September 17, 2024, Class Update: Tradition and God's Story

Greetings everyone!

During our class on September 17, we considered what makes us unique as Catholics.  Befitting US Constitution Signing Day, we watched a video filmed at the National Constitution Center and Independence Hall in Philadelphia describing how the founders' creation of a structured government is like how Jesus Christ established a structured Church.  Our Sacred Tradition is the structure by which the teachings of Jesus Christ have been handed down through the centuries to us.

We also spent time focusing on God's work of salvation in history with a series of hand motions.  I recorded this video to show what we did.

For our opening prayer, I showed a clip from a video of the Opening Session of the National Eucharistic Congress when Eucharistic adoration concluded and we sang "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name."

Our closing prayer was the National Eucharistic Revival Prayer.

Everyone wrote out prayers at the start of class, and I asked everyone to keep offering up those prayers throughout this week.

Looking ahead, we'll spend time on the Holy Spirit in our next class, which has a personal significance to me as we get closer to October.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with questions, etc.

We remain connected in our Faith as One Church:

All my relations.

Praying for you all,

God's blessings,

Paul

P.S. I also mentioned to the students that I participated in an OPRF History Museum online presentation 2 years ago that focused on how the middle schools were created in Oak Park.  Here's the link to the presentation, which is about half an hour long, and my part comes in the second half.

Inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, MO, appearing to the left of the altar is the Cathedra, a chair that symbolizes the Bishop's authority to hand on the teachings of Christ, as a successor of the Apostles.

I saw a number of bishops at the recent 10th National Eucharistic Congress, and spoke personally with two of them.

A selfie with Donald Hying, Bishop of the Diocese of Madison, WI

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., and formerly a priest and bishop in the Archdiocese of Chicago, gives the homily at Mass on the morning of July 19 in Lucas Oil Stadium

Archbishop Jose Gomez, of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, celebrates a Spanish-language Mass on the morning of July 20

On my way back to Chicagoland, when I stopped for lunch at Culver's, I saw Bishop Paprocki, of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

A Few Guidelines for Class

Greetings everyone!

As we get started with a new year of Religious Education, I want to share some guidelines for class so that we can all make the most of our experience.

To ensure that everyone stays focused on learning about faith in class, we ask that all students place their mobile devices in a basket upon their arrival where they will remain until the end of class.  Occasionally, I expect there will be an activity that involves using their devices.

Please notify us as far in advance as possible about absences.  Granted, if something like illness comes up toward the last minute, that is understandable.  If it's something planned ahead of time, like something related to sports or a trip, a couple of days is good.

I habitually check my email before I leave for class, so I guarantee I will see your message if you send it by 5:30 the day of class.  I also suggest cc-ing coordinator Terri Monaco's email, especially if it's after 5:30, to ensure someone will see your message.

If your daughter/son is absent, I will provide a small amount of make-up work to complete so s/he can stay current with our class learning even when absent.  I also ask that your daughter/son look at the latest update on the class website to know what we did in class.

If a situation arises and your daughter/son has to miss class numerous times, please contact us and we can figure out a way to ensure s/he can continue learning about faith while out of class.

I started using class websites a few years ago and posted updates weekly.  As a change for this year, I will aim to post 1-2 times per month.

Each student is receiving a green folder at the start of the year and a class book as part of the curriculum that 8th grade is using for the second consecutive year.  Books will stay at the school.  Students are expected to bring their green folders between home and class each time we meet.

There will usually be some kind of activity to take home each week, but only a small number of weeks will require a submission.

Please refer to the RE handbook for other guidelines about class.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or for any other reason at any time.

I look forward to all we will experience in class together this year as we encounter God.

God's blessings,

Paul

Welcome and Introduction

Greetings 8th graders and families!

I'm Paul Rubio, the Tuesday evening catechist for grade 8.

I welcome you to the new Religious Education year of 2024-25.

I started teaching 11 years ago with a passion for sharing the abundant faith I had coming out of college, and I'm overjoyed to be starting my 12th year of teaching RE.

I grew up in Oak Park and attended local schools: I am Irving Class of 2002, Julian Class of 2005, and OPRFHS Class of 2009.  I attended the Ascension Religious Education program for grades 7 and 8, after my family had been part of the St. Giles Family Mass Community for several years.

I have my MLIS degree from Dominican University, and I currently work behind the scenes as a cataloger at the Addison Public Library.

This website will contain updates about what we're learning in class, including any videos or resources I share, with applicable links.  I will post 1-2 times per month.

E-mail is the best way to reach me, and I have provided it to all the parents.

I look forward to the ways we will encounter God together this year.

God's blessings,

Paul Rubio

This past summer, I attended the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, which was a truly awe-inspiring experience. Here I am inside Lucas Oil Stadium, where many of the sessions were held.  I'm posing by a portrait of the Blessed Mother Mary, the patroness for the Marian Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage that passed through the Archdiocese of Chicago.