We are excited to announce that religious education classes for St. Albert will be resuming on Sunday, November 5 (9-10:15 AM), and Wednesday, November 8 (6-7:15 PM). Even more exciting is that we are launching a new program called Family Formation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Family Formation?
Family Formation is a monthly program in which parents are the primary teachers in their child's faith journey. Faith is best taught and lived out in the family! Don't worry, we will provide everything you need to accomplish this!
What Grades is this For?
Grades 1-7 will participate in a once-a-month Family Formation gathering. If your child was signed up for Wednesday religious education classes, then you will come on Wednesday. If your child was signed up for Sunday morning religious education classes, you will come on Sunday. Please see the included complete schedule.
What if I have a Grade 8 Student?
Grade 8 students will meet twice per month (drop off), as it is a Confirmation preparation year. Their program is called "Chosen." If you only have an 8th grade student, parents DO NOT need to come to Family Formation. A full schedule will be provided.
What if I have a Child younger than First Grade? What Should I do?
We are working on getting childcare set up for ages 2-5; however, we won't have that ready for November classes. Our goal is never to make things burdensome for a family, but we ask that you try to find arrangements until the childcare is ready to go. One parent will need to come to the gathering each month.
How Does Family Formation Work?
A parent (or both parents) will come to class once per month with their child or children. Religious Education at St. Alberts is no longer a drop-off program (see explanation above for 8th grade only). Parents will watch a short video and hear a presentation by one of our priests while kids go to their age-appropriate classroom and hear a lesson on the same topic by a trained catechist. There will also be time for parents and children to learn together. Parents will be given short lessons to complete at home at their own convenience. This year our topics are all focused on the Kerygma: The Message of the Gospel! It fits perfectly with the Go Make Disciples and Into the Deep initiatives set forth by Bishop Hying. No matter what our level of understanding is, we can all learn something new!
Why the Change?
When we made the original religious education schedule for this year, we had four full time religious education staff members. We now have one, Paul, who is at Sacred Hearts. Father Vince has recently asked Laura Soldner, a staff member at Sacred Hearts, to serve as Interim Director, which makes two staff members. After numerous meetings with our priests, this is the best program for the current situation.
Additionally, the plan was to move to a family program next year. It is the desire of Bishop Hying for pastorates to move to a family program. This change was going to happen next year anyway, so we've just moved it up one year to accommodate the number of staff we have, as well as the number of catechists/aides we have.
What about the Family Days?
Because we are moving to a family program, the family days on the original schedule are cancelled. If you already attended some of the options, we thank you and hope you learned something from them! We are hoping that once things settle down a bit, we can offer some additional fun opportunities for our youth and families! Volunteers are always needed to make these events happen!
What about the Wednesday after-school program at Sacred Hearts for grades K-5th grade?
That program will remain the same this year. It's already in its fifth week and is well established.
What about Current Home Study Families?
Current home study families are invited to switch to Family Formation. You may also continue with your current curriculum; however, this will be the last year where home study is an option. Family Formation will be the only option moving forward next year.
What Should We do with our Alive in Christ Books?
Please return them to St. Alberts.
What about First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation?
Students preparing for First Reconciliation and First Communion need to be in Family Formation, as well as the additional sacramental preparation program. Please see the attached schedules. Our diocese asks that all sacramental preparation be done outside of the regular religious education classes, now known as Family Formation.
The Confirmation schedule has remained the same. Again, please see the attached schedule, as well as the youth ministry schedule.
I Don't Like all of This Change...What Should I Do?
We don't like all of the changes either! I assure we are doing the best we can! We are committed to making this a great year and have amazing catechists to help! And we cannot express enough how sorry we are that the year has started out this way. The only thing we can do is THANK YOU for your patience and openness to the new program as we move forward. Our motto will be: "Progress, not Perfection!"
When things like this happen, I think of a quote by St. Augustine:
"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement." It's best to take all of the negative or worrisome emotions and ask, "Where is God in all of this? What is he asking me to do? What changes is he asking me to make that might be difficult at first, but rewarding in the end?"
For more information about the Family Formation program we will be using, please visit:
https://www.familyformation.net/
For Family Formation program questions, please contact Laura at laura.soldner@sacred-hearts.org.
For Youth Ministry and Confirmation questions, please contact Paul at paul.jozwiak@sacred-hearts.org
We look forward to seeing all of you in November!