2017-2018 SACRED HEART PARISH FAITH FORMATION HANDBOOK Living as Missionary Disciples 1
Sacred Heart Church Faith Formation Dear Parishioners, When Jesus called disciples he said to them follow me. Being formed as a Catholic starts with following Jesus. Sure there are lots of things that can be learned, important things, but these are secondary to the primary way of learning the faith, following Christ. In Jesus day following him literally meant walking with him on the road, sharing meals with him, listening to him teach, helping to care for the needs of those who were struggling, some even got sent out as missionaries to prepare the way for his arrival in a village or town. This was no romantic journey, it led to Jerusalem and his crucifixion, but this was not the end. Following Jesus also led to witnessing the resurrection. Following Jesus today has the same elements as did the lives of the early disciples. We may not be walking around Israel, but we walked daily on God s earth where Christ is actively knocking on everyone s heart. We share meals with people all the time and even are privileged to share in the Eucharist, a privileged time of listening to Christ s words and sharing in his banquet of love. We have many opportunities to reach out to those in need and if we look carefully we can see the dying and rising of Jesus in our own lives and the lives of everyone around us. Religious formation is fundamentally learning to embrace and celebrate the living, dying and rising of Christ in us, and the people around us. We provide many opportunities here at Sacred Heart Parish to deepen that formation by participation in the many offerings for both children and adults. I look forward to walking with you as a disciple on the road with Christ. Yours in Christ, Fr. Steve Dublinski 2
Directory This handbook is designed to inform you of the faith formation opportunities available here at Sacred Heart Parish. There is something for all ages. Keep it to use as a reference through out the year. Sunday School Classes Youth Ministry Sacrament Preparation RCIC RCIA Adult Education events Scouting awards Policies p. 6 p. 8 p. 9 p. 10 p. 10 p. 11 p. 12 p. 13-16 3
Welcome to the 2017-2018 Religious Education Year Our theme for this year is Living as Missionary Disciples Pope Francis calls all baptized to grow closer to the Lord and to take up their proper role as missionary disciples. This is a great time to remember the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Children and teens need the whole church community, and most especially, your family, to be involved in the life of the Church. We have a variety of offerings for you and your family. As we work together to lead your children closer to God, know that you are supported and applauded for what you do for your family. Prayers and Blessings, Theresa Paul, Director of Faith Formation Faith Formation Personnel Fr. Steve Dublinski, Pastor 509-332-5312 Theresa Paul, Director 509-332-4402 Sue McNamara, Secretary 509-332-4402 Kent Bachir, Youth Ministries 509-592-5041 sdublinski@dioceseofspokane.org tpaul@dioceseofspokane.org smcnamara@dioceseofspokane.org sacredheartpullmanym@gmail.com 4
Faith Formation Office Hours Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 4 pm, Fridays 9 am - Noon Sunday (school year) 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Sacred Heart Faith Formation Office: Phone: 509-332-4402 & Fax: 509-332-5312 Located in the Parish Library Area - downstairs, between restrooms & Social Hall Faith Formation Board Chris Owens, President 443-878-4599 Angela Anderson 509-553-9028 Gladys Rice 509-334-6880 Lara Cummings, Vice-President 509-332-6686 Laura Lavine 509-338-5381 Linhda Sagen 509-332-5340 Tammy Barry 601-467-2388 Dan Jinguji 206-919-8572 Mary Johnson 509-332-5633 5
Class Locations 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Preschool Kindergarten St. Elizabeth St. Teresa 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth St. Teresa St. Elizabeth St. Charles St. Bernard Holy Family St. Mary Wed. 6:30-7:45 pm 7th/8th Gr., St. Mary Wed. 7:15-8:30 pm High School, St Mary 6
Curriculum and Scope and Sequence Early Childhood: 3 years old (by 8/31/17) Helping children to develop positive attitudes about themselves, their family, and friends by discovering and learning more about the many gifts, talents, and abilities that God has provided. Elementary - grades K - 6 Textbook: Be My Disciples from RCL Benziger 1st 6th Grades - A balanced approach that: Invites children to discipleship through its catechumenal methodology Teaches scripture, doctrine, and celebration through its spiral structure Challenges children to integrate faith and life The program helps children to know and live their faith through loving service to others. Each topic begins with relating the faith concepts to the child s experience. Connecting this with a Scripture passage, the children can see that the Bible, too, is related to life. It reflects the life experience of people who came to see God as active in their midst. The children grow in knowledge. Using a spiral structure, children are introduced to Sacred Scripture, the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the celebrations of the liturgical year. Every year at every grade, their core knowledge is both reinforced and extended. Through a process of presentation, application, reflection, and decision, children relate knowledge of the Catholic faith with their life experience and commit themselves more deeply to the person and mission of Jesus Christ. By learning gifts and qualities of discipleship and practicing its habits and virtues, children learn the skills of daily living required to follow Jesus and are challenged to integrate them into their daily lives. Sunday Mass with Children Once a month, the 8:30 a.m. Mass celebration focuses on the children present. Youth are invited to take part in the various liturgical ministries of the Mass. The youth who have completed the sacraments of initiation will be prepared to serve as lectors, greeters, ushers, and altar servers. Also, high school teens will serve as Eucharistic Ministers. 7
Sacred Heart Youth Ministry (SHYM) - Get Involved! SHYM offers 7th & 8th gr., & High School students opportunities to encounter Christ with their friends, their parish & community. Our goals are to learn about what it means to be Catholic, create a welcoming environment for all youth, & build an active, young, faith-based community. SHYM offers faith formation, community building, as well as volunteer & social justice activities. Youth Group - Sacred Heart Youth Group (YG) is the core of the program, meeting weekly to develop an individual Christian identity for each teen & the group as a whole. All youth in grades 7-12 are encouraged to participate as often as humanly possible. Youth group is divided into two groups: 7th/8th Grade, and High School. Your children's friends are welcome. Being a part of the YG gives teenagers the opportunity to take part in a comprehensive program where all forms of ministry are woven together. Retreat Ministry - Outside normal daily activities your son or daughter will encounter Jesus and themselves in new ways. Sacred Heart offers many options such as Steubenville NorthWest, Catholic Youth Conference (CYC) & the Middle School Youth Rally. As well as other retreat opportunities offered by the Diocese of Spokane, like Vocation Retreats. Service Ministry - Being the hands and feet of Christ means serving those in need. Our Catholic Social Teachings help us to understand our responsibility of Christian witness and service. The Sacred Heart Youth Ministries Program is active in challenging our young people to live out this call through the many service opportunities that will be offered throughout the year. Parish Ministry - Charity starts at home. Our teens and their families will be serving their home parish in many ways including, coffee & donuts hospitality ministry, providing entertainment at Pentecost in the Park, helping with the parish auction, teaching / assisting Sunday School for younger grades, vacation bible school, etc. Calendar - The SHYM will share a calendar with parents & youth ministry teens. Parents will receive updates and more detailed information about the Youth Ministry Events/Calendar through our Email Newsletters. (If you are not receiving updates, please email: sacredheartpullmanym@gmail.com to be added to the list.) Kent Bachir, Director of Youth Ministry, and team: Hally Rohla, Elizabeth Bachir, Daniel Johnson and Ben Foust 8
Sacraments The Sacraments of Initiation--Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist-- make us members of the Catholic Church. It is through Baptism, the first sacrament, that our entrance into the Paschal mystery is made most clear. Preparation is required for parents bringing their first child for Baptism. Godparents should also prepare, either at their home parish or here at Sacred Heart. Please contact Fr. Steve Dublinski one month in advance. Confirmation Each person has a very personal and unique relationship with God. The Holy Spirit speaks within the context of this personal relationship. As our faith continues to deepen, we understand and see things from new perspectives. We feel even more connected to God and to his plan for us and for the world. First Eucharist The celebration of First Communion marks the beginning of the initiate s full participation in Christian life. Participation in the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of our Catholic faith. First Reconciliation is a beautiful way in which we celebrate God s forgiving love for each of us and our reconciliation with our community of faith. We may (and do!) sin... yet God always welcomes us back wholeheartedly. Restored Order: Our diocese has restored the Sacraments of Initiation to their original order. Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist are celebrated as a large group. For more information see: www.dioceseofspokane.org/documents/2015/6/4.02.01.pdf and www.archden.org/saints/ 9
RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children) Children desiring to enter fully into the church (Baptism or Profession of Faith) who are ages 7-18 will go through the RCIC process. Preparation is on an individual or small group basis. Contact the Faith Formation Office for more information. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Introduction RCIA is the process by which adults are brought into full communion with the Church. It is for those who have never been baptized, those who have been baptized in another denomination and those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church, but have not been confirmed. However, it is not limited to these three groups of people. Also, welcome are those who are coming back to the Church and feel the need to reacquaint themselves with the Church and those who are interested in simply learning more about the Catholic Church. Contact Fr. Steve (509-332-5312; sdublinski@dioceseofspokane.org ) for more information. Philosophy of RCIA While it has become a rather trite image, the image of journey still applies to the RCIA in a very strong way. The baptism of infants is often seen as the beginning of a journey. By the time adults come to the RCIA, they have a story and can see that they have been moving towards a relationship with God in their lives. With its four periods and three steps or Rites, the RCIA is also a journey. The second strong theme in the RCIA is that of community. As members of the Body of Christ, we are responsible for handing on and nourishing the faith received from the apostles. Those going through the RCIA process are joining a community. This is why the Rites take place during the community celebrations at Sunday Mass. 10
Adult Confirmation Confirmation is the act of signing, or anointing, us with the gift of the Holy Spirit. "By signing us with the gift of the Spirit, confirmation makes us more completely the image of the Lord and fills us with the Holy Spirit, so that we may bear witness to him before all the world and work to bring the Body of Christ to its fullness as soon as possible." (R.C.I.A. Christian Initiation, General Introduction No. 2). Adult Education We all need moments of renewal and refreshment. We come to recognize God s presence and our share in the mission of Jesus more fully as we grow in faith, hope and love. The journey of faith is lifelong. Recognizing the centrality of adult faith as a model and foundation for the faith of the entire community, the United States bishops have recently published a statement, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, that give new urgency to the ministry of adult faith formation. Opportunities include: Small Faith Groups Mondays: Lectionary-Based Men s Morning Prayer Group: Wednesday mornings at 6:00 am Women s faith sharing group (SHARE)-Wednesday s noon Couples Fridays (Other groups forming, watch bulletin for information) Men s Retreat Oct. 28; Weekend Retreat for Women Nov. 10-12 Parish Mission prior to Lenten season Prayer, Bread and Soup: Wednesday evenings during Lent (Watch in bulletin for exact times and dates and other events.) 11
Religious Awards for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Camp Fire If your son or daughter is in a troop, they are eligible to earn a religious award. These awards allow young people to explore and become more involved in their Catholic faith. All programs are designed to support and complement the catechetical efforts of Catholic parishes and schools. Boy Scouts All workbooks are available through the Boy Scouts Service Centers. Clarkston, WA Service Center--915 6th Street, Clarkston, WA 99403; 509-758-7575, 800-252-8657 Spokane, WA Service Center -411 W. Boy Scout Way, Spokane, 99201; 509-325-4562, 800-945-4390 Cub Scout levels are directed by parents who are encouraged to work with their parish Religious Education Director. Light of Christ is the Cub Scout level. Parvuli Dei is for Webelos Scouts Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts (boys and girls) award need to contact Deacon Dan Glatt before beginning the awards. dccs@dioceseofspokane.org or call 509-747-7213. These awards require a Board of Review before awarding. Ad Altare Dei for Boy Scouts Pope Pius XII for 15 years and older Boy Scouts for Venture Scouts. For the latest information on the National Committee on Catholic scouting check out their web site. www.nccs-bsa.org Girls Scouts and Camp Fire Workbooks are available through the Spokane Diocese Committee for Catholic Scouting. Deacon Dan Glatt; dccs@dioceseofspokane.org or call 509-747-7213. Parents are encouraged to work with their parish Religious Education Director God is Love is for K 1 grades Family of God is for 2 3 graders I Live My Faith is for 4 6 graders Mary the First Disciple is for grades 7 10 The Spirit Alive is for grade 9 12 For the latest information on National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire (NCCGSCF) check out their web site. www.nccgscf.org 12
Policies/Registration Registration: A Registration Form is to be completed for each family. Emergency /Medical Release sheet for each child, completed and updated each Fall. Time and Talent: We would like each family to help in some area so that our children have the best religious education we can provide. See the Time and Talent options included in this booklet and write your choices on the registration form. Tuition: Sacred Heart Parish generously supports the faith formation of all members, through the Sunday collections. However, you are asked to contribute a fair share (50%) for the cost of books, supplies and other expenses of religious education. If you need financial assistance, please email the director at tpaul@dioceseofspokane.org. All children are encouraged to participate regardless of family s ability to pay. Preschool 6th Grade $45/year* 7th 12th Grade $75/year* Tuition payments for multiple children: First child and second child = pay the full amount for each. Third child = pay half the amount for that child Fourth child = pay one quarter the amount for that child Fifth child and more = no cost for them Examples: Family A: 1 student in 5th grade = $45 Family B: 1 student in 8th, 1 in Kindergarten= $120 Family C: twins in 9th, twins in 2nd grade = $185 *Suggested Payment schedule (if needed) 1 4 October, 1 4 December, 1 4 February, 1 4 April Make checks payable to: Sacred Heart Parish On memo line, write: religious education Attendance: Regular attendance at faith formation classes is an important factor in deepening a child s understanding of our triune God through the study of Scripture, prayer, Church teaching, and community. If your child must miss a class, please communicate with the teacher. Late arrivals are to be discouraged as they are disruptive to the class. 13
Arrival and Dismissal: Pre-school and Kindergarten Please accompany your child to the classroom and pick him/her up at the class door. If you are not attending Mass during class, be careful when parking in the lot, you might be blocked in for the hour! If you are late to pick up your child, the teacher will bring the child to the Religious Education Office (Library Area). Elementary Be aware of foot and auto traffic during the class period. If you are dropping the child off, use the alley or Ash Street, but do not double park; keep the traffic flowing. After class have your child wait in the area between the church and the social hall to keep the front door of the church clear. Communication between parents and the faith formation department is critical for the children s program. The Faith Formation office will provide information through the mail or by e-mail. On the registration form is a space to write your e-mail address if this is the method you prefer. The weekly bulletin is also used to pass on information, so please get in the habit of reading it each week. The teachers will also communicate to you on a monthly basis. If you have not received any communication from them, please let us know. We are here to serve the faith formation needs of our children, youth, and adults. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please feel free to share them with your child s catechist or call the office. Emergency Class Cancellation In case of weather conditions necessitating the canceling of Sunday morning classes, the following procedure will be used. If on Saturday afternoon, the weather is unsafe for travel, Fr. Steve will contact Theresa Paul. She will then initiate a phone tree that will contact each family in the program. Due to the time it takes to get all the calls made, the phone tree cannot take place on Sunday morning. So, if you wake up on Sunday and a storm has hit, use your own judgment for traveling. Health Concerns and Medication If your child has a health concern, allergy, or other medical need, please note that on the registration form. The catechist will be informed of this. The catechist will administer no medication, unless cleared through the Faith Formation Office and a doctor's written notice is on file. 14
Food allergies are of concern. If your child has a life-threatening food allergy, the Faith Formation Office will provide the snacks and refreshments for the class. We ask that you provide a list of acceptable foods. A medical release form is to be completed and on file each year. This will allow the staff to obtain emergency treatment in the case you are not available. If a child is diagnosed with a medical condition after registration, please inform the DRE and catechist as soon as possible. Child Abuse is of serious concern. Consistent with diocesan policy and local legal codes, parish catechetical staff has a moral and legal duty to comply with the law to ensure the welfare of a child. All staff members and volunteers prior to working with children are required to complete a Washington State Patrol Child Abuse Criminal History. Safe Environment Program: The Safe Environment Program components are: Mandatory training for all paid personnel and volunteers who work with children about detection and reporting of sexual abuse and the Diocesan Code of Conduct. Ageappropriate abuse prevention education in all faith formation settings to teach children to recognize, resist and report abuse. In-service, awareness raising, opportunities for parents: The dates and times of these sessions will be announced in the church bulletins and in upcoming Faith Formation Family Newsletters. Expectations A. Parent(s): Ensure that your child attend classes regularly and on time. Communicate any special needs or circumstances that may affect your child within the classroom. Be an active part of you child s learning and be involved in the classroom at the catechist s request. Share your time and talent in some way--see the Time and Talent Sheet for suggestions. 15
Expectations, cont. B. Student(s) 1. Behave in a Christian manner at all times showing respect and being cooperative with adults and other students. 2. Actively participate in classroom activities and discussions 3. Attend class regularly and complete any assignments or homework. C. Catechist(s) 1. Provide a loving, Christian atmosphere within the learning environment so that children will be able to grow in their faith. 2. Prepare and teach designated lessons and curriculum. 3. Be a Christian role model. 4. Communicate regularly with and involve parents in the faith development of their children. D. Discipline and Problem Solutions All students are expected to share in the faith learning experiences of the parish program. If a child s behavior disrupts the learning process for himself/herself or for others, the steps listed below will be followed to ensure that class participation may continue. 1. At the first incident, the child will be reminded of expected behavior and the consequences of misbehavior. (Each class will post their rules.) 2. After the second incident, the child will be sent to the office for a discussion with the DRE about appropriate behavior. 3. After returning to class, if inappropriate behavior continues, the child will be sent to the office to do his or her religious education assignment. The child s parent/guardian will be contacted. If necessary, the parent will be required to remain in the classroom while the child is attending. Off-Campus Activities Due to insurance policies, any trips off-campus requires a permission slip signed by parent/guardian for each event. Drivers must be 21 years of age or older with adequate auto insurance. The religious education office must have a current driver's information sheet. 16