July 12, 2024

Dear Faith Formation Families,

With prayers that this Summer has provided a good respite for you and your family, the Faith Formation team at Holy Spirit has been busy working to prepare for our next year of formation. Thank you for the feedback you provided in completing the survey about our Faith Formation program. In consultation with Catechists and families in our faith formation program, I have made recommendations to Father Suarez who has decided to make adjustments to our program that I would like to bring to your attention.

The goal of our faith formation program is to foster a spirit of discipleship in our youth by giving them encounters with Jesus Christ in the truth and beauty of our Catholic Faith. Several years ago, we restructured our faith formation program to better empower parents, the primary educators of their children in the faith, by implementing a substantial at-home component into our program. For a variety of reasons, it has become clear this noble goal has not been the result.

In attempt to better accompany families, notable adjustments to our faith formation program
include the following:

• 1st-4th graders will meet every Sunday morning (excluding holiday weekends) from 10:45-11:25am
• Families are welcome to attend either the 9:30am or 11:30am Mass. If attending the
  9:30am Mass, students will be able to enjoy a donut before heading to class, and parents
  can mingle with other parishioners during our coffee and donut hour.
• 5th-7th graders will meet every Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:30pm.
  
• Parents will no longer be required to regularly attend a parent session. On Tuesday
  evenings, parents are invited to spend time in Adoration, which begins at 7pm. Additional
  opportunities for parents to grow in faith and fellowship through small group study of
  scripture, church teaching, catholic social teaching, etc. will be offered throughout the year,
  according to specific interest from parents.
• The schedule for our Sacramental Preparation Programs will remain the same this year.
  

We are excited about these changes, which incidentally bring us to greater agreement of time commitments with our neighboring parishes. Trusting in God’s good providence, may they bear greater fruit as they will provide opportunities for our youth to encounter Jesus Christ and to
grow deeper in love with God and in service of our neighbor. As always, we are looking to better serve the needs of the families of our parish. If there are ways you would like to help or better contribute to this mission, please reach out to us.

Sincerely,
Ranae Sperrazza, Director of Evangelization and Faith Formation