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Learning/Children (Preschool
- Gr 5)
Our parish has always been on fire with the Spirit. Just
as a fire needs fuel to ignite, so does our faith. FiRE-Faith
Reaching Everyone is the fuel for whole parish faith formation.
Preschool/K
Programs
| Sparks
Sunday School |
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Offered
for ages 3-4 and Kindergarten students during Sunday
morning Masses. |
Sparks
Sunday School provides age appropriate faith formation
guided by biblical faith and the teachings of the
Catholic Church. Our program incorporates bible-based
curriculum, seasonal lessons and activities, scripture
and prayer, music and singing programs, and other
various ways for children to grow in their faith.
Sparks Sunday School is only one of the many opportunities
for fostering faith that extend from the church to
the home and into the community. Click here for a
registration
form. If you have any questions or would like
to volunteer, please contact Carolyn
Real. For the complete calendar of Sparks dates click
here. |
Catechesis
of the Good Shepherd for
Ages 3-6
We
are offering a new option for children ages 3-6 years old
on
Tuesday mornings.
Catechesis of
the Good Shepherd is a method of faith formation that combines
the Bible and Liturgy of the Church with Montessori based
teaching methods. Children ages 3-6 have the opportunity
to come to a specially prepared atrium, where everything
is child-sized. Through presentations and getting a chance
to work with the materials, children can explore some of
the essential truths of scripture or ritual they see at
Mass. It gives children a chance to understand what they
see at Church and grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Come be part of our program.
Space is limited and will be filled on a first come basis.
For more details and to register, see our
brochure.
Grades
1-5 Programs
Contact Carolyn
Real, Faith Formation Coordinator for questions about
any of the below programs.
All
school age children should receive formal
and
systematic catechesis in a parish-based
catechetical
program, a Catholic school or a
program
of home based catechesis.
(National
Directory for Catechesis, pg. 643)
Our FiRE
1-5 program is dynamic and growing because of parish
input. We are pleased to announce that because of
the commitment of our dedicated faith formation families,
we will be able to offer 2 class options for grade school
children this fall.
Option
#1: FiRE grades 1-5 will meet on Wednesdays from 6:15–7:30
PM.
Option
#2: FiRE grades 1-5 will meet on Sunday mornings prior to
Mass from
8:30–9:45 AM.
This will assist
families that want a community faith formation experience
for their children, but can’t attend on Wednesdays.
After class on Sunday, families will be able to attend Mass
together. Click here to register for Sunday or Wednesday classes.
Our program has multiple elements. During class, students participate in 2- 35 minute stations. We refer to these weeks as A or B. Once a month on Wednesdays, we have Recreation and Service night. See description below. Throughout the year, parents will have the opportunity to do one–on-one learning with their children over breakfast. Parent/Child breakfasts will happen on Sunday mornings. See description below. Refer to the calendar for dates. See the calendar for all FiRE and Recreation & Service Night, & Parent/Child breakfast dates.
Recreation
and Service Night is open to all children of the
parish in grades 1-5, whether they go to public, parochial,
or home school. Children come together to do a community
service project and play. This gives children the chance
to make a difference in the world while building a personal
tradition of community service. We also want children to
have fun with friends at church and bring a friend too.
We want our children to come to know Jesus, build community
through friendship and service, become familiar with scripture
and grow in their understanding of our Catholic faith. We
do that in a way that is joyful and fun for our children!
Parent/Child Breakfast
Come enjoy a simple breakfast while you and your child complete some learning activities. This activity has been added to accommodate those families that cannot attend the Wednesday Recreation and Service Night. You may come to both activities or to the one that fits your schedule best. See the calendar for all FiRE activities and classes.
A Note to the Volunteers:
Our program depends on our parish
members sharing their gifts and talents with the parish
community through ministering as catechists and in supporting
roles. You do not need to have children in the program to
be involved. All volunteers working with children must complete
the VIRTUS training
mandated by the Diocese of Winona. Please contact Carolyn
Real if you would like to serve or have any questions.
Faith First Home Study
| Grades 1-5
If your child is not able to attend class due to other commitments,
consider home schooling. This series will provide children
with an understanding of our faith based on the 4 pillars
of the Catechism - Creed, Sacraments, Morality and Prayer.
Home schooling provides a unique experience for parent and
child to grow together. A family resource guide is available
with Faith First as well as an award winning website featuring
a wide variety of resources and activities for your child
at Faith First.
Children’s
Liturgy of the Word
We are committed
to providing the children of the parish a meaningful Mass
experience. Children's liturgy is targeted at children
ages 6 through 9 years old. It is scheduled for the second
and fourth weekends of the month. The Liturgy of the Word
is a time when the children at Mass follow a leader to
the Emmaus room and participate in hearing the readings
and a homily at their level. Afterward, they return to
the assembly and join everyone for the rest of the Mass.
A catechist volunteer leads this ministry, and additional
volunteer helpers assist the children. Children receive
a worksheet pertaining to the readings of the week.
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Building
a parish of lifelong learners by engaging all ages and
generations in the events of Church life.
