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LIFE-LONG FAITH FORMATION
The Life-Long Faith Formation
Committee develops an awareness that our faith community has the
responsibility for promoting the educational and formational aspect
of the Church’s mission. It is a life long process aimed at
personal conversion and growth in faith. Further information about
these programs may be obtained by calling Sr. Judene Studer at
262-694-0118 or the Parish Office. The Life-Long Faith Program at
St. Therese Parish includes the following programs.
·
Infant Baptism The parents of the child to be baptized meet
with Fr. Mike or Sr. Judene individually and with other parents
prior to the celebration of the Sacrament. Sponsors are encouraged
to attend these meetings also. Meetings occur every other month
beginning in January, then March, May, July, September and November.
·
Reconciliation and Eucharist Preparation Usually received
when the child is in grade 2, a year of attendance in religious
education classes is required prior to receiving these Sacraments.
Since celebrating both Reconciliation and Eucharist are family
events, parents must attend an initial meeting to receive required
materials that include Family Time pages, a schedule of lessons, and
Family Time activities. Parents are required to complete a Family
Time page for each chapter. Before receiving Eucharist, each child
creates a banner used to mark his/her family pew for the special
Mass.
·
Child Formation (Religious Education) Religious education
(formerly called CCD) classes for children in Kindergarten through
Grade 4 are held on Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in St. Therese
School. Classes for students in Grades 5 through 8 are held on
Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 PM also in the school.
The “Faith First” series by RCL is used for both programs and
includes material on Catholic doctrine, Scripture stories,
liturgical seasons, Catholic prayer and tradition. “Keeping Faith
First” provides updates for parents. A website (www.FaithFirst.com)
provides helpful information for catechists and parents as well as
interesting and entertaining activities for children and young
people.
·
Rite of Christian Formation for Adults (RCIA) Adults
desiring to be received into the Church must attend 30 weeks of
instruction conducted by Sr. Judene and an Adult Faith Formation
Cluster Team at St. Catherine’s Hospital Conference Room on the
first and third Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM (September
through May). In addition, Scripture Study is held beginning in
Advent on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the lower level
of the St. Therese Pre-School building.
·
Adult Confirmation Preparation Catholic adults who have
not received the Sacrament of Confirmation participate with other
similar adults from our cluster parishes on nine Tuesdays from
October through November at the hosting parish. This year the host
is St. Anne’s Parish. The program consists of an in-depth study of
the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit plus
a review of basic Catholic doctrine and an introduction to the
Scriptures at an adult level.
·
Christian Initiation for Children 7 years and older (RCIC)
Based on the RCIA program, instruction is held on Thursday evening
at St. Catherine’s Hospital with a separate instructor. Special
emphasis is placed on preparing the child or young person for
Reconciliation and Eucharist and Confirmation, if applicable.
·
Adult Christian Formation A series of adult programs at
St. Therese Parish attempt to meet the educational and formational
needs of men and women including singles, marrieds, and seniors.
These programs are:
o
A Women’s Retreat held each September
o
A Men’s Retreat held each February
o
Seasonal Reflections called Little Blue Books (Advent),
Little Black Books (Lent), Little Purple Books (Lenten Activities
for Children) and Little White Books (Eastertide). These books are
available in the Church at the beginning of each liturgical season.
o
Roots of Faith is a series in basic Catholicism for
parishioners of all four of our cluster parishes held on the third
Monday of each month at 7:00 PM and the fourth Sunday of each month
at 1:00 PM.
o
Faith and Fiction Book Club is held at St. Therese Parish
Hall on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM.
o
Family Ministry includes the First Reconciliation and First
Eucharist Programs, RCL’s Keeping Faith First, Partners in Faith
newsletter for families of children in St. Therese School and in
Religious Education classes, and Family Movie Nights conducted by
the Parish Council.
o
Senior Ministry consists of lunch, fellowship, cards and
games plus speakers and other entertainment and is held at our
cluster parishes: St. Mary’s on the first Tuesday of the month, St.
Mark’s once a month, and St. Anne’s on the second Tuesday of the
month. More information about Senior Ministry events can be
obtained by calling the Parish Offices of the cluster parishes.
VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR LIFE LONG FAITH FORMATION PROGRAMS ARE ALWAYS
NEEDED AND WELCOMED. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING TO
HELP WITH THESE IMPORTANT MINISTRIES, PLEASE CALL SR. JUDENE STUDER
AT 262-694-0118.
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