FAITH FORMATION STAFF 2019-2020

• 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.
• Every child needs to be signed out by a parent or designated adult.
• Do not ring the bell to the Parish Center when entering the building for classes.

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.
 

Child Protection & Prevention Program - this is a child safety program that will be presented to the children in levels 1-6.

Food – absolutely no food or drinks are permitted in the building during the catechetical sessions.
Toys, electronic devices, cell phones, 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 make sure your child brings the book and a pen or pencil to class each week.
              
ST. JOSEPH’S FAITH FORMATION
2019 - 2020 CALENDAR
 Week                        Monday                   Tuesday ______      Wednesday                                   
      1                            Sept. 23                 Sept. 24                    Sept. 25
      2                            Sept. 30                 Oct. 1                        Oct. 2
      3                            Oct. 7                     Oct. 8                        Oct. 9
      4                            Oct. 21                   Oct. 15                      Oct. 16
      5                            Oct. 28                   Oct.  22                     Oct. 23
      6                            Nov. 4                     Oct. 29                      Oct. 30
      7                            Nov. 18                   Nov. 12                     Nov. 6
      8                            Nov. 25                   Nov. 19                     Nov. 13
      9                            Dec. 2                     Nov. 26                     Nov. 20
    10                            Dec. 9                     Dec. 3                       Dec. 4
    11                            Dec. 16                   Dec. 10                     Dec. 11
    12                            Jan. 6                     Jan. 7                        Jan. 8
    13                            Jan. 13                   Jan. 14                      Jan. 15
    14                            Jan. 27                   Jan. 21                      Jan. 22
    15                            Feb. 3                    Jan. 28                       Jan. 29
    16                            Feb. 10                   Feb. 4                        Feb. 5
    17                            Feb. 24                   Feb. 11                      Feb. 12*
    18                            March 2                  March 3                     March 4
    19                            March 9                  March 10                   March 11
    20                            March 16                March 17                   March 18
    21                            March 23                March 24                   March 25
    22                            March 30                March 31                    April 1
    23                            April 6                     April 7                        April 8
* Please note: If Confirmation is celebrated on a Wednesday, there will be classes on Wednesday, December 18th in lieu of Wednesday, Feb. 12th (our first choice for a Confirmation date).                      
 
We are closed for the following holidays:
2019:                                                                2020:
Monday, October 14 – Columbus Day             Wednesday, January 1 – New Years Day
Tuesday, November 5 - Election Day               Monday, January 20 - Martin Luther King
Monday, November 11 - Veteran's Day            Week of February 17 - Winter recess    
Wednesday, November 27 - Thanksgiving       Tuesday, February 25 - Mardi Gras
Tues. & Wed. Dec. 17 & 18 - no classes           Wednesday, February 26 - Ash Wednesday 
Week of December 23 - Christmas       
Week of December 30 - Christmas/New Years                         
 
 
LEVEL 1
 
Finding God, Our Response to God’s gifts –This series was put together to help the children experience the presence of God in their lives and to have a personal relationship with Jesus.  Children will come to know God in a personal way in order to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
 
 
                        SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR LEVEL 1
                                        
Parent                              Overview of Level 1 - Role of parents
Meeting                             Wednesday, September 18th @ 11:00am or 7:00pm
                                          in the O’Connell Room

Easter Activity Book       To be given out at the last class.  
  
Special Masses for Level 1
  
Beginning Celebration           Sunday, October 20th @ 9:30am &  11:30am (Spanish) Masses       
                                                 in Msgr. Nolan Hall, hospitality in the O'Connell Room after Mass.
                                                  Return First Eucharist Covenants to Mass & join us for a    
                                                 Welcome Celebration.
 
 Advent Calendar                    November 16^th or 17^th - Children will receive an Advent calendar
                                                  at Mass.                                             
 
 Outreach Donations               December 21st or 22nd - Please bring donations
                                                  for the parish food pantry to Mass.  Baskets will be at the door.

Prayer Service                         Thursday, January 23rd @ 6pm in the Church
 
 Catholic Prayers for               February 1st or 2nd - Come to Mass and
 Catholic Families                  receive your copy of the Catholic Prayers booklet.
 
Presentation of Gifts              See "A Message for Parents" above.
                                
LEVEL 2
Finding God, Our Response to God’s Gifts – this series will help enhance the prayer life of the children by using different types of prayer experiences.  The goal is for the children to come to know Jesus on a personal level and to know what it’s like to experience the presence of God in their lives.
 
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR LEVEL 2
Parent Meeting:                      Tuesday, September 17^th  in the O'Connell room
                                                  11:00am or 7:00pm.
 
Parent/Child Meeting              Thursday, November 7^th at 4 pm or 6pm in Nolan Hall.
                                                  Reconciliation Workshop/The seasons of Advent & Christmas.
 
First Reconciliation                 Your child will be assigned to one of the following dates/times:
Services                                   Saturday, November 23rd at 11:15am in the Church
                                                  Saturday, December 7th at 11:15am or 12:45pm in the Church
                                                  Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to sign in.
                                                 
Prayer Service                        Thursday, January 23rd  in the Church

Parent Meeting                        Thursday, March 5th in the O'Connell Room @ either 11am or 
                                                   7pm.

Retreat                                     Canceled due to social distancing mandate.
 
Mandatory Masses                 Level 2 parents and children are required to attend any
                                                  Saturday evening or Sunday Mass on the following dates:
 
Return Covenants                   Oct 5th or 6th – signed Covenants are to be returned.
Presentation of Crosses         November 2nd or 3rd – receive a cross necklace at Mass. 
Donations for Outreach          January 4^th or 5^th – please bring donations for Outreach.
Blessing of Mass Booklets     January 25^th or 26^th – Bring your Mass Booklets to Mass.
Church Tour Booklets             March 7th or 8th - bring your church tour booklet to Mass.
Going Forth Celebration         Sunday, May 17th @ 9:30am & 11:30 (Spanish)  Masses, Going        
                                                  Forth Celebration & hospitality in the O'Connell Room afterwards.
                                                  Children are encouraged to wear First Communion outfits.
 
 
First Eucharist                         Saturdays, April 25th has been move to May 30th.  May 2nd
Celebrations                              has been moved to June 13th & May 9th @ 11am & 1pm
                                                   These dates are subject to change based on the social 
                                                   distance mandate.  The May 9th date will change once we know
                                                  when the mandate is lifted.
Important notice regarding First Communions:
This has been a most challenging time for us and it's hard to know when things will get back to "normal".  The process of going back to work and school is going to take time.  How much time, we don't know yet.  It's difficult to know when our First Holy Communion Masses will take place due to the uncertainty of the end of the social distancing mandate.  The May 30th and June 13th dates are on the calendar but it's highly unlikely that conditions will change that quickly to allow for large group gatherings.   Please be patient as we await and see what will happen.  I will send emails out to the families as information becomes available.   Please note that the May 9th Communions have been postponed until further notice.  A new date will be determined when large group gatherings are allowed and are safe.  

LEVEL 3
Finding God, Our Response to God’s Gifts – this new series nourishes a relationship with God through traditional prayer, meditation, liturgical prayer, praying with Scripture and through art. 
      
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR LEVEL 3
 
Monthly Mass Attendance/Presentation of Gifts - please see note above "Message to Parents"     

Instructional Mass                  Thursday, December 5th @ 6:45pm in the Church

Advent Celebration                 Come to any Mass the weekend of December 14^th or 15^th to
                                                   receive an Advent gift and a special blessing. 



LEVEL 4
 Finding God, Our Response to God’s gifts consistently provides opportunities for children to experience and cherish prayer as a deeply important, always present opportunity to grow in relationship with God.  Children are encouraged to take time to reflect on and recognize God’s presence in their lives.

  SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR LEVEL 4
 
Monthly Mass Attendance     Please see "Message to Parents" above.

Instructional Mass                  Thursday, December 5^th @ 6:45pm in the Church
                                               
Beatitude Prayer                     Come to any Mass the weekend of March 14^th or 15^th
                                                 & receive the Beatitude Prayer for Families.

Return Rice Bowls                  At any Mass on the weekend of March 28th or 29th 
(rice bowls will be given out in the classrooms @ the beginning of Lent) 
Operation Rice Bowl is a program run by the Catholic Relief Services and is open to anyone in the parish who would like to participate during the Lenten season.  The money raised is used to help those in need here in the U.S. and all throughout the world.  Please be as generous as your means allow and thank you for any donations you are able to provide.

LEVEL 5
Finding God, Our Response to God’s gifts focuses on the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, the center of Christian life.  The children will grow in their appreciation of the Church as a worshiping community, and of Christ’s action among us in the Eucharistic liturgy and in the sacraments. 
 
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR LEVEL 5
 Monthly Mass Attendance      Please see section above "Message to Parents"
 
 Parent-Child Meeting              Presentation & Explanation of Mass Booklets
                                                   Thursday, October 10^th @ 4pm or 7pm in the O’Connell Rm.

Instructional Mass                    Thursday, October 24th @ 6:45pm in the Church.

Church Tours                              Tuesday, November 12th from 4-7pm & Wednesday, 
                                                    November 13th 4-5pm Tours take approximately 45 minutes.
                                                    Parents must stay with their children.  Tours take the place of 
                                                    class this week.

Presentation of Completed        Students will present completed Mass booklets at any Mass  
Mass Booklets by students:    the weekend of December 7th or 8th.
               * A satisfactorily completed Mass Book is required of all Level 5 students.

Receive Prayer Card             Come to any Mass the weekend of March 21st or 22nd and
                                                Receive Works of Mercy Prayer Card.       
 
LEVEL 6
 
Finding God, Our Response to God’s gifts - this series uses a spiral approach to teaching, which means that the children learn about their faith by revisiting the same topics each year but on a level that they can understand. 
 
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR LEVEL 6
 Monthly Mass Attendance/Presentation of the Gifts - see section above "Message to parents"   
 
Instructional Mass                 Thursday, October 24th @ 6:45pm in the Church.

Retreat                                    Saturday, November 2nd from 1 - 4pm in Nolan Hall.
                                              
Interview Sheets                    Due at any Mass the weekend of Feb. 29th - March 1st.

Reconciliation                       Saturday, March 14th @ either 11:15am or 12:45pm in Church.
 
Prayer Petitions                    Due at any Mass the weekend of May 2nd or 3rd..
 
LEVEL 7
Chosen Program - This program will help our students prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  If your family has a child in level 7 who wishes to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation, please see the Confirmation preparation schedule below.
 
CONFIRMATION PREPARATION SCHEDULE

  

1. Parent/Child Meeting – on either Monday, Oct. 17th @ 4PM OR 7PM in the O’Connell Room.  At this meeting, you will receive & review the Confirmation packet.
2. Weekend of October 26 & 27, 2019 – Confirmation Covenants to be presented to the priest at any Mass this weekend (gold paper).
3. Instructional Mass - Thursday, November 14th @ 6:30pm in the Church.
4. Saturday, December 14th, 2019 - retreat in Nolan Hall 9am-1pm.
5. Weekend of January 11th & 12th, 2020 - return essays "Why Someone My Age Would Want to Follow Jesus" at any Mass.
6. Weekend of February 8th & 9th, 2020 - return Community Service Pledges at any Mass this weekend (red paper).

Mass Attendance/Presentation of the Gifts at Mass - see notes above "Message to Parents"

Community Service - students are required to complete a minimum of 6 hours of community service in both level 7 & 8 for a total of 12 hours for Confirmation.
 
Level 8 -  CONFIRMATION 2020
 
Parent & Child Meeting         Thursday, October 3rd @ either 4pm or 7pm in the O'Connell Rm

Gold Sheets                            Due at any Mass the weekend of October 19th & 20th.

Evening of Prayer                 Monday, Oct. 28 or Wednesday, Oct. 30th @ 6:30pm  in
                                                the Church - takes the place of class this week.
                                                For parents and Confirmation Candidates

Instructional Mass                 Thursday, Novemeber 14th @ 6:30pm in Nolan Hall.

Petitions                                Due at any Mass the weekend of November 23d & 24th.

Confirmation Interviews      Thursday's, December 5th & 12th from 3:30pm-7pm.

Reconciliation                       Saturday, January 11th @ either 11:15am or 12:45pm.
                                                Students with last names beginning with the letters A-L are to attend
                                                the 11:15am service and those with last names beginning with the
                                                letters M-Z are to attend the 12:45pm service.
                                                 Confirmation robes will be given out at the end of the service.

Retreat                                   Saturday, January 25th from 9am - 1pm in  Nolan Hall.
                                                For Confirmation Candidates only.  Community service pledges
                                                are due at the retreat.
                                                       
Confirmation Mass & rehearsal - Dates to be determined.
 
Welcome Celebration             Sunday, March 22nd @ 9:30am & 11:30am (Spanish) Masses.
                                                 Hospitality in the O'Connell Room after Mass.

Mass Attendance/Presentation of the Gifts - please see note "Message to parents" above.
  
FAITH FORMATION FOR CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
 
All youngsters, regardless of ability level, are invited to participate in Faith Formation. 
Our multi-level Faith Formation Program offers a personalized course of study, prepared for children according to their individual needs.  Our gifted and talented volunteer catechists receive specific training to enable them to creatively present lessons of faith to these children.
 
The Special Needs Program offers supportive one-on-one catechesis on a weekly basis on Tuesdays from 5:15-6:15pm in the O’Connell Room.  Every effort will be made to cooperate with parents to provide the most meaningful opportunity for their children to fully participate in the Sacraments and Christian living
 
If you are interested in providing support or in being trained as a special needs catechist, please call the Faith Formation office at 587-4717; this is a wonderful community service opportunity for teens.  Come join us in being the helping hands of Jesus in thanksgiving for all the blessings that you have received.
 
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
FOR CHILDREN IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
The Diocese of Rockville Centre has a policy whereby the students of Catholic Schools must prepare for and celebrate the sacraments in the family’s home parish and not the school parish.  Parents of catholic school children are required to register their children for Faith Formation each year, beginning in level one and they are to attend Sunday Eucharist (or Saturday evening) in their home parishes.  They must attend the Level One and Two Parent Meetings and parents and their children must attend any events pertaining to the sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.  The same holds true for the immediate preparation for Confirmation (parents and their children are required to attend parent meetings or parent/child meetings, retreats, reconciliation services, outreach projects and any other requirements for the immediate preparation for Confirmation).

Sacramental Preparation for Older Children - Sacramental Preparation for First Eucharist is a 2 year process.  Children who are registered for the first time in second grade will be placed in a level 1 class and will celebrate First Eucharist after completing levels 1 & 2.  Parents will be offered the opportunity to "catch up" by doing level 3 at home after First Eucharist.  Parents mus show completed level 3 work before we can place your child in level 4.

Confirmation preparation is also a 2 year process.  We offer a special program for children between the ages of 10-17 who have been baptized Roman Catholic but have not recieved catechesis for Eucharist and Confirmation.

RCIA for adults - Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is the formation prosess by which adults are initiated into the Catholic Church.  Any adult interested in becoming Catholic or who is a Catholic but has not celebrated First Eucharis or Confirmation is encouraged to call the Parish Office at 631-669-0068.

RCIA - Adapted for Children - we welcome all children age 7 & above who have never been baptized or who are coming from another faith, into the church through participation in an adapted form of the RCIA for adults.  A meeting with the RCIA for children coordinator is required.

Service Opportunities for families and faith formation groups - making cards for nursing home residents & for those who are homebound.  Cards can be made on construction paper and envelopes are not needed.

Holiday                                             Grade level                               Due Date
Halloween                                                   2                                      October 18
Thanksgiving                                              5                                      November 8
Christmas                                                    4                                      December 13
Valentine's Day                                           3                                      January 31
St. Joseph/St. Patrick's Days                    6                                      March 5
Easter                                                           1                                      April 2

* Cards must be delivered to the Faith Formation Office by 2pm on or before the date listed above so that our volunteers and pick them up over the weekend.

Food pantry donations - please see the bulletin for the most needed items for the food pantry and thank you for any donations you are able to provide.  Baskets are at the entrances to the Church and Nolan Hall to collect non-perishable food items and paper goods.
Holiday Baskets - please contact the Outreach Center if you would like to donate for this cause - 631-669-5574.

Thrift Shop donations - clothing, household items, baby items and toys can be brought to the Thrift Shop on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays 10am - 3pm.

PBJ Gang - please help put together peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless and/or make donations of bread, peanut butter & jelly.  This group meets once a month on a Thursday evening.  Please contact Barbara McNulty @ youth@stjosephsbabylon.org for more information.

CATECHISTS - are volunteers who share their faith with the children of our parish.  All grade levels meet at the Parish Center.  The ideal group size is 10 children.  Therefore, many catechists are needed.  Please consider sharing your faith with a small group of children.

A catechist meeting is offered in September to discuss the content of upcoming lessons and to keep the catechists apprised of what's new in the parish.  The meeting takes place in the O'Connell Room.  We begin with prayer and an overview of upcoming events.  Class lists and catechist guides are given out at this meeting.  Catechists are asked to call the parents of the children in their group to inform them of the start date, classroom number and day and time of their class.

The catechist guide provides a wealth of information and we provide calendars, syllabus and various handouts.  We are here to help you, please contact Claire Moule, Director of Faith Formation if you are interested in becoming a catechist and/or if you need help as you volunteer.

Catechists are expected to attend Mass on a regular basis.  Any catechist with a child in the program that does not hand in any Mass attendance envelopes will not be able to teach the following year.

We have a special meeting for new catechists in September and a follow up meeting in January.  At the end of the year we have a catechist evaluation meeting and social.  This meeting gives us the opportunity to express what went well, what could have been better and what we need to let go of.  We value your feedback and use your comments in planning for the following year.

VIRTUS Training - The Office of Child Protection in the diocese of Rockville Center requires all adults who volunteer to work with children to complete a VIRTUS Training session and undergo a background check.  

VIRTUS sessions will be given at St. Joseph on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 9:30am-12:30pm and again from 7-10pm in the O'Connell Room.  In addition, every volunteer needs to complete the monthly online updates.  To register for the training session, create a user name and password on the website: virtus.org.  Click on registration and scroll down to Rockville Center, then find the session you would like to go to.  Contact the Faith Formation Office if you need help.

Volunteer Service Request Form (background check) can be obtained from the Faith Formation Office.

DATES FOR CATECHISTS

Catechist meeting for new catechists is on Tuesday, September 10th @ 7pm in the O'Connell Room.

Catechist meeting for levels 2-8 is on Wednesday, September 11th in the O'Connell Room at either 11am or 7pm

Catechetical Congress will take place on Saturday, September 14th at St. John the Baptist H.S.  For more information go on the diocesean website: drvc.org.

Catechetical Sunday - the weekend of September 14th & 15th  - Please come to any Mass this weekend to recieve a special blessing.  We will be highlighting the catechetical ministry at all the Masses this weekend. If any current catechists would like to give a witness talk at a Mass, please call Claire in the FF Office.

Levels 1 & 2 Catechist meeting on Thursday, January 2nd @ 4pm in the O'Connell Room.

Catechist Evaluation meeting and Social on Thursday, April 2nd @ 7pm in the O'Connell Room.

Please note: Please return folders, catechist guides and any other materials after your last class.

Special Events

Saturday, December 7th - Christmas Creche Lighting - after the 5pm Mass.

Sunday, December 8th - Christmas Pageant @ 3pm in the Church

Tuesday, February 25th - Mardi Gras celebration in Nolan Hall.

Wednesday, February 26th - Ash Wednesday.

Christmas Pageant - All children in grades 1-12 are invited to sign up to be in the parish Christmas pageant.  High School student are needed to provide music (instrumental voice) and to assist in directing the children.  There will be 8-10 rehearsals plus a dress rehearsal.  Check the bulletin for details.


SNOW CANCELLATION - check news12.com for delayed openings and cancellations, or watch News12 or call the Parish Center @ 631-669-0068.

Volunteer's Code of Conduct
Our children are the most important gifts God has entrusted to us.  As a volunteer, I promise to strictly follow the rules and guidelines in this Volunteer's Code of Conduct as a condition of my providing services to the children and youth of our parish.
As a volunteer, I will:
* Treat everyone with respect, loyalty, patience, integrity, courtesy, dignity and consideration.
* Avoid situation where I am alone with children and/or youth at Church activities.
* Use positive reinforcements rather than criticism, competition or comparison when working with children and/or youth.
* Rufuse to accept expensive gifts from children and/or youth or their parents without prior written approval from the pastor or administrator.
* Report suspected abuse to the pastor, administrator, or appropiate supervisor and the New York State Child Registry (1-800-342-3720).  I understand that failure to report suspected abuse to civil athorities is, according to the law a misdemeanor.
* Cooperate fully in any investigation of abuse of children and/or youth.
As a volunteer I will not:
* Smoke or use tobacco products in the presence of children and/or youth.
* Use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol at any time while volunteering.
* Use, possess, or be under the influence of illegal drugs at any time.
* Pose any health risk to children and/or youth (i.e. no fevers or other contagious situations).
* Strike, spank, shake, or slap children or youth.
* Humiliate, ridicule, threaten, or degrade children and/or youth.
* Touch a child and/or youth in a sexual or other inappropriate manner.
* Use any discipline that frightens or humiliates children and/or youth.
* Use profanity in the presence of children and/or youth.

I understand that as a volunteer working with children and/or youth, I am subject to a through background check including criminal history.  I understand that any action inconsisitent with this Ciode of Conduct or failure to take action mandated by this Code of Conduct may result in my removal as a volunteer with children and/or youth.