld Ang Syne, the Church sings another ancient hymn, the 𝑻𝒆 π‘«π’†π’–π’Ž. The hymn is commonly attributed to St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church and the man who baptised St Augustine. However, the authorship of this venerable hymn of praise has never been firmly confirmed.

Te Deum

O God, we praise you; O Lord, we acclaim you.
Eternal Father, all the earth reveres you.
All the angels, the heavens and the Pow’rs of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim cry out to you in endless praise: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are filled with the majesty of your glory.Β 

The glorious choir of Apostles sings to you,
the noble company of prophets praises you,
the white-robed army of martyrs glorifies you,
Holy Church throughout the earth proclaims you,
Father of boundless majesty,
with your true and only Son, worthy of adoration,
and the Holy Spirit, Paraclete.

You, O Christ, are the King of glory,
you are the Father’s everlasting Son;
when you resolved to save the human race,
you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb;
you overcame the sting of death
and opened wide the Kingdom of Heaven
to those who put their faith in you.
You are seated at the right hand of God
in the glory of the Father.

We believe you are the Judge who is to come.
And so we beg you, help your servants,
redeemed by your most precious blood.
Number them among your saints in eternal glory.

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
Shepherd them and raise them to eternal life.
Day by day, we bless you
and praise your name for endless ages evermore.
Be gracious, Lord, on this day,
and keep us from all sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy.
May your mercy be upon us, Lord,
as we place our trust in you.
In you, O Lord, I rest my hope:
let me never be put to shame.

Translation fromΒ ICELΒ (2020)

𝐴 π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘™ 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑠 π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘œ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑇𝑒 π·π‘’π‘’π‘š 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘˜π‘ π‘”π‘–π‘£π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Ž π‘π‘™π‘’π‘›π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑠 π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑖𝑓 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘¦π‘šπ‘› 𝑖𝑠 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑝𝑒𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑦 π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘¦π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ.

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Attendance Policy​

  1. Regular weekly attendance at all class sessions is expected. It should be the norm for all catechism learners to attend more than 80% of classes, failing which the student may be retained in the level or forgo receiving the Sacrament for the given year at the discretion of the church Priests/Catechism Ministry.
  2. Parents are to notify the catechist by phone or email if their child will be absent, stating the reason for the absence.
  3. Understand that irregular attendance at Mass may lead to the child not receiving the sacrament for the given year to ensure more faith guidance and commitment is instilled.

Parents' Guidelines:​

The Church recognizes that parents have the primary responsibility for educating their children in the faith. Parents should assist their children in their learning, teach them how to pray, and review any homework. In addition, parents are asked to:

  1. Ensure children are on time for class.
  2. Communicate any concerns to the contacts listed on the website or to the class catechists. Parents are expected to maintain a respectful and courteous attitude towards catechists, other parents, and children at all times. This includes verbal communications in parents chat groups, private messages to catechists, and non-verbal interactions.
  3. Serve as role models and ensure their children attend Mass weekly, including on obligatory days, and go for confessions (at least once a year for children who have received First Holy Communion).
  4. For younger children up to level 2, parents are encouraged to physically pick up their children after class (preferably from the classrooms).
  5. Encourage children to participate in the spiritual camp, outreach, or day trip meant for spiritual formation.
  6. Encourage their children to follow the safe environment guidelines at all times while on the premises of Jesus Caritas and nurture them to take care of the church facilities, assets, and cleanliness.
  7. Pay attention to and share with the children information and matters shared by our Catechists periodically through the parents’ chat groups.
  8. Encourage children to take part in BEC and catechist-initiated Mass animation (e.g., doing readings, hospitality ministry, offertory, and reciting the Rosary before Mass).
  9. Attend the Parent-Catechist meet and take keen interest in the child’s faith formation and behavior in general.
  10. Ensure that each child possesses a Catholic Bible, makes reference to it regularly, and brings it to catechism classes.
  11. In the event one of the parent is a non-Catholic, we encourage a signed parental consent letter to be given to the Catechetical Ministry to allow the child to attend catechism classes.
  12. Ensure children bring their Bible, Catechism book, notebook, writing materials (pens, pencils), and water bottle as required for classes.