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The Education Coordinator serves as the liaison between the Education
Committees and the Parish Pastoral Council.
Goals and activities to fulfill the mission of each committee are
established yearly.
Mission:
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To provide religious educational opportunities that will enhance
the spiritual and intellectual growth of adult parishioners and
enable them to better meet the challenges of their daily lives
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Activities:
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Adult Education, led by an active committee, provides
an excellent opportunity for adult parishioners to continue
learning about their faith. The committee meets from May
to September in order to plan for the next season's sessions.
Evening sessions, presented from September through
April in St. Clare Hall, feature St. Francis priests and other
excellent religious and lay speakers. Each session lasts 1½ hours
with a short refreshment break. Information about the topic,
speaker, time and place of each meeting appears in The Vernacular
and the Sunday church bulletin. Free childcare is provided during
all sessions.
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Mission:
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To continue the journey of the candidate (sophomore grade or
older) in their initiation process of the Catholic Church, while
strengthening their union with God and providing opportunities to
serve their parish and their community.
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Activities:
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Students are required to attend approximately 15 classes from
October through April. In preparation for the Sacrament of
Confirmation, they must also choose a sponsor, select various
spiritual and community projects, attend a retreat and be committed
to continuing the faithful practice and study of the Catholic religion.
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Mission:
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To learn the Church's teachings in regard to marriage, family and
personal holiness and to pass them on in order to promote a true
Catholic culture.
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Activities:
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This is a study and prayer group which meets twice a month
September to May. We reflect on the gospel of the following Sunday,
study several pages of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and
study several of Pope John Paul's encyclicals. Lessons are prepared
ahead of time. The groups meet 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and
babysitting is provided.
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Mission:
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The mission of St. Anthony of Padua Library is to provide
free-of-charge spiritual and intellectually enriching materials
in support of our Catholic Christian faith to deepen the quality
of spiritual life of St. Francis of Assisi parishioners.
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Activities:
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The goal of those involved in developing and implementing
the St. Anthony of Padua Library is to acquire, organize and
maintain materials for the library in keeping with the Stewardship
way of life; volunteers and monetary patrons donate their time,
talents and treasures charitably for the benefit of the St. Francis
parish community. This includes purchasing and evaluating books,
audio cassettes, and videos, as well as managing volunteers and
general operations of the library.
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Mission:
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To assist parents in the religious formation of their children
by providing religious formation classes for students in grades
K-9 who are not currently enrolled in Catholic Schools.
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Activities:
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Classes are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. until
8:00 p.m. from the first Wednesday after Labor Day through the
last Wednesday in April. The sacrifice of the Mass and the sacrament
of Reconciliation are celebrated on the second Wednesday of each month.
There is also a Special Needs class for students with disabilities.
A total of 55 volunteers have committed time and talent to the program
as teacher's assistants, classroom helpers, substitute teachers,
office personnel, and hall monitors for the current school year.
Child care can be arranged during class time for children of teachers
and other volunteers.
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Mission:
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To welcome inquirers, who may choose to become Catholic,
and assist returning Catholics, who desire to receive the
Sacrements as they search for a deeper relationship with God
in the Catholic faith and St. Francis of Assis Parish.
Emphasis is on formation through prayer, catechesis community
and service. This process is accomplished thourgh the Rite
of Christian Initiation of Adults and Children.
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Activities:
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RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, whereby
non-Catholics interested learn more about the Catholic faith, and
have the opportunity to become Catholic, if they so choose. Since
it is a faith journey, the length of the process depends upon one's
own personal readiness and may exceed a year. RCIA is also for
Catholic adults and children, who have not had the opportunity to
receive the Sacreaments (Baptism, First Confession, First Holy
Communion, Confirmation), during the customary time of their life.
RCIA is also, for returning Cathlolics, who have a desire to learn
more about their faith. RCIA is continuous yearly process. During
the Spring, as the Pre-Catechumenate Period begins, inquireers will
regularly meet in the homes of the parishoners, who will discuss
topics of tghe Catholic faith with them. In fall, the Catechumenate
Period begins, whereby each week on Sunday evening Adults and Teens
meet from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Catechesis (Chruch Teachings) will
be presented and discussed. Children's RCIA is Wed. evening 6:30 p.m.
to 8:00 p.m. A priest associate is the primary catechis. Substitute
Catechists are needed when the priest will be absent. Also, during the
Catechumenate at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, after the Homily, those in the
RCIA process are dismssed to discuss assigned scripture readings under
the directions of Leader of the "Breaking Open of the Word." Each
person is assigned a sponsor-parishoner, who will be his or her mentor,
during the process and attend the Sunday night Catechesis with them.
At the end of the Catechumenate Period, if the inquirer feels ready,
and has chosen to become Catholic, they enter into the Purifcation
and Enlightenment Period, whereby they spiritually prepare to receive
the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday Night). Mystagogy,
"mis-ta-go-jee" the period, which lasts until Pentecost, and follows
receiving of the sacraments, enables the Neophyte (new member) to
reflect more deeply on the mysteries of their faith, especially the
sacraments they have just recived.
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Parishoners Needed:
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Home "Pre-Catechumenate" Catechists. Fulltime Teens and Children
Catechists. Adult Substitute Catechists. Adult, Teen and Children
Sponsors. Prayer Sponsors. Hospitality for refreshments. Leaders
of "Breaking Open of the Word" for Adults, Teens, and Children.
Childcare volunteers. And General Assistance-table set up, copying,
nametags, computer work, etc...
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Mission:
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To provide St. Francis of Assisi pre-school age children (at
least 3 years of age but not yet in Kindergarten) with a fun and
enthusiastic start to learning about God and the Catholic faith.
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Activities:
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The Sunday School Pre-School Program is designed to help children
discover the many ways to celebrate their Catholic faith. The
lesson plan centers around God's love for them and teaches them to
respond to God's love. This is accomplished by showing them how to
reach out with help to others and by reaching out to God through
prayer. Twelve (12) teachers and 28 teacher aids serve 80 students,
who are at least 3 years of age by September 1 and have not yet
entered Kindergarten. The program is held during the 10:00 Mass
October through April. There is no fee for the program, but enrollment
is necessary. Enrollment is held after each mass the first two
weekends in September after Labor Day weekend.
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Mission:
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To teach children and young adults how to dedicate their lives
totally to God in light of the heed of the motto of our Holy Father
Pope John Paul II, "Totus Tuus" or "Totally Yours," through song,
prayer, knowledge and example.
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Activities:
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Totus Tuus offers a week-long camp with daily class time, prayer
time and fun time for children in first through eighth grade and
evening twilight retreats for high school youth.
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