1. Saint Marianne Cope Partners on the Journey
Helping Families to Grow in Faith Together
Tracey Clements
Faith Formation Coordinator
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2. Welcome & Opening Prayer
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3. 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?
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4. Parent Meeting Goals Faith Formation Program Vision
What’s New This Year
Gospel Weeklies Overview
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5. 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.
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6. 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
Baptism
Become a Member of the Church and Begin Our Faith Journey as Catholics with our Family
Being Rooted

7. 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
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8. 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
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9. What’s New This Year - Curriculum
Early Childhood Program for PreK-Gr 1:
Classes will be offered once a month starting in January 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.
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10. 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
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11. What’s New This Year – Sacrament Prep
Grade 2:
Preparation for Sacrament of Reconciliation
First Reconciliation Saturday, March 16, :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
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12. What’s New This Year – Sacrament Prep
Grades 8:
Will not be engaged in Confirmation Preparation
Grade 9:
Preparation for Confirmation during
Retreat in the Fall of their 10th Grade year
Sacrament conferred in the Fall of their 10th Grade Year
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13. What’s New This Year – Gospel Service
Grades 2-8:
Age appropriate class service projects
Grade 9:
Immersion service experience
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14. 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:
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15. 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 –
Facebook Posts – Must add group to your Facebook Account /?ref=bookmarks –
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16. 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
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17. 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
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18. 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
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19. Gospel Weeklies Overview - How It Will Work
Online Resources Available to help you engage your children:
(Video resources)
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20. Questions?
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21. We Need Your Help to Make the Faith Formation Program a Success
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22. 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
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23. Closing Prayer
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