Faith Formation
The parish offers a number of opportunities for one to grow in one’s understanding and the living out of one’s faith. High on the list is, of course, the Sunday Mass. Opportunities exist for participation in parish outreach, various study and prayer groups, as well as liturgical ministers’ formation. Spiritual direction is also available through Br. Mike Whitman who is on staff and is a certified spiritual director.
Information on this web page
Prayer and Study Groups
Preparation for First Penance, Confirmation and First Eucharist
Calendar for Faith Formation for Grades 1 thru 8
Summer Bible School
Youth Ministry (Overview, Coming Events, Goals, Eight Components)
Prayer and Study Groups
The parish offers a number of prayer and study opportunities:
The Friday Prayer Group meets Fridays from 1:00-2:00pm in the parish center. On First Fridays they join in the parish’s Holy Hour at the same time in the church. All are welcome. Contact person: Marianna DeBoer at 989-2345-7092.
The Thursday Morning Scripture Study Group meets at 9:30 am in the parish center. All are welcome. Contact person: Anita Sanborn at 89-345-0670.
A number of Small Faith Sharing Groups (from Renew) met at various time and location. All are welcome. Contact person: Jean Lucas at 989-343-0089.
The Diocese of Gaylord offers and number of courses on various aspect of the Catholic Faith. See their web site at www.dioceseofgaylord.org.
Visit our Web Pages: Outreach, Groups, Liturgy for more information.
Visit our web site Links for access to daily scripture reading etc.
Preparation for the Sacraments of First Penance, Confirmation and First Eucharist
This program assumes the family’s involvement in other religious instruction and formation programs in the parish. This program is not intended to be the complete instruction for these sacraments. Rather it is a catalyst of prayer, instruction, reflection and celebration of varied aspects of these interrelated sacraments, hopefully, leading to further preparation in the home.
Confirmation and First Eucharist is celebrated in the same Mass according to diocesan policy, here in the parish usually in the second grade.
The program is also open to those older who were not Confirmed at First Eucharist for whatever reason.
Required Preparation Session
for Confirmation and First Eucharist
(grades 2 thru high school and beyond)
2007-2008
All sessions – 6:00-7:30p.m.
1st Parent (only) Session Sun Sept 9 - church
“What to teach children about Confirmation.”
2nd Session (1st with children) Sun Oct 7 – church
3rd Session (2nd with children) Sun Nov 4 – school
4th Session (3rd with children) Sun Dec 2– school
5th Session (4th with children) Sun Jan 6 – church
6th Session (5th with children) Sun Feb 10 – school
7th Session (6th with children) Sun March 9 – church
8thSession (7th with children) Sun April 13 – church
Grandparents, sponsors, and siblings are
invited to sessions 2 thru 8.
1st Penance: Sunday , 2008 at 6:00 pm.
Confirmation & First Eucharist: Sun, April 20 at 11:00am. Mass
Forms will be passed out at the parents’ session for those requesting Confirmation (and First Eucharist). Sunday, Sept 10 at 6:00pm. Baptismal certificates for those not baptized at St. Joseph or Holy Family, West Branch, will be required.
(See Web Page: “Initiation into the Church” for further information)
Contact Anita Sanborn for further information at 989-345-0670 .
Calendar for Faith Formation for grades 1-8
2007-2008
Tuesdays – St. Joseph School – 6:30-7:30pm.
Sept 11, 18, 25
Oct 2 (Family Evening), 9, 16 (no class), 23, 30
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27
Dec. 4 (Family Evening), 11, 18
Jan. 8, 15, 22 (Family Evening), 29
Feb. 5,12, 19, 26
March 4, 11(Family Evening), 18, 25
April 8, 15 (Family Evening), 22, 29
May 6 (Family Evening)
(No meeting Oct. 16, Dec. 25, Jan 1, April 1.)
Contact Anita Sanborn for further information at 989-345-0670 .
Summer Bible School
Monday June 23 - Friday June27 2008
Contact Anita Sanborn for further information at 989-345-0670 .
YOUTH MINISTRY
Scholarships are offered by the parish to high school graduates entering college for the first time. Applicants need to fill out an application form and be interviewed. The applicant, as an individual, or as a member of a family, must be registered (envelope holder) in the parish and participate regularly in Sunday Liturgy in this parish. A letter of recommendation from the coordinator or Faith Formation indicating involvement in parish life will be required.
Suggested areas of involvement: lector, usher, cantor, server, Liturgy of the Word with children, faith formation programs, vacation Bible school, helping the elderly, adopting a grandparent, etc.
Youth Ministry
In 1997, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a document called: “Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry.” The document was a concerted effort to stem the growing move of adolescent youth away from the Church. It has been the “framework” on which youth ministry in the Catholic Church in the USA has been developed since then.
Here, at St. Joseph, we have tried to incorporate the mindset of the document in the ministry provided to our youth and their families. We have attempted a comprehensive ministry over the past 10 years in which we invite our young people to become more fully members of the worshiping Body of the Lord.
Opportunities for community are shared in ski trips, service to others through a Fast for the Hungry, Young Neighbors in Action, and Just Works – which also provides chances to form community. We try to be advocates for youth and their families in crisis, big and small, and available to them for pastoral care when they have need.
Several opportunities for leadership and leadership training are provided through out the year, including the Christian Leadership Institute. On long trips we are often in situations where we can both evangelize and discuss catechetical questions.
Several retreat opportunities are provided in a given year to help develop the spiritual sense of our youth. They are also given opportunities for leadership roles in the liturgy.
The parish is slowly coming to realize that it is every ones job to minister to our youth. Whether it be a simple, kindly smile after Mass, or volunteering to chaperone one of the larger activities offered. It is our hope that we will all pray for the well being of our teens and their families. They are not only the Church of the Future, but also the Church of the Now.
COMING EVENTS 2007
Please remember that all away activities must have a medical release form and permission slip – available through Brother Mike. All money must come with the forms – scholarships available. Remind Brother Mike if he already has a medical form for this year.
Youth Ministry Planning Team 2007 - 2008 Meetings: September 2, October 7, November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3, March 2, April 6, May 4,(no June, July, August Meetings).
Pancake Dinner and Supper: sponsored by the Youth Ministry, Sat-Sun Jan 19-20, 2008
Skyline Ski Trip: grades 6-12; Sat. February 2, 2008, Contact Br. Mike 989-345-8757
Fast for the Hungry: grades 8-12; Fri-Sat February15 -16, 2008; Contact Br. Mike 989-345-8757
Middle School Rally: Gaylord MI, Sat. March 1, 2008 Contact Br. Mike at 989-345-8757
High School Retreat: Petoskey, Fri-Sun February 7-9, 2008 Contact Br. Mike at 989-345-8757
8th Grade Retreat Day: Thursday May 1, 2008 at the Indian River Shrine
8th Grade Sending Forth Mass: (date to be announced) 7:00pm, church
Christian Leadership Institute: grades 10-12; Sun-Fri, June 15-20, 2008; Contact Br. Mike 989-345-8757
Michigan Adventure Trip: grades 7-12; Wed, June 25, 2008; Contact Br. Mike 989-345-8757
TeenService Trip: grades 10-12; Sat-Sat, July 6-12, 2008 ; Contact Br. Mike 989-345-8757
Just Works for Youth: grades 9-12, Mon-Fri, July 21-July 25, 2008; Contact Br. Mike 989-345-8757
Goals of the Youth Ministry Program:
(1) To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
(2) To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the
faith community thru the
- Church of the Home
- The Parish Community – a place where
1. young people are welcome
2. where growth in Jesus Christ can develop
3. where opportunities are available to minister side by side with adults.
4. of programs that recognize their special talents and role in the life of the Church.
- The Catholic School Community
- Youth Serving Communities that provide adolescents the opportunity to participate in the life of their parish and diocese.
(3) To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of the young person.
1. To empower for active participation in the life and ministry of the church
2. To live the moral and theological virtues in life decisions
3. To serve the needs of others and to work for justice and peace
4. To promote respect for differences
5. To nurture and apply their Catholic faith to daily life
6. Develop biblical and doctrinal literacy
7. Foster personal spirituality and prayer life
8. Active participation in the sacramental life
9. Help develop life skills
10. To recognize the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives
11. Help cultivate their gifts and talents and skill in leadership
EIGHT COMPONENTS OF YOUTH MINISTRY
These 8 components are the way to achieve the 3 goals of Youth Ministry
Advocacy: This component deals with standing with youth and their families in trouble or under oppressive situations.
Catechesis: Is the weakest in the formal sense.
- Specific youth oriented and thematic catechetical sessions are offered through out the year on a once a month basis. These are very poorly attended.
- Opportunities offered through the youth rallies and jamborees
- In the teaching side of Young Neighbors in Action and Christian Leadership Institute and a new liturgical leadership program.
- The national Catholic youth conference and other large gatherings
- Parish youth newsletter
- Travel to activities in an informal way and the witness of family and other believing community members.
- Pamphlet rack in my office and the church, resource library in my office and the parish center.
Creating Community: This is the easiest component to activate. It is done
- ski trips
- the planning team meetings
- retreats
- Cedar Point trip
- meal gatherings
- attending sports activities
- plays
- newsletter
- informal meetings
- kindness of an adult parish member
- fund raisers
- being taken seriously
- being given serious roles in the parish and community.
Evangelization:
- youth session
- witness of families, peers and adult witnesses in the parish and the wider community.
Justice and Service:
- youth sessions
- youth rallies
- jamborees
- conferences
- issues are also looked at in the youth newsletter
- bulletin inserts and articles
- in the pamphlet racks
- both libraries
- informal gatherings and conversations.
- Young Neighbors In Action
- short term local service action
Leadership Development:
- rally projects service projects
- involvement in parishes activities
- liturgical ministries
- parish and public school activities
- Christian Leadership Institute
- Young Neighbors in Action
- One Bread, One Cup program
- Friends Helping Friends program.
Pastoral Care:
- Faith Support gatherings
- one on one guidance times, meetings with distressed parents and grandparents,
- being available on the parish and public school crisis teams.
Non- gathered opportunities are found in the
- pamphlet racks
- business card
- referral reference book
- collaboration with local state and town agencies that deal with youth and families
Prayer and Worship:
- Parish liturgies
- Liturgical and national yearly celebrations.
- Prayer services at meeting, gatherings, experiential prayer services adapted from other cultures and religions.
- Prayer times on trips, at home, during a crisis.
- Talking about prayer informally with peers or adults.
- Doing personal reading, and being exposed to devotional practices and finding ways to incorporate them into their person spiritual lives.