ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR & ST. JUDE COLLABORATIVE FAITH FORMATION FAMILY HANDBOOK

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1 ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR & ST. JUDE COLLABORATIVE FAITH FORMATION FAMILY HANDBOOK The purpose of the St. Edward and St. Jude collaborative is to invite all to know God, to love God, and to serve God so that we may be faithful to God s plan for us in this world, and live with God forever in the next. St. Edward Faith Formation Office Telephone: Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:30am 3:30pm Staff: Elaine Morisi, Faith Formation Coordinator, Grades 1 5 Anna Mae O Shea Brooke, Faith Formation Coordinator, Grades 6 8 Toby Burrell, Faith Formation Coordinator, Grades 9 & 10 Caroline Fechtelkotter, Faith Formation Administrative Assistant St. Jude Faith Formation Office Telephone: Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30am 1:30pm Staff: Lorraine M. Wright, Faith Formation Coordinator, Grades 1 8 Toby Burrell, Faith Formation Coordinator, Grades 9 & 10

2 Louise Caussade, Faith Formation Administrative Assistant Lifelong Faith Formation Focus Empower one another as faithful Christians. Provide all parishioners with a variety of spiritual, educational, and service-oriented opportunities to help deepen one s faith, knowledge, and understanding of the Catholic faith. Build a closer connection between faith formation and Mass. Co-Partnering in Faith Formation Church and Home Responsibilities: Sharing the Church's teachings and beliefs is a partnership between your family and our parishes, and we strive to enrich and build this relationship. Our role is to complement the faith education that parents/guardians give their children. At Church: come together in community with peers to learn ways to live our faith. Grades 1 & 3 8: Generally meet twice a month. Grade 2: Meet twice a month, plus additional church visits and programming to prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Grades 9 and 10: Meet once a month, in addition to other Confirmation requirements. (Ninth-grade Catholic school students need to register for the Sacrament of Confirmation.) Service opportunities will be available through our Faith in Action <add link> ministries. We will offer activities, workshops, speakers, and ways to teach the Gospel. At Home: opportunities to discuss the Gospel message, your beliefs, values, and faith experiences with your children. On alternate weeks, a home lesson and family reflection sheet need to be completed

3 o Home lessons are not optional ; they are part of the faith formation program. The reflection sheet will be collected and recorded as part of your child s attendance record. Mass with Family o Listen to God s word and his special message for each one of us. o Receive nourishment from the Eucharist. o Express gratitude and give back. o Strengthen our prayers in community. Faith Formation Policies Yearly Participation: Attending faith formation classes on a yearly basis for students in grades 1 10 is important to the faith development of children and teens. If your child misses any grade level, please contact the Faith Formation Office to find the most appropriate way for them to make up the missed work and rejoin the program. Sacramental Years: Preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist is a two-year program beginning in the first grade. Likewise, Confirmation preparation is a two-year program beginning in the ninth grade. This includes students attending Catholic high schools. Making Faith Formation Classes a Priority Attendance: Consistent student participation in classes at the church and the completion of home lessons are required to progress through the faith formation program. We ask that students arrive on time and stay for the full class. Arriving late and leaving early is distracting and disruptive for the volunteer teacher and to the other students in the class. Absences: We realize that illness or an emergency situation may prevent a student from attending a scheduled class. In this instance, missed lessons can be picked up at the church, completed at home, and returned for credit.

4 When a student misses two classes in a row, please contact the Faith Formation Coordinator to discuss the most appropriate way to make up the missed lessons. Food Policy: Due to the large number of students with serious food allergies, food is not allowed in any of our classrooms. We appreciate your understanding as we strive to create the safest possible environment for all involved in our program. Code of Conduct: In preparing our students for discipleship and citizenship, we strive to foster behavior that will promote the basic principle of respect for all members of our faith formation community. We believe that all children are children of God. Therefore, we will treat our students as such, in a manner respectful of the dignity of God s children. At the beginning of the year, students will be instructed about class rules and respect for church property. A volunteer teacher is not required to keep a student in class who prevents or interferes with the learning of other students through their behavior. Parents/guardians will be contacted for assistance if needed. Arrival and Dismissal Procedures: There are no words strong enough to express our ongoing concern for the safety of all of our students attending classes at the church. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping us to keep your children safe! Please review the following guidelines. St. Edward Parents/Guardians: Please observe the one-way traffic pattern in the parking lot. No traffic will be allowed in the upper driveway (outside the church doors) during class times. Students will not be released to a sibling unless they are the driver. For grades 1 3, parents/guardians need to come into the building to drop off and pick up their children. For grades 4 8, students will be dismissed with their teachers to the upper driveway. At no time will students in grades 1 5 be allowed in the parking lot without adult supervision. St. Jude Parents/Guardians:

5 We invite parents/guardians to wait inside the church hall at dismissal time. An area will be set up for your convenience. Please be aware that classes will be in progress in the same room. Students will not be released to a sibling unless they are the driver. For grades 1 3, parents/guardians need to come into the building to drop off and pick up their children. For grades 4 8, students will be dismissed with their teachers to the No Parking Zone just outside the doors closest to the hall entrance. At no time will students in grades 1 5 be allowed in the parking lot without adult supervision. Cancellation of Classes / Snow Days: Faith formation classes are automatically cancelled when the public schools cancel, dismiss early, or have no afternoon and/or evening activities. For any other cancellations, teachers and families will be notified by . Updated 8/28/18