Weekend Wisdom, April 28th, 2024
Parishioners of St. Francis Xavier and St. Mary,
As we wrap up another year of Discipleship Formation classes and transition into First Holy Communion retreats and Sacramental Masses, our department has been diligently considering how to best serve our busy families and meet the spiritual needs of the children and parents.
Understanding the juggling act of balancing Discipleship Formation classes, school, sports, and extracurricular activities, we hope to ease some of this through adjustments we made to the 2024-2025 schedule. This change will also allow us to accommodate an increase in student numbers, ensuring that everyone can participate in our program.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will remain at St. Francis Xavier on Tuesday mornings at 10:30am.
Grades K-2 will remain at St. Mary on Sunday mornings from 10:00-11:00am.
Grades 3-8 will remain at St. Mary on Wednesday evenings, but all students will attend from 6:00-7:30pm.
Grades 9-10 will move to Sunday evenings from 6:30- 8:00pm. They will continue to meet at St. Mary.
Grade 11 will remain on Sunday evenings from 6:30- 8:00pm.
Once Confirmation preparation begins in late March, classes will be 6:00-8:00pm. Meetings at St. Mary. Another change that administration and catechists are excited about involves Grades 6-8 students. We know this age begins to doubt three things: they are loved, they matter, and they belong. We also know by the end of middle school, students are less likely to claim a faith-based identity. In response, we are very excited to announce we will be using EDGE, a Catholic middle school ministry program. EDGE will allow us to provide a safe, fun place for youth to find a solid Catholic community, get answers to their faith questions, and experience Jesus profoundly and personally.
As we implement these enhancements, one thing remains unchanged—the invaluable role of our volunteer catechists, EDGE Core Team mentors, and helpers. We've seen firsthand how students with a strong faith-based identity appreciate the involvement of parents and other adults who share the Catholic faith through prayer, Mass attendance, volunteering, or active participation in our Discipleship Formation program.
We're currently expanding our volunteer staff and warmly invite more parents and parishioners to join us. Our volunteers are well-supported and recognized for their generosity of heart and time. Those with children in our program also enjoy the benefit of free or reduced tuition costs. For more information about volunteering, please reach out to Jean Vander Heiden or Jane Charnetski, 920-337-2330.
In His grip, Jean Vander Heiden
Director of Discipleship Formation
