DISCIPLES CREATE DISCIPLES

BASICS of the Elementary Faith Formation Process

What are pathways of Faith we offer for Elementary aged children:

• Early Learning Cooperative (see it’s separate page) – Parents and 3 – 4 year old children.
• Kindergarten- In kindergarten, kids explore the stories of the Bible.
• Pre-Sacrament Preparation - typically 1st or 2nd graders preparing for 1st Reconciliation and 1st Eucharist.
• Immediate Sacrament Preparation - have completed Pre-Sacrament Preparation and are discerning readiness to receive the sacraments in the current year. There is no hurry to receive the sacraments. Your child must understand and want to receive the Sacraments.
• Post-Sacrament Preparation - 3-5th graders, who have received Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, will join a Youth Ministry type program for Elementary students, where they learn to be active Disciples. It includes hands-on prayer experiences, service opportunities, community building, Scripture study and activities that help them practice living their faith.
• Older Children/teens (over 7 through 11th grade ) who are not baptized, or are baptized but have not received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist–Will begin a two year process to prepare for these sacraments.
• Teens in 6-12th grades, will attend Sacrament Preparation on Wednesday nights as well as attend SPY on Sundays. These Parents will need to attend Parent classes on Wednesdays as well.
• What does the Faith Formation process look like? We have English and Spanish Classes for all ages.
• Family faith formation offers opportunities to grow in Discipleship, Scripture, prayer, Service, Community, Liturgy and Sacraments, as well as opportunities for Leadership.
• The heart of this Process is the FAMILY! Your home is the Domestic Church, where you teach your family about God, about forgiveness about sharing. How you live or don’t live your faith influences your family. Our mission is to walk with you and Jesus as we all grow in holiness! Parents are involved in all age group faith formation. (there are parents classes on Sundays, too.)

What does the Faith Formation process look like? We have English and Spanish Classes for all ages.

Family faith formation offers opportunities to grow in Discipleship, Scripture, prayer, Service, Community, Liturgy and Sacraments, as well as opportunities for Leadership.

The heart of this Process is the FAMILY! Your home is the Domestic Church, where you teach your family about God, about forgiveness about sharing. How you live or don’t live your faith influences your family. Our mission is to walk with you and Jesus as we all grow in holiness! Parents are involved in all age group faith formation. (there are parents classes on Sundays, too.)

What happens on Wednesday nights for children? Your children attend small groups with other children their own age and a catechist who shares the Good News of Jesus through scripture, catechism, prayer, community building and liturgical year experiences. Each child will have their own Children Bible that they will bring each week as they learn to navigate and use to prepare them to be a true disciple of Jesus. The goal is for each child to have a relationship with God as they learn to live their faith. How do they answer the call to love God and to love others? How do we do this? By reading Scripture, understanding what the Catechism teaches us, as well as learning different ways to pray and think of ways to live out each lesson at home and at school.

What happens on Wednesday nights for Parents?  At the same time the children are in small groups, the parents attend small groups with other parents who are in the same pathway of faith formation. Each week the goal is to grow more in love with God and each other. We do that by praying with scripture (bring your Bibles), understanding what the Church teaches (catechism), prayer experiences and meaningful discussions about how to live this particular teaching out in your daily lives.

Curriculum:

We use St. Mary Press Catholic Children’s Bible and their Sacramental Program. Each child receives their own Children’s Bible, which we use weekly, praying a Scripture, understanding the catechism and discovering how to live it! Parents can bring their own Bible, purchase one from us, or use one of ours. At the end of the evening, the family is encouraged to live the lesson at home during the week.

How do you get started? Attend a Kerygma Retreat! Make sure you get it done before Registration Deadline:

To Kick off or continue the faith formation process, we are challenged to go deeper in understanding the Good News and discern our response to Jesus’ invitation to grow closer to Him, to change our lives and follow Him. Therefore, the parents need to attend a Kerygma 101 or Kerygma Deep Dive retreat each year.

Kerygma 101 Retreat – This day is an introduction of the Good News of Jesus Christ. We hear that term all the time, but do we know what it means? Not only that, but once we say “Yes” to Jesus’ invitation to be His, how do we share the good news with others, especially our children.

Dates available: August 9, August 23, September 13

Kerygma Deep Dive – When we say “YES” to God’s invitation to give our hearts to Jesus, God fills us with the Holy Spirit! The Deep Dive Retreat shows us and lets us experience how the Holy spirit works in our lives and how to continue to dive deeper

in trusting and loving God and sharing this with others. How to be a Disciple of Jesus.

Dates Available: June 21 and August 30

Note: If you have attended the Kerygma 101 Retreat, you can repeat it or sign up for the Kerygma Deep Dive.

Each year parents, catechists, those in ministry, parishioners – all are invited to renew their commitment to God through a Kerygma Retreat. Attending a Yearly Kerygma Retreat is a commitment to grow deeper in living out our faith in relationship with God.

https://stpatrickhutto.flocknote.com/signup/208830

Family Faith Interview:

This is a check-in with each family through a 20-30 minute visit to discover where you are along the path and to help you discern the best pathway for your family. We will schedule your interview after you attend the Kerygma Retreat. If your child is baptized, please bring a copy of the baptismal certificate with you. If your child is not baptized, please bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate.

How to Register:

All families with children from Kindergarten through teens in 12th Grade are invited to join us! (Preschool families begin with Early Learning Cooperative, above)

· This year we have Early Registration from May 1st – July 31st .

· Regular Prices will begin August 1st and forward.

During Registration you will sign up for the Kerygma Retreat that works for you. We trust you will attend Kerygma Retreat before Classes begin.

Your Pathway Begins once you complete the above!

Elementary and Older Child Sacrament Prep Sessions will begin September 24th with small group sessions.

You can select the time that works for your family on the Registration Form.

· Session A - 4:45-5:45 or

· Session B -6:30-7:30pm

• Kerygma 101 Retreat (required for new families, suggested for current families) dates listed below
• Kerygma Deep Dive Retreat (open to all parishioners, encouraged for current families) dates listed below
• The P.U.B. (Prayer Unites Brothers) meets the third Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9:00pm. Open to all men
• The W.E.L.L. (Women Eucharistically Living Life) - meets the fourth Tuesday of the month from 7-9pm. All women ages 5th grade and up are welcome!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Jesus Called the Original 12 to follow Him. They did not know what that would mean, but they said "Yes". When Jesus was ascended into heaven, he left us a continued mission:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)

This call continues from Jesus to us! Who disciples you? Who are you discipling? Parents disciple their children. This is our mission.

How can YOU help?