Dear Catechists and Pastoral Assistants of Formation in the Faith,

The month of September was a month of great activity for our programs because in the parishes registrations began as well as classes.

First, we want to welcome the new faith formation assistants who received their orientation at the Retreat Center. Thank you for your participation and remember that our office is available to accompany you and offer you support.

I had the opportunity to visit some parishes and celebrate with the community the commission and blessing for our catechists by celebrating catechetical Sunday with the theme: "This is my Body that is given for you."

We also offered our first Confirmation retreat at camp Don Bosco with the participation of 60 middle school students and the Catechetical Meeting in Spanish with 98 participants accompanied by our Bishop Monsignor Eusebio Elizondo who presided the opening Mass in the parish of Santa Luisa in Bellevue. It is a cause for celebration to see so many people active in our programs dedicated to providing a personal encounter with Jesus.

Finally, I ask you to pray for our colleagues who will not be able to continue offering their pastoral work due to family or health situations. That's why the Archdiocesan Commission on Faith Formation offered some suggestions for beginning to form the leaders of the future. Thank you for your evangelizing and catechetical work.

Kind regards

Carlos Carrillo, Director of Faith Formation

FAITH FORMATION NEWS

Confirmation Retreats 2022-2023

If you would like to bring your youth to one of the upcoming Confirmation Retreats provided by the Office of Faith Formation, please take a moment to fill out the short survey below to help us in the initial planning and logistics. A later email will be sent to you to ask more specific information about the participants and to confirm your attendance.

Day Retreats:

March 4, 2023 (Middle School - Camp Hamilton, Monroe)

April 15, 2023 (High School - Camp Hamilton, Monroe)

April 29, 2023 (Middle School - Camp Hamilton)

For those who have filled out the survey already, an informational email will be sent to you soon!

September 2022 Overnight Retreat

PAFF Support Meetings

Please see below for the dates for the PAFF Support meetings. Anyone working in Faith Formation can join these meetings to network, share ideas, ask questions or just visit with others working in faith formation. If you know someone who could benefit from these meetings, please share the information. Meetings are scheduled for 12:00 pm each month.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://seattlearch-org.zoom.us/j/86792240747?pwd=QlcxbWE5ZzhuOVZVYzMwNlRpRk5IZz09

Meeting ID: 867 9224 0747

Passcode: 793144

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,86792240747

# US (Tacoma)

+16694449171,,86792240747# US

October 11

November 8

December 13

January 10

February 14

March 14

April 11

May 9

June 13

RCIA/OCIA Support Meetings

These meetings is for parish staff responsible for leading the RCIA/OCIA process. The goal is to provide a setting in which we can share good practices, ideas to improve current processes, suggestions in how to deal with difficult circumstances, and ideas to celebrate the Rites. Meetings are scheduled for 12:00 pm each month. 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://seattlearch-org.zoom.us/j/88518835513?pwd=REFGN0p2SWhmZURCa01oSG1md0tvQT09

Meeting ID: 885 1883 5513

Passcode: 588252

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,88518835513

# US (Tacoma)

October 18

November 15

December 20

January 17

February 21

March 21

April 18

May 16

June 20

Parish Engagement System Awareness Survey

Your Implementation Team's goal is to support parishes thoughtfully and appropriately throughout the implementation process. 

To help us accomplish this, we request that you complete a brief survey. Your results will be anonymous. We are only collecting general demographic information to understand best

where to direct our communication and training.

Please use this QR code to access the survey.

Click on the QR code for a printable version.

Amplify - Vocation Workshop for DREs & Catechists

Vianney Vocations is offering a 90 minute online workshop on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 1:00pm to help DREs and catechists amplify God's call in their Faith Formation programs. Learn more and RSVP here.

Job Opportunities

The Archdiocese is looking to fill some key positions. Please share and spread the word!

WSCC Communications Specialist - The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) seeks to contract with a part-time Communications Specialist to assist with website maintenance, communications assistance and other mission, communications, and social media related tasks for the organization. The WSCC is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops of Washington state. Learn more about WSCC. Please click here for a full job description and to apply.

Social Media Specialist -  Please click here for a full job description and to apply.

Director of Youth Ministry Services - Please click here for a full job description and to apply.

Director of Young Adult Ministry - Please click here for a full job description and to apply.

Catholic Prayer Book for Children

The digital flip book for the Catholic Prayer Book for Children is now available. This version is in both English and Spanish and can be downloaded and printed in PDF format. Please view the book here.

The link is also found on the Faith Formation resource PRAYER page along with additional prayer resources. Feel free to share the link with your parish families!

If you have placed an order for printed copies with the Faith Formation Office, the books will be mailed or dropped off to your parishes very soon. You will be emailed when the orders are ready.

SIX TASKS ~ ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS ~ LITURGICAL CALENDAR

St. Thérèse - October 1

St. Francis of Assisi - October 4

St. Faustina Kowalska - October 5

St. John XXIII - October 11

St. John Paul II - October 22

Sts. Simon & Jude - October 28

All Saints Day & Halloween

The Catholic roots of Halloween, the Vigil of All Saints' Day

Halloween is the ‘holy day’ Catholic kids shouldn’t miss

What do All Saints Day and Halloween have in common?

ONLINE RESOURCES PAGE UPDATES

Be sure to check the Liturgical calendar pages in both English and Spanish. These pages will contain who and what the Church celebrates specifically in the month of October.

Please note: If you receive this newsletter before the beginning of the next month, content on the webpage will not update until the 1st of each month.

FAITH FORMATION IDEAS

October is the Month of the Rosary

The Rosary: A Calling Card for Heaven

The 15 Promises Of The Rosary According To The Virgin Mary

7 Things That Happen When You Pray The Rosary 

Eucharistic Adoration Cards Young people who are first being exposed to Eucharistic Adoration may wonder what to do during the silent time spent in front of the Most Holy Sacrament. Downloadable Guide

Each October the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Lay Minister Convocation - April 20, 2023 at Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way. More details to come!

Faith Formation Lenten Retreat - March 15-16, 2023 at Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way. More details to come!

PAFF Annual Conference - June 8, 2023 at Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center. More details to come!