Spring 2008
Dear Parents,
May
the grace and peace of the Lord, our God fill you throughout the Great 50 Days
of Easter.
We
are now beginning the registration and re-registration process for our Family
Faith Enrichment programs for 2008-2009. On this website you have access
to the registration form. Please return the completed form to the Family
Faith Enrichment Office. If you have any questions or concerns please call
either
IF
YOU ARE REGISTERING FOR THE FIRST TIME WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE COME INTO THE
FAMILY FAITH OFFICE. PLEASE BRING A COPY OF YOUR CHILD’S BAPTISMAL
CERTIFICATE. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until Noon
and from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM.
We
ask every family to contribute to the support of St. Mary’s. The parish
support fee for families is listed on the back of the registration form. No
child can be placed in a catechetical group until the support fee has been paid.
If there is a financial burden we are very willing to work out a payment
schedule with you. St. Mary’s offers financial assistance to any family who
needs it. If you have any questions
about the parish support fee please don’t hesitate to call Claire, Cheryl,
Jackie, Gina, Fr. Steve or
Throughout
every season St. Mary’s catechizes (re-echoes) the story of God’s great love
for all of creation. We believe,
first and foremost, the sharing of faith happens in the home. Our
programs are designed to build on what you, as parents, have already begun.
St. Mary’s works hard to provide a safe environment where the Gospel
message is proclaimed in ways that capture the imagination and heart of the
youngsters who participate in our catechetical programs. In addition to
our regular schedule of gatherings throughout the year we offer other
celebrations which enrich the experience. Some examples of seasonal activities
that are offered: Advent Wreath making for families, Stations of the Cross for
Young People, Reconciliation Services, Soup Supper, Seder Supper, Mardi Gras,
and Family activities arranged by our Family Life Ministry.
In
addition to the gatherings for the youngsters there are parents meetings for
those whose sons or daughters are preparing for Reconciliation, First Eucharist,
and Confirmation. These parent meetings are held at a variety of times and days
to accommodate your schedule. These meetings are only for parents who have never
attended this series of meetings before with an older child.
We
always need help in proclaiming the gift of faith. We need parents like you who
are willing to share their time and their faith. We provide the training for
those who are able to share their time. We invite you to consider being a
catechist, a scripture sharer, a facilitator. We have established a program
which provides new catechists the opportunity to work with experienced ones. We
also need parents who are willing to help in our YOUTH MINISTRY programs. If
you can help, please complete the VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION FORM.*
St.
Mary’s has introduced pieces of WHOLE COMMUNITY CATECHESIS into our program
and it has been very well received. We hope to introduce more of Whole Community
Catechesis each year. We also introduced the GOOD SHEPHERD catechetical process
for little ones who are three and a half, four, or five years old. We plan on
introducing Level Two for the Good Shepherd catechesis process. We will offer
our HUMAN SEXUALITY component, which is a recommended part of the overall
picture of catechesis. We will provide more service opportunities for families
so that we can better link the teaching part of the process with an action
component. Each spring we have a retreat for families whose youngsters are
celebrating their first Holy Communion in the Easter season. Last
year we changed the series that we use for our catechetical gatherings. We now
use the series entitled: BLEST ARE WE. The new books have been received
very well by parents, catechists, and the youngsters; and are in conformity with
the guidelines of the United States Catholic Bishop Conference.
We
hope and pray that the coming season of proclaiming the Good News will be a
blessed one for you and your family. If
you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Please remember that we are always here to help with any concerns that may arise
throughout the year.
Sincerely
yours in the peace of Christ,
Catechetical Leader
Administrative
Assistant
Gina O'Connor Jackie Lavery
Youth Minister
Receptionist
Kevin
Wilson
Rev. Steven Peterson
Pastoral Associate for Administration
Pastor
*The
volunteer registration form is necessary for any adult who participates in any
of our parish programs. It helps us
to provide a safe environment for the children entrusted to our care.
BRIEF OVERVIEW
OF THE PROGRAM
GOOD SHEPHERD CATECHESIS:
This process is for three and a half, four, and five year olds. This group meets
during the week for about 90 minutes. The meetings are held in the
LEVEL ONE: The
children who are part of Level One (usually first graders) will meet for TEN
consecutive weeks on either a Monday or Tuesday afternoon from 4:30 PM until
5:30 PM. They gather together for prayer and then go with their catechist to one
of the classrooms to work together on the lesson for the week. This program
begins in October and concludes in early December. For the second half of
the year the youngsters work at home with their parents. Level One
youngsters are encouraged to participate in the LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN
(Dismissal) at either the 5:00 PM Mass on Saturday or on Sunday at the 9:15 AM
or 10:45 AM Mass.
LEVEL TWO:
The boys
and girls who are part of the Level Two process are usually preparing to
celebrate their First Holy Communion in the Easter season. Starting in
October the parents will work at home with the textbook. In the early part of
the New Year the boys and girls will gather once a week for ten weeks for their
immediate preparation for Holy Communion. These gatherings take place on
either Monday or Tuesday afternoon from 4:30 PM until 5:30 PM. We begin with
prayer in the auditorium and the go to the classrooms in the school for the
lesson for the day. There are also THREE Saturday celebrations for FAMILIES to
attend. Families are also encouraged to be part of the FAMILY RETREAT which is
held a few weeks before the conclusion of the preparation period. All the
children the Eucharist program, are strongly encouraged to be part of the
LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN (Dismissal) on Saturday evening or Sunday
morning. Sometime in NOVEMBER parents receive a letter asking them to list
their preferences for a Holy Communion Date.
LEVEL THREE:
Usually
this level consists of the boys and girls who have celebrated their First
Eucharist in the previous Easter season. These groups meet every other
week from October until the Easter season. These boys and girls are
encouraged to be part of the LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN on Saturday or
Sunday.
LEVEL FOUR: These children are usually in the fourth grade. They also meet every other week
and are encouraged to be part of the LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN on either
Saturday evening at the 5:00 PM Mass or on Sunday morning at the 9:15 AM or
10:45 AM Mass. During the season of Lent they and their families are invited to
revisit the sacrament of penance once again. There are FOUR gatherings for the
boys and girls during the season of Lent. The
boys and girls and their families are invited to participate in a Communal
Penance celebration during the
Lenten season.
LEVEL FIVE:
These boys
and girls are in the fifth grade. They also participate in gatherings in a
catechist’s home or at church once every other week. They are also part of the
process which prepares them for the celebration of Confirmation in the fall of
sixth grade. During the fall and winter of fifth grade they and their
parents participate in a series of gatherings on the scriptures. During
the spring of fifth grade (the Easter season) they gather once a week for six
weeks in immediate preparation for the celebration of Confirmation. All
the gatherings are held on parish grounds. In the fall of fifth grade there will
be an orientation meeting for the parents and the youngster to explain the
entire process, which includes a service project.
LEVEL SIX:
The
youngsters in Level Six are usually in the sixth grade and will celebrate
Confirmation in the fall of this year. They continue to meet every other week in
catechetical groups. These groups continue after the celebration of
Confirmation. In Level Six the
candidates for Confirmation will be part of a retreat experience as well as the
celebration of the sacrament of penance.
St. Mary’s also has
catechetical groups for youngsters who for some reason were not able to
celebrate their Eucharist or Confirmation with their peers. If you have a child
who has not celebrated the sacrament of Eucharist or Confirmation and you would
now like them to do so please call the Family Faith Enrichment Office and we
will be very happy to get you started on the journey.
PARENT MEETINGS:
These
meetings are for those parents who have a son or daughter preparing for
Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation. These meetings are usually held
in the fall at different times and days so that parents can attend one that fits
their schedule. There are also introductory meetings: Parents who have a
child in the LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN, Level One and Level Two. The
dates of the parent meetings are enclosed. If you have attended the parent
meetings in the past, you do not have to come again.
Please see dates and times listed below.
YOUTH MINISTRY:
PARENT
MEETINGS SCHEDULE
General Meeting
for Dismissal Parents: Level THREE, FOUR, FIVE, and SIX.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th at 7:30 PM in the church
General Meeting
for LEVEL ONE PARENTS:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th at 7:30 PM in the church
General Meeting
for LEVEL TWO PARENTS:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th at 7:30 Pm in the church
SATURDAYS: (Attend
only one session)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13TH FROM 9:30 AM until Noon
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27th FROM 9:30 AM until Noon
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd FROM 9:30 AM until Noon
MORNINGS: (Must
attend all three days)
OCTOBER 11th from
9:30 AM until 10:30 AM
NOVEMBER 8th from
9:30 AM until 10:30 AM
OCTOBER 4th from 7:30 PM until 8:30 PM
OCTOBER 11th from
7:30 PM until 8:30 PM
NOVEMBER 8th from 7:30 PM until 8:30 PM