I will typically try to keep my emails brief, but as this is the first one, I’m sure you have a lot of questions, so I will do my best to answer them below. Hang in there, and I promise the rest of my emails won’t be as dense. :) ***There are two action items for you at the bottom of this email.
Last year, as we rebuilt the entire Faith Formation program in the face of the ongoing pandemic, we learned a lot about what’s effective and what isn’t for our families. We learned that we can teach effectively over Zoom and especially for families with young children, it’s often easier to jump in front of a screen for a short period of time rather than pack everyone up and head over to the church basement for a few hours. We also learned that if we’re going to ask people to leave the house to come together in person, we want that to feel different from a catechism lesson. If I invite you over to the church, I want it to be meaningful for you and your children -- to celebrate the Liturgy, to share a meal, to play together with other children who share their faith in God. Most importantly, not to listen to me talk at them for 90 minutes!
We’re just about ready to kick off the Communion/Reconciliation Preparation Program. We will be hosting a relaxed brunch (fruit and light snacks) OUTSIDE after the 10:45 Mass (at Saint Elizabeth’s) on Sunday, October 3. This will be a chance for parents and children to meet each other (and me!) and for you to pick up the program materials that we’ll be using this year, ask me any questions, etc. My goal for us getting together on the 3rd is to simply give the children a fun experience associated with the church - no theology, no worksheets, just some food, fellowship and hopefully even some games for the kids to play.
Program Outline
Beginning October 17, we will host (mostly) weekly meetings on Sundays at 8AM via Zoom. As you’ll see from the calendar, I’ve built in a few in-person gatherings where we will hopefully share a meal in addition to working on that week’s lesson, but we’ll keep a close eye on Delta and overall covid numbers and make the call if we need to switch those to fully virtual. The Zoom lessons will be 30 minutes, will go over the key concept for that week, and include breakout sessions for further discussion between parents and children. We ask that at least one parent attend with the child. I will send out weekly emails each lesson week with a (brief) assignment/worksheet and Gospel readings as well as the Zoom link for that week. All the resources you need for the program will be in your bag that you pick up on the 3rd, including an awesome Children’s Bible. If for some reason you can’t make it on the 3rd, do let me know, and we can make other arrangements to get you the materials before we start on the 17th.
Here are the dates for the entire program. If you can’t make one or two, it’s not a big deal. However, we’ve found the virtual meeting and the early time on Sunday helps to avoid conflicts with other activities. And you know as well as I do, the kids are awake and looking for something to do! :)
10/3 - Reconciliation program kickoff after 10:45 Mass at Saint Elizabeth
10/17 - 8AM Zoom
10/24 - 8AM Zoom
10/31 - 8AM Zoom
11/7 - 8AM Zoom
11/14 - Breakfast and mini-lesson at Saint Isidore after 8:45 Mass (pending covid numbers)
11/21 - 8AM Zoom
12/5 - 8AM Zoom
12/12 - 8AM Zoom
12/19 - 8AM Zoom
1/9 - Reconciliation review and church tour after 10:45 Mass at Saint Elizabeth
1/22 - First Reconciliation
2/6 - Safety Meeting for all parents - required by Archdiocese - more info on this later
3/6 - First Communion program kickoff after 10:45 Mass at Saint Elizabeth - also my birthday
3/13 - 8AM Zoom
3/20 - 8AM Zoom
3/27 - 8AM Zoom
4/3 - 8AM Zoom
4/10 - Breakfast and mini-lesson at Saint Isidore after 8:45 Mass (pending covid numbers)
4/24 - 8AM Zoom
5/1 - 8AM Zoom
5/8 - 8AM Zoom
5/15 - 8AM Zoom
6/5 - First Communion Review and practice session after 10:45 Mass at Saint Elizabeth
6/11 - First Communion at Saint Elizabeth
All dates subject to change, of course.
To summarize, we’ll get started with the program on October 3rd, meet mostly virtually, mostly weekly for 10 weeks on Sundays at 8AM. First Reconciliation will be on January 22. We will do the same for First Communion prep, and First Communion is scheduled for June 11. Times TBD.
Action Items for you:
1) Please reply to this email, just so I know you received it. It will also help your email learn to whitelist me; filters often catch our emails and I want to make sure everyone is receiving my messages. You can just reply with a quick “got it” OR I am also happy to answer any follow up questions you might have.
2) Please spread the word! With church attendance understandably down due to covid, especially with young families, it’s hard for us to reach our parishioners, particularly the ones with young children. Please tell your Catholic friends in the school pickup line, on the soccer field, or wherever, that the program is running despite the obstacles of the pandemic and that we are here for your children, to continue to help them grow in their faith.
Thank you for enrolling your children in the program and for your commitment to raising them in our faith. I look forward to working with you and your children this year.
I am always available to help with any questions you may have; don't hesitate to reach out.
Peace be with you,
