March Faith Formation Newsletter

Upcoming Classes & Events

Sunday, March 4th:          Grade 9/Confirmation

Wednesday, March 7th:    Grades 1-8--Grades 1,2,5,& 6 will be attending Stations of the Cross

Sunday, March 11th:        Grade 9/Confirmation

Wednesday, March 14th:  Grades 1-8--Grades 3,4,7,& 8 will be attending Stations of the Cross

Sunday, March 18th:        Confirmation Retreat

Wednesday, March 21st:   Grades 1-8---Grades 3-8 will have the opportunity for Confession

Sunday, March 25th:        NO CLASS---Grade 9/Confirmation

Wednesday, March 28th:  NO CLASS---Grades 1-8

Sunday, April 1st:           NO CLASS---Grade 9/Confirmation

Wednesday, April 4th:     Grades 1-8 & First Reconciliation at 6 pm in the church (2nd Grade)



Best Lent Ever
Have you been having your Best Lent Ever?  Check our St. Patrick Facebook page daily for the Best Lent Ever short videos and reflections from Dynamic Catholic.  It will guide you on an incredible journey to become the-best-version-of-yourself, making this a truly life-changing Lent.


Stations of the Cross
Kathy & Bernie Heit will be leading the students through the Stations of the Cross on March 7th and March 14th.  Please feel free to join us!  Here is the schedule:

March 7th: 
6:00 pm---1st & 5th Grade  (Students should go to their classrooms first.) 
6:45 pm---2nd & 6th Grade

March 14th:
6:00 pm---3rd & 7th Grade (Students should go to their classrooms first.) 
6:45 pm---4th & 8th Grade

Confession
Students in Grades 2-8 will be reviewing the steps for preparing and going to Confession in class this week and next week.  All of the students will also be receving their own "Confession Companion" booklet.  (Our First Communincants received their booklets at the retreat on Saturday.) This walks the students through the preparation for Confession and the steps for when they get into the confessional.  Please feel free to go over the information in the booklet with your child, but they should keep the booklets in their Faith Formation bag, as they will need them when they go to Confession on March 21st (Grades 3-8.)  They can bring the booklets right into the confessional with them, so they aren't nervous and are well-prepared.  

Here is a our schedule for Reconciliation for Grades 3-8 for March 21^st: 

6:00 pm
3^rd & 6^th Grade  (students should go straight to the church instead of their classroom)

6: 20 pm
4^th & 5^th Grade

6:40 pm
7^th & 8^th Grade




Shamrock Spree
Come and enjoy a night of fun on the feast day of our patron saint- St. Patrick!  This event is for all parishioners and is one of our only fundraisers.  There will be a corned beef dinner (with roasted turkey and children's options), silent auction, raffle, and 50/50 raffle.  Following dinner is a euchre tournament and the always fun Bingo run by the Confirmation students- both activities have some pretty nice prizes!  

Dinner and raffle tickets will be available for purchase after all Mass or in parish office beginning February 3.  Hope to see you at the Shamrock Spree on Saturday, March 17 following 5:00 Mass!  See bulletin for more details http://www.st-patrick-parish.com/bulletins/20180204.pdf or our Facebook event here.  






Knights of Columbus Fish Fry at St. Patrick
We hope you can join us for an All You Can Eat Fish Fry featuring Deep Fried Cod, Macaroni and Cheese, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Coleslaw, Beverages, and Dessert. 
4:30 pm - 7:00 pm in St. Patrick's Hall (Church Basement)
Carry-outs are available
Adults $11, Seniors $10, Children $6.
Sponsored by The Knights of Columbus, Council 7775
See our Facebook page for all of the details! 



Faith Formation Registration 2018-2019
It's hard to believe that we are almost done with this school year!  That means it's time to start thinking about next year!  Registration forms for the 2018-2019 school year will be mailed to you in March, so keep an eye out for them.  If you already signed the photo form this year, you won't have to sign that again, unless you have a younger sibling starting in first grade.  We have almost everyone's baptismal certificates on file (which is awesome!), so if we have one for your child(ren), you won't have to submit those either.  So when the registration form comes in the mail, simply fill it out and send it in with your child to turn in to his/her catechist or mail to the church.  NO NEED TO SEND IN ANY MONEY!  Invoices will be given on the first night of classes in September.   If you have a child making their First Reconcilation & First Communion or Confirmation, there will also be a separate Sacramental Preparation Registration Form that will be included in your mailing.  


Save the Date!  
Mark your calendars for July 23rd-27th!  We will be offering a Totally Catholic Vacation Bible School for children 4 years old through 6th grade this summer!  Set Sail with the Holy Trinity featuring St. Patrick VBS will be from 9 am to noon at St. Patrick. More information and registration forms will be available soon!  We'll be looking for volunteers (students and adults) to help make this a fun & successful week! 



SCRIP
Don't forget to take advantage of our SCRIP program!  This is a super easy way to help support our Faith Formation Program!  If you would like an order form sent home with your child, please let us know.  




First Reconciliation
What a great day on Saturday!  Thank you to all of the students, parents, and grandparents who attended!  Please keep our students in your prayers, as they will be making their First Reconciliation on Wednesday, April 4th.  Pictures from our retreat are posted on the St. Patrick Facebook page. 



Eucharist Formation Retreat
.Just a reminder that we have our Eucharist Formation Retreat on Saturday, April 14th from 9 am to 12:30 pm at St. Patrick.  This is for students and parents.  The retreat form, which you received at the Reconciliation Formation Retreat is due by March 21st.  



Rosary, Jewelry, & Crucifix Sale
Just in time for First Communion, Confirmation, & Graduation!  Our Rosary, Crucifix, & Jewelry Sale is back with many new items specifically for First Communion & Confirmation!  Check out all of the beautiful items the weekends of April 14-15 and April 21-22.  All of the items will be available for purchase at the Eucharist Formation Retreat on April 14th as well.  50% of all of the sales will support our summer mission trips and our Middle School Adventure Day!  



Come Take the Journey!
Plans are underway for a pilgrimage to The Shrine of Christ's Passion on April 26th!  The shrine is in St. John, Indiana, which is about 35 miles south of Chicago.  Details and reservation forms can be found in the entryway of the church.   They will also be posted on our Facebook page.  You can find out more about the shrine here.

Faith Formation Fees
If your family has an outstanding balance, you'll be receiving an invoice in the mail.  Please keep in mind that no one is turned away from our Faith Formation programs.  If you are having difficulty in paying your fees, please contact Stephanie, Kristia, or Fr. Michael.  



  
Love Begins Here & Catholic Heart Workcamp
If your middle schooler or high schooler is interested in Love Begins Here or your 8th grader is interested in attending CHWC, contact Stephanie Kristia about registering! 




Do You Order From Schwan's 
If you order from Schwan's, would you please use our St. Patrick Faith Formation Fundraiser ID?  Click on the following link to go directly to our Schwan's fundraising page:  https://www.schwans-cares.com/campaigns/34884-st-patrick-church-faith-formation


Remind App
If you haven't signed up to receive St. Patrick Faith Formation text reminders, here's how:
Grades 1-8: Text @spff18 to 81010
Grade 9: Text @spff9 to 81010
Grades 10-12: Text @spff10-12 to 81010
Confirmation 2:  Text @spffc2 to 81010