Faith Formation at St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook
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Complete information on tuition, volunteer discounts, dates and programming information can be found in the pdf below.
Once a month during Mass, little ones join us for special instruction.
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About the program |
We are committed to providing Faith Formation programing that nurtures the faith development of parents and children alike. We offer programming for students in K through 8th grades and provide regular communication with parents about what the children are learning in their faith formation classes. We also encourage parents to get involved in our many ministries at St. Norbert/OLB.
Our Programming for the 2022-23 Academic Year K-6 Faith Formation Program Our K-6th grade program uses the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies curriculum that combines a complete catechesis of our Catholic faith within the liturgical life of the Church. The content of the program flows from each Sunday’s Gospel and students learn their faith within the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year. Every lesson goes home to involve parents (who hear the same Gospel on Sunday) making it easier for you to discuss topics with your children. Classes are held two to three times per month on Sunday mornings after the 9:30 Mass (10:45 am – 12 noon) and on Tuesday evenings (4:30 – 5:45 pm and 6:15 – 7:30 pm). We try to avoid scheduling classes over school breaks and long weekends. We follow District #28 school schedule. Second Grade First Communion and First Reconciliation The preparation for First Communion and First Reconciliation is an exciting time for your children. They will finally get to sit at the Big table and receive the Eucharist along with the members of their family and friends. During the academic year they will learn about the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and how Jesus nourishes us in the sacrament. Likewise, they will learn about their responsibility of keeping their hearts open to the love of Jesus and how the sacrament of Reconciliation helps that. We will use a combination of resources for the sacramental preparation: Blest Are We text book and Blessed First Reconciliation & First Communion videos. Traditionally, these sacraments are received during a child’s second grade year. For those students who missed preparation due to Covid restrictions or other reasons, we will work with you to help your children catch-up with these sacraments. Parents should email JoEllen at joellen@northbrookcatholic.church to arrange a discussion about the options. Parents and other members of your family play an important role in helping form and prepare your children for these sacraments. It is important that you attend Sunday Mass as a family and to pray with your children every day. An active prayer and faith life is a practice—it requires our movement, action and repetition to notice the benefits. A simple way to teach your kids some of our common Catholic prayers and begin a practice of praying with your children is to pray at bedtime. Download the common Catholic prayers to get started. Important dates:
Called Confirmation Program for 7th & 8th Graders (Formerly named Edge) Called, our 7th and 8th grade Confirmation program, takes the students out of the classroom and brings them together for a youth group style experience. They meet in one large group for the primary lesson and prayer experience and also in small groups to discuss and make sense of what they learned about our Catholic faith. We primarily use the Pflaum Gifted in the Spirit curriculum, and will include some materials from Lifeteen’s Edge and Purpose programs. (Since we are no longer solely using Edge materials, we have changed the name to Called, emphasizing that Jesus calls us all to be his disciples.) Our Called Confirmation Program is designed to help our students…
The sessions begin after the Sunday 5 pm Mass with pizza at 6 pm and end with prayer about 7:45 pm. The programming takes place in the church basement, as well as the church. Students are expected to attend weekly Sunday Mass with their families. One easy option is to attend the 5 pm Mass on Sundays and the students can head directly to the Church Hall (lower level) at 6 pm for the start of the program. The Parent-Student meeting for Confirmation (8th graders only) is Sunday, September 11 at 6 pm in the Church. Student responsibilities and important dates will be outlined during this meeting. Currently we have no Confirmation date set for this year’s incoming 8th grade class. Normally it happens at the end of April. We will inform you as soon as we know. Confirmation is a two year program. In order to be confirmed in the 8th grade, a student must have been enrolled in a Catholic Faith Formation program or a Catholic school in the 7th grade. If your child missed the 7th grade instruction last year, we will enroll them in the online Chosen program and give specific chapters your child must do in order to be eligible for Confirmation in the 8th grade. Contact JoEllen at joellen@northbrookcatholic.church for more information. Study at Home Programs Study at home programs are available for families whose schedules do not permit regular class attendance. Approval for registration into such programs is required. Parents who are interested in pursuing this option should email JoEllen at joellen@northbrookcatholic.church to arrange a time for a conversation. The price for study-at-home programming is the same price for in-person classes.
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Calendar |
Important Dates to Remember
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