Dear Families,

I hope that this letter finds your family well and enjoying the last bit of summer before yet another school year begins. After a year of providing virtual faith formation last year to the children of our parish, it is with great pleasure that we invite you to enroll in our in-person faith formation program for children in preschool through grade five this year! Our weekly classes provide teaching on the Catholic faith and community building through prayer and class discussions while supporting you in your promise made at Baptism to raise them as active members of the Church. We look forward to working with you this year and ask that you read through this packet carefully. We also ask that you remain flexible and patient as we receive updates constantly from the Archdiocese on how our parish program can operate during the pandemic and are utilizing some new processes. We will strive to keep open lines of communication via email, printed handouts/newsletters, and our parish website regarding any changes.

WEDENSDAY CLASSES: Classes for children ages 3 through grade five (grades six and up should register through the Youth Office) will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30PM-7:45PM beginning September 22nd. Our elementary program provides an overview of the Catholic faith each year building upon knowledge from previous years. Students will gather together Wednesdays at 6:30pm for prayer in the church and then will be escorted to their classrooms with their instructors for their lessons until 7:45pm. A parent or guardian will need to walk students from the parking lot to the church breezeway glass doors where they will be checked in with the Program Director or Administrative Assistant. Students will be signed in and asked a series of four COVID-19 related safety questions each week. They will then be directed to their designated class seating area in the church to wait prayerfully with their catechist until group prayer begins. After class around 7:40PM, catechists will walk their group back to the church for dismissal to the parents/guardians.  All students, volunteers, and families dropping off/picking up are asked to wear a mask while on our parish campus regardless of vaccination status.

FIRST SACRAMENTS PREPARATION: If you have a child entering first grade this fall, this will be the first formal faith formation year toward celebrating First Eucharist near the end of second grade.  If your child is older and has yet to celebrate the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, please enroll as it is never too late to get started! Our sacrament preparation program is a two-year commitment with children receiving their sacraments at the end of the second year. All classes during both years of preparation are required and will need to be made up if missed. Make up classes may possibly be provided virtually. Second year Sacrament students in grades 4-6 will be required to attend Sunday classes January through April from 9:30AM-10:30AM in addition to Wednesday classes throughout the year.

SUNDAY CLASSES: Sunday classes will also be offered to children ages 3-5 who are not attending Kindergarten during the 11AM Mass. This is an alternative option for preschool families who may not be ready to attend our evening classes on Wednesdays and who would like their young children to learn more about their faith while parents are attending Mass. It is expected that children will arrive between 10:50AM-11AM for class and be picked up as soon as mass ends. No other grade levels are served in our program on Sunday with the exception of second year sacrament students in grades 4-6th on designated dates from January-April.

REGISTRATION: This year’s Faith Formation class registration may be completed using the paper registration and forms included in this packet, online using a Google Form with PDF Permissions Form that can be electronically signed, or you may download a copy of the registration form from our parish website and return either printed or emailed to the Program Director. Paper registrations can be returned to the Children’s Ministry Office via mail, collection basket, or drop it by the parish office Monday through Friday 8:30am-3pm prior to September 22nd. Payments can be made in person or via mail using cash or check, or using online payment through our parish online giving platform at https://www.osvhub.com/holyfamilyauburn/funds.
• Registrations may also be completed and dropped off during our registration events Wednesday, September 15th from 6:30-7:00PM for Preschool-5th grade or Sunday, September 19th from 12PM-12:30PM for Sunday preschool families in the Parish Center.

FEES: The 2020-2021 fee for Wednesday classes is $40 per child for children in preschool through fifth grade, the same as previous years. Registration fees allow us to provide your children monthly supplies and resources for class, as well as items such as textbooks used by the catechists during the weekly classes. In January, there will be an additional fee of $40 and an additional registration form for students receiving First Reconciliation and First Eucharist this school year. If there are any concerns regarding the fees please contact me via phone or email to discuss.

VOLUNTEERS: The success of our program relies on the help of many volunteers, and this year is no different. Please consider volunteering your time with our program. An interest form is included in this packet. All communications including registration, calendars, and the latest information about our programs is available at our parish website, www.holyfamilyauburn.org. The entire Children’s Ministry team looks forward to serving your child this year spiritually. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, otherwise we will see you on the 22nd before 6:30PM!  

God Bless,
Lindsay Carter
Program Director-Children’s Ministry
253-833-5130, ext. 219   lcarter@holyfamilyauburn.org