FAITH FORMATION STAFF 2016-2017- Please note that this schedule of dates has not yet been confirmed and they are subject to change. You can mark your calendars when this message is taken off the website.
Mrs. Claire Moule, Director
e-mail:
cmoule@stjosephsbabylon.org
Mrs. Mary Linden, Office Manager
e-mail: mlinden@stjosephsbabylon.org
Mrs. Jeanette Yantz, Administrator
e-mail:
jyantz@stjosephsbabylon.org
Faith Formation Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 4:00pm
phone: (631) 587- 4717
Fax: (631) 669-9175
e-mail:
faithformation@stjosephsbabylon.org
St. Joseph Faith Formation Coordinators
2016-2017
Special Needs Mrs. Kathy Knott
Kknott639@gmail.com
RCIA Mrs. Marisa Katz
marisafkatz@yahoo.com
Youth Ministry Mrs. Barbara McNulty, Youth Ministry Director
youth@stjosephsbabylon.org
Youth Band Mr. Ben Meyers
Benny_Myers@yahoo.com
A Message for Parents
As the first and most important teachers of your children your input is essential in order to form your children in the Roman Catholic Faith.
Weekly participation in Sunday Mass (or Saturday evening) is the most effective way to form children in the faith because they experience the ritual week after week and they encounter God in the Scripture readings and in the Eucharist. They also become familiar with the parish community.
A good way to help your children prepare for Sunday Mass is to read the Gospel and share what its message means for you. This family activity would help all members of your family to be more open to hearing God’s message at Mass.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY LITURGY: HOW DO WE DO IT?
Begin by focusing on the Gospel only. (If your children are older you can also read the other scripture passages.)
- Invite one of your children to find the Gospel passage in the Bible. Use any translation. On Sundays we hear the New American Bible.
- Or, access the reading online through the parish website www.stjosephsbabylon.org. Click on DAILY READING (on right side of home page). Scroll down to www.nccbuscc.org. You will see a calendar. Click on the date of the coming Sunday and you will access all the readings exactly as they will be heard at mass.
- Invite your children to listen carefully as you read the Gospel. Then suggest listening for a word or phrase that stands out. Slowly read the Gospel again.
- What is God saying to you in these words? If you had to get up and give a homily on these readings what would you say?
Mass Attendance Requirement
Level 1: Must attend 6 Masses scheduled for the grade level. Please see pages 7-8 for specifics and dates. Children must complete this requirement in order to enter into Level 2.
Level 2: Must attend the 7 Masses scheduled for the year. Please see pages 9-10 for specifics and dates. Children must complete this requirement in order to enter into Level 3.
Levels 3-7: Each child in the program will be required to hand in a minimum of 12Mass attendance envelopes for each year. These envelopes must be picked up in the Faith Formation Office when you come in to purchase your books. Please print all your children’s names neatly on one envelope and be sure to include your last name.
Any child that does not attend the minimum number of Masses will be considered not ready to celebrate the sacraments of initiation. We will accept bulletins from other parishes but they must be sent to the office within two weeks of the date on the bulletin. Please print your children’s first & last name on them.
PARENT MEETINGS
AND
SPECIAL LITURGIES
We look forward to your presence at parent meetings and special liturgies. Please mark your calendar with the event dates listed in this booklet that pertain to your child’s grade level. Please call the Faith Formation Office if you are unable to attend a scheduled event.
ATTENDANCE
Weekly attendance is required in order for a child to successfully complete each grade level. Please phone the catechist when your child must miss the Faith Formation group and then, to the best of your ability, make up the missed chapter with your child. Children are expected to attend each scheduled session.
ARRIVALS
AND
DEPARTURES
Each child is to be escorted by a parent, guardian, or designated adult to the door of the catechist’s home or to the door of the catechist’s meeting room in the Center. At dismissal time the child will be released by the catechist (home or meeting room) only to the parent, guardian or designated adult.
INFORMATION FOR THE CATECHIST”
FORM
Your child will be given an “Information for the Catechist” form at the first class. Please return the information form
to the catechist at your child’s next Faith Formation group meeting.
CONTACT WITH CATECHISTS
We encourage you to be in communication with your child’s catechist. The catechist is available to share or clarify any concerns you might have.
If your child is unable to attend a meeting, please notify the catechist prior to the meeting.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
After each meeting of your child’s Faith Formation group try to find time to read the chapter presented by the catechist that week and discuss its content with your child. Please read the “Note to Families” in the beginning of your child’s textbook. In addition, there is a “Family Feature” at the end of each chapter that helps families to work together in their faith formation and gives a review of each chapter.
CHILDREN LEARN BEST WHEN PARENTS
ARE
INVOLVED.
QUESTIONS
AND
CONCERNS:
Please feel free to call the Faith Formation Office @ 587-4717 if you have questions, suggestions, problems or concerns.
BUILDING PROCEDURES @
the
Parish
Center
Arrival and Dismissal – Every child must be accompanied to and from the classroom by an adult.
- Stairways are marked “up” and “down”; please use the proper stairways to help alleviate congestion.
- We ask that the children be in the rooms five minutes prior to the starting time so that the group can begin on time.
- For the safety of the children, we ask that parents please park in a designated parking spot and walk the child to either the “staff entrance” which is in the rear of the building across from the thrift shop, or to the “nursery school” entrance with the ramp which is a North Carll Ave. entrance, and then to the classroom.
- Do not leave your child in the classroom if the catechist is not present.
Hall Monitors : there are three hallways at the center that are used by Faith Formation. The ideal is to have parents volunteer to monitor each of these hallways when the children are in the building. Please call the Faith Formation office 587-4717 if you are willing to help with this effort. It involves occasionally escorting a young child to the rest room and back and sitting in the hallway to make certain that the children are safely in their rooms. It is a good opportunity to read the newspaper or a good book while your child is participating in a Faith Formation session.
Footwear – footwear with wheels is not permitted in the building.
Food – absolutely no food or drinks are permitted in the building during the catechetical sessions.
Toys, I-Pods, etc. – please leave all distractions at home. The children have only one hour per week to focus on their formal religious education.
Books – parents are asked to buy a work book for each of their children; the books are sold in the Faith Formation office. Please send the work book with the child each week.
If your child will be absent – please call the catechist if your child will not be present so that the catechist isn’t waiting for your child to arrive before she/he begins the session.
ST. JOSEPH’S FAITH FORMATION
2016 2017 CALENDAR
Week Monday Tuesday ______ Wednesday
1 Sept. 26 Sept. 27 Sept. 28
2 Oct. 3 Oct. 4 Oct. 5
3 Oct. 17 Oct. 11 Oct. 12
4 Oct. 24 Oct. 18 Oct. 19
5 Nov. 7 Oct. 25 Oct. 26
6 Nov. 14 Nov. 1 Nov. 2
7 Nov. 21 Nov. 15 Nov. 9
8 Nov. 28 Nov. 22 Nov. 16
9 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Nov. 30
10 Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Dec. 7
11 Dec. 19 Dec. 20 Dec. 14
12 Jan. 9 Jan. 3 Jan. 4
13 Jan. 23 Jan. 10 Jan. 11
14 Jan. 30 Jan. 17 Jan. 18
15 Feb. 6 Jan. 24 Jan. 25
16 Feb. 13 Jan. 31 Feb. 1
17 Feb. 27 Feb. 7 Feb. 8
18 Mar. 6 Feb. 14 Feb. 15
19 Mar. 13 Mar. 7 Mar. 8
20 Mar. 20 Mar. 14 Mar. 15
21 Mar. 27 Mar. 21 Mar. 22
22 April 3 Mar. 28 Mar. 29
We are closed for the following holidays:
2016: 2017:
Monday, October 10 – Columbus Day Monday, January 2 – New year’s day
Monday, October 31 – Halloween Monday, January 16 – Martin Luther King
Tuesday, November 8 – Election Day Monday, February 20 – President’s day
Wednesday, November 23 – Thanksgiving Tuesday, February 21 – Winter recess
Tuesday, November 29 – Confirmation Wednesday, February 22 – Winter recess
Wednesday, December 21 - Christmas Tuesday, February 28 – Mardi Gras
Monday, December 26 - Christmas Wednesday, March 1 – Ash Wednesday
Tuesday December 27 – Christmas
Wednesday, December 28 – Christmas
LEVEL 1
All Level One families will be required to attend six Sunday Masses during the year. Please see the dates listed below.
Parent Overview of Level 1 - Role of parents - Room 257
Meeting Wednesday, September 21 @ 10:00-11:00am or 7:00-8:00pm
Beginning Celebration Sunday, October 16th @ 9:30am Mass in the Msgr. Nolan Hall. Followed by hospitality in the gym.
Advent Calendar November 19-20 - children will recieve an Advent calendar
Outreach donations December 17-18
Receive prayer book February 4-5
Outreach donations March 11-12
Easter Activity Book April 22-23
Forgiveness Celebration Saturday, March 4th @ 11:30am in the Church
LEVEL 2
Parent Meeting: Monday, September 19th in room 257
10:00 until 11:00am or 7:00 until 8:00pm
Parent/Child Meeting Thursday, November 21st at 5:00pm or 6:00pm in
Monsignor Nolan Hall.
First Reconciliation Your child will be assigned to one of the following
Services dates and times: Saturday's, December 10th or 17th
at 11:00 or 1:00pm. Parent and child are asked to
arrive at the Church 15 minutes prior to their
assigned time.
Mandatory Masses Level 2 parents and children are required to attend any
Saturday evening or Sunday Mass on the following
Weekends:
Oct. 1-2 Return Covenants to Mass
Oct. 22-23 Please bring donations for outreach
Nov. 5-6 Presentation of Crosses
Jan. 7-8 Please bring donations for outreach
Jan. 28-29 Blessing of Mass Booklets
March 25-26 Recieve First Communion pin
May 21
@ 9:30 am Mass only - Going Forth Celebration
Parent Meeting
Thursday, March 23rd in room 257 at 10-11am
or 7- 8pm.
First Eucharist
Sat's, Apr 29,May 6 & 13 @
11:30am
&
1:30pm
Celebrations
All First Eucharist Celebrations & Rehearsals take
place
in the Church. Your child will be assigned a
date and time (letters go out in October).
The rehearsals take place the Wednesdays prior to
your assigned Mass and will be at
4pm
for those at
the
11:30am
Mass
and at
5pm
for those at the
1:30pm
Mass.
“Going Forth To Make the Sunday, May 21 @ 9:30am Mass with hospitality
World a
Better Place
” after Mass. Most children wear their First Communion
Outfits, but it’s not required.
LEVEL 3
Presentation of the Gifts at Mass - Level 3 encourages active participation in Sunday Eucharistic celebrations
. Each class is required to sign up to bring up the gifts at one Mass during the year. If a child is unable to attend Mass with their class, they need to sign up for another Mass to fulfill this requirement.
Each child is to hand in a minimum of 12 Mass attendance envelopes during the year.
Level 3 catechists will contact either Joyce McPherson @ 516-458-4573 or via email: joyce.mcpherson@att.net or the Faith Formation Office in order to choose a weekend Mass at which their students will participate in The Presentation of the Gifts.
Catechists will tell the parents which Mass they are to attend. Ushers will be informed that a Level 3 group will carry the bread and wine in procession at designated Masses.
Advent Celebration Come to any Mass the weekend of Dec. 10-11
to
receive Advent gift and blessing.
Instructional Mass Monday, February 13th from 6-7pm in Nolan Hall.
Outreach donations At any Mass the weekend of June 3-4.
LEVEL 4
Mass requirement - each child is to hand in a minimum of 12 Mass Attendance Envelopes
Parent & Child Meeting - Thursday, February 9th @ either 4pm or 7pm in Nolan Hall.
Instructional Mass
Monday, February 13th
from
6-7pm
in Nolan Hall.
Reconciliation - Saturday, March 25 @ either 11am or 1pm in Church.
Return Rice Bowl Donations: at any Mass on the weekend of
April 1-2
Beatitude Prayer Families - to be given out at any Mass the weekend of
May 6-7
LEVEL 5
Mass requirement - each child is to hand in a minimum of 12 Mass Attendance Envelopes.
Parent-Child Meeting Presentation & Explanation of Mass Booklets
Thursday, October 13th
, 4:00-5:00pm
or
7:00-8:00pm in Msgr. Nolan Hall
Presentation of Completed Students will present completed Mass booklets on
Mass Booklets by students: the weekend of
December 3-4
.
Parent-
Child
Church
Tours
TOURS TAKE THE PLACE OF CLASS THE WEEK
OF March 13
Mon,
Tues, & Wed, March 13-15
from 4:00 pm until 5:30 pm.
Each tour is about 40 minutes in length
.
Parents must stay with their children.
Tour dates and times will be assigned
A satisfactorily completed Mass Book is required of all Level 5 students.
Receive Prayer Bracelet At any Mass the weekend of March 18-19
LEVEL 6
Mass requirement - each child is to hand in a minimum of 12 Mass Attendance Envelopes.
Interview Sheets To be returned @ any Mass the weekend of
March 4-5
Trip to the Synagogue -
Thursday, March 9th from 6:00-7:30pm. Please note that this trip takes the place of class for that week. Please meet at Congregation Beth Sholom, 441 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon and try to carpool as parking is limited. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to allow time to sign in.
Prayer Petitions At any Mass the weekend of April 29-30
Confirmation Enrollment Prayer Service - date to be announced.
Level 7
Mass requirement - each child is to hand in a minimum of 12 Mass Attendance Envelopes
Confirmation Preparation for Level 7
1. Thursday, Sept. 29- Parent/Child Meeting @ either 4pm or 7pm in MNH.
This meeting is to hand out and talk about the Confirmation packet.
2. Weekend of October 15-16 - Confirmation Covenants due at any Mass.
3. Weekend of January 21-22 - Essays "Why Someone My Age Would Want to Follow Jesus" due at any Mass.
4. Thursday, January 26 - Parent Meeting @ either 10am or 7pm in MNH.
5.
Weekend of February 11-12 - return Community Service Pledges @ any Mass.
6.
Confirmation Interviews - Thursday, March 30 & Monday, April 3 from 4-7pm, Saturday, April 8 from 10am -12pm
7.
Weekend of June 10-11 - Confirmation petitions due at any Mass.
8. Parent & Confirmation Candidates - meet in September 2017 to talk about final preparation for Confirmation.
Level 8 - Confirmation 2016
Mass requirement - each child is required to hand in monthly Mass Attendance Envelopes.
Confirmation Candidates & Parent Meeting - Wednesday, September 7 @ either 4:30pm or 7pm in Monsignor Nolan Hall.
Weekend of September 24-25 - Gold Sheets due at any Mass (Baptism information).
Monday, September 26 @ either 4:30pm or 7pm - Evening of Prayer - Church
Saturday, October 15 @ either 11am or 1pm - Sacrament of Reconciliation
Monday, November 14 @ either 4:30pm or 7pm - MNH - Life After Confirmation
Tuesday, November 8 - Retreat from 10am - 1pm - MNH
Confirmation Mass & Rehearsal Parents will receive a letter with their child's assigned date and time.
*ALL DATES IN THIS HANDBOOK ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.