Monday, June 9, 2014

June GIFT Follow-up Email

June GIFT Follow Up Email


Thank you for attending our June GIFT Gatherings: Evaluation Meetings. If you were not able to attend the GIFT sessions this month, please click the link here  to download the PowerPoint presentation from the event. We have begun a long-range planning process – this process began with our
PARISH CONVOCATION ON MAY 18TH FROM 11:30-4:00 PM. The process will examine seven areas of parish life – everyone will be asked to participate in the areas that are of interest to them. Even if you are new to the parish, we want your input! Each month, we will focus on a different area of parish life during study groups. The study groups will be held on the 2nd week of each month; on Sunday from 11:30-1:30 pm, Monday from 7-9pm, and Tuesday from 10-12 noon (you only need to attend one each month). Here are the topics for each month:


Prayer & Worship (June)
Justice & Charity (July)
Community Building (August)
Catechesis (Sept)
Stewardship (October)
Pastoral Care & Ministry to Families (Nov)
Evangelization (Dec)


Watch the Best Practices for Parishes bulletin boards and the weekly bulletin for more information!

If you have not already completed the survey, you still by clicking here. (survey is in google docs – you should not need to sign in to complete this, but please let me know if you have trouble with it). We used the results received to plan the evaluation meetings, but we’d still like to have your input!

At the evaluation meetings, we asked all present to rank a list of suggested topics for 2014-15. The results are attached.

Here are additional comments from the adult sessions:
·         Liked the topics from 2012-13 Orientations better than this years
·         Liked discussions about parenting and learning from one another
·         CRS video about the girl in Guatemala
·         Human side of priests/deacons
·         Loved when Fr. Craig teaches us
·         Don’t use video only – need to allow more time for discussions
·         Move the announcements to the adult part of the gatherings

The adults participated in a discussion about two additional ideas, here are some comments:
1)      We asked about the format of the gatherings, i.e. should we keep families groups together (and not do break-out groups)?
a.       Not every time
b.      Maybe have a shorter break out time (1/2 hour with kids, ½ hour without)
c.       Some like it the way it is, but maybe have kids stay sometimes, like Christmas and Easter
d.      Perhaps have a series of topics – like Sept/Oct would be the same, or Nov/Dec that way you could delve deeper into a topic
2)      Because our faith is relational, and we learn from one another, we’d like to help families put together small faith sharing groups so that they could gather together. The families would decide how this would work – you could decide on your meeting day & time, the format, what materials you wanted to use, etc. I could help families get started. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS IDEA, LET ME KNOW – AND I WILL GATHER US TOGETHER TO TALK MORE!

Here are some comments from the children’s evaluation sessions:
1)         What were some of the activities or topics you especially liked?

a.       Pizza
b.      Movies  - when Jesus multiplied food &  liked the one where Jesus healed the crippled man
c.       Arts & Crafts - Dove & wreath, camel – cycles of seasons
d.      Learned more about faith
e.      Once a month, getting more out of it
2)      What did you not like?
a.       Too long all together.
b.      Review of other years not very interesting. Learn most when participating in sacraments
c.       5-8th group had some immature kids as they’re too young. Maybe have a 5-6th grade and 7-8th grade group done separately. 5th graders confused, 8th graders bored, learn better in smaller groups. Allow middle school students to be catechist helpers.
d.      3 – said they didn’t learn or remember much
3)      Are there any church topics you’d like to learn more about?
a.       Middle schoolers – Adam & Eve & Creation
4)      Are there any service projects/field trips you’d like to do?
a.       Tours of cathedrals, movie outings, library. If MS field trip, do on a MSYM night.

Other Resources:

Pinterest –
Summer Family Faith Ideas http://www.pinterest.com/smff2013/
Vibrant Faith @ Homewww.vibrantfaithathome.org
This is a great resource – even has a iPhone app – which offers short 5-10 minute long activities that families can do at home to explore or teach faith topics.
Sabrina’s Blog – Do you children ever ask you faith related questions that you are just not sure how to answer? Or do really cool things related to their faith that you want to share with the community? If so, follow the blog http://faqsfaithandquestions.blogspot.com


Announcements:
·         Best Practices for Parishes – our Long Range Planning process is meeting this week – Monday June 9 from 7-9pm or Tuesday, June 10th from 10-12 noon. This month is Prayer and Worship so we’ll be evaluating everything we do at Mass, Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, funerals, weddings, and RCIA. If you have participated in any of these things, your input is especially welcome.
·         Mission Trip to Ecuador – thank you for your generous support and donations. The group will be blessed on Saturday, June 14th at 5:00 pm, please come pray with us. You can follow daily updates at www.sabrinaspence.blogspot.com .
·         Melanie, our Music Director is retiring as of June 30th. She will host two Youth Concerts – June 22nd and June 29th at 4pm. Please come and support her and the youth of the parish!

·         Please prayerfully consider serving the parish community as Catechist. Catechists are men and women who share their faith with young people. They lead breakout groups during GIFT. My plan is to have two teams of Catechists – one team covering all grade levels for Sunday and one team for Wednesday. That way, catechists could attend the adult session on the alternate day. It is a commitment, but only once a month. We will have a training for all catechists in the area on August 23rd from 10-3pm at St. Charles. Additionally, I would be willing to work with you and would pair you with an experienced catechist. 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

2nd year of GIFT (Generations in Faith Together) is over!

Last night was our last GIFT session of the catechetical year. We ended by having the adults and kids evaluate what worked and what didn't work, and give some suggestions for next year. We got some great feedback from all who attended. If you weren't able to attend, you can still give input, but completing the survey online (I'll post the link later today).

We talked about forming small family cluster groups for faith sharing. If your family is interested in participating in this, either as a host family or just a participant in someone else's group, let me know! 

Also, just a reminder that God doesn't take a vacation from us, so we shouldn't take a vacation from him! Go to church this summer - seek out Catholic parishes where you are vacationing and observe what they do the same or differently from us. That has been one of my greatest sources of inspiration, learning from others, picking up ideas and being inspired. 

God Bless,
Sabrina