On May 20, St. Anthony’s held its final Faith Formation (CCD) class of the 2025–2026 school year. Nearly 40 students participated this year.

The program included two Confirmation classes—one for junior high students and one for high school students—as well as a First Communion class. Jane Sweeney and Mary Timmons instructed the Confirmation students, while Charlotte Smith led the First Communion class.

Each class session began with all students gathering in the parish hall. Sarah Kasallis led the group in song, followed by a reading of the upcoming Sunday Gospel by Linda Sheppard. Linda then guided an age-appropriate discussion to help the children understand the Gospel message before students moved to their individual classrooms.

This year’s teachers included:

• Sarah Kasallis and Linda West — Kindergarten and 1st Grade

• Charlotte Smith and Linda Nichols — First Communion

• Linda Lugo — 4th Grade

• Susan Lambert and Linda Sheppard — 5th Grade

• Kim Burch — 6th and 7th Grades

• Jane Sweeney — 8th Grade Confirmation

• Mary Timmons — High School Confirmation

Throughout the year, students enjoyed a variety of special activities, including a Christmas party, Family Day, a King Cake celebration provided by new parishioners Max Boswell and family, an Easter celebration sponsored by the Special Events Committee, Shadow Stations of the Cross, and a Rosary Circle.

The year concluded with a celebration featuring Catholic Jeopardy, created and hosted by Mary Timmons, followed by ice cream sundaes for students and teachers.

It was a fun, faith-filled, and productive year. We thank all of our teachers, volunteers, and families for their support and look forward to welcoming even more students next year.

ST. ANTHONY IN HOOPESTON

May 18, 2024

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

As we celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost, we recall the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the birth of the Church. This gift of the Holy Spirit continues to be poured out upon the Church and upon us. I chose Pentecost intentionally as the day when we reach an important milestone in our two-year Growing Disciples planning process with the announcement about our parishes and churches. Thank you for your participation, your feedback, and your advice which have helped me make the decisions that are announced today.

Prayer for the unborn. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of [baby’s name] the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.” Prayer of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

We are now in the final stages of the Growing Disciples process.

The Growing Disciples Core Team has met with the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission (comprised of the Core Team and parishioners from each planning area) and the Presbyteral Council (comprised of priests from each vicariate) to review the Round Three models it created based on the feedback from the Round Two models. All the feedback from both meetings has been submitted to the Bishop to consider as part of his discernment.