Faith

     Adults have the ability to influence the spirituality of the entire parish by using their knowledge to educate their children, their parents, and their peers.  As outlined in Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan in the United State, Adult Faith Foundation (AFF) is committed to renewing the faith of adults by implementing programs that focus one or more of the following elements: knowledge of the faith, liturgical life, moral formation, prayer and communal life and missionary spirit.  Three goals of AFF are to invite and enable ongoing conversion to Jesus in holiness of life, to promote and support active membership in the Christian Community and to call and prepare adults to act as disciples in mission to the local community.  

      A variety of Adult Faith Formation Program are offered each season.  Scheduled classes and sessions are scheduled and posted in the bulletin, Gathering Space, and the Bulletin.



Becoming Catholic (RCIA): Facilitator: Father Karl Barmann 

RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children) is based on the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) model.  RCIC is for those children seeking to possibly join the Catholic Church and who have never been baptized or were baptized in another non-Catholic Christian Church.  RCIC has been designed for children/youth who are older than the age of reason, from 7 – 18 years old.  If a candidate is beyond high school, they should participate in the RCIA Program instead.  

Meetings:  Meeting times and dates are set to accommodate the schedules of the family/families of the candidate and the teacher.  The meetings are located at St. Gregory’s Parish.  

Volunteers:  Two RCIC teachers are needed to teach an overview of the Catholic faith, including sacramental preparation, to the candidate.  Additionally, one or two substitute teachers are needed to fill in on an as needed basis.  Each teacher needs to be able to address the students according to their developmental stage and ability.  Moreover, depending on the number and grade level(s) of students, classes may need to be taught on an individual basis or in a combined grade format.

Bible Study: Volunteer Facilitators 
St. Gregory Barbarigo has many resources that can be utilized for Bible studies. We are blessed to be connected to the Formed.org web sight which provides the excellant Lectio series.  Online study & leader guides are avaliable as well.  There are also many other on campus avaiable to those seeking to share with others.  Check out the possibilities!

Small Groups: Volunteer Facilitators
Forming a small group involves friends getting together either on the church campus or in someone's home to consider, study, or just visit about a chosen topic. The Dynamic Catholic book program lends itself extremely well to small group discussions. The Formed site not only offers Bible studies, but many other materials, talks, movies, current topics to name a few that can be utilized in small groups.  Forming small groups of friends & possible friends is one of the best ways to share your faith! Get your small group started today!

Men's Group: Facilitators: Joe Quinlin & J. R. Kurz

 Marriage Preparation: Facilitators: Randy and Susie Holtman
 

The Little Saints program is geared toward all Pre-K through 4th graders.  The aim is to help the children know Jesus Christ and develop a lifelong relationship with Him, through scripture and church teachings. 

The classes begin with praising God through song, learning about a saint, then spending 15 minutes or so in Adoration and receiving Benediction.  The children then go to two different stations.  In one station they actively learn about the following Sunday’s Gospel, doing activities to help them begin to understand the Word of God.  In the other station, teachers help the children learn about the faith traditions of the Catholic Church so that they may be a beacon of light to the world, living out Christ’s words and example in their family and community.  Mission projects are encouraged at different times of the year such as a “baby shower” to bring items to the local Pregnancy Crisis Center, caroling at Nursing Homes, or collecting “Pennies for Heaven.”

Classes:  Little Saints meet Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.  They begin in the Parish Hall, move to the church, and finally to classrooms in the school.  Classes begin after Labor Day and end the last weekend in April.  Parents should contact the Religious Education Director to register their children.  Forms are also available in the Parish Office and on our web page.

Volunteers:  Approximately 12 volunteer teachers (2 per grade) are need to teach the Little Saints classes.  In addition, five or six substitute teachers are needed to substitute as Religious Education teachers on an as needed basis.
Leader: Cathy Handlos

Children’s Liturgy of the word is a program designed to help young children understand the Gospel reading through readings, song, crafts and activities.  The lessons are tailored for young children between preschool and first grade (around ages 3 – 6).

Meetings:  Liturgy of the Word programs are held in the Parish Office or Parish Hall on Sundays at the 10:30 am Mass during the Liturgy of the Word portion of the Mass.  Programs begin the weekend after Labor Day in September and continue until the last weekend in April, excluding holiday weekends and Christmas break.  To participate, children do not need to register.  During Mass, the priest simply invites the children in attendance to participate.  Interested children join their teacher(s) in front of the altar where the priest blesses the group.  Following the blessing, the students and teacher(s) go to the Parish Office or Parish Hall for their class.

Volunteers: Three to four Liturgy of the Word teachers are needed to teach at the 10:30 am Mass on a rotating basis. Teachers will need to prepare a lesson and activity beforehand. The Director of Religious Education will provide the lesson plan and help with crafts and activities as needed.   Those interest in working with some of our youngest parishioners should contact the Director of Religious Education. High School students are encouraged to help out with Liturgy of the Word once a month. 

 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Description:  
CGS is a common religious experience involving children and adults in which the religious values of childhood, primarily those values of contemplation and enjoyment of God, are predominant. This experience is shared in a place particularly prepared for the religious life of children called the Atrium. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Method involves training for the leader.  If interested in training for this, contact Cathy Handlos or Fr. Albert.

Needs:
Volunteers are needed to assist the leader with the children as they work in the atrium.
Leader: Cathy Handlos

High School Youth Group (Grades 9 -12)  - Michael and Jaime Casteel

St. Gregory’s comprehensive program is youth driven with an emphasis on creating an environment in which high school students can deepen their faith and build community.  The program also strives to provide the participants with a sense of belonging within their faith community.  Therefore St. Gregory’s parish not only offers a multitude of programs that focus on meeting the spiritual, service, and social needs of those in high school, but also create opportunities for them to become integrated and active parish members.

Volunteers:   Volunteers are needed to assist with youth group activities held during the bi-weekly youth group night.  In addition, volunteer drivers/chaperones are needed for out-of-town events such as the National Catholic Youth Conference, the Kansas City Youth Conference, and mission trips.

Middle School –EPIC (Grade 5-8) - Jenni Jordan and Betsy Nielson

The middle school youth ministry program is called EPIC, Everything Possible in Christ.  The purpose of EPIC is to provide our 5th – 8th grade youth with a regularly scheduled opportunity to gather in fellowship and to engage in faith-building activities.  Youth begin their evening by sharing a meat at 6:30 pm and at 7 start their faith-building activity.  The evening finished by 8 pm with prayers.

Volunteers: Lots of volunteers are needed for this program.  First of all, volunteers are needed to cook for M & M nights on a rotating basis.  Other volunteers are needed to set up, to clean up, and to assist with faith-building activities.

Adult volunteers are also needed to be drivers/chaperones during events like roller skating, the ½ Lock-in, and the Red Barn Dance.

Confirmation -  Cathy Hall
 

The year a student is confirmed is an important time for the student, both socially and spiritually.

In our diocese, 9th grade students are confirmed although if an older high school student missed the sacrament in a previous year, they are also welcome to enroll.  Candidates for Confirmation must register with the Director of Religious Education in August.

The Confirmation Ceremony dates are chosen one and a half years in advance by the diocese and presided over the bishop.  St. Gregory’s annual Confirmation preparation program begins six months prior to the Confirmation Ceremony date.

Meetings: Classes usually begin in January – which is normally nine months before the Confirmation date.  The classes are generally held on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Parish Hall. Other scheduled activities such as retreats, service projects, and reconciliation services complete the program.

Parents: Parents are a crucial part of the confirmation process. More than any class the parents’ example and testimony will determine the faith of their child. Parents are challenged to step up in their faith to lead there teen closer to God.