Faith Formation Handbook Blessed Sacrament Parish Community 3109 Swede Ave, Midland MI 48642-3842 (989) 835-6777, Fax (989) 835-2451 September 7, 2019 Dear People of God, Soon we will be starting this year’s faith formation programs. The opportunity to learn about our relationship with God is an amazing gift. I cannot think of another thing that not only impacts our lives now but will also echo for all eternity. I am personally excited to be walking this journey with you and your families. As you may already know…our focus is on truly being TEAM CATHOLIC. Being the part of any team requires cooperation and a common goal. Our goal is to do our part to help bring about the kingdom of God. We do just that whenever we take the gifts that God gives us and share them freely with one another. Allow me a quick sports analogy. In the late 1980’s Steve Yzerman was a perennial top scorer in the National Hockey League. In spite of that, the Red Wings couldn’t win in the playoffs. That was until their coach asked Yzerman to change his playing style. This change, while costing him individual statistics, would turn him into a defensive superstar and transform the Red Wings into Stanley Cup Champs. As a member of TEAM CATHOLIC it isn’t about individual accolades but is about the team. We want all people to know that they are valued and that they are part of this diverse and sometimes quirky family we call the Church. Peace and Love, Fr. Rob Blessed Sacrament Parish Community 3109 Swede Ave, Midland MI 48642-3842 (989) 835-6777, Fax (989) 835-2451 August 20, 2019 Dear Families, Welcome back to another faith filled and awe inspiring season of formation opportunities for your entire family! Our theme for the year is TEAM CATHOLIC, and we want you to know that not only are each of you invited to join the team but that there is a role on this team that only YOU can fill. To be our best, we need you to worship with us, pray with us, and celebrate with us, and in order be the team that God is calling us to be we need to practice our faith every day in our homes and in our communities. Our faith formation offerings from pre-school through adults are all geared for us to understand what it is to truly be Catholic and how to live that faith in the world as disciples of Jesus. This year each household is receiving a copy of Joe Paprocki’s Practice Makes Catholic, and you are invited to come between the Masses or during Sunday evening Youth Ministry to learn about how being a “practicing Catholic” is more than just going to Mass. What a beautiful witness to our children that the adults they look up to are practicing at the very same time that they are!! Practicing and playing alongside of you on TEAM CATHOLIC is our deeply committed and passionate Faith Formation Team. As you may already know, there have been some changes to our team roster this year, and I am excited to announce the following additions: Justin Rose as our High School Youth Minister; Corinne Cathcart who is coordinating the Elementary Sacramental Prep program, and Chris Buchalski as our Coordinator of RCIA and Baptismal Preparation. These are awesome adds to our amazing returning team made up of Ansley Dauenhauer heading up our engaging children’s faith formation programs; Christine Sellnow bringing her creative energy to the Middle School programs and Eileen Surbrook giving her all for VBS! And let’s not forget our faith formation “team manager” for the past 20 years, Lorraine Beacom. In closing, I leave you with some inspiration from St. Mother Teresa, “What you are doing I cannot do, what I am doing you cannot do, but together we are doing something beautiful for God!” There are no bench warmers on God’s team. We all have our part to play. Let’s get up and get practicing. GOOOOOOOO TEAM CATHOLIC!!!! Wishing you the peace and joy of knowing how much you are truly loved by God, Lyn Pajk Director of Faith Formation FAITH FORMATION TEAM Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Middle of August to Middle of June (Voice messages left on the weekends will be answered on Monday,) Coordinator’s hours vary because of night and weekend meetings. Lyn Pajk Director of Faith Formation Coordinator of Discipleship Initiatives Coordinator of Adult Formation [email protected] 835-6777 ext. 233 Men & Women’s Retreats Formation Series, and Events. Christ Renews for Men and Women SPRED/CARE– for Adults with Special Needs. Social Awareness Committee/Alternative Gift Fair Adult Formation Committee Small Faith Groups Ongoing Scripture Study Divorce Recovery Grief Recovery Chris Buchalski Adult Formation [email protected] 835-6777 New Parishioner Registration Baptism Coordinator of RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (Adult and Families) process for becoming Catholic Justin Rose Coordinator of High School, Young Adult Ministry [email protected] 835-6777 ext. 234 HS Youth Ministry Program Sunday evenings HS Small Group Leader Recruitment & Training MACY – Midland Area Catholic Youth Events High School Retreats Youth 2 Youth Outreach Team National Catholic Youth Conference Christine Sellnow Coordinator of Middle School Youth Ministry [email protected] 835-6777 ext. 227 Middle School YM Program Sunday Evening Small Groups Catechist Recruitment & Training Family Events Socials Service/Outreach Youth Ministry “On the Go” Retreats MACY – Midland Area Catholic Youth Events Ansley Dauenhauer Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation (Pre-K – 5th Grade) [email protected] 835-6777 ext. 235 Elementary Faith Formation (Pre-K-5th Grade) Sunday Program Children’s Liturgy of The Word Catechist Recruitment & Training Moms in Prayer Group Christian Parents Group Corinne Cathcart Coordinator of Elementary Sacraments: Reconciliation & Confirmation/Eucharist Family preparation and Jesus Experience Day [email protected] 835-6777 ext. 231 Eileen Surbrook Coordinator of Vacation Bible School Program 835-6777 Lorraine Beacom Office Professional for Faith Formation [email protected] 835-6777 ext. 236 Works with Faith Formation Coordinators and their programs Office Hours – 8:30-4:30 M-F Team Catholic! Children’s Faith Formation 2019-2020 Join Our Team to Explore the Mass and the Sacraments! Signups in the Faith Formation Office! Just like sports or other activities, to have an active faith, we have to practice! You don’t learn how to swim by looking at the water. You jump in! Join the Faith Formation Team this year to jump into our faith. In Elementary Faith Formation this year, we’ll do some laps together to figure out what we believe and why, and we’ll put what we learn into practice to make our world and God’s world a better place to be! Just like in sports, families are an important component of our faith life. In addition to weekly Faith Formation classes, there will be family events during the year to encourage families to practice their faith together. PreK/K classes are based on the Sunday Lectionary Cycle. Children explore the weekly gospel through songs, puppets, dramatic play, dress-up, felt board activities, and art to learn how these stories relate to our lives today. 1st and 2nd grade classes use the Loyola Press Finding God series to build the foundation nec- essary for the reception of the sacraments. 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes meet together as a whole group to explore how to be an active and effective member of Team Catholic! Students will explore how they can grow their faith using a vari- ety of activities and experiences to bring the Mass and the Sacraments alive. Vacation Bible School! June 15-18, 2020 VBS is held in conjunction with Assumption and St. Brigid’s parishes at the Assumption campus shortly after school gets out in June. More details to come in late winter. Faith Formation Preschool and Elementary Calendar 2019-2020 Sunday Mornings 9:45-10:45 am September 22—Family Assembly for All Grades* 25 OT Come with your child to kick off the 2019-2020 year and Team Catholic! October 6 27 OT October 13 28 OT October 20 29 OT November 3 31 OT November 10 32 OT November 17 33 OT November 24—Family Gathering— Advent Wreaths* Christ the King December 8 2 AD December 15—Nativity Play*3 AD January 12 Baptism of the Lord February 2 4 OT/Presentation of the Lord February 9 5 OT February 16 6 OT February 23—Family Gathering—Lent Prayer Garden* 7 OT March 1 1 LN March 15—Stations of the Cross*3 LN March 22—Reconciliation for Grades 3rd-5th 4 LN April 19 2 ES April 26 3 ES *Family event—Please join us! Children’s Liturgy of the Word Please prayerfully consider becoming a catechist with the CLOW program! With enough volunteer catechists, Children’s Liturgy of the Word will be offered on the dates below. CLOW catechists commit to teaching three Sundays during the school year. Materials and training are provided. If you would like to help break open the word for our youngest parishioners, please contact Ansley Dauenhauer in the Faith Formation Office or at [email protected]. CLOW Dates 2019-2020 VOLUNTEERS September 21/22 January 11/12 NEEDED! October 12/13 February 1/2 October 19/20 February 8/9 November 2/3 February 15/16 November 9/10 February 28/March 1 November 17/18 March 7/8 December 7/8 March 14/15 December 14/15 March 21/22 April 25/26 May 2/3 May 9/10 All elementary school children are invited to Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) at the 5:00 Mass on Saturday afternoon and the 11:00 Mass on Sunday morning.