St. Mary Parish Kenosha, WI 2018-2019 Handbook
2 St. Mary Parish Faith Formation Program 11th Grade Pastor Fr. Roman Stikel (262) 694-6018 Director of Youth Ministry Corinne Dillon (262) 925-4157 corinned@stmarycatholic.org Administrative Assistant Sandy Schwalbe (262) 925-4150 sschwalbe@stmarycatholic.org Mailing Address 7307 40 th Avenue Kenosha WI 53142 2
Welcome to the 11th Grade Faith Formation Program for St. Mary Parish 3 In this booklet, you will find a brief description of the faith formation program at St. Mary Parish, year by year grade requirements, ideas for service hours, and much more! For your convenience, this booklet can also be found on our parish website at www.stmarycatholic.org. Welcome to St. Mary Parish 11th Grade High School Faith Formation! Program Description Purpose: to engage the High School Students who are enrolled in the three-year Confirmation program in the process of learning about their faith through conversation to Jesus Christ that enables them to become disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit. Process: following the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to study Creed (11 th Grade only), Sacrament, Morality and Prayer, courses will be offered so that the students choose the subjects learned along with other opportunities to walk their faith within a community. Having the students choose their direction of study and engagement will allow them to take ownership of their faith which will lead to discipleship. 3
Policies and Procedures 4 Scheduled Classes: Classes follow the 10:30am Mass on Sundays from 11:45am 1:15pm. Students are encouraged to attend the 10:30am Mass prior to the session start time or go directly to Bell Hall, for classes to begin promptly at 11:45am. See page 30 for the 11th Grade Events Schedule. Materials: Students are expected to come to classes prepared, by bringing their Bible, Handbook, folder and pencil/pen to class each week. Bibles are given in 6th grade and handbooks are given in 9th and are to be used throughout the high school program. If the student has not brought their books for 2 weeks in a row, the student will be asked to repurchase their books. Discipline: The Parish site requires and expects youth to conduct themselves as God would expect them to. It is important to work together for the common good in creating an effective learning environment. The behavioral guidelines are based on three assumptions: All students have the right to learn. The catechists have a responsibility to teach. All youth have the responsibility to engage in behavior that is in the best interest of themselves, their peers, the catechist and the session. If a youth repeatedly forgets class materials, disrupts class, engages in inappropriate or offensive behavior, uses obscene language, the following disciplinary guidelines will apply: 1 st and 2 nd Offense: The child/youth will be corrected by the Catechists. This will be documented by the Catechists. 3 rd Offense: The Director will call the parent(s) for a consultation. 4 th Offense: The Director will immediately send the youth home with the parent. The parent will be asked to attend classes in order to remain in the class for the year. The youth and parent(s) will have a consultation with the Director before returning to the program. Note: Any student found with drugs or alcohol or shows signs of their use will be dismissed from program sessions and events. His/her parents/guardians will be notified immediately to pick the student up. 4
5 Attendance: Attendance to all classes is mandatory. All Religious Education classes must be attended, with serious family difficulties being the only exception. Exceptions should be discussed with the Director. No other activities - sports or leisure - should be viewed as more important. Youth learn their priorities from the example of adults. If your student is involved in sports throughout the year, please keep their schedules in mind while making your class selection. Program Event Fees: One half of the total program fee is due upon registration, with the balance due by February of the following year. Special event fees are due upon registration. Families with special financial circumstances or needs should contact the Director. All students will have access to our faith formation program. Permission Slip Policy: A yearly General Permission Slip will be filled out to cover any event for the year. If the event is off church property, the child is required to have a permission slip to attend. General Permission Slip forms can be downloaded from our church website at www.stmarycatholic.org. Group Individual Pictures and Release of Phone Numbers: Throughout the program year, photographs of the youth participating in various events may be taken. Some of these photographs may be used in the bulletin, on fliers or bulletin boards, parish website, or other media, etc. In addition, requests from St. Mary committee chairpersons or other volunteer coordinators are received for the names and phone numbers of children, youth, and families to help in many parish programs and/or events. Please date and sign the release for such information on the registration form. Weather Cancellation: On Sundays when the weather is not safe for traveling, families will be informed via e-mail and a ROBO call. When possible, a decision to cancel classes due to inclement weather will be made by 5:00pm the Saturday evening prior to classes. If classes are cancelled, makeup classes will be scheduled. You must always use your best judgment. In the event that classes are not cancelled and you feel it is not safe, please call the Director of Youth Ministry to inform her that your student will not be at class. Your safety and the safety of our youth is always our primary concern. 5
6 Open Door Visitor Policy: Parents are invited to visit their son s/daughter s class at their convenience. If you wish to sit-in on a class, please let the catechist know prior to the beginning of that class. Catechists and volunteers are responsible only for registered youth. Visitors, other than parents, can attend the class session only with advance permission of the catechist. Mass Attendance: Teens are required to attend Mass each weekend with their family and participate in the Liturgy through song, prayer, and Eucharist. By attending and participating as a family in the Eucharistic celebration, parents help guide their student to grow in his/her faith. Electronic Devices: Upon arriving on the building s grounds for any activity, whether it is regular religious education class, retreats, or other youth activities, cell phones are not permitted. Service Project Hours: Specific service hours can be in the categories of Family, Church, and Community. All service hours will be accepted from June 2018 - May 2019 to be applied to the student s current formation year. Parents should help their teens to keep a record of their service hours, using the attached Personal Requirements Worksheet in the center of this booklet. Service hours can be recorded using an Individual Service Project Form. This form can be found on our parish website (www.stmarycatholic.org) under Christian Formation/Youth Ministry Grades 9 12. Forms must be filled out completely and turned in to the Faith Formation office or turned in to the student s catechist. Without the Individual Service Project Sheet, the teen will not be logged for the hours they have completed. The sheet must be turned in within two weeks of the service. Each year, ten hours of service are required. Parent Service: This is a large program and is only as good as the volunteers it takes to run. Please help when you can. There are plenty of opportunities. If you have questions, please contact the Director of Youth Ministry. 6
Sacraments 7 Confirmation: The Confirmation program at St. Mary Parish, is a three-year program that begins in grade 9. This program is for those already attending the religious education program at St. Mary Parish and those attending 11th grade at a Parochial School. If your student has not been in the program for the required time, please contact the Director. Parents/sponsors play a vital role in preparing their students for this sacrament by first attending the necessary sacramental preparation meetings. First Reconciliation and Holy Communion: If a youth in the program has not received the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and Holy Communion, please contact the Director of Youth Ministry and arrangements will be made to prepare them for the sacraments. RCIA for Children and Youth There is a special program for youth or children over the age of 7, who are not baptized. This program parallels the adult program of RCIA but is geared toward the learning capacity of a child or youth. Participation in the parish's regular Faith Formation program is required. If a child/youth has been baptized in another faith tradition or baptized Catholic without any faith formation, special arrangements through the Director of Youth Ministry should be made. 7
8 Requirements and Schedule for 11 th Grade Mandatory Attendance Parent/Student Meeting Sunday, September 16, 2018 11:45am in Bell Hall. Faith Formation Opening Mass Sunday, October 7, 2018 10:30am mass. Confirmation Retreat Saturday, October 27, 2018 - Sunday, October 28, 2018. Details about the Confirmation Retreat to follow. Commitment Mass with the Sponsor and the Teen Sunday, November 18, 2018 10:30am in Church. Meeting (11:30am 1:30pm) for Sponsor and Teen to follow Mass in Bell Hall. Class #1 Sunday, January 20, 2019 11:45am 1:15pm Bell Hall Attendance to this class is not mandatory for SJCA Students Class #2 Sunday, January 27, 2019 11:45am 1:15pm Bell Hall SJCA (All Parochial High School Students) meet 1:00pm 1:45pm in Bell Hall Class #3 Sunday, February 3, 2019 11:45am 1:15pm Bell Hall Attendance to this class is not mandatory for SJCA Students Day of Reflection Saturday, February 23, 2019 9:00am 6:00pm Lunch Includ- Stations of the Cross Sunday. March 17, 2019 Church. SJCA (All Parochial Students) meet in church at 6:30pm Class #4 Sunday, March 24, 2019 11:45am 1:15pm Bell Hall Attendance to this class is not mandatory for SJCA Students Class #5 Sunday, March 31, 2019 11:45am 1:15pm Bell Hall Attendance to this class is not mandatory for SJCA Students Faith Formation Closing Mass Sunday, April 7, 2019 10:30am mass in church Class #6 Sunday, April 7, 2019 11:45am 1:15pm Bell Hall Attendance to this class is not mandatory for SJCA Students 8
9 Confirmation Interviews Sunday, April 28, 2019 and Monday, April 29, 2019 in Parish Office Confirmation Rehearsal - Monday, May 20, 2019 6:30pm In the Bell Hall Confirmation Thursday, May 23, 2019 7:00pm in the church - Meet in Bell Hall by 6:15pm Important Information Due Dates Confirmation Information Sheet and your chosen Saint and Paper - Sunday, October 7, 2018 Bishop Letter - Saturday, February 23, 2019 Sponsor Letter - Saturday, February 23, 2019 Sponsor/Teen Handbook - Sunday, March 31, 2019 9
10 Confirmation Information Section Information About the Sacrament of Confirmation...Confirmed by the gift of the Spirit, that they give witness to Christ by lives built on faith and love General Intersession from the Rite of Confirmation Confirmation welcomes us and deepens our belonging to the faith community and deepens our relationship to God, as Creator, Redeemer a Spirit strengthens us as disciples. A Sacrament is a part of the way that God loves us and calls us. A Sacrament is God s love expressed as free, undeserved gift. The Gift within Confirmation is that of strengthening us for discipleship and deepening our belonging to the faith community through the Trinity. God uses visible signs to communicate invisible love. To communicate God s love, He uses our senses: eyes, ears, touch, smell, and taste, and elements of our world. In Confirmation, the signs we will celebrate include being anouted with oil and laying on of hands as we remember the water of Baptism and the nourishment of Eucharist. God calls and invites; we respond. An attitude of openness communicates a yes to God s invitation to a deeper relationship. This yes: does not mean we know that we will always be faithful or that we are worthy of the gift. Yes means we are open to be strengthened by God who calls and loves us. In Confirmation, we have the opportunity to say yes through the various responses in the prayer. 10
11 The Church witnesses to and celebrates the sacraments. A sacrament is a powerful sign that God is alive and present in the world. As Church, we are called to be sacramental, that is, to be God s hand and healing touch in the world. At the same time, we celebrate the sacraments as our most important prayer. This community that celebrates sacraments is global, reaching to other faith communities throughout the world and joined in a common bond. The church is also local as a diocese or archdiocese, as a parish and as a church of faith in families. In Confirmation, the community witnesses our celebration and provides a sponsor who represents the love of the community for us. 11
12 The love of God has been poured into our hearts by his spirit living in us... Romans 5:5; 8:11 Spiritual Maturity Although Confirmation is sometimes called the "sacrament of Christian maturity, " we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need "restriction to become effective. St. Thomas reminds us of this: Age of body does not determine age of soul. Even in childhood man can attain spiritual maturity: as the book of Wisdom says: "For old age is not honored for length of time or measured by number of years. " Many children, through the strength of the Holy Spirit they have received, have bravely fought for Christ even to the shedding of their blood. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1308) 12
13 The grace of the sacraments is grace freely given. The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in Baptism. The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth? Grace is the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life. God s grace, as Spirit poured forth in Confirmation s celebration, cannot be contained in neatly ordered check-off lists of mandatory requirements. State of Grace To receive Confirmation, one must be in a state of grace. One should receive the sacrament of Penance In order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit. More intense prayer should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act. Who can serve as a Confirmation Sponsor? A person who is serving as a confirmation sponsor must: Be designated by the one to be confirmed; Be 16 years old; Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and who has received the sacrament of Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and role to be undertaken; Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared; Not be the father or mother of the one to be confirmed. 13
14 Questions How do I know if I m ready? None of us are ever ready, worthy or deserving of a sacrament. You need to be ready to be open to how God will strengthen you and continued to be present in your life. We can make an effort to be prepared to celebrate Confirmation in a way that shows our sincerity, we can participate all the way, making our responses come alive and keeping our eyes and ears ready to see what God is doing. The community is here to help you to feel prepared. Can confirmation be refused to those who request it? Confirmation can be refused to those who have not reached the age of 16, those who are not prepared, or those who are not properly disposed. Can parents demand that their children be confirmed? No. Confirmation must be the free choice of the individual. Parents may require their children to attend confirmation preparation sessions. Do Confirmation candidates need a confirmation name? Candidates may choose a confirmation name if they desire or used their baptism name since a great emphasis is placed on the intimate connection between confirmation and baptism. May a candidate have more than one sponsor? Yes, however only one person should be designated as the liturgical sponsor who will present the candidate for confirmation. 14
15 May parents be confirmation sponsors? No, but their role in the faith development of their children should not be underplayed or minimized. May someone who cannot be present be a sponsor and someone else fill in as a proxy for confirmation? Yes, however it is recommended that someone nearby be chosen as the sponsor so that he/she can become more intimately involved in the candidate's preparation. Why isn't confirmation celebrated at the Catholic high schools? The parish is the center for initiation and is the place where adult faith is lived out. What is the Rite of Confirmation? A ritual is a patterned way of doing something. The Rite of Confirmation is a prayer ritual of the Church that witnesses to the sacrament. The Rite usually takes place within Mass. Most of it will feel familiar to you. Some special parts of the rite include: 15
16 Renewal of Baptismal Promises A chance to promise again that we will be open and will strive to be faithful I do Response to the Baptism promises Laying on of Hands and Anointing with Oil Like a friend putting their hand on your shoulder or a parent s loving embrace, gestures can make love and support feel real and connected. God s love and support is made visible through this sign which call upon the Holy Spirit....be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Anointing Rite for Confirmation Peace be with you. And with your Spirit. 16
17 Requirements for Confirmation Three years of a religious education in parish Christian Formation Program OR Attendance at a parochial school Attendance to a Youth Rally during 9th and 10 grade 10 hours of Service project for each year in the Confirmation program. Service forms must be turned in to have the hours accounted for Attendance to all scheduled classes Regular attendance to Mass Attend and participate in yearly retreats A written reflection on a saint you have chosen to guide you A written letter to the confirming Bishop requesting Confirmation An interview with the parish priest 17
18 Writing Guidelines Paper must be typed Font: 12 Times New Roman Double Space Correct English and sentence structure Saint Paper Must be one full page Include an overview of different aspects of that Saint s life. You can include when and where the Saint was born, their family history, how they grew up, education, and how they died. You may also include their conversion experience at what point did they come to be a follower of Jesus? What was their philosophy and/or their theology? What are they the Patron Saint of? Why have you chosen them as your Confirmation Saint? St. Paper is due October 7, 2018. 411 on Mary and the Saints Possible Sites for Information on Saints: www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/patrons.asp www.scborromeo.org/patron www.catholic.org/saints/ www.catholic-forum.com/saints/patron02.htm 18
Letter to the Bishop This letter to the Bishop is due by Saturday, February 23, 2019. It should be typed, double-spaced, and at least two pages in length. 19 Bishop of Milwaukee Dear Bishop Schuerman, My name is and I am a member of St. Mary Parish, Kenosha, WI. Include the following 1. I would like the honor of being confirmed because.. OR 2. I feel that I am ready for the sacrament of Confirmation because.. 3. State how you have been preparing for Confirmation by talking about your classes, service, retreats and prayer experience. What did they do to help you to prepare for this decision. 4. The state that you have chosen and why. 5. How do I plan to continue my faith journey and why my faith is important to me. 6. Thank you. Sincerely, Type and sign your name 19
Attire for Confirmands and their Sponsors Please use modesty when choosing your outfit. 20 Women: Dress, skirt and blouse, pantsuit or dress pants and blouse. Must be knee length or longer. Chest, back and shoulders must be covered. Dress shoes. Men: Dress pants, dress shirt and tie with dress socks and dress shoes. Suit or sport jacket are acceptable but not necessary. No jeans or sneakers, please. Helpful Suggestions: Red is the color of the Holy Spirit. Also, when fixing your hair, your forehead must be uncovered for Anointing from the Archbishop. Cell phones are never allowed on in church. 20
21 Gifts of the Holy Spirit enable us to live a holy Christian life. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom - desire for the things of God, and to direct our whole life and all our actions to His honor and glory. Understanding - enable us to know more clearly the mysteries of faith Counsel - warn us of the deceits of the devil, and of the dangers to salvation Fortitude - strengthen us to do the will of God in all things Knowledge - enable us to discover the will of God in all things Piety - love God as a Father, and obey Him because we love Him Fear of the Lord - have a dread of sin and fear of offending God 21
22 Prayer to the Holy Spirit Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. Amen. 22
St. Mary s Youth Ministry Working with Kenosha Catholic Youth Ministry (For Grades 6-12) Is a collaborative effort for and with the youth of the Kenosha Catholic parishes and schools to provide opportunities for spiritual growth, leadership, discipleship and service, and leadership. Vision Our hope is to foster Christian discipleship and leadership among teens inviting them into closer relationships with Jesus Christ and His church, through fellowship, service, prayer and worship, catechetical enrichment, personal and spiritual growth. This program and its events are designed to enhance and expand upon the Religious Education programs already offered within the parishes and schools. 23 23
Activities and Meetings for 2018 Second Tuesday of Each Month - Soup Kitchen. Call or email Corinne to sign up. 24 August 12, 2018 - Summer Trips in Review at St. Peter 5:00pm 8:30pm. September 23, 2018 - Outdoor Retreat St. Mary 10:30am Drop off for Mass. Pick up 4:30pm at Petrified Springs. October 6, 2018 - Holy Hill Youth Rally at St. Mary 7:30am - 7:00pm. Register by October 1, 2018. $10:00. November 3, 2018 - St. Mary Service Day. St Francis Room - 12:00pm - 6:00pm Mass included. December 2, 2018 - Movie day with discussion. 2:00pm - 6:30pm Meet in St. Mary s Church. December 14, 2018 - Giving Circle and Pizza Night. Bell Hall 4:00pm - 7:00pm. December 15, 2018 - Giving Circle St. Mary - Bell Hall 9:00am 11:00am. December 16, 2018 - Giving Circle St. Mary - Bell Hall 9:00am 1:00pm. 24
Activities and Meetings for 2019 25 January 19, 2019 - Net Retreat High School - St. Mary - Bell Hall 10:00am - 6:00pm. January 20, 2019 - Net Retreat Junior High - St. Mary - Bell Hall 10:30am - 3:30pm. February 15-17, 2019 - Winter Xtreme Timber-lee. Need to commit by Friday, December 22, 2018. $146. March 8-9, 2019-24 Hour Fast at St. Mary St. Francis Room 6:00pm (3/8) 7:00pm (3/9). Register by Sunday, February 24, 2019. March 15 and 17, 2019 - Stations of the Cross at St. Mary - Church 7:00pm. Practice dates and times to be announced. April 18, 2019 - Holy Thursday Mass, Adoration and Ice cream St. Mary Church 7:00pm 10:30pm. May Event - TBA 25
26 Soup Kitchen The 2 nd Tuesday of each Month all year. Call or Email Corinne to sign up. 26
27 Summer Trips June 22-29, 2019 - High School Mission Brooklyn, NY July 7-12, 2019 - Mix Group Mission Trip Nashville, TN July 19-21, 2019 - Steubenville Conference (Grades 8-12) Steubenville on the Lake. Kenosha, WI 27
28 Avoid profane and silly myths. Train yourself for devotion, for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future. 28