Generations of Faith

Saint Andrew the Apostle Faith Formation Program is for every one.  We develop, grow, learn and support a lifelong and meaningful relationship across generations for the people of Saint Andrew the Apostle Family.  Our Faith Formation Program provides for our multi-cultural, multi-lingual, all generation community to share and learn from each other.  We promote an understanding of shared values as well as respect and dignity for each individual as well as our community.

Our Faith Formation program, “Generations of Faith”, empowers family members of all age levels to develop a strong, more loving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Our program guides all who participate to grow deeper in the Catholic Church through the study of Scripture, learning about the doctrine and traditions of our Church, and sharing beliefs through the Eucharist, prayer, stories and songs both in our Parish and within your home.

 “Generations of Faith” has two equally important components:

• The first part is our monthly two hour gatherings.  When we meet as a community we share in the Liturgy of the Word.  We then have age specific, multi-language Faith Formation instruction.  Afterwards, families gather to share what they learned.  We conclude each session in prayer and fellowship, a wonderful opportunity to meet and share with other parishioners.
• The second equally important component is your family’s use of each month’s follow up materials.  “Home Kits” contain age-level materials for your family to use by reviewing the monthly lesion on a daily basis.  Each family also receives the two volume “Apostolate Family Catechism”, a reliable resource for Catholic guidance as your family grows and learns about our faith, and a New American Bible for reading and sharing Scripture stories.
• Sacramental Faith Formation gatherings will adhere to our “Generations of Faith” format.  Parents and children will meet once a month to learn about the sacraments.

Empowering individuals and families to live their faith at home and in the world is a lifelong process.  Our hope and belief is that we are building a partnership between home and parish that will support the living out of Christian faith through prayer and moral living.

Registration and Tuition 2007-2008

Diocese of Joliet and Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish Policy:

• Families must be registered members of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish.
• Baptismal records for each child must be on file with Saint Andrew the Apostle Faith Formation Office.
• A letter or statement of prior Religious Education classes, other than St. Andrew must be presented at registration.
• Two consecutive years of completed Religious Education is mandatory for any child to receive a Sacrament at Saint Andrew Catholic Church.
• Religious Education Emergency / Medical information for each child must be completed.  This also includes a working phone number and emergency phone number.
• All past due fees and tuition for 2006-2007 must be paid before 2007-2008 registration will be accepted.
• After registration is processed, information and calendar for Sacrament preparation will be mailed to all families who will be preparing for the Sacraments for the 2007-2008 year.

Tuition and Fees

• Tuition / books / materials per family is $250.00.  $125.00 of the tuition must be paid at the time of registration.  Final payment must be paid by December 15, 2007.   Failure to complete tuition payment by this date will result in the removal of your family from our Faith Formation Program.  No other payment plan is available.
   

• Sacramental fee per child is $50.00. Sacramental fees must be paid in full at time of registration.
• Tuition is non-refundable after October 1, 2007.

Registration forms are available in the faith formation office must be returned before

september 1, 2007

If you have any questions, please call Mrs. Mary Tibble, Director of Faith Formation, at 815-886-5962 extension 503.

Share The Word

What is Share the Word?  It is the Liturgy of the Word suitably adapted to make it relevant to the lives and experiences of our young children.  The children begin Mass with the assembly then are invited by the priest to leave for their own celebration.  They are escorted by adult volunteers to a special room prepared for them.  The children actively participate through prayer, song and discussion of God’s Word.  It gives them the opportunity to understand the Gospel message on their own level.  They are brought back into the assembly after the Prayers of the Faithful.

Share the Word is offered on most Sundays to children ages Kindergarten through Fourth grade at the 8:45 am Spanish Mass, 9:00 am Hall Mass, and the 12:00 pm Hall Mass.  Share the Word begins the Sunday after Labor Day and concludes the Sunday before Memorial Day.  There is no Share the Word during the Summer months.

We invite you to volunteer one Sunday a month to assist the reader or to be a reader.  This would be a great way to share your faith with our children.  For further information or to volunteer please call Andrea Vasquez in the Faith Formation Office at (815) 886-5962 ext. 504.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School is offered in June for children aged 4 years old through 5^th grade.  Songs, activities, snacks and more are geared to the theme chosen for the Bible School each year.  Children in middle school, grades 6-8, and high school are asked to volunteer to help the adult leaders for Vacation Bible School.