St Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center GIFT August, 2016
Introductions Overview of GIFT Family Expectations 2
Sue O Connell Director of Faith Formation since July 1, 2015 Formerly Director of Program Management at CME Group 25 year career in software development, project/program management Math teacher at AHS out of college MBA, Valpo; BA Math/ Computer Science, Clarke College Graduated from AHS Oldest of 4 children, 2 brothers, 1 sister Fr. Chris Stanish Chaplain at St. T s since July 1, 2016, Asst. Vocation director, Gary diocese Former asst. pastor at Queen of All Saints, Michigan City MDiv and MA in Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) from the Angelicum University in Rome BA Philosophy/Spanish, Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona, MN; studied Math Education at Franciscan Univ. of Steubenville, OH Graduated from AHS 5th of 9 children, 2 older brothers & sisters, 2 younger brothers & sisters 3
What is GIFT? A FAMILY faith formation program that supports Parents as the Primary Catechists of the Catholic Faith: The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and make good use of freedom. (2207 CCC) The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called the domestic church, a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity. (1666 CCC) CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church 4
What is GIFT? A Support System for parents: - Classrooms for grades Pre-K (ages 3-4) through HS - Presentation room for parents Goals: supplement home teaching; provide opportunity for networking & friendships; build community 5
6
The Joy of Love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church. The family is thus the place where parents become their children s first teachers in the faith. They learn this trade, passing it down from one person to another. Parents have a serious responsibility for this work of education, as the Biblical sages often remind us Pope Francis, AMORIS LÆTITIA (The Joy of Love) Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation 7
90 80 70 U.S Catholic Population 60 50 40 30 25 (in Thousands) 20 10 Former Catholic adults 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Catholic population Self-identified Catholic population Foreign-born adult Catholics Former Catholic adults 8
Thousands 25 10000 Parishes (in thousands) U.S Catholic Parishes 20 Parishes without a resident priest 1000 15 100 10 10 5 1 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Parishes without a resident priest pastor Parishes entrusted to deacon, religious, or lay person Active diocesan priests per parish Parishes 0 9
200,000 180,000 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 Religious sisters Total priests U.S. Catholic Religious 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Total priests Diocesan priests Religious priests Priestly ordinations Graduate-level seminarians Permanent deacons Permanent deacon candidates Religious sisters Religious brothers 10
5000000 60% 4500000 4000000 Mass Attendance, 55% Children in Catholic Education 50% 3500000 3000000 40% 2500000 30% 2000000 1500000 1000000 500000 0 24% 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Students in Catholic elementary schools Primary school-age children in parish religious ed Students in Catholic secondary schools Secondary school-age teens in parish religious ed Students in Catholic colleges and universities Mass Attendance 20% 10% 0% 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Catholic Schools 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Catholic elementary schools Catholic secondary schools Catholic colleges and universities 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 11
1400000 1200000 Sacraments 120% 100% 1000000 80% 800000 600000 60% 400000 40% 200000 20% 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 0% Infant Baptisms Non-infant youth Baptisms Confirmations First Communions Catholic Marriages 12
Research shows: for families to grow in faith, the following 6 key categories are essential: 1. Talk about faith by sharing insights, doubts, questions, and wonderments 2. Pray together in ways that are comfortable and comforting 3. Reach out in service and support of others 4. Ritualize important family moments and honor milestone experiences 5. Share Bible stories in ways that connect to the family story 6. Learn about one s faith in ways that are interesting and relevant 13
The Primary Catechists 14
Dates for 2016-2017 GIFT September 11, 2016 February 12, 2017 October 9, 2016 March 12, 2017 November 13, 2016 April 9, 2017 December 11, 2016 May 7, 2017 January 8, 2017 June 4, 2017 (11AM family mass) See the website for more details: www.saint.com/faithformation.asp 15
All classes are held monthly on Sundays Gift Sessions are held in the Urschel Building and well as the Gellersen Engineering Building on the campus of Valparaiso University High School sessions (Grades 10-12) are held in the Antioch Room All sessions will begin at 9:15am and finish at 10:45am, in time for 11AM Mass 16
After you send, you should receive a welcome text from Remind @gift2016 If you have trouble, try texting (574) 310-8161 REMIND: Texts will be sent monthly to remind you of classes 17
Cancellations due to weather or other issues Notices will go out on: Website & Parish App (myparish) Email Facebook (St. Teresa of Avila GIFT) Twitter (@GIFTStt) Remind 18
Who are the classroom Catechists? GRADE CATECHIST Pre-School Kathy Malmquist, Pam Petersohn Kindergarten Jane Graves 1 st Grade Allison Caron 2 nd Grade Linda Moran 3 rd Grade Susan Witt 4 th Grade Laura Wassalik 5 th Grade Bob Sandilla 6 th Grade Cathy Nelson 7 th Grade Julia Condie 8 th Grade Kathy Catania 9 th Grade Cindy Jenkins, Liz & Eli Owens Grades 10-12 Kerri Bennett SACRAMENT CATECHIST 1 ST Reconciliation Maggie Hurley 1 st Communion Marie Brown Confirmation Cindy Jenkins 19
PAB Sue O Connell (Director) Alan Jones Jacob 10 th Izzy De Jesus Asha Pre-K Ismael 2 nd Melisa Carter- Chenoweth Sarah 4 th Lauren 7 th Kerri Bennett Alex 7 th Sarah 8 th Drew 0 th Gina Scott Matthew 5 th Amy Francis Hope 5 th Bob Sandilla Rick Szevery Avi 4 th Matthew, Nicholas HS Christopher K Elizabeth 2 nd Amanda Zelechoski Christopher Pre-K Matthew 1 st Deon Lemmons Gianna 2nd Maria 6 th Josephine 4 th Nate 7 th Luke, Brett 12 th Katie Vanni Michael 2 nd Colleen Vatthauer Emily - K Elizabeth 3 rd Jane Jones Beth Mehling Devin 3 rd Neil Pre-K Tressa Witvoet Hazel K Christopher 5 th Fr. Chris Ella 2 nd Virginia 4 th Charlotte 7 th Alyssa 9 th Deacon Bob Marben Next meeting: September 19, 2016 at 6PM Elliot 2 nd Brody 5 th 20
H E C A T H O L I C F A I T H. FORMED T O N D E M A N D Catholic Movies, Books, and Audio Resources from your home computer Monthly Home Catechism Lessons by Grade with Supporting Scripture References Bible Story and Saint of the Month Home Movie Night 21
NEW! Speaker presenters sharing the faith in ways that are relevant to teens and young adults OPEN TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL AND 20-SOMETHINGS 22
Regular Sunday Worship Service to Others Healthy Faith Formation GIFT Attendance See the Parent Handbook for more details 23
First Reconciliation 2017 Class Schedule (4:00-5:45 p.m.) Mon. January 30, 2017 Mon. February 27, 2017 Mon. February 6, 2017 Mon. March 6, 2017 Mon. February 13, 2017 Mon. March 13, 2017 Mon. February 20, 2017 (OFF for long weekend) Mon. March 20, 2017 First Reconciliation: Tuesday March 21, 2017 (7:00 p.m.) within the communal reconciliation service for the parish. GRADE 3 GRADE 9 2017 Class Session (4:00-5:45 p.m.) Mon. April 24, 2017 Mon. May 22, 2017 Mon. May 1, 2017 Mon. June 5, 2017 Mon. May 8, 2017 Mon. June 12, 2017 Mon. May 15, 2017 First Holy Communion: Sunday June 18, 2017 (11:00 a.m.) Rehearsal will be Friday, June 16 at 6PM Confirmation Saturday June 10, 2017 at 4PM mass with Bishop Hying All dates are on GIFT website Classes will begin late Fall, dates will be determined with parents 24
25