FAITH FORMATION

Throughout the months of July and August, Holy Spirit parish kids are invited to participate in the Summer Kid's Club.  There's a daily at-home (or on vacation) activity scheduled for club members. Any club member who completes all seven of the activities in a week earns a small prize AND has their name put in a drawing for three prizes ($100 gift card, $50 gift card and $25 gift card) at the end of the summer.  By completing all eight weeks of activities, kids can have their name in the drawing up to eight times!

Parents should download the assignment ("mission") sheet each week, as well as any occasional handouts for the week.  When the assignments are completed and the sheet returned (hardcopy or via email), the club member earns their weekly prize and their name in the end-of-summer drawing!

Mission sheet for:
July 5-11 (and handout)
July 12-18
July 19-25
July 26 - Aug 1
Aug 2-8
Aug. 9-15
Aug 16-22
Aug 23-29

Please feel free to contact Carolyn Houston of the parish office of lifelong faith formation (carolyn.houston@portlanddiocese.org) with any questions or faith formation needs.

“Early Bird” registration began on August 1^st, and the discounted registration fee will continue for the month of August.  All children need to be registered for faith formation every year, regardless of whether they have participated in faith formation in previous years.  Early bird registration may be especially helpful for families who need to have their child in a particular session.  The limit on class sizes will make it very difficult to add children once a particular class session is full.

Download:  Faith Formation Handbook
                   Registration forms for: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th, and High school

The home is the first place a disciple is formed, and the Church refers to the Catholic family as the Domestic Church. This year the parish will be providing families with digital and hard-copy tools and resources to assist them in completing guided weekly faith formation lessons at home.  There will be several options that include both virtual and in-person classrooms, and parents can choose the level of participation they are most comfortable with.  Some parents may choose to have their child complete her/his 20-minute online faith formation module independently, while others may wish to utilize the hard-copy lesson plans and children’s leaflets with their child each week.  Either way, the children will be guided and led to a better understanding of Jesus and their faith by the most important people in their lives – their parents.
 
In addition to the weekly at-home lessons, children and parents will participate in a monthly in-person class. While parent and child gatherings will be held at the same time, they will usually be separate. Classes will be held at St. Martha and St. Mary’s on Sunday mornings and Monday afternoons. 

Our high school class will continue to meet weekly but will have a change in meeting time and place this fall.  Unlike the K-8 families, parents of high school students will not meet during the high school session.
 
It is understandable that some people are hesitant to meet in person, but we are a Church of people and personal encounters.  Connection to one another, and to Christ though one another is essential.  That said, God gave us the gift of intelligence to be smart about our contact, and hearts of service to ensure that our actions are life-giving and safe for others. The parish is updated at least weekly by the diocesan offices about state and CDC recommendations. If at any time personal contact is deemed inadvisable, we will immediately make the necessary adjustments.  For any family with serious concerns about monthly in-person meetings, a virtual option is available.
 
Our parish covid-19 safety protocols include:
 
Class sizes limited to ten children in K-8.

• Children will be seated six feet apart and will not have to wear masks when they are in their seats.
• Children will need to put their masks on to enter/exit the room and if they move around the room. 
• Since there will be no sharing of supplies each K-8 child will have her/his own supply bin that will be set out prior to the child's arrival.
• There will be designated doors for entering and exiting the classroom wing during faith formation at both St. Martha and St. Mary’s. At St. Mary's, there will be an "up" and a "down" staircase for faith formation. 
• Prior to the monthly class, parents are asked to take the temperature of any family member participating in the in-person class.
• Anyone with symptoms like a fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, diarrhea or vomiting, or anyone in quarantine pursuant to state regulations, should not attend any class or gathering at either church.
•  Upon entering the classroom, children will need to use hand sanitizer (parents can opt to provide their own).

Faith Formation endeavors in our parish shall support and strengthen the work of the Spirit to:

• Nurture a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Foster an ever-deepening understanding of the Gospel.
• Build on the Traditions of our Catholic faith.

  We will serve the parish by providing opportunities to foster a sense of spiritual vitality for all age and ability levels. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, these efforts will lead to wisdom, as well as personal and social transformation.

ADULT Faith Formation (18+) 

• Small faith-sharing groups are available at various days and times at both church sites. 
• An ongoing Bible study is held on Wednesdays at St. Mary's from 10 am -noon. 
• Six Journey in Faith sessions will be offered - see schedule listed above.
• For more information on adult faith formation at Holy Spirit parish, please contact Rosanne Smith at rosanne.smith@portlanddiocese.org. 

YOUTH Faith Formation (pre-school through high school)

    It is the philosophy of the parish that parents are the primary teachers of their children, and the parish supports that role. The most important means of support is through the celebration of weekly Mass, when the community comes together to nurture one another and to be nourished by Jesus Christ through his Word and his Body.  For some families, involving their children in children’s Liturgy of the Word or having them assist at Mass, has helped in strengthening a sense of belonging and ownership in the Mass in their children.

Nurturing our parish children’s friendship with Jesus is the ultimate aim of Youth Faith Formation, and the parish will provide various service, prayer, and educational opportunities to help children better understand who Jesus is, and what Jesus has called us all to do. For further details, please review the parish Faith Formation Family Handbook and/or contact Carolyn Houston at carolyn.houston@portlanddiocese.org.