FAMILY OF Faith How Family of Faith works Family of Faith replaces the traditional Sunday School program, empowering and equipping parents as the primary catechists of their own children An emphasis is placed on disciplines for discipleship (e.g., daily prayer, weekly Mass, monthly Confession, and service) as a family There is one Catechetical Meeting (irst Sunday of the month) and one Community Meeting (third Sunday of the month) per month During the Catechetical Meeting, parents are taught what they will teach their children during the month, while children learn a grade-speciic lesson in their own classrooms At home during the course of the month, parents lead their children in two turn-key lessons with activities, adapted to each child s age and ability Families collect their monthly activities in a Storybook Project, a family scrapbook During the Community Meeting, parents and children connect to one another and reinforce concepts that are being learned through engaging activities and events Every family meets with the Director of Religious Education at least once during the catechetical year to share their progress Altar Server and Lector training may be offered on Sunday mornings for youth On the second Sunday of every month, Confessions are available for families and a study hall / tutoring is available for families who need additional assistance On the fourth Sunday of some months, Clubs will be available for those who would like to participate Advantages of Family of Faith Parents are strengthened in faith along with their own children The Faith is presented as an organic part of family life, not just part of Sunday morning More lexibility is given to families with busy schedules The Sunday-morning commitment for catechists and volunteers is reduced
Disciplines for Discipleship Every YEAR, make time for Easter Every MONTH, make time for Confession Every WEEK, make time for Sunday Mass Every DAY, make time for Prayer Every MOMENT, make time for Love Opportunities for Enrichment Families who are looking for more in-depth grade-speciic instruction are invited to enroll in the MyCatholicFaithDelivered.com Faith & Life Series in addition to the monthly Family of Faith program. Designed for Grades 1 through 8, these online classes present the content of the Faith and Life textbook series, along with interactive games, videos, quizzes, and activities. Students who complete their grade-level online course will receive the St. Thomas Aquinas Award from our parish.
2017-2018 DRAFT SCHEDULE September R Parent Orientation & Grade-Level Classes (9:15 10:30 AM) October B I Parent Meeting (Faith, Creed, Who is God?) & Grade-Level Classes (9:15 10:30 AM) Columbus Day Weekend P New Altar Server Training (9:15 10:30 AM) Community Meeting Family Fall Picnic (12:15 3:00 PM) W New Altar Server Training (9:15 10:30 AM) ; New Altar Server Training (9:15 10:30 AM) November F M T Parent Meeting (Image of God, Sin, Salvation) & Grade-Level Classes (9:15 10:30 AM) Community Meeting Catholic Family Trivia & Advent Preparation (9:15 10:30 AM) 8 Thanksgiving Weekend December D Parent Meeting ( ) & Grade-Level Classes (9:15 10:30 AM) K R Community Meeting Jesse Tree Live! Production Y= Christmas Break January H O Parent Meeting (Who is Jesus Christ?) & Grade-Level Classes (9:15 10:30 AM) Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Weekend V Community Meeting Catholic Family Trivia & Lent Preparation (9:15 10:30 AM) : Clubs (9:15 10:30 AM)
2017-2018 DRAFT SCHEDULE February E L S Parent Meeting (Paschal Mystery, Judgment) & Grade-Level Classes (9:15 10:30 AM) President s Day Weekend No regular Community Meeting Family Service Projects Z Clubs (9:15 10:30 AM) March E L S Parent Meeting (Holy Spirit & the Church) & Grade-Level Classes (9:15 10:30 AM) Community Meeting Living Stations of the Cross (9:15 10:30 AM) Z April Clubs (9:15 10:30 AM) B I Easter Sunday Parent Meeting (Church, Communion of Saints) & Grade-Level Classes (9:15 10:30 AM) Parish Easter Egg Hunt (12:00 1:00 PM) P W Community Meeting Family Show-and-Tell New Lector Training (9:15 10:30 AM) Clubs (9:15 10:30 AM) ; New Lector Training (9:15 10:30 AM) May G N U End of Year Gathering Community Meeting Family Pilgrimage to Basilica of National Shrine
Recent Parent Survey Parents are more inluential than anyone else on the faith of their children. S A Parents need special teaching skills to teach their own children about God and the Catholic faith. M D Children learn about their parent s faith naturally through family conversation and activity. S A Praying together every day is an important part of living as a Catholic family. A Going to Sunday Mass together every week is an important part of living as a Catholic family. S A Going to Confession together regularly is an important part of living as a Catholic family. M A I would welcome changes to our Religious Education program to make it more lexible for families. A I would welcome changes to our Religious Education program to make it more family-centered. M A Education program to make it more transformative. M A Transition Strategy Email current parents this week with a synopsis of plans for next year with registration form Announce new plans to the parish and invite new families to register Emphasize lexibility of new model in promotional material Emphasize partnering with parents to help their children grow in faith Invite new and returning parents to a meeting to explain plans for next year Carefully reach out to families who do not re-register, to ensure that no one is falling through the cracks in this transition