The Catholic Community of Pleasanton Office of Faith Formation P.O. Box 817/ 3999 Bernal Avenue Pleasanton, CA 94566-0869 (925) 846-3531 (925) 846-3543 Fax The Catholic Community of Pleasanton Faith Formation Opportunities Our Community s Faith Formation Programs 2 Faith Formation Programs at a Glance 3 Baptism Requirement 4 Elementary Program 4 Family Program 5-6 Intergenerational Faith Communities 6 Middle School Ministry 6-7 High School Youth Ministry 7-8 SPRED 8 Sacramental Preparation 9 First Reconciliation/Eucharist 9-10 Baptism for School-Aged Children & Teens 10 Confirmation 11 1
Our Community s Faith Formation Programs Elementary Program - Liz Rogers, lrogers@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2772 The Elementary Program is for students in 1 st through 5th grade. The program offers a blendedage, learning stations format to teaching the essentials of the faith. Page 4 Family Program - Liz Rogers, lrogers@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2772 The Family Program is an alternative to the elementary learning station faith formation program. In the Family Program, the whole family learns about our faith together. Page 5-6 Intergenerational Faith Communities - Nancy Schlachte, nschlachte@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2775 Intergenerational Faith Communities are for families who have an understanding of family faith discussion, family prayer, ritual & service, and are looking for stronger relationships with other families in the tradition of our faith. Page 6 Middle School Ministry - Nancy Schlachte, nschlachte@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2775 AMP (All My People) Middle School Ministry is a youth group for preteens and young teens in 6-8th grades. AMP blends small group discussion and prayer with social time. Saturday Supper Clubs and service projects are also offered throughout the year. Page 6-7 High School Youth Ministry - Nicole Browne, ccopym@gmail.com 474-2774 The high school youth ministry program walks with young people on their journey of faith toward an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus Christ & His people, the Church. Page 7-8 SPRED - 846-3531 This Special Religious Education Program is for developmentally disabled Catholics aged 11 and up, some flexibility of ages based on registrations. Page 8 First Eucharist/Reconciliation- Pat Morgan, pmorgan@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2773 In addition to weekly Faith Formation classes or the Family Programs, preparation for the Sacraments includes age appropriate catechesis and the celebration of both Reconciliation and Eucharist. Page 9 Baptism for School-Aged Children & Teens- Pat Morgan, pmorgan@catholicsofpleasanton.org474-2773 This is a special family-centered preparation process for children & teens ages 7-17 who have not received Baptism; and/or First Eucharist/First Reconciliation. We gather weekly to explore the Sunday Scriptures and learn about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Page 10 Confirmation -Nicole Browne, ccopym@gmail.com 474-2774 Confirmation takes place during junior or senior year of high school, after one to two years of prior involvement in the high school youth ministry program. Page 11 2
Faith Formation Programs at a Glance See p. 4 for Baptism Requirement Grade in Public School Faith Formation Program(s) Sacraments When Baptism is needed for children ages 7 or above, see Baptism for School- Aged Children & Teens (p. 10) Elementary: Grades 1 st through 5 th Middle School: Grades 6 th through 8 th Elementary (p. 4) OR Family Program (p. 5) OR Intergenerational Faith Community (p. 6) Middle School Ministry (AMP) (p. 6-7) OR Intergenerational Faith Community (p. 6) First Reconciliation & First Eucharist* (p. 9-10) First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (please contact the Sacrament Coordinator, Pat Morgan at (925) 474-2773 pmorgan@catholicsofpleasanton.org High School: Youth Ministry (p. 7-8) Confirmation Year 1 & 2 (p. 11) Grades 9 th through 12 th *This is a two-year process. If your child is in 4 th grade and above and baptized, please contact the Sacrament Preparation Coordinator. 3
Baptism Requirement Baptism is the gateway sacrament for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. If your child is not baptized: And is 0-6 years old please contact the Parish Rectory at 846-4489 to make an appointment with a priest. And is 7 17 years old, register for Baptism for School-Aged Children & Teens (p. 10) or contact Pat Morgan, pmorgan@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2773 Elementary Program Liz Rogers, lrogers@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2772 The Elementary Program is for children in grades one through five. This is a blended-age, learning stations format model. Children participate in a session that is led by volunteer catechists and meets one day every other week for an hour and ½. The program components are as follows: Sessions are held in the classrooms in St. Augustine Hall. Families choose a day and time that best fits with their schedule. Classes are held every other week (excluding some holiday weeks) on either Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons from 3:45 to 5:15 pm and Tuesday or Wednesday early evenings from 5:45pm to 7:15 pm Regular attendance is required particularly during Sacrament preparation years. Various activities and methods provide formation that is more experiential, relevant, and engaging. During the year parent enrichment sessions will be held. The program strives to integrate the teachings of the Church at age appropriate levels and gives students a sense of belonging to the great Body of Christ, which we call the Church! Program basics are reinforced in the home by regular attendance with the parish community at weekend liturgy, prayer at home and regular discussion of faith topics. 4
Family Based Programs Liz Rogers, lrogers@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2772 - Family Program Nancy Schlachte, nschlachte@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2775 - Intergenerational Faith Communities Catholic Community of Pleasanton offers two family-based faith formation programs, Family Program and Intergenerational Faith Communities. The primary goal of our familybased programs is active learning. Parents and children learn about God together. Basic Catholic beliefs are reinforced through faith-sharing with other families. Family-based curriculum explores Catholic traditions, prayer, sacramental living and morality and social justice. Families participate in service projects aimed at understanding the importance of serving others. All families are welcome, including families of nontraditional make up. In each family-based program, children participate as members of their family in a multigenerational format. In addition, youth are encouraged to participate in large group events sponsored by the Middle School Ministry Program or the High School Ministry Program. Sacrament preparation for First Eucharist/Reconciliation entails at home teaching of materials plus other program components (see p. 10/11). For High School Confirmation, see requirements p. 12. Regular attendance is required particularly during Sacrament preparation years. Each family-based program has its own approach: Family Program: Families meet once a month, on a Friday evening, to explore their Catholic faith together. This is experiential learning at its finest. Families not only learn, but have lots of fun in the process! The gatherings are intergenerational (adults & children together). Family prayer, ritual, projects, faith discussions, skits, games and crafts are used to explore a different theme each month. At home, during the rest of the month, each family reads, discusses and completes activities which reinforce what they learned at the monthly gathering. This program is geared towards families with children 1st grade 5th grades. Please note the Family Program is not designed for pre K or 6th grade and older children. There will be child care available for families with preschoolers. Families with children in Middle School should register them in our Middle School Ministry Program known as AMP, All My People. Obviously, your Jr. High student is welcome to attend the Family Program as a member of your family, but this program is not a viable substitute for the Jr. High program. 5
Please note: For Family Program you will need to bring a signed Family Program Covenant to registration. Intergenerational Faith Communities What do we do? Families gather twice a month in one another s homes to learn more about the Catholic faith, to apply faith to everyday experiences, and to enjoy time together. The gatherings feature community building, family prayer/ritual, activities & fun! Families learn to apply scripture to their daily lives. Family groups do service projects together to learn the importance of ministering to those who are less fortunate. Intergenerational faith formation programs (adults & children together) include 4-6 families who form a small Christian community. Materials are provided for each family to use at home to explore faith-based topics and prepare for upcoming gatherings. In addition, families share the role of facilitating and hosting gatherings. Family members of all ages are involved in the process. Who is this for? Families who have an understanding of family faith discussion, family prayer and ritual, and service, and who are looking to form stronger relationships with other families who share the Catholic faith tradition. Middle School Ministry AMP (All My People) Nancy Schlachte nschlachte@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2775 AMP stands for all my people, an acronym chosen by the middle school students to represent their community of fellowship. Our goal is to grow the faith of our students, instill a sense of ownership of their faith, and provide a safe platform for students to examine and evaluate their beliefs. Students meet Jesus through scripture, faith sharing, and prayer. The program includes the following: Youth Group Weekly meetings occur every Tuesday from 7:30-8:45 pm in St. Augustine Hall. These sessions combine large and small group activities. Middle schoolers spend half of the evening in small group and the other half in a large group setting. 6
Small groups are grade specific and remain together for the entire year. Our goal is to encourage open dialogue and deepening friendships within the small group. Each group is facilitated by adults working with 10-20 middle schoolers. Small groups read scripture, pray, and talk about their faith journeys. In the large group setting, the middle schoolers continue to learn about the theme of the night. They do so through guided discussion and activities. Social Events AMP hosts Supper Club, a social event following the 5 PM mass at St. Augustine. AMP also sponsors various social outings and service projects through the year. CCOPYM Catholic Community of Pleasanton Youth Ministry: Grades 9-12 Nicole Browne, ccopym@gmail.com 474-2774 CCOPYM is the ministry here at CCOP that serves all our high school age teens grades 9-12. Teens who participate in CCOPYM will be drawn nearer to Christ, experience Christian community, and grow in and celebrate their faith. CCOPYM offers: preparation for Confirmation, faith formation, service projects, retreats, leadership opportunities, ministry and socials. CCOPYM Descriptions: CCOPYM Youth Group: Our youth ministry program is for all high school students who want to actively learn and engage with their peers while continuing their faith formation. The youth ministry classes will give a deeper understanding to many of the church s teaching while giving teens a place to come together in faith and fellowship. Teens in the youth ministry program will also have the opportunity to participate in retreats, service projects and socials. This program will meet on a weekly basis from October through May. Confirmation: Confirmation preparation is a 2 year process in which high school youth learn more about their faith and take a more active role in their faith development. The process of preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation is rigorous and meant to fully prepare the young heart for a Christ-centered life. This process includes formation, service, mass, community and retreat. (Please note Baptism Requirement p. 4) 7
Liturgy & Worship: A youth mass geared to teens is celebrated EVERY Sunday night at 6:30 pm at St. Elizabeth Seton with teens as the primary ministers: lectors, greeters, ushers & choir. Youth Reconciliation services are scheduled during Advent & Lent. Retreats: Retreats are offered throughout the year and are a great way for teens to unplug from their busy lives and reconnect with God and each other. Some retreats are specifically offered for teens preparing to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation while others will be offered for any high school student interested in attending. Social Events: Monthly socials are a great time for teens to get together to enjoy good friends and fun. Socials range from ice skating to movie night to a van hunt. All high school teens are welcome and friends are encouraged to join in as well. These are offered for a nominal fee just to cover the cost of the event. Justice, Service and Solidarity: CCOP Teens love to do service and one of the ways we do this is through group service projects. These range from making blankets for the veterans at the Veteran s Hospital in Livermore to serving at St. Anthony s Dining Room in San Francisco. These are open to all high school teens and teens are encouraged to invite friends outside our parish to participate as well. Leadership Team: Teens come for fellowship and to exercise their Christian Leadership skills on Core Team. This group helps plan and execute service projects and social events. Retreat teams are also formed throughout the year and teens who are confirmed are encouraged to join retreat teams as leaders. Teen retreat leaders must be currently enrolled in and regularly attending youth ministry classes. Teen Confirmation Catechists: High school youth who are confirmed are encouraged to become confirmation catechists. Teen catechists are paired with an adult to teach classes to teens preparing to be confirmed. All teen confirmation catechists must be con-currently enrolled in and regularly attending youth ministry classes. SPRED 846-3531 SPRED is a program for awakening & deepening the faith life in Catholic teens and young adults with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to provide appropriate catechetical, liturgical and sacramental experiences for those who desire to share and grow in faith with others. The program components are as follows: Meetings are twice each month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm Age requirements: 11 and up The meeting format has three parts Quieting activities after a busy day Celebrating with scripture, sharing experiences, and prayerful singing Agape Social 8
Sacrament Preparation Please note Baptism requirement, page 4. The sacramental dimension of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton Faith Formation Program is designed to support and deepen the life of our parish family. In the sacraments, the Church celebrates and acknowledges that the center of every sacrament is the presence of Jesus Christ. The opportunity for deepening one s relationship with Jesus and the Christian community is a unique part of each sacrament. Preparation for all sacraments includes prayer and shared faith, as well as study and reflection on their meaning. Preparation for First Reconciliation/Eucharist can begin as early as the 1 st grade. First Reconciliation/Eucharist is a two year process in the Oakland Diocese. The first year is foundational and the second year involves direct preparation for the sacraments. Parents with children preparing for First Reconciliation/Eucharist are expected to participate in the sacramental formation of their children. Parents of already baptized children who are in the 4 th grade (and older), and have not received First Reconciliation or First Communion should contact Pat Morgan 474-2773 or at pmorgan@catholicsofpleasanton.org) to discuss your child s formation process. All children preparing for First Eucharist will also celebrate their First Reconciliation as a part of the formation process. Unbaptized children ages 7 17 are invited to participate in the Baptism for School- Aged Children & Teens (p. 10). This is a family-centered process through which the children receive the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist (or Communion). First Reconciliation/Eucharist Pat Morgan, pmorgan@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2773 The First Reconciliation/Eucharist preparation process is, first & foremost, familycentered, and recognizes the fact that there is no better or more effective catechist for a child than his or her parent(s). Children must be baptized before First Reconciliation or First Eucharist. If your child is unbaptized and ages 7-17 see page 10. Participation in the Elementary Faith Formation classes or in the Family Program or Intergenerational Faith Communities is a requirement for First Reconciliation/Eucharist preparation. 9
Various components comprise the First Reconciliation/Eucharist program which are meant to nourish the faith of the whole family. These components may include the following: For Year 1 First Eucharist families: Parent meetings Parent-Child Mini-Retreat in Spring For Year 2 First Eucharist families: An initial meeting with the Sacrament Preparation Coordinator in August or early September Family sharing of Reconciliation/ Eucharist materials Parent-only meetings and parent-child gatherings Celebration of Sacrament of Reconciliation The First Eucharist celebration during the Easter Season Baptism for School-Aged Children & Teens: (Christian Initiation of Children & Teens CIC/T) Pat Morgan, pmorgan@catholicsofpleasanton.org 474-2773 Young people ages 7-17 who have not been baptized will be invited to participate in the process. This process of preparation involves entering into the life of the Christian community and growing in faith, as we share our stories and learn of Jesus story and of the life he calls us to. This process is family-based; parents and children attend together. Some of the ways parents are expected to support their children in the initiation journey include the following: Have an initial conversation with the CIC/T Coordinator. Attend weekly gatherings as a family. Attend mass weekly. Participate in special rites of Christian Initiation as they occur at various stages throughout the CIC/T faith journey. 10
Confirmation Nicole Browne, ccopym@gmail.com 474-2774 Confirmation preparation is a 2 year process in which high school youth learn more about their faith and take a more active role in their faith development. The process of preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation is rigorous and meant to fully prepare the young heart for a Christ-centered life. This process includes formation, service, mass, community and retreat. (Please note Baptism Requirement p. 4) 11