On Sunday January 10th, many of you took part in our discussion on the subject of “The Baptism of Jesus” as part of our Adult Catechesis program, led by Ms. Veronika Hübner. Thanks to all who attended and so actively participated. If you missed it, or if you were there and would like to look a little deeper into the subject, Ms. Hübner invites you to view or download her book “Tetelestai – It has been finished” which is available at this link [pdf file].

“The Baptism of Jesus” is the subject of the first meditation of the book. Enjoy!

This Sunday, January 10, 2010, there will be catechesis for ALL CLASSES from First Holy Communion through Confirmation from at 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. There will simultaneously be Adult Catechesis.

All VESSC adults are invited and encouraged to attend. (Teens not already attending catechesis, including but not limited to our already confirmed gang, are also welcome).

We will have a special guest speaker, Ms. Veronika Hübner, to teach us about ‘The Baptism of Jesus’. Ms. Hübner is a educated theologian, professional educator, and long time member of the VESCC. She authored a book on this subject, and would like to share her gift and her knowledge with us on the very day that we are celebrating the Baptism of of the Lord.

Please join us from 8:45 a.m. to 09:45 a.m. at the Coffee Room, Mexikoplatz 12.

C’mon, it’s only one hour earlier than mass, and it’s warm. We hope to see you there!

The VESCC Council and Father Kevin have decided that Sunday Mass will be permanently celebrated at 10:00 a.m. So catechesis classes will always be at 08:45 from now on.

On Oct. 4th there will also be adult catechesis at the same time as the childrens’ classes. Father Kevin will host this event and kindly requests that all the parents attend. This adult catechesis will take place at 08:45 in the coffee hall.

Religious education class will start promptly at 08:45 a.m.

Registration for the VESCC Religious Education Program for 2009-2010 is now going on. We encourage parents wanting to enroll their children for religious education in English, especially in preparation for receiving First Holy Communion or Confirmation to register them as soon as possible. If you are new to the VESCC and intend to register your children for the program, please introduce yourselves to Fr. Kevin after Sunday Mass. You can also contact, Scott, the Religious Education Coordinator at vesccreliged@gmail.com.

Schedule for 2009-2010:

Religious education will be held during the following Sundays from 08:45-09:45 (starts promptly)::

• September: 13 and 20
• October: 4 and 18
• November: 8 and 22
• December 6 and 13
• January 10 and 24
• February 7 and 28
• March: 14 and 21
• April: 18 and 25; and
• May 9 (class and First Holy Communion)

Tentative schedule for Confirmation is 30 May 2010.

On 9-10 May, the VESCC confirmation class conducted its Retreat Weekend in the village of Winden in the Burgenland and in the Prater. It was an opportunity to escape the routine of life in Vienna and reflect on the sacrament of Confirmation which they will receive later this month. The weekend included time for the confirmation candidates to bond as a group, reflect on their relationship with God, and also to relax (as is evident in some of the photos). On the second day of the retreat we conducted our Service Project by inviting some teenagers from a nearby refugee camp to spend the day with us in the Prater, where we took them bowling, had a picnic and played in the park.

We invite the entire community to celebrate our Confirmation with us at Mass on Sunday 31 May at the St. Francis of Assisi Church on Mexico Platz.

Nine young children from the VESCC community received their First Communion on Sunday, 26 April at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Vienna, Austria. Fr. Kevin Soars presided over the solemn ceremonies in the presence of community members, and friends, relatives and guests of the children’s families.

A photo gallery of selected pictures is available on this site.

VESCC catechism classes for the first half of 2009 have been scheduled as follows: January 11 and 25; February 1 and 8; March 1, 15, and 29; April 26; and May 3 and 10. As is usual, the catechesis will include the following groups:

» Religious Education for Children of All Ages
» Adult Education
» Religious Education for Teens
» First Communion Preparation
» Confirmation Preparation

All classes will start simultaneously at 9:45 so punctuality will be greatly appreciated.

This year we are introducing what is known as Whole Community Catechesis. Every one is invited and encouraged to get involved in some way in the catechetical process, talking about sharing faith with others. the starting point are the weekly “Questions of the Week” handouts provided at the Sunday mass. (You may also sign up to have them e-mailed to you each week. Just send us an e-mail at the Church office.) In addition, there are a number of Sunday morning catechetical presentations throughout the year offered at the church centre, as well as weekday Bible studies and other offerings.

More information is given in the bulletins and announced at Sunday masses.

I was born in 1940, in Calcutta (India), joined the Jesuits in 1962 and was ordained in 1974. I am now residing at De Nobili College, Pune, near Bombay (or Mumbai), home of the largest Jesuit community in the world, today. I have been teaching Philosophy at the big Jesuit-run Seminary in Pune, Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, where degrees and diplomas in Philosophy and Theology are offered to lay people as well as priests-to-be, nuns and members of other religious orders.

I am also deeply involved in the youth ministry, particularly among boys and girls of the 16-25 age group (College-going and University students as well as young workers) of all religions (with Christians in the minority). I’m also very much involved in social action among oppressed and disadvantaged groups and motivate youth of all religions and cultures to work together for justice.

In loving memory of Sr. Beatrice Chaves, Poor Sister of Our Lady, who prepared our children for First Communion for over 25 years, and whom Christ called to himself on June 17, 2001. May she be seated at his banquet table in heaven.

Sr. Beatrice is buried on the Sievering Cemetery, at the right side, close to the entrance. In her memory, the Community made a substantial financial donation to the Order of the Poor Sisters of Our Lady, to which she belonged, to fund their work with girls in India.