Welcome To a New Year of Faith Formation. Sharing in God s Mercy

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1 Welcome To a New Year of Faith Formation Our Motto this Year is Sharing in God s Mercy August 20, 2015 Dear Parents, It is in a spirit of joy and grace that we embark on another year s venture in faith formation. We know that God has many surprises as we share faith, grow in service and discipleship, celebrate each other s faith stories and dive into prayer and God s greatest gift of mercy. This is a theme that our Pope Francis has chosen. In December, he will proclaim a Jubilee of Mercy in the Church. Mercy will try to permeate all of our faith formation offerings through the year. We have great news! You can register your children for faith formation on line. Simply go to St. Bridget of Sweden website stbridgetofsweden.org Click onto faith formation. If you have any questions give us a call or stop by. Registration should be completed by Monday, September 14, Thanks for filling out the Faith Formation Survey earlier this summer. Overwhelmingly you have said that you like having elementary classes on Wednesdays from 4PM to 5:15PM and 5:30PM to 6:45PM. We are keeping class at those times and you have the choice of choosing one. We will be getting a bus to transport children from the elementary school to St. Bridget s at the 4PM time. We will continue to do our best to welcome the children as they enter our Church and experience the great gift of catechists who not only know the faith but embody the gift of a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are putting a ten child cap on classes. If need be another class will be offered at the same time if we can find a catechist. If not you will be asked to come at the other time frame. If there are five or less children in a class we also may ask them to come at the other time. This is all to make it easier for our catechists to make the class a warm place of spiritual growth and belonging. We have made a change in our sixth grade program. Sixth graders will now meet at the 7PM to 8:15PM time. When they come they will gather with our seventh and eighth graders many of whom they know from their day school experience. 6 th to 8 th graders meet as a large group for prayer, saint sharing and announcements. Sixth graders will then go to their own class for their session. 7 th and 8 th graders will remain in a large group for the input session and then break into small faith groups. Our high school program will continue to offer Pillars of the Faith these are six week courses offered three times during the year. We hope to offer the following classes: Scripture, Saints, Prayer, Sacraments, Social Justice, Theology of the Body, Jesus and a new pillar called: Chosen, Called and Sent. This new course presents videos of

2 dynamic youth ministers who talk about being Catholic. Videos will be accompanied by discussion and activity. The youth will have a chance to choose the classes they would like to take at their Confirmation Orientation Night which is Wednesday, September th grade (Year I) youth and parents come from 6PM to 7PM, 10 th grade (Year II) youth and parents come at 7:30PM to 8:30PM. This will be the only time youth can choose. If you miss the meeting you will be placed in a class. To help our programs come alive we need the presence and gift of many people. The word catechist means to echo in one s very way of being the message of the Gospel. Teachers of the faith put flesh onto the teachings of Jesus and the Church. Please give Theresa a call or as soon as possible to volunteer. Our All Catechist Gathering will be Wednesday, September 23 from 6PM to 8:30PM. This will include a meal and orientation for the new year. It is only for catechists/teachers and assistants. You receive a discount for volunteering! And a wonderful Grace! A Parent-Child Meeting for Kindergarten through Grade 5 will be Wednesday, September 30 from 5:30PM to 6:45PM in the social hall. 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade parents and youth will meet from 7PM to 8:15PM on this same night in the Church. We will share calendars for the year, the basic beliefs and practices your child should know at their grade level, as well as other valuable information. Children will meet their catechists. This year of mercy will be a great time for all of us to grow in faith as we prepare for a parish Mission - January 24 to 26. Please mark your calendars now. This week all activity in the parish will cease so that everyone will have a chance to experience Fr. Albert Haase invite us to be Signed and Sealed with the Cross. You will be hearing much about this all parish mission event in the upcoming weeks and months. It will do us well to reflect on the word faith formation. Please take the time to read and ponder the orange reflection sheet that accompanies this letter. This is what your child is about in attending faith formation. Remember that family faith formation is always an intrigal goal. If you have authentic, joyful and kind ways of doing faith in family you are on the way. Participation in Sunday Eucharist is the source and summit of our work. The green sheet will help you to see all the ways in which you can be involved in our programs. Without your involvement programs do not take on the unique and special life in the Spirit that we hope the children and youth catch. Thank-you for volunteering. In conclusion, I recently helped my mother move from the hospital back to the memory care facility where she lives. My mother s thoughts are quite confused. As we entered the building the director of the facility got down on her knees to be eye level with my mom. Looking deep into her eyes, she smiled and said this is your permanent home. My mother then, without words gazed back into her eyes and tenderly and gently placed her hand on the director s cheek. In this graced act I was moved. Mercy means to be touched by God s most tender hand and to know unconditionally our permanent home is with Jesus. Will we come home to Jesus this year? In the merciful touch of Jesus, Theresa Zlotkowski Director Faith Formation St. Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church x 58 tzlotkowski@stbridgetofsweden.org

3 Ways to Volunteer In Faith Formation (Please volunteer by returning this sheet to the faith formation office or by ing or calling Theresa to let her know what you are interested in doing. You can reach her at or x58 You receive a discount for your involvement.) Someone(s) is needed to gather the thirty or so children and make sure they get on the bus on Wednesdays at Lakeside Elementary. This would be about a half hour commitment from 3:15 to 3:45PM each Wednesday of class at Lakeside Elementary. K to Grade 5 catechist. As catechist you are the lead teacher. Lessons are laid out for you in the books. Theresa will also try to assist you with your unique needs. There may be other lesson plans which you follow which will be supplied by Theresa. Ex. Protection of God s Children, Respect Life, Advent, etc. K to Grade 5 assistant catechist. As an assistant you will be in the class with the lead catechist. You will assist him/her in whatever needs they may have. You will help the children form a listening and growing community in the classroom. At times you may be asked to take over the class if the catechist is unable to be present. K to Grade 5 Substitute Catechist. Without planning it there are times when something may come up for a catechist that prevents them from being present sickness, family concern, etc. As a substitute you may be called to take over a class for a session. Grade 6 Catechist 7PM to 8:15PM Assistant Grade 6 Catechist 7 th /8 th Grade Presenter of various topics 7 th /8 th Grade Facilitator of a small group of men or women Grade 9 and 10 Catechists for a six week course that is repeated (classes are seventy five minutes) Jesus Course Chosen, Called and Sent (Each of these courses use DVDs. You accompany that with discussion and activity.) Someone to take down set-ups in the Office entranceway or from a classroom and put things in their appropriate places in the faith formation room (From 6:45PM to about 7:30PM) In volunteering you are also agreeing to work together as a team to make the message and person of Jesus Christ to be known and loved. Team and community spirit is a must. Thank-you for Sharing Your Faith in so many unique ways!

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