Saint Marianne Cope Partners on the Journey Helping Families to Grow in Faith Together Tracey Clements Faith Formation Coordinator This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Welcome & Opening Prayer This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Faith Sharing Exercise – 10 minutes When have you recognized the presence of God? Or What clutter in your life might be holding you back from experiencing the fullness of God’s love? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Parent Meeting Goals Faith Formation Program Vision What’s New This Year Gospel Weeklies Overview This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What is the Purpose of the Faith Formation Program at Saint Marianne Cope? To provide parents and children with the spiritual tools they will need to become life- long learning followers of Christ by helping them to know God and experience His love. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Faith Formation Journey of Catholics Confirmation Strengthened by the Spirit, Called to Show Christ’s Love to the World through Gospel Service Being Sent Eucharist Body of Christ, Broken for the World, Provides Us with Spiritual Food for our Faith Journey Reconciliation Renew our Commitment to Christ through Repentance & Forgiveness Being Nourished Baptism Love in action is “an indispensible expression” of the Church’s being (Deus Caritas Est, no. 25) Baptism reveals the equality and dignity of each member of the community In Baptism, we profess our commitment to the Church’s beliefs, values, and vision Baptism invites us to a vocation of holiness and the practice of charity “Participation in the Communion of Saints requires a commitment to communion with Christ and ‘a life of charity’ in ‘this world and in the next,” (Christifideles Laici, nos. 17, 19). Eucharist “A Eucharist which does not pass into the concrete practice of love is intrinsically fragmented,” (Deus Caritas Est, no. 14) The Eucharist celebrated as a community, teaches us about human dignity, callus to to right relationship with God, ourselves, and others We experience the Eucharist asa community “A truly Eucharistic community cannot be closed upon itself,” (On the Eucharist, no. 39) The Eucharist awakens us to our own dignity and to that of others “If our Eucharist workshop is authentic, it must make us grow in awareness of the dignity of each person (On the Mystery of Worship of the Eucharist, no. 6) The Eucharist moves us and inspires us to respond Confirmation Confirmation enriches the baptized with strength of the HS so they can better witness to Christ in word and deed (CCC, no. 1285) At Confirmation, we receive the gifts of the HS At Confirmation, we receive diverse spiritual gifts that work together for the “common good” and the “building up of the Church, to the wellbeing of humanity and the needs (The Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World, no. 24) At Confirmation, we recommit to participate in the Church’s work and mission “To bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds (CCC, no. 1316) Confirmation is not only an anointing, but a commissioning to live our our faith into the world Confirmation calls us to share Christ’s mission to promote life and dignity Sharing in the baptismal call of priest, prophet, and king Source: Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development. Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel , Being Disciples. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops . 2011. Baptism Become a Member of the Church and Begin Our Faith Journey as Catholics with our Family Being Rooted

Building Our Relationship with God Creating Time & Space for God Prayer – Both Individual & Communal Reading and Reflecting upon Scripture Participation in the Sacraments Gospel Service – Works of Charity & Mercy This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year – Program Outline Designed to encourage Faith Formation for the Whole Family: Worship as a Family at 8:30 AM Mass at St. Catherine Church Invited to Hospitality & Fellowship as a Family at Broad Brook Elementary School Cafeteria with beverages from 9:30 AM-10 AM Group prayer and announcements with students, catechists, and parents in Broad Brook Elementary School Cafeteria at 10 AM Students dismissed to their classes and parents are invited to stay for small group discussion, fellowship, etc. Parents will pick up their child(ren) at their child(ren)’s classroom(s), going to the younger child’s classroom first This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year - Curriculum Early Childhood Program for PreK-Gr 1: Classes will be offered once a month starting in January 2019 on week where there is no scheduled Faith Formation classes. Classes will be held during the 10:30 AM Mass at St. Philip Church Children will attend first half of Mass and be called up to the altar for a short reflection with Fr. Stu Children will be dismissed for lesson held at St. Philip Church Hall and will rejoin their families at the end of Mass. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year - Curriculum Grades 2-9: Classes meet bi-weekly for Gr 2-9 working around holidays and school breaks No separate class schedule for Gr 8 & 9 New Curriculum Gospel Weeklies for Gr 2-8 Decision Point for Gr 9 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year – Sacrament Prep Grade 2: Preparation for Sacrament of Reconciliation First Reconciliation Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:30- 11:30 AM at St. Philip Church Grade 3: Preparation for First Holy Communion This year’s 3rd Graders have already made their First Communion last year so there is no preparation during 2018-19 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year – Sacrament Prep Grades 8: Will not be engaged in Confirmation Preparation Grade 9: Preparation for Confirmation during 2018-19 Retreat in the Fall of their 10th Grade year Sacrament conferred in the Fall of their 10th Grade Year This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year – Gospel Service Grades 2-8: Age appropriate class service projects Grade 9: Immersion service experience This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year – Child Lures Prevention Program Will be taught to students in Grades 2-9 in March Parents will have opportunity to opt out Parents who opt out will be provided with materials to review with child(ren) at home For more information about the Child Lures Prevention Program: https://archdioceseofhartford.org/protection-of-youth/ This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year – Communication Information about the Faith Formation Program will be available in the following media: Weekly Bulletin – Paper and online (6 most recent) Parish Web Site – www.smceastwindsor.org Facebook Posts – Must add group to your Facebook Account https://www.facebook.com/groups/246733849191568 /?ref=bookmarks Email – tracey@smceastwindsor.org This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What’s New This Year – Class Cancellation Notifications about class cancellations due to weather will be communicated on the following TV Stations: WFSB 3 FOX 61 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Gospel Weeklies Overview New curriculum focuses on life and teachings of Jesus Weekly lessons that relate to Sunday’s Gospel Weekly theme presented at all Grade Levels Student Handbook that will be used both in class and at home Online Tools available including videos Good News Gr 2-3 Venture Gr 4-5 Visions Grade 6-8 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Gospel Weeklies Overview - How It Will Work Child(ren) will come home with two Gospel Weeklies lessons and Student Handbook Week of Class: Lesson that was taught in class and relates to Sunday’s Gospel During the week discuss as a Family the questions from Family Corner/With My Friends and Family sections of Gospel Weeklies Off-Week (No Class) Lesson for the following Sunday (off-week) for you to work at home with your children as a Family This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Gospel Weeklies Overview - How It Will Work Online Resources Available to help you engage your children: http://www.pflaumweeklies.com/parents/ http://www.pflaumweeklies.com/catechists-teachers/ http://www.pflaumweeklies.com/blog/ (Video resources) This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Questions? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

We Need Your Help to Make the Faith Formation Program a Success This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Faith Formation Volunteer Opportunities Catechists Needed Other Opportunities Grade 2 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 8 Hospitality Helping Hands Prayer Partners Confirmation Coordinators Special Projects Intercessors Photographers This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Closing Prayer This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA