2008 - 2009 Faith Formation Registration
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Dear Members of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church:
After a long, cold winter, we are finally experiencing some spring-like weather. As I sit here writing this, I am aware of what spring means, both in terms of the seasons, and in terms of the sacraments that are typically celebrated this time of year. We have many young people preparing to celebrate Eucharist for the first time, young adults looking forward to their Confirmation, and adults preparing for full communion in the Catholic Church through the RCIA process, as well as parents seeking baptism for their children. These sacraments all speak to us of new life, that is, new life in Christ, through the waters of baptism, the food of the Eucharist, and through anointing with the blessed and consecrated oils. These sacraments are not the end of our faith journey, but the beginning of a life-long process of continually seeking to know Jesus Christ better, and of understanding what this developing relationship means for us as we live out our faith in today's culture. While parents are the first and foremost teachers of faith to their children, parish faith formation programs play a vital part as well, assisting and supporting parents in this role. With this in mind, the Faith Formation Advisory Board wishes to present to you our updated registration policies, and invite you to register your children for our 2008-09 Faith Formation program. Programs such as this rely heavily on volunteer support in many areas, and parents are expected to volunteer in at least one area during the faith formation year. Opportunities are listed on the back of the enclosed registration form—please carefully and prayerfully consider how you can best help our program succeed. Barbara Olson, Director of Faith Formation REGISTRATION POLICIES Registrations will be accepted at our last Faith Formation sessions of the year. Due to budget considerations, checks will be held for deposit until July 1 (the new fiscal year). Absolutely no registrations will be accepted by phone. Deadline for registration is AUGUST 15. Registrations received after this date will be considered for admission on a case by case basis, taking into consideration class sizes, space issues, and catechist availability. Late registrations may be placed on a waiting list, or given the option of home schooling. ABSOLUTELY NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN IN THE TWO WEEKS PRECEDING THE FIRST SCHEDULED FAITH FORMATION SESSION. Children will be placed in classes in the order in which they register. Special requests regarding specific classes, catechists, or weekends cannot be guaranteed. Families new to the parish will be accommodated. In order to facilitate an optimal learning environment, and stay within space limitations, class sizes will be limited as follows:
If classes do not have a catechist, they will either begin the year late when someone steps forward, or classes will not be held. Children in these groups will be home schooled in order to keep pace with the faith formation program. REGISTRATION FEES Registration fees help to cover the cost of the textbooks, classroom supplies, photocopies, food items, facility costs, and personnel to administer the programs. Fees are due along with the registration form. Fees are as follows: Regular Registration Fees: (must be received in the office prior to or on August 15 to avoid late fees)
Late Fees (registrations received after August 15): Additional $25.00 per child/maximum $75.00 per family Out of Parish Families: $100 per child (same deadlines/late fees apply) Schedules for 2008-09 will be published when finalized, and registered families will receive their schedule in the mail following the registration deadline. |
Download the Registration Form (PDF):
2008 Registration Form Page 1.PDF 2008 Registration Form Page 2.PDF What's changed… **Look for an adjustment in the schedule for grades K-6. While these children will still be divided into two groups, each group meeting once a month on Saturdays, the day will be shorter. Details are still being finalized. **The Faith Formation Advisory Board is currently evaluating preparation materials for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in anticipation of updating the program. What's staying… **Grades 7-9 will continue to meet once a month on Sunday. The program materials will remain the same: The Crossroads series by Harcourt Publishers. Families with children in both K-6 and 7-10 will meet on the same weekend. **Grade 10 youth will continue to prepare for and celebrate Confirmation. Program materials will remain the same as well, Confirmed in the Spirit, published by Loyola University Press. Program changes for 2008-09: We are excited to announce new program materials for children in grades Kindergarten through six. The title is "Call to Faith" and the publisher is Harcourt. This program is approved by the diocese and used by many other parishes in this area. The student books help children deepen their faith through compelling stories and Scripture, appealing visuals, activities, prayers, and seasonal celebrations. A Family Faith page for each chapter includes sections on particular Saints, Catholic beliefs, family activities, a scripture reference, and a family prayer. All grade levels include seven units, and the theme for each unit is the same across the board. All grades will move through each unit together, therefore all grades will be studying the same theme at the same time. An additional component of the program is a family magazine, "Faith at Home: Nurturing Households of Faith," which features practical suggestions, tips for sharing and celebrating faith at home, a section on using "Call to Faith" and more. To find out more about this program, I invite you to go to www.harcourtreligion.com and, on the left side, click on K-8 Call to Faith. On that page, choose any button/tab to explore the program. | |||||||