Parent Handbook
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St. Bartholomew Catholic Church 2018 – 2019 Catechetical Year Parent Handbook Contact Us: + Saint Bartholomew Catholic Church St. Bartholomew Catholic Church 252 Granada Avenue Long Beach, California 90803 252 Granada Ave 562.438.3826 Fax 562.438.2227 Long Beach, CA 90803 www.stbartholomewcclb.org Phone: 562-438-3826 Director of Faith Formation Dear Parents, Kellie De Leo Email: [email protected] Congratulations on carrying out the gift of faith sharing with your child(ren). This gift you promised to them on the day you Middle/High School/Youth Ministry Coordinator brought them to the Church for the Sacrament of Baptism. Steve Tetreault We pray that you will continue to be the best of teachers of Email: [email protected] the Catholic Faith, for and with your child. It is a privilege for Faith Formation Assistant all of us here at St. Bartholomew Catholic Community to be Louis Lemen part of your faith sharing. We thank you for your trust and Email: [email protected] love in what we do. May the celebration of the Eucharist each th Sunday, strengthen you and your family as we pray and 4 Street Faith Formation Bldg. worship our God with the community of faith. (Only call this number during Faith Formation times. Phone is not monitored other times.) In your daily prayer, remember our catechist as they, like you, 562-433-3970 share in the formation of your child(ren) bringing them up in Masses: Saturday 5:00 pm the Catholic faith. Sunday 8:00 am Through the intercession of Mary our Blessed Mother and St. 9:30 am Bartholomew our patron saint, may God bless you and your 11:00 am family. 12:30 pm 5:30 pm Sincerely, Weekday 8:00 am Holy Days Eve 7:00 pm Day 8:00 am Father Michael Reardon, Pastor 12:15 pm 7:00 pm Confessions: Saturday 3:45 pm – 4:45pm First Fridays of the month after 8:00 am Mass Or call the Parish Office for an appointment PARENT PARTICIPATION PHILOSOPHY As parents or guardians, you are expected to be actively Faith Formation is a lifelong journey toward intimacy with God. It is involved in your child’s faith formation. That you have chosen an ongoing process to develop a living, active, conscious faith, not to enroll them in a faith formation program demonstrates the just for an individual but for our families and community as well. As importance you place on their faith formation. We our faith becomes living, active and conscious, we are brought to a understand and appreciate the responsibility you have oneness with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, in the entrusted to us. Remember though, we only have your child fullness of the Holy Spirit. for seventy-five minutes and can only provide a basic foundation on which you can build and expand upon. Faith is multifaceted involving our head with truth and facts, our heart with trust and love, and our hands and feet with our actions of care and service to others GOALS Formation of your child’s faith began when you brought your child to be baptized. At that time, you promised to nourish and guide your child in the Catholic Faith. This faith formation is rooted in The most valuable gift you can give your child is both the your home and family life. In the National Catechetical Directory easiest and most important; weekly Mass attendance. Our our Bishops say, “Parents are the first and primary religious liturgical celebrations have great educational and formative educators for the children”. Therefore, we want to encourage you value and the graces bestowed cannot be duplicated in a to remain active in your child’s faith formation by enabling you to: classroom. Liturgy, from the Greek, literally means, “the work help your child develop a living, growing faith that of the people”. According to the Catechism of the Catholic permeates daily life; Church, “The liturgy is…the privileged place for catechizing foster a clear sense of Catholic identity with an the People of God. Catechesis is intrinsically linked with the appreciation of Catholic beliefs, values, prayers and whole of liturgical and sacramental activity” (CCC, 1075). practices; The Second Vatican Council states that the Eucharistic incorporate our Catholic Christian traditions to life celebration is the “source and summit” of Christian life. experiences; Everything we do as Catholic Christians stems from our open your child to God’s Word and respond willingly to greatest communal prayer, the Mass. His call as revealed in their life and our tradition. Another area requiring your involvement is family prayer. PROGRAM INFORMATION Please share with and teach your child the prayers every REGISTRATION Catholic should know ie: Registration is held in the spring. Registration forms will Sign of the Cross be either mailed our handed out to your child for you to fill Our Father out. Registrations can be turned back in either in person or by mailing them back to us. Please return back to us Hail Mary asap. There is a lot of work that goes into preparing for Glory Be the year. Act of Contrition TUITION There are many wonderful devotionals available and if you Tuition mainly defrays, but does not cover, the cost of want any copies, please feel free to call the Faith classroom materials, reference materials, audio-visuals, Formation office and ask. retreats, utilities, insurance and catechist in-services and workshops. We are generously supported and PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH supplemented by St. Bartholomew parishioners as a Precepts are principles or expectations. The purpose of the precepts of the church is to assist the faith community whole. in understanding what a minimum participation would be SCHEDULE for one to be considered an active member of the Catholic Pre-k & K meet Sundays from 9:30 – 10:30am in the Faith Faith. This indispensable minimum is a must so that we Formation Office are able to grow in our love of God and neighbor. The precepts of the Church are: 1st – 5th Grade grades meet Mondays from 3:45 – 5:00 pm or Thursday’s from 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm at the 4th Street 1) Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Formation Bldg. Until construction is completed we will Obligation. (This involves refraining from work or meet in the parish hall. activities that hinder the worship due to God.) Edge - 6th 7th & 8th grades meet the 1st & 3rd Tuesday’s of 2) Receive Communion at least once a year during the month from 6:30 – 8:30pm at the 4th Street Formation Easter Season. (Ideally, Catholics should receive Bldg. Until construction is completed we will meet in the Communion each time they attend Mass.) parish hall. 3) Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least COMMUNICATION once a year. Please read any letters or flyers that are mailed, e-mailed, (Look for the dates of the Parish Penance Services texted or sent home with your child. offered during Advent and Lent) We have update our website more user friendly so you will 4) Remember to fast and abstain from meat on days be able to have all information regarding faith formation at specified by the liturgical calendar (usually Fridays your fingertips. They are working on it. I am hoping it will during Lent). not be much longer. Another way we will communicate is through our Facebook page. Please go to St. BartholomewLB and like us and you will be connected to what is happening. Catechists will send information on what they have covered in adventure! You can access resources at http://www.smp.org/. their session via e-mail. The addresses and e-mails of our families shall be strictly confidential and used only for official CHILD SAFETY For your child' safety, please be aware that the Director and any faith formation business. volunteer with the faith formation program are mandated Parents are always welcome and encourag ed to speak with reporters of child abuse and harassment. We are required, by their child’s catechists. If a lengthy meeting is required, please law, to report any instance of abuse to the proper authorities. make an appointment at the Faith Formation Office: (562) 438-3826 To ensure all children are safe, no children will be released without a parent, or designated adult. If you would like to meet with the Director other than when classes are in session, please feel free to call the office MASS SERVERS number shown above and set a time that is convenient for you Any boy or girl who is in the 5th grade or above and has already to meet made their first communion are encouraged to become Mass Servers. A firm commitment must be made by the child and the STUDENT INSURANCE family to follow through on this vital service to our parish Children are insured in case of injury while attending faith community. If your child feels called to be an altar server, formation sessions and any related activities. This insurance please contact: Deacon Miguel and Sonia Torrado (707) 322- is included in the registration fee. 4120. CURRICULUM PROPERTY AND FACILITIES Our faith formation programs provide a gradual faith formation Each child is responsible for equipment and supplies he/she through the lessons shared week to week. These lessons receives and uses. If damage occurs, parents will be asked to build upon levels of understanding which, over time, provide pay for repairs or replacement. an ongoing presentation of our Catholic faith. This foundation will help guide your child in his/her life-long journey of faith.