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Dear Pastoral Assistants of Faith Formation and Catechists,
As we prepare for the Lenten season, you may already have thought or started to think of how to make this "an incredible" time for our families and children. Our society is already suffering many setbacks that thinking about "the best Lenten" season may be doubtful because:
- Many of our families are still not aware or moving away from Lenten practices.
- Some families may have many other activities planned, so attending Church may not be a priority.
- Families may feel that every year is the same and not compelled to attend or participate.
We face many challenges on how to be innovative and attract those children and families to get interested and involved in:
- renewing the meaning of Lent.
- remembering the value of going to the desert and spending time discovering Christ in our lives.
- remembering the teachings of the Prodigal Son and the Lost sheep.
- recovering the value of prayer, fasting and giving by servicing those in need.
Do you already have innovative and relevant lesson plans? Have you considered using one resource that responds to today's families spiritual needs? Do you have people with testimonies that could be added to your lessons? Are the children and families being invited to participate in the parish events, more individually and directly? Do you have suggestions in how to have families live the season in their homes with art, activities, reflections or devotions? Have you invited your families to attend and support the journey of the catechumens and candidates who will be fully initiated at the Easter Vigil Mass?
In this newsletter we offer many resources in the Liturgical Calendar section that you may want to look at and select some that can enhance the participation of those in your program. If you have any activities or innovative ideas, please share with us so we can upload them to our resource page.
Let's continue forming disciples!
Carlos Carrillo
Director of the Department of Lifelong Formation
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Season of Service
To honor our local history, while embracing our Catholic Social teachings, we will host a “Season of Service.” From March 1 - May 31, 2025, local Catholics, parishes, schools, ministries and families are invited to participate in service with the goal of reaching 175,000 collective hours of service across Western Washington. Click here to learn more.
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Christian Initiation/OCIA Parish Family Workgroup
Is your parish family already doing a combined Christian Initiation process? Would you like to participate in a workgroup that develops best practices for your fellow colleagues in the Archdiocese of Seattle? This Christian Initiation Parish Family Workgroup will meet online and present these best practices at a future webinar for parish ministers.
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Annual Faith Formation Retreat - March 11-12, 2025
The gift of St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises invite us to experience God’s loving presence and to deepen our relationship with Jesus who accompanies us through all the joys, sorrows and challenges in our lives and ministry. Our retreat will be a gentle place to lean into God’s grace that leads to greater spiritual freedom. We will present prayer forms to support you in your call to serve God’s people. There will also be spiritual directors available to help you discern how God is inviting you to more abundant life.
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Middle School Encounter - March 15, 2025
Join youth in grades 6-8 and experience God through community, learning, and prayer. A day of journeying in faith as pilgrims of hope through lively general sessions, engaging workshops, and a fun-filled gathering of the universal Church. Please note: Lunch will be provided.
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A History of Initiation Practices and an Examination of the OCIA - May 7, 2025
We will then explore the entire contents of the OCIA -- Parts I, Part II, and appendices. How do we choose the “right rite”? What are particular circumstances? How do we respect the baptismal status of those seeking full communion with the Church? What's new in the 2024 edition? What's not? These presentations are part of the annual NW Region Canon Law Conference. Learn more.
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Level I Summer Course
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based faith formation experience in which children and adults listen to God together in a retreat-like setting called the Atrium. The Sheepfold, a local consortium of communities offering CGS to families, is offering a 2-part formation course for adults to learn how to offer CGS to children ages 3-6. Part 1 will be offered in July 2025. The dates are July 11-13 and July 25-27. All of the 2025 dates will be offered at St. Monica’s on Mercer Island. Part 2 will be offered in July 2026 -- exact dates and location TBD.
This course will equip an adult to serve as a catechist in a Level I Atrium. It will include adult reflections, working with materials, group discussions, journaling, material making, and more. For more details and for information about registration, contact the Sheepfold Host Erin Webb (ewebb.sheepfold@gmail.com). For more information about this method of faith formation click here.
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Safe Environment Program News | |
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ParishStaq Monthly Office Hours
Do you have questions about how to use ParishStaq? Bring your questions to Monthly CSM* Office Hours for Ministry Leaders *CSM- Pushpay Customer Success Manager.
View the new flyer for items that ministry leaders might also find helpful: new significant event options that can help Faith Formation leaders add training information in the ChMS profile, videos that can help when using the tools of ParishStaq, and a table of topics and links that have drop in hours for learning about the topic listed.
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NEW FLYER with helpful resources for Faith Formation leaders! | |
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Catechetical Certification Program RENEWAL
If you become certified between 2017 and 2021 in Catechesis or Adult Faith Formation from our updated program and you are still active in teaching the faith, it’s time to renew your Certification at no cost. Please complete the renewal form and ask your pastor or Pastoral Assistant of Faith Formation to complete the practicum form.
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Catechetical Certification Program ADVANCED DEGREES
Initial catechetical certification for parish catechists with an advanced degree in catholic theology/related field from an accredited catholic university.
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Don't forget using the new manual is required:
March 05, 2025 - Order of Christian Initiation of Adults texts must be used
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SAVE THE DATE
CHRISM MASS: Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 7:00PM at St. James Cathedral
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PAFF Support and Christian Initiation/OCIA Support Meetings | |
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PAFF Support
Please see below for the dates for the PAFF Support meetings. Anyone working in Faith Formation can join these meetings to network, share ideas, ask questions or just visit with others working in faith formation. Meetings are at 12:00 noon.
March 11, 2025
April 8, 2025
May 13, 2025
June 11, 2025 (Wednesday)
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Passcode: 471593
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OCIA Support
Parish staff working in OCIA can share good practices, ideas to improve current processes, suggestions in how to deal with difficult circumstances, and ideas to celebrate the Rites. Meetings are at 12:00 noon.
March 18, 2025
April 15, 2025
May 20, 2025
June 17, 2025
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Passcode: 589327
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The At Home with Faith newsletter will be sent separately outside of the Faith Formation newsletter. If you would like to receive it directly, please email lisa.hillyard@seattlearch.org. | | |
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Save the Dates!
Betrothed Marriage Prep Retreats
October 24-26, 2025
February 27 - March 1, 2026
Information coming soon
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Be sure to check the Liturgical Calendar pages in both English and Spanish. These pages will contain who and what the Church celebrates specifically in the month of MARCH.
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Please note: If you receive this newsletter before the beginning of the next month, content on the webpage will not update until the 1st of each month. | |
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St. Katherine Drexel -
March 3
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Sts. Perpetua & Felicity -
February 2
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The Annunciation - March 25 | |
For more feast days & observances not included here, visit the Liturgical Calendar resource page. | |
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Annual Faith Formation & Youth Minister Retreat - March 11-12, 2025 at the Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way
Middle School Encounter - March 15, 2025 at Kennedy Catholic High School, Burien
Jubilee Disability Inclusion Ministry Mass & Dance - March 22, 2025 at St. James Cathedral, Seattle (Mass), Isaac Orr Conference Room (Reception)
A History of Initiation Practices and an Examination of the OCIA - May 7, 2025, 9:00am at Hotel Murano, Tacoma
PAFF Conference - June 10, 2025, at the Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way - info coming soon!
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ARCHDIOCESE OF SEATTLE
Lifelong Formation
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