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Who participates?
EVERYONE! EVERYONE! EVERYONE!
Together in Faith is for all ages and for all
households and thus is very, very universal and Catholic! Everyone from 4 to 104! Childcare
will be provided for children 3 and younger.
What is Together in Faith?
Together in Faith is a faith formatting process based on the following lifetime principles:
- We are followers of Jesus
- We are a community of disciples
- Faith formation is life-long, we are not finished before death
- Participation in the life and worship of the church is essential
- Faith needs to be integrated into our lives
- Faith informs and guides our actions
- Parents are the primary faith educators of their children
- Generations learn from each other
When will we meet?
Together in Faith will meet for a focus session one week each month, September to April. Four
different session times will be offered during the week, and you will choose to attend the one
that best fits the schedule for your household: a)Saturday 6:15-9:15; b)Sunday 12:30-3:30; c)Monday 6:00-9:00;
or d)Wednesday 6:00-9:00.
Do we need to come on the same session day each month?
For scheduling purposes, we benefit by your attending the same session (Sat, Sun, Mon, or Wed)
each month. Should you need to switch days however, we'll try to accommodate your
schedule because we really, really want your participation and value this Catholic opportunity.
How do I register? What will it cost?
Registration materials will be mailed to every registered household in late July. The
cost is a minimum charge of $5 per person; $20 maximum to assist (but not usually cover) the meal and program costs.
What are the benefits?
Together in Faith will help you meet the people with whom you worship on Sunday,
spend time together as family, grow in your faith, learn new traditions, develop a deeper
appreciation of our faith community and celebrate God's presence in your life.
What is the format I'll experience?
Each of our gatherings will follow a similar format:
- simple, shared meal,
- prayer and introduction of our theme,
- age appropriate discussion and activities,
- regathering to share insights,
- closing prayer,
- home kit for continued reflection.
Do parents need to attend?
We believe that parents want to be kept 'in the loop' as to what their children are learning,
we believe they want to share in their children's faith journey, and more importantly, we
believe that all children need their parents and other adults to provide positive role models
and encouragements. And we want them there. So parents are expected to attend. Should this not be possible, a
responsible adult who is involved with the child (godparent, grandparent, etc.) may attend. It is
also important to recall that upon the child's baptism, parents pledged to teach the child within
the ways of faith.
What are the "age-appropriate" groupings the parish uses?
Our breakouts include a 4 & 5 year old group, families with children in grades 1-5,
a junior high (6-8) group, a high school group, and an adult group. We may try to experiment
with a choice or two for the adult group.
How can this replace weekly religious education sessions?
Together in Faith is a learning model that moves beyond textbook knowledge of classroom settings and encourages
lifelong learning experiences. It invites us to faith formation and learning with the entire community -- not
simply a peer group. Together in Faith is an exciting way to deepen our understanding of our faith, share prayer, and
strengthen our community.
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