We are happy you enrolled your child in our program at St. John Vianney and look forward to a great year filled with many wonderful activities for your family to enjoy and grow in faith.
Sunday Morning Christian Formation
CALENDAR and DOORS - Sunday morning Christian Formation classes for children K4-8th grade begin Sunday, September 25th from 9:30-10:45am. Classes are held in the school for K4-5th grade and you may enter the building using the parish center doors, main school doors off the large parking lot or the west school doors off the small parking lot. Classes for 7th-8th grade are upstairs in the parish center. Classrooms will be marked by grade level and class list. Click here for the Sunday 2016-2017 schedule.
Wednesday Evening Christian Formation
CALENDAR and DOORS - Wednesday evening Christian Formation classes for children 1st-8th grade begin Wednesday, September 21st from 5:00-6:15pm. Classes are held in the school and you may enter the building using the main parish center doors off the large parking. Classrooms will be marked by grade level and class list. Click here for the Wednesday 2016-2017 schedule.
Family Formation
FAITH FORMATION OFFERED TO THE PARISH COMMUNITY
All parishioners, including school families, Christian Formation families, and families without children are invited to participate in three family formation sessions. These sessions are designed to fortify us "to act justly, to love steadfastly, and to walk humbly with God" (Micah 6:8). Please attend on Wednesday, September 14 from 6:00-7:55pm OR Sunday, September 18 from 9:00-10:55am. Please click for further program information and for
program registration.
Christian Formation Classes
DROP-OFF and PICK-UP - We ask that you do not drop your children off any earlier than 10 minutes before class as teachers use this time for preparation. If you arrive and the teacher is not in the classroom, please wait so no child is left unattended. Please arrive on time as we only have an hour and fifteen minutes for formation. If you happen to be late picking up your child and the catechist must leave, you may find your child waiting in the Christian Formation Office. Thank you for your cooperation.
ATTENDANCE POLICY and CONTACT INFORMATION -We ask that students attend all classes unless they are sick or there is a family emergency. All absences MUST be excused by calling Suzette Hildebrand, the Christian Formation secretary, at 262-796-3944. Please leave your child's full name, please spell your last name, grade level, and reason for the absence, so we can alert the catechist of the absence.
PEANUT-FREE ZONE - Child Ministry is a nut-free environment as we have many allergies with potentially severe reactions. Please watch ingredients and do not add nuts to any baked goods. Thank you for being so careful with the snacks your children bring to share. We appreciate your awareness.
Meets every Saturday at the 4:30pm Mass and on Sundays at the 11:00am Mass for children ages K4-4th grade. Parents are welcome to visit anytime especially to introduce a young child when they first begin to worship with us. All children are welcome and no registration is necessary. Come and hear the Word of God!
CLOW VOLUNTEERS NEEDED -We need additional presiders and assistants once a month at a Mass of your choice. Please come to a training session on Sunday, September 11th at noon in the Christian Formation Office. If possible, observe CLOW at the 11:00am Mass and come to the training afterwards. Thank you for your consideration.
TINY TOT TIME -
Moms, Dads, Grandparents, bring your little ones ages two to five for an hour of story time, activities, music, and snack. We meet one Tuesday a month and our first gathering will be Tuesday, September 20th at 10:00am in the Church Hall. Each month we will celebrate a different theme. Please feel free to drop in or call to let us know you are coming. Click here for the calendar.
Sacramental Preparation
At St. John Vianney, children in second grade receive both First Reconciliation and First Communion. Parents of children who wish to receive these sacraments this year are asked to attend a parent/child meeting on Wednesday, October 5th at 5:00-6:15pm OR Sunday, October 9th at 9:30-10:45am in the Presentation Hall. Children will have their own session during this time in the Church Hall. You will receive a separate email with information on registration, parent meetings, and upcoming events.
Upcoming Events
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS - We will celebrate the feast day of Saint Francis with an animal blessing on Monday, October 3rd at 6:00pm. We will meet underneath the Church canopy and bless all living creatures. Please join us even if you do not have a pet of your own. This is a wonderful experience for the whole family!
Meet the Saints
BLESSED TERESA OF CALCUTTA
What is a saint? First, it is a person who is acknowledged as holy or virtuous and typically regarded as being in heaven after they have died. Second, it is one who is formally recognized or canonized.
Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Albania and was baptized Gonxha Agnesand. She joined an Irish convent at the age of 18 but 20 years later, during a train ride in India, she felt a calling from Jesus to care for the poor so she established Missionaries of Charity to serve the poorest of all. For the first time she walked out of her convent, donned in her iconic white sari with blue trim, to start her life caring for the poor. She washed the wounded, cared for the sick and dying, and did simple, ordinary tasks with extraordinary love. In 1979, Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work in Calcutta and died on September 5, 1997.
On Sunday, September 4, 2016, Pope Francis will celebrate the canonization Mass for St. Teresa of Calcutta. She will achieve sainthood not just because of her powerful mysticism, her life of prayer, but because of this important, simple fact; Mother was compassion in action. Even the youngest children will understand what makes her life so special and we as adults are blessed to have walked the earth with such a humble and loving servant of God. Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!
Adult Formation
FORMING THE CATECHETICAL SPIRIT - Do you want to learn more about the Catholic Church or do you wish you were more comfortable sharing your Catholic faith? Please consider taking this parish-based program designed for those who serve the Church as parish catechists and for parents who would like to get more involved. Sessions begin on Saturday, September 10th. Click here for dates and topics.
SAFEGUARDING ALL GOD'S FAMILY -
In response to the sexual abuse scandals that became public knowledge over ten years ago, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has instituted the requirement that any adult (18 years or older) having regular contact with children must participate in an awareness training. Anyone who is volunteering at the parish is required to attend one of the Awareness sessions offered by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee before they begin volunteering. To meet these guidelines we will be sponsoring a training session for your convenience facilitated by Mike Crain. This session will be held on Tuesday, September 6th 6:30pm in the Presentation Hall. Click here to sign up or to find other training sessions. As difficult as this topic may be, these sessions provide everyone the opportunity to take part in the goal of the Archdiocese which is "to protect our children and all in the church family from sexual abuse and related dangers." Thank you in advance for participating in this important program.
If you have completed this training, click here to find forms to sign and return to the CF Office so we can update our records and be compliant with the Arch. Thank you for keeping our children safe.
THANK YOU - For registering your child in Christian Formation classes and modeling for them the importance of your Catholic faith. I look forward to journeying with you this year as we share the Good News of Jesus Christ with one another. Please keep our parish and catechists in your prayers.
In Christ's Peace,
Director of Child Ministry
St. John Vianney - Christian Formation - sjvcf@stjohnv.org
1755 N. Calhoun Rd. - Brookfield, WI 53005 - 262-796-3944
