January Faith Formation Update

Hello Families,                                         

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Every year at this time, many people make New Year's resolutions. Some people do a great job of sticking to the goal, and some lose focus after only a couple weeks. The American Psychological Association gives 5 tips to make a resolution stick: 1) Start Small, 2) Change one thing at a time. 3) Talk about it, 4) Don't beat yourself up, and 5) Ask for Support.

I want to invite you to join me in making a resolution to strengthen our families. To spend a year focusing on all the dynamics of family relationships and supporting one another during the tough and joyful moments of family life. We will use the 5 tips by the APA to make this a resolution we will keep.

Pope Francis said in his general audience on December 17, 2014:

"The Son of God chose to be born into a human family, in an obscure town on the periphery of the Roman Empire. Although the Gospels tell us little about the first thirty years of his life, we can imagine that Jesus led a very "normal" family life. He was raised in an atmosphere of religious devotion, he learned words and example of Mary and Joseph, and he grew in wisdom, age and grace (Luke 2:52). In imitation of the Holy Family, every Christian family must make a place for Jesus in its home. For it is through the love of such "normal" families that God's Son quietly comes to dwell among us, bringing salvation to our world…And this is the great mission of the family: to make room for Jesus who is coming, to welcome Jesus in the family, in each member: children, husband, wife, grandparents…Jesus is there. Welcome him there, in order that he grow spiritually in the family."

As we approach the last week of the Christmas season let us welcome Jesus daily into the life of our families. Let us give Christ our hearts on the Solemnity of the Epiphany (Jan 6), and rest in our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Jan 13).

 

As we begin this New Year with a resolution to strengthen our families, the Faith Formation office is excited to announce a couple of new initiatives focused on the family. The first is the opening of a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd  Atrium at St Joseph's School for our 3-4-year old children. See below for more information. The second is that we are in the process of scheduling a handful of Practical Parent Conversations to help parents/grandparents talk to their children and grandchildren about the various hot button issues including sex, sexuality, dating, internet safety, and other issues that are important to you. These are not going to be lectures, but a time to briefly hear what the church has to say on an issue and then to talk about the struggles and successes of raising children around the said issue. More information regarding the schedule of topics will be coming shortly. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions of topics that you would like to learn more about or to discuss with other parents. Please let me know.

 

May God bless you and your family in this New Year!

 

Carlo Stebbings

Director of Faith Formation

 

Faith Formation News for January

 

Important News

 

The Faith Formation office is no longer located at Sacred Heart Church. There are two offices to serve your needs: St. Joseph School and St. Mary's Church. The main phone number will stay the same. You can also call St. Mary's or SJS and ask for Faith Formation. Thank you for your attention to this matter.  

 

New Program for 3-4-year old Children

 

I am pleased to announce the start of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS). It is a Montessori based faith formation program for 3-4-year-old children. CGS will meet once a week on a Thursday morning in the atrium located at St. Joseph's School. More information will be coming. If you are interested in this program for your pre-school aged child, please contact the Faith Formation Office.

 

 

Mark your Calendars!

(Click the headings to go to our website)

 

Monthly/Summer

No January Monthly Family Gathering!

Our next meeting is Saturday February 2nd.

***Students in grades 6-8 who are registered for the monthly/summer program can attend an EDGE gathering in place of the Saturday gathering.

 

FAMILY OF FAITH

Upcoming Large Group Gatherings

Sunday January 20th at 11:00am at St Mary's

 

Sunday and Monday Weekly Programs (K-5th)

We are back to our normal schedule this weekend.

No classes on the 20 and 21st for Martin Luther King Weekend!

 

EDGE Middle School Youth Ministry (6th-8th grade)

          Sunday morning 8:45am-10:00am OR Monday 6:30pm-8:00pm at St. Joseph School

6/7- Respond

13/14-The Father

20/21- No Meeting. Martin Luther King Weekend

27/28- Creating a Safe Environment – Parents encouraged to attend!

 

EMMAUS High School Youth Ministry (9th-12th)

          Sundays from 6:30pm-8:00pm in Youth Room at St. Joseph School

6- Epiphany Party! 6:00pm-8:00pm, Bring a gift for a white elephant

20- Life

 

SACRAMENTAL FORMATION

 

Confirmation

Year 1- January 14 and 28

Year 2- January 13 and 27

Confirmation Service Opportunities

The Knights of Columbus are again serving the poor with their Soup Kitchen. The Soup kitchen is on Tuesdays from 4:30pm-6:30pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall. They serve January, February and March. Contact Jack Baraczek at [email protected] if you would like to sign up or if you have questions. 

1st Communion

Orientation and Class #1- Thursday January 24th at 6:30pm OR Saturday January 26 at 8:30am. All classes will take place at St. Joseph School.

2019 Dinner Gatherings

Click here to view the flyer for 2019 New Evangelization Dinner Gatherings.