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Saint Mary of
the Immaculate Conception Parish
North
Attleborough, Massachusetts
Saint Mary
Faith Formation Office
14 Park Street
North
Attleborough, Massachusetts 02760
Telephone: (508)
695-3823 Facsimile: (508) 695-5248
Mrs. Michele
Dillon, Faith Formation Coordinator
FAITH
FORMATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW
At Baptism,
parents accept the responsibility of being the first
teachers of their children in the Faith. Our Faith
Formation Program is designed to augment and assist parents
in this very important role. Faith Formation is an on-going
process, begun in childhood, that continues throughout our
lives.
The title "Faith
Formation," expresses the belief that formation in our
Catholic Faith is more than just "education," facts and
figures learned from a book. While these are important and
necessary, our Faith is also celebrated - weekly - in the
prayer life of the parish community. At Sunday Mass, we are
nourished and challenged by the Word of God that is preached
and the Body and Blood of Jesus that is shared. Our
Catholic Faith is also lived at home and in the wider
community. Here, our beliefs and values are put into
practice on a daily basis. We are all formed in the Faith
in each of these components: class, Mass, and home.
Grades 1 - 6
Weekly, formal
classroom instruction is led by a dedicated group of adult
catechists and classroom aides. We follow a curriculum
approved by the Diocese of Fall River and a text book series
entitled "We Believe," published by the William H. Sadlier
Company, a leading catechetical publishing house. A scope
and sequence chart is available for each grade level.
Grade 2 -
Reconciliation & Eucharist Formation
Children in
Grade 2 are prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and
the Sacrament of Eucharist. Weekly classes are augmented
with special books which parents share at home. Parents are
asked to participate in three parent meetings, held on
Sunday mornings, while the children attend class.
Reconciliation is celebrated individually according to a set
calendar. The children also participate in a Saturday
morning retreat program prior to First Holy Communion and
two scheduled rehearsals.
Grades 7 - 8
As young people
approach the adolescent years, learning needs change. To
help address this, the format for our middle school Faith
Formation uses a youth ministry model. Classes are held
once a month, on Sunday or Monday evenings, facilitated by
Fr. Costa. Adults serve as small group leaders. Students
are also introduced to Christian service through various
parish projects.
Grade 9 -
Confirmation Formation
High school age
youth complete their Christian Initiation in the Sacrament
of Confirmation. Confirmation is usually celebrated in the
Spring of the ninth grade. The date for Confirmation is set
by the Bishop's Office. Confirmation formation is held
bi-monthly according to a set calendar. Candidates are
expected to participate in Christian service projects and a
Confirmation Retreat. A sponsor and a Confirmation name are
chosen by each candidate.
Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults
Adults are
welcomed into the Catholic Faith through the RCIA process.
A separate team assists in the preparation of our adult
candidates. Adult baptism and profession of Faith normally
occur during the Easter Vigil each year. For more
information concerning the RCIA, please consult the link on
the main page of this website.
Adult Faith
Formation
Adult Faith
Formation opportunities covering a wide range of topics are
offered between the two downtown parishes throughout the
year. In addition, formation for liturgical ministries and
parish ministries are offered at various times.
REGISTRATION
Student
registration for the 2009-2010 catechetical year is done by
mail. All families currently enrolled in our parish program
will receive registration packets over the summer. Any
families new to our program should contact the Faith
Formation Office to register. A copy of the child's baptism
certificate is needed at the time of registration.
Registration Fee
In order to
provide quality resources for our catechists and students,
we ask our families to assist with some of the financial
needs of the program. If families have difficulty meeting
the registration fee, they are asked to please contact the
Faith Formation Office.
One
child:
$40.00 Grade 2: $45.00
Two
children:
$70.00 Grade 9: $80.00
Three or more
children: $80.00
CLASS
SCHEDULE
Grades 1 -
3 Sunday morning,
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Classes are held in the
classroom building
*** Please note:
classes are scheduled at this time to afford
families the
opportunity to participate in either the 9:00 a.m. or
11:15 a.m. parish
Masses, either before or after class.
Grades 4 &
5 Tuesdays
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
or 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Classes are held in the
classroom building
Grade
6 Mondays
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
or 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Classes are held in the
classroom building.
Classes meet according
to a set calendar.
(see
calendar of classes below)
Grade
7 Monday evening, once a month
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Classes are held in the
parish hall.
(see
calendar of classes below)
Grade
8 Sunday evening, once a month
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Classes are held in the
parish hall.
(see
calendar of classes below)
Grade
9 Sunday evening, twice a month
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Classes are held in the
parish hall.
(see calendar of classes
below)
There are
no classes on the following dates:
Week of October
11th – Columbus Day
Week of November
29th – Thanksgiving
Week of December
20th/Week of December 27th – Christmas
Week of January
17th – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Week of February
14th – Winter vacation
Classes begin
the week of Sunday, September 20th
Classes end
the week of March 28th.
First
Reconciliation Dates:
Wednesday evening, March 3, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the church
Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 10:00 p.m. in the church
First
Eucharist Date:
Sunday, May 16, 2010 during the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Masses
Confirmation
Date: To be announced
Snow
Cancellation Information:
If class is
canceled due to inclement weather information will be posted
on Channel 7 News Stormforce or www.whdh.com.
If the North
Attleboro Public Schools cancel class due to inclement
weather on a Monday, Faith Formation classes on Monday are
canceled as well.
Grade 6
Calendar
Classes will
meet on the following dates:
September 21,
2009
October 5, 2009
October 19, 2009
November 2, 2009
November 9, 2009
November 23,
2009
December 7, 2009
December 21,
2009 – Parish Service
January 4, 2010
January 11, 2010
February 1, 2010
February 22,
2010
March 1, 2010
March 8, 2010
March 15, 2010
March 29, 2010
Grade 7
Calendar
Classes will
meet on the following dates:
September 28,
2008
October 26, 2008
November 16,
2008
December 14,
2009
January 25, 2010
February 8, 2010
March 22, 2010
Grade 8
Calendar
Classes will
meet on the following dates:
September 27,
2009
October 25, 2009
November 15,
2009
December 13,
2009
January 24, 2010
February 7, 2010
March 21, 2010
Grade
9/Confirmation Formation Calendar
Classes will
meet on the following dates:
October 4, 2009
October 18, 2009
November 1, 2009
November 8, 2009
December 6, 2009
December 13,
2009
January 3, 2010
February 7, 2010
(Confirmation
Retreat begins with 9:00 a.m. parish Mass and ends at 2:00
p.m.)
March 7, 2010
March 14, 2010
April 4, 2010
(Easter Egg
Hunt)
April 11, 2010
(Dinner with
Sponsors)
OFFICE FOR CHILD PROTECTION
The Diocese of
Fall River, in compliance with the Dallas Charter approved
by the United States Catholic Bishops, has implemented an
Abuse Prevention program for all clergy, lay ecclesial
ministers, and employees. All adults, age 17 and older, who
work with children must attend a training session, sign a
Code of Conduct, and complete a criminal investigation
background check. The CORI form and Code of Conduct form
are completed each year.
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