Ministry of Faith Formation - Contact us via e-mail at: mff@stbrendans.net 

All parents, who have children in grades 1-6, who participate in the Home Faith Program, agree to attend the 4 (four) in-service meetings, which will be held:

Sunday, September 26^th, 8:30-10:15 a.m. in School Cafeteria (Parents only)

Sunday, November 14^th, 8:45-10:15 a.m. in School Cafeteria (Parents only)

Sunday, February 13^th, 8:45-10:15 a.m. in School Cafeteria (Parents only)

Sunday, April 10^th, 8:45-10:15 a.m. in School Cafeteria (Parents only)

Specifics about the Program:

Welcome to the FAITH AT HOME PROGRAM which is designed for parents to use at home (grades 1-6) in place of the Monday evening sessions held throughout the catechetical year.

You, as parent, are the primary faith educator in your son/daughter's life. When you brought your child to church to be baptized, the priest or deacon asked you a series of questions which reflected your intention to provide an active, lifelong faith environment for your child. You promised at that time to foster this child's spiritual development and growth. By home faithing your child, you are fulfilling that promise.

Just as you give shape and form to your child(ren's) character, you have immersed him/her into our Catholic faith life. You are and continue to be the first and primary teacher about God-Jesus-our faith and live out that faith life through community celebrations at weekend liturgy. You've taught your child prayers that are special to you. You've shared your faith in times of great happiness (baptisms, weddings) and in times of sadness and loss (sickness and death.) Faith grows within family life.

I continue to be excited about this dimension of our Faith Formation process. I strongly believe in this model of faith formation and would like to see it flourish and deepen the faith life of our families and our children as a result. I will look forward to working with you and learning from you.

HAVE SOME QUESTIONS? The following Q/A may help:

Q: WHEN WILL THE PROGRAM BE EXPLAINED TO ME? WHEN CAN I GET THE MATERIALS?

A: Our first gathering for parents who wish to Home Faith is on a Sunday morning in September (see "Schedule of Parent Meetings) from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. in the School Cafeteria. These meetings are for Parents ONLY. Book "packets" with family name on them will be prepared for pick up at this meeting for every family registered before August 1^st. If you register after that time, there is no guarantee that books will be available until a reorder is sent in to the company. Please mark your calendar and note where and when this meeting will take place.

Q: WILL THERE BE OTHER MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE CATECHETICAL YEAR?

A: YES! Meetings for parents to come together to share their experience of the program and to be enriched in your own faith will occur from 8:45-10:15 a.m. in the School Cafeteria. See list above.

Q: WHY ADOPT A TOTALLY NEW PROGRAM FOR PARENTS WHO HOME FAITH?

A: This program is designed specifically for Home Faithing one's children in grades 1-6. Besides the family format of the Parent Guide, if you have more than 1 child in the program, direction on where to find the appropriate theme you are explaining is identified so that the child can follow in his/her text regardless of the age level of the child. Opportunities abound for you to share your own faith life with your children. A Web Site (www.faithfirst.com), complete with activities for children of all ages, is well designed and part of the program.

Q: HOW WILL I KNOW WHICH THEME TO TEACH EACH WEEK?

A: Each week, specific lessons are assigned for completion. A link per grade is at the bottom of this webpage. There you will find the list of lesson plans.

Q: WHAT IF FOR SOME REASON I PUT MY CHILD BACK INTO THE MONDAY SESSIONS AND DO NOT DO HOME FAITHING?

A: Your child is welcome wherever you believe he/she needs to be!! Some parents may choose to place their child into the weekly program in sacramental years for a "community" preparation experience. The choice will always be yours. If you decide, for some reason, that you cannot continue in the Home Faith Program and wish to register your child for our Monday session, you need to register with the Ministry of Faith Formation Office prior to bringing your child to class. Please note some classes may be full, so you need to check class availability.

Q: CAN I PREPARE MY CHILD AT HOME FOR FIRST EUCHARIST AND FIRST RECONCILIATION AND STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PARISH MFF PRACTICES AND CELEBRATIONS DURING THE YEAR?

A: Absolutely! However, you will need to purchase books/materials from us which are designed specifically for these sacraments, attend the parent/child meetings when scheduled and complete all sacramental requirements.

As you integrate your faith life into your home/family life, you'll notice a change in the way you and your children live daily life. Don't believe us??? Ask any Home Faith parent who has fully embraced the "gift" of the program!

Contact me at the MFF office (876-9533) if you need further information.

Sister Joanne Fogarty,
Director of Faith Formation

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