RELIGIOUS FORMATION FOR CHILDREN
 Coordinator of Children's Formation  
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      Phone:  248-844-8662

GIFT
Happy Mother’s Day! To honor ALL mothers, our May GIFT sessions will begin this week Wednesday and continue on Friday and next Sunday (W-F-S, May 16, 18, 20). We do need volunteers for this family favorite, our station rotation GIFT. From what I’ve seen so far, there are some really great and fun stations this month! We’ll be looking at Confirmation and how to live that out as our parish prepares for our 8th graders’ celebration on May 26 with Bishop Don Hanchon. 

Finding God Unit Quiz/Reviews 
Unit 5 quizzes are due at the May GIFT sessions. We’ll announce our grand prize winner after the last GIFT session on May 20. Unit 4 quizzes were due at the March GIFT session. Checked quizzes were ready at the April GIFT sessions along with Unit 4 winners’ prizes. We congratulate those families who’ve worked so hard on their chapters in Finding God and have turned in their quizzes. Some families have wondered if the GIFT program is enough faith formation. Look at the whole package: weekly celebration of the Eucharist, monthly GIFT sessions and use of packet materials during the rest of the month, daily prayer at home, and supplemental materials in the textbook to cover all catechetical themes in the spiral curriculum.

Sacraments and GIFT
Some parents in the GIFT program asked if their children are getting enough formation. The answer is that faith formation must continue beyond just first communion prep; children should be participating in faith formation every year, not just for sacrament preparation. Children should participate in faith formation programs from (at least) first grade thru 8th grade. During high school years, the parish youth group, SMYG, provide the faith connection.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
This summer’s VBS will be Liguori’s SONRISE with a national parks theme where all trails lead to Jesus.  This will be a nice follow-up to this year’s GIFT on sacraments and also a great introduction or review for younger students on Baptism, Reconciliation, and Eucharist. 

We are looking for adults to help with planning the various stations and especially a special pre-school room so we can have 3 to 5 year-olds as campers. Registration is now taking place. Use the Vacation Bible School menu link.

Current news of our sacrament prep programs:

First Eucharist
So now it’s time to continue our celebrations of the Eucharist every week! One of the crossword puzzles in the confirmation book had -”this helps celebrate the unity of the Sacraments of Initiation.” (The answer is “the Eucharist.”) Last Sunday’s (May 6) 11 AM liturgy had a great expression of that unity with a Baptism during Mass along with a First Communion as well as the rest of us celebrating our nth Communions. It will be so nice seeing these youngsters receiving Jesus in the Eucharist along with us.

CONFIRMATION
First Year (7th Grade) Confirmation Prep—Soon-to-be Second Year
We are looking for volunteers to assist at the reception for Confirmation. Volunteer sheets are available in the Saints Hallway.

6th Graders—Soon-to-be First Year (7th Grade)
Start volunteering (see above) and VBS forms.

Second Year (8th Grade) Confirmation Prep
Just a few weeks until our Confirmation celebration at the 5 PM liturgy Saturday, May 26. Our candidates have been preparing for nearly two years, so this will be the culmination of a lot of work, prayer, and study. The confirmation preparation program is not an obstacle course but a formative process which includes service, study, prayer and more.