Faith Formation Update
AUGUST 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
It was with great sadness that we had to end our instructional year early because of COVID-19, but we write firstly to let you know that you and your families have been in our prayers. The home is called the Domestic Church, and we pray that this time at home has been an opportunity to grow together as a family in prayer and in faith, which strengthens us and remind us of what is truly important.
In preparing for the coming year, we have used this time to reevaluate our Faith Formation curriculum and examine how we can best serve all of you in helping you hand on the gift of our faith to your children. With our society changing so radically, we felt it was an opportune moment to try and restructure the Religious Education Program in a way that respects the busy schedules of so many families, while still acknowledging the central place the faith should have in the formation of children. We are therefore excited to share with you the outline of this new format which we believe will address the needs of our students and families when we return in September for instruction.
Beginning September, all students will participate in home online learning in place of weekly classroom instruction. This new protocol will include access to e-books, monthly class workshops, retreat opportunities for all grades, Sacramental preparation, and optional monthly Sunday classroom instruction prior to 10:30 am Mass. This is a fluid model that will provide the opportunity for virtual presentations and optional classroom instruction at your own leisure. This year we will be partnering with Ignatius Press as we incorporate this new online learning model.
The optional monthly Sunday class will be offered for those families who still want a classroom experience for their child/children in addition to online learning. This class will be offered once a month for each grade (see below).
First Sunday of the month grades 1, 2 (9:15am -10:15am)
Second Sunday of the month grades 3, 4 (9:15am -10:15am)
Third Sunday of the month grades 5, 6 (9:15am -10:15am) Fourth Sunday of the month grades 7, 8 (9:15am- 10:15am)
*These classes will begin when the campus is deemed safe and appropriate protocols are in place, and some variation may occur due to holidays. A separate invitation/registration (no fee) will be sent out in September for families who are interested in this optional in-person class meeting.
The most important piece of the program is, of course, weekly attendance at Sunday Mass. While as Catholics this is always “mandatory,” we will expect each student in the religious education program to attend Mass weekly. Currently, we offer six Masses over the weekend (5 pm Saturday, Sunday 7:30 am, 9 am, 10:30 am, 12:00 pm & 5 pm). Especially now that students will not be coming to the Church for class, we hope to instead gather on Sunday. Ultimately, we would like to trust that everyone will observe this obligation of our faith, but in order to ensure students are ready to advance in the program, particularly in sacrament years, we will be putting in place Mass attendance cards to be signed by the Priest of the Mass that you attend. The greatest gift parents can give to their children is the habit of worshipping God at Mass, as it will give them a place to find peace, to find hope, and to find God’s love when they most need it. We know life is complicated, but we pray that families see this as a chance to make a change in routine that will be an incredible blessing.
At the beginning of September, you will receive updated information regarding a date for parent meetings for the Faith Formation Year. The meetings will be zoomed for your convenience.
The tuition for the 2020-2021 year will be: $100.00 per child/ $150.00 per family, which is a difference from previous years. Please fill out the form below and submit payment to (Holy Family Faith Formation Office, 74-15 175thStreet, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366). Please make checks payable to Holy Family Religious Education. If you have any difficulty with the process, please send an e-mail at [email protected].
We all know that parents are the first educators/role models for children, and now more than ever they need your guidance and support. We believe this new team approach of the parent, child, parish will provide you and your family with the necessary tools to continue to grow in love and relationship with God our Father. God bless you.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Sean Suckiel
Pastor
Mrs. Barbara Makolin
Director of Religious Education
The Tuition for the 2020-2021 year is
$100.00 per child/ $150.00 per Family
VENMO @holyfamilyfm
Protecting Our Youth
Letter from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio:
In 2002, the Catholic Bishops of the United States met in Dallas, and approved the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and pledged to address the issue of sexual abuse by clergy, lay employees and volunteers in the Catholic Church. The Charter includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. Since 2002, the Bishops have revised the Charter twice and will continue to make changes as necessary.
In order to implement the goals expressed in the Charter, the Safe Environment Program was opened in 2004. This program includes training to assist priests, deacons, pastoral ministers, employees and volunteers to be aware of any signs of sexual abuse with the children with whom they might come into contact, conducting background searches to reveal any past criminal activity that might endanger children entrusted to our care, and administering codes of pastoral conduct which serve as guidelines for pastoral activity. Protecting God’s Children is a tremendous responsibility that the Church has and must fulfill.
Of equal importance was the need to reach out to victims and their families who have been impacted by sexual abuse by clergy. For many years, the Diocese of Brooklyn has been offering assistance to those who have presented themselves to the Diocese as victims of sexual abuse by clergy through the Office of Victim Assistance. We are committed to helping anyone who was hurt as a minor by sexual abuse to seek help and to begin the healing process. Healing is a journey which can be taken in different steps. Circumstances for each victim are varied, but the commonality is that there is a need to feel that someone understands their pain, acknowledges the wrongdoing and offers an apology in the name of the Church.
We hope that through the links on this page, you will find valuable and useful information on the resources provided within the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens to address the issue of sexual abuse by clergy, lay employees, and volunteers in the Catholic Church.
As Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, my prayers continue for all the victims of sexual abuse by clergy or other Church personnel within our Diocese and throughout the Church and all those affected by its occurrence. May the Lord bring healing and peace.
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D.
Bishop of Brooklyn
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