Faith Formation, Saint Dominic's Parish, Benicia, California

Question for Adults: Share about times when you felt the power of the Spirit, giving you the right words, giving you the insight into a dilemma, or in other ways.
Question for Youth: Ascension: On Pentecost, the apostles were able to speak in a language that everyone could understand. As a young person, you have your own way of communicating Jesus’ importance in your life. How will you make Jesus more known to others in your own way this week?
Question for Children: When have you heard your inner voice or conscience guiding you to do what is right?

Religious Education Registration for new students and those who are not currently enrolled in the Religious Education program is underway. Sacrament Preparation here at St. Dominic’s is a two year process. First Eucharist begins in First Grade and the child receives the Sacrament in the spring of Second Grade. Confirmation begins in Ninth Grade and the Sacrament is received in the spring of their Tenth Grade year. All currently enrolled students will be rolled over for the 2008 - 2009 school year.

Congratulations to our parish children who have received Jesus for the first time. May you always know of His love for you, especially in the breaking of the bread.

“I Am The Vine” is the title of our banner for the Eucharistic Celebrations. This beautiful artwork was created by a former Parishioner and Catechist, Anne Runde, who shares with us her thoughts as she painted: “The verse itself immediately brings to mind such beautiful imagery of the branches sprouting from the vine, I pictured the pot with a triple (Trinity) vine. What better place for the branches to be nourished than in the parish? Especially for the elementary age children, so much of their knowledge of the Vine (God) comes from their church. When I was sketching the mural, I couldn’t help but think of the parable of the mustard seed. Every week in my First Grade catechism class in Houston, we would recreate a Bible Story. I loved the children’s reaction to the story of the littlest seed that can grow into a tremendous tree so big that birds build nests in it. The children would clutch their hearts when I explained that our hearts were the rich earth where God would plant His seeds so that our lives could become strong, useful, and beautiful. Sometimes our lives parallel the desert ( the background in the mural) where it is difficult for anything to thrive. It is when we are alive with God that we will flourish.”