2018-2019 LIFELONG FAMILY FAITH FORMATION Dear Parents, We have another great year planned for your family! This year, we are particularly excited to embark upon a new approach to faith formation with regard to Sacramental Preparation. As you know, our diocese is switching over to the Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation, which means that our youth will now receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 3 rd Grade, culminating with reception of First Holy Communion during the same mass. Please visit our website to learn more about this new approach. As always, your family is invited to join us for another year of dynamic, community-building faith formation! This year, our monthly sessions will serve as Confirmation Prep for grades 3 rd -8 th, but are geared toward K-2 nd as well. Thank you for living out your call as the primary educators of your children. We are dedicated to providing for your family the best possible support we can, so please contact us with any questions you might have. You will find included in this mailing the necessary registration forms for the upcoming year, as well as a brief overview of our 2018-2019 Youth and Family Faith Formation on the reverse side of this letter. We are here to serve you; be assured of our constant prayers for your family, and may the peace of Christ reign in your homes this year and always! Yours in Christ, The Pastoral Staff St. André Bessette Parish Very Rev. Marc B. Drouin, V.F. Pastor 603.524.9609 Seth Evangelho Director of Faith Formation, Youth Minister/Evangelist sethevangelho@gmail.com Wesley Becklo K-10 Coordinator, Youth Minister/Evangelist wesley.becklo@gmail.com Saints Zelie and Louis Martin, Pray for Us!
K-5 and Junior High G.I.F.T. Growing in Faith Together (includes 3 rd -8 th Grade Confirmation Prep) Three years ago, our K-8 Faith Formation switched to a dynamic, family-based model. (NOTE: All children must be accompanied by at least one parent/guardian to participate in G.I.F.T.) This multi-faceted approach to family catechesis is intentionally designed to equip and empower parents with the necessary support they need to pass the gift of faith on to their children, with confidence and prayerful enthusiasm. Our monthly gatherings as a parish community consist of a shared meal and dynamic, age-appropriate breakout sessions. We are blessed by a host of generous volunteers at your service. Parents leave our monthly sessions with a simple, easy-to-use curriculum, a 3-week lesson plan to help foster dialogue, understanding, and enrichment in regard to our monthly topic. In order to refresh their understanding on an adult level, we strongly encourage parents to take advantage of additional resources throughout the year. Our G.I.F.T. program consists of seven monthly sessions, including seasonal opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a family, plus a growing summertime favorite: VBS! Check the website for further details and dates: www.standrebessette.org/gift.html. Because we are embarking upon Restored Order this year, our theme is the Sacrament of Confirmation, with appropriate take home materials based on your child s age. NOTE: A mandatory meeting for all G.I.F.T. parents will be held on Thursday, September 13 th, 7pm-8pm in the OLG Conference Center. Please invite non-participating families you know and encourage them to join us! First Reconciliation Prep (2 nd Grade) In addition to their participation in G.I.F.T., families with children preparing for First Reconciliation will attend two Saturday Retreats (10/13 and 3/16). These parent-child retreats are designed to help our parents take the primary role as we prepare our children to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. Visit the website for more information: www.standrebessette.org/first-reconciliation.html. (Due to Restored Order, there will be no First Eucharist this year. First Eucharist Prep will resume in the Fall of 2019, as the final year of what is now a two year Sacramental Prep.) NOTE: Parents with children preparing to receive First Reconciliation will meet after the G.I.F.T. Parent Meeting for more important information on Sacramental Prep (8pm-8:30pm on Thursday, September 13 th ). Mark Your Calendars for Vacation Bible School! All K-5 children won t want to miss this very worthwhile experience! Junior High and High School Youth are invited to serve as leaders during this amazing week of faith-filled fun. This year s dates: June 24 th -28 th, 2019. High School Growing in Discipleship Every Wednesday evening of the year, youth grades 8-12 are invited to the JPII Youth Lounge for food, fellowship, activities, prayer and reflection. In addition, youth are invited to participate in our monthly Works of Mercy experiences throughout the year, so be sure to visit the parish website for more information: http://www.standrebessette.org/highschooldisciples.html High School Confirmation Prep (Grades 9-12) This year s program consists of seven monthly sessions, two Reconciliation dates, one retreat, plus four communal Works of Mercy experiences per year. Visit the parish website to learn more: www.standrebessette.org/high-schoolconfirmation.html *As part of our Restored Order initiative, ALL high school youth attending the program will receive Confirmation this coming Spring of 2019. NOTE: A mandatory parent-child meeting for all candidates will be held in the Parish Center (high school teens must be present with at least one parent) on ; this is required in order to enroll in the program. If for some reason you cannot make this meeting, please call to make a private appointment: (524.9609x25)
2018-2019 K-8 REGISTRATION FORM G.I.F.T. Growing in Faith Together K-8 Family-Based Faith Formation $90.00 (One Child and One Adult) $110.00 (Whole Family) Financial Aid Available! (Fees are to assist with program costs but should not be a barrier.) Your Primary Timeslot You are welcome to attend whichever time best fits your family s schedule each month (children must be accompanied by at least one parent/guardian). In order to ensure proper meal planning, we do ask that you communicate with us on months when you won t be attending your primary timeslot: Friday Evening Sessions 5:30pm-8:00pm Sunday Afternoon Sessions 12:00pm-2:30pm Number of children under 5 years old (Little Lambs Nursery) Total number of family members to be in regular attendance NOTE TO PARENTS: High School Youth are strongly encouraged to participate in G.I.F.T. as leaders on the K-8 ministry team. (Family Information Sheet on reverse.)
Please return the following information for each child to be enrolled by September 13 th, 2018. 1. Child s Full Name: D.O.B. Grade Parents: Address Parent Email: Phone *If your child is preparing to receive a Sacrament this year, we will need to verify his/her baptismal record. If your child was baptized in Laconia, please mark the appropriate church and include year of baptism so that we can verify: If your child was baptized elsewhere, please send us a copy of the original baptismal certificate, no later than December 19, 2018. 2. Child s Full Name: Date of Birth Grade 3. Child s Full Name: Date of Birth Grade *If you need to register additional children, please use an additional form, available at the office or printable on the parish website at http://www.standrebessette.org/registration-forms.html *If you have a child preparing to receive High School Confirmation, please fill out a separate High School Prep form. Please make checks payable to St. André Bessette Parish and return with this form to the SAB Parish Office: 291 Union Avenue, Laconia 03246 (Attn. Bernadette Eaton)
HIGH SCHOOL CONFIRMATION PREPARATION $90.00 Financial Aid Available! (Fees are to assist with program costs but are not meant to be a barrier.) NOTE: If you have children enrolled in G.I.F.T. (K-8) the High School Confirmation fee is part of the Whole Family discount, and requires no extra cost. Please make checks payable to St. André Bessette Parish and return with this form by September 13 th to the Parish Office: 291 Union Avenue, Laconia 03246 (Attn. Bernadette) 1. Child s Full Name: D.O.B. Parents: Maiden Name: Address Parent Email: Phone *As your child is preparing to receive a Sacrament this year, we will need to verify his/her baptismal record. If your child was baptized in Laconia, please mark the appropriate church and include year of baptism so that we can verify: If your child was baptized elsewhere, please send us a copy of the original baptismal certificate, no later than December 19, 2018. 2. Child s Full Name: D.O.B. IMPORTANT: In order to enroll in Confirmation Prep, all candidates must attend a parent-child meeting on Thursday, September 20 th at 7pm in the (new) Parish Center.