Faith Formation

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Jim Bridges, Ph.D.

This has been a year full of moments of growth in learning, faith deepening and sharing, social concerns activity, and fun.

Religious Education Program:

In the 2019-20 school year we had 487 registered students. 37 Grades 1 & 2 on-site 135 Grades 7 & 8 on-site 78 Grades 1-6 online 237 Summer intensive – grades 1-6

The Summer Intensive Program continued to be a tremendous success. A roster of professional Catholic school teachers taught and guided our 237 students in our two summer sessions. Online students work through a curriculum titled My Catholic Faith Delivered. Student progress is monitored. Students need to successfully complete one grade level before moving on to the next.

A minimum of four Intergenerational sessions are required for our Summer Intensive and Online students. These are family learning sessions and/or events held throughout the year which consist of teaching, liturgical, family participation, and Penance/Reconciliation. Various ministerial activities are also included. Our 7th and 8th graders met on Sunday evenings between September and May as they prepared for their Confirmation in the fall of their 9th grade year. We had 11 facilitators working with the students.

Adult Faith Formation

We have several ongoing study and spiritual formation groups meeting in the parish.

Walking with Purpose is a Catholic women's bible study offering programming to connect women with their Catholic faith through personal study and small group discussions. Aiming to also help women develop a deep meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ, several different programs were offered: Opening Your Heart, Living in the Fathers Love, Fearless and Free, Keeping in Balance, Sunday Readings Bible Study, and Be Still Daily Devotional. A total of 49 women participated.

Bible study groups involving both men and women worked through two separate programs: Psalms, and Revelation

Dr. Bridges delivered a series of presentations during the year. These included “Calling All Angels,” and “Satan and the Personification of Evil.”

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“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Faith Formation and Religious Education (cont.)

The Martha Mary Guild for women provides vibrant programming throughout the year incorporating all aspects of parish life (community/ hospitality, prayer/worship, faith formation, outreach & stewardship). The guild begins all meeting with the rosary. The annual clothing drive and sale in Sept. raised enough money to support worthy organizations in the community benefiting women and children in need.

Respect Life Ministry participated in programming proclaiming human life as a precious gift from God and promoting life from the moment of conception to natural death.

Book club opportunity:

Spiritual Reading (Tuesdays) with Sr. M. Francis Lomeo. Many great books were read, discussed and applied to life situations.

Book Give-Away & Kiosk – To provide faith filled resources to the community, a variety of faithfilled books are distributed throughout the year. Little books of reflections were also distributed during Advent (blue book) and Lent (black book), and a white Easter book of reflections. A diverse assortment of complimentary formation literature, pamphlets and resources were available on the kiosk in the gathering space and at the daily and Lenten chapels. Resources for children were added during Advent and Lent. Grieving materials were shared with bereavement ministry.

The parish has a subscription to FORMED for parishioners. As an online gateway to dynamic Catholic content, Formed is available 24/7. Please register at www.stmaryscoltsneck.formed.org.

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Faith Formation and Religious Education (cont.)

Sacraments

Baptism:

Thirty-Eight infants were baptized with parent couples attending Baptism preparation session. During this now one (1) hour session, increased from 30 minutes, couples are instructed not only on how the Rite of Baptism takes place, they are advised of their role as the PRIMARY teachers of the faith and provided literature along with take home study materials that go beyond “the baptism.”

First Penance and First Holy Communion:

60 second grade children received the Sacrament of Penance in December 2019 as part of the parish’s Advent Penance Service. They were scheduled to receive their First Holy Communion in the Spring of 2020. Their reception was postponed until the fall of 2020 due to the suspension of weekly Masses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Second Graders, whether prepared during Summer Intensive or onsite, receive religious instruction over the course of the year, first preparing for and receiving the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation prior to their reception of, and how to properly receive, the Eucharist.

Confirmation:

69 young adults were Confirmed in October 2019. For young adults, the process is a two-year on-site preparation program with classes every other Sunday, taught by over 20 volunteer facilitators. Their reception of the Sacrament is based on their readiness.

RCIA

We have two adults that were prepared for full initiation into the Catholic Church and our parish community. This would have occurred at the Easter Vigil, but was postponed until November 1, 2020 (All Saints Day).

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