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What’s going on with Sacrament Preparation this year at St. Raphael?We are starting a new model for Sacrament Preparation this fall. This includes preparation for First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation. Sacrament preparation will now happen through Family Life Groups.Family Life Groups! Our new model for Faith Formation and Sacrament Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation for youth.A Family Life Group is a group of two to three families who encourage and support each other as they grow in faith. They are a way for everyone in the family to put their faith into action by walking beside other families on their faith journey. Family Life Group members don’t need to be experts in the Catholic faith, just committed to growing closer to God. The parish will provide materials and support. Family members just have to show up and participate!Why are we moving to a family based model?As Pope Francis recently reminded us, parents are the first witnesses to the faith. We believe that the family is the fundamental building block of our community and faith development. This new model is designed to support parents in deepening their own faith life while enriching the faith life of the entire family. Family Life Groups complement what your child is learning in school.Would you like to learn more about why we’re using this new model? Click here to read Fr. Phil’s e-newsletter article.When does Sacrament Preparation start?It starts when your child is ready. Determining when your child is ready to receive a sacrament is a discernment process. When you and your child feel that they are ready, they can start the preparation process.When can my child receive a sacrament?Celebration of sacraments will happen on a rolling basis throughout the year. Per diocesan parameters, First Communion can be received as early as seven years old and Confirmation can be received as early as 14 years old.What can families do now to get started with Family Life Groups?Registration for Family Life Groups will open in mid-September and we will begin sending Family Life Group and sacrament preparation materials in October. One of the best things that you can do now is to talk to other families and form your Family Life Group.To form a Family Life Group, your children can be preparing for the same sacrament and be the same age, but they don’t have to be. They don’t even have to be preparing for a sacrament at all. The makeup of your group is up to you! You get to decide what’s best for your family and the families in your group.Are there Catholic families that you hang out with regularly in the carpool line or chat with each weekend at Mass? Do you see neighbors or co-workers with their families at Mass? Maybe your extended family could become your Family Life Group! Do you chat with other Catholic parents at your children’s sports practices?Any of these families could be in your Family Life Group! Why not ask some of them if they’d be interested in joining you?I’ve connected with other families and we’ve formed a Family Life Group, what should I do now?Once you have your group, here are some things you can talk about so you’re ready to go in October.
- When do you want to meet and how long do you want each gathering to last?
- We’re providing a menu of rich resources on a common Catholic theme each month. Your Family Life Group will decide how to approach the content. You could meet once a month as a group and do some things throughout the month as individual families. You could meet weekly as a group in person or on Zoom. You might have parent discussions. You might plan to participate together in a larger community event. It is up to your Family Life Group to decide!
- Where do we want to meet?
- Groups can meet virtually or in person following appropriate Covid guidelines. If you meet in person, here are some ideas to get you started: you can rotate homes, meet at a restaurant, park, playground, or the clubhouse at your apartment complex. If you want to meet virtually and are unsure how to do so, we can help you get started.
- Due to the large number of Family Life Groups, indoor spaces at the parish are not available for groups to meet. There is just not enough space to be able to allow all groups to do this.
- Do we need a group leader?
- A leader or facilitator is not necessary, but each group should have a point of contact designated for your group. This contact person will regularly communicate with the parish.
- Register your group?
- Look out for information about registering Family Life Groups in the parish e-newsletter and on the parish website. Or sign up to get text and/or emails with the latest information at saintraphael.org/family-life-groups.
- Save the date for The Family Life Group Kickoff Event on September 12!
- You are invited to join us for our Family Life Group Kickoff Event on September 12. Registration details will be available as a part of this event.
I’m new to the area and St. Raphael and don’t really know any other families yet? How can I get connected with a Family Life Group?We will help match you with other families. We look forward to connecting with you on the 12th and assist you in the process.Do you still have questions about Family Life Groups?For more information about Family Life Groups and to sign up to get more information as it becomes available, visit saintraphael.org/family-life-groups.For frequently asked questions or to ask a new question, visit saintraphael.org/faqs-about-family-life-groups.Fr. Phil's letter to the parish about Family Life Groups
Dear St. Raphael,
This past winter we talked about the importance of fruitful Christian friendships for us as disciples. After all, at its most basic level, Christianity is a relationship with Christ - and the relationship we have with others directly influences the relationship we have with Jesus. When we have authentic friendships with other Christians, it’s easier in every way to be the people that God calls us to be.
Last spring we focused our efforts on helping adults build Christian friendships. However, we know how important Christian friendships are for Catholics of all ages. If you’re a parent, imagine how powerful it would be for you and your children to have authentic and fruitful relationships with other families. Would you like to have other families with whom you can share your faith wins and struggles? Would you like to have other families who can support you and your children on your journeys toward passionate discipleship in the Church? That’s our dream for families at St. Raphael and that’s why we’re making some big changes to Faith Formation and Sacrament Preparation. These changes will empower children, youth, and families to grow closer to God, where it counts: at a personal level!
Why must we make changes?
Why do we need to make changes? Let’s look at some of the realities we face at the national and parish level. At the national level, church attendance is dropping and Catholics are less engaged in their faith. Many refer to society today as ‘post Christian’ meaning the role of Christian faith has lessened as a guiding light in our society. When asked about their religion, slightly more than 1 in 4 US adults identify as “none,” and fully 13% of adults identify as former Catholics. Ten years after being confirmed, 80% of young adults have left the Catholic faith. Here at St. Raphael approximately 200 children and youth receive their First Communion each year, and approximately 100 youth are Confirmed. Looking at the data above, how many of those children and youth will still be practicing Catholics as adults? I’ll let you do the math...
These statistics are not in any way a reflection on the hard work or dedication of so many in our parish over the years. Through the generosity and creativity of so many of you, some for many years, much good has happened at our parish. But, over time the world has changed, and so our methods must change. Think about your family, your friends, and people you know in the community. Where do you see the pressures of life and today’s society diminishing people’s faith life? How many people do you know who have walked away from church? Parents, how many of those people are your own young adult children? Do you think people would make different decisions if they had authentic Christian relationships with others? Would you like to do something to reverse these statistics and help our young people really encounter Jesus and really become his disciples, with the sacraments of the Church as a vital part of that larger and deeper journey?
We do! That’s why parish staff took time over the past year to research and discern new methods of supporting and equipping our families right where they are.
A new model for Faith Formation and Sacrament Preparation
I’m thrilled to announce that beginning this Fall, Faith Formation and Sacrament Preparation will be done in Family Life Groups. A Family Life Group is a group of several families who meet together to grow in faith and live life together. These groups are very similar to groups of friends you may already have, with one important difference. Family Life Groups are intentionally centered around our Catholic faith. They offer families a way to purposefully put faith into action, in daily life. They’re a safe place for every member of the family to question, learn and support each other, and most importantly, grow together as a family in the faith. All of this with support from the parish.
The Family Life Group model acknowledges that faith is a lifelong journey, that we all need support on the journey, and that every family is different. This model is more responsive to the needs of families and individual children and youth than a standard classroom program. Families can be creative and respond to the unique gifts and needs of each member of the family. They can discern the best time for their child to receive a sacrament rather than following a preset timeline. The model is also holistic in its approach, helping families integrate faith into their daily lives and relationships. And, it acknowledges the important role of parents as their child’s first and primary witness and teacher of our faith, and gives them the support of other parents who are also trying to raise their children in the Catholic faith.
This model isn’t unique to St. Raphael. Family models of faith formation are bubbling up throughout the country as the Catholic Church explores ways to help people foster a relationship with Christ in a time and society that often pulls them away from the true message of salvation.
If you have more questions, click here.
As we begin this new method of helping families build relationships with Christ, please join me in prayer for the success of our Family Life Groups!
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are our Triune God and in Yourself are a community that is love. Jesus, when you came as our Savior, you were born into a human family with Mary and Joseph. Your Mother went in haste to be with and help support the family of Elizabeth and Zechariah. You yourself visited the homes of families and drew different families together as your disciples. Please guide and bless our parish Family Life Groups, that spouses, parents, and children alike may support each other in coming to truly know and follow you more and more deeply in your Church. Amen!
St. Raphael... pray for us!
Fr. Phil
Pastor
Queridos hermanos y hermanas de San Rafael,
El invierno pasado hablamos sobre la importancia de las amistades cristianas fructíferas para nosotros como discípulos. Después de todo, en su nivel más básico, el cristianismo es una relación con Cristo, y la relación que tenemos con los demás influye directamente en la relación que tenemos con Jesús. Cuando tenemos amistades auténticas con otros cristianos, es más fácil en todos los sentidos ser las personas que Dios nos llama a ser.
La primavera pasada enfocamos nuestros esfuerzos en ayudar a los adultos a construir amistades cristianas. Sin embargo, sabemos lo importante que son las amistades cristianas para los católicos de todas las edades. Si eres padre, imagina lo poderoso que sería para ti y tus hijos tener relaciones auténticas y fructíferas con otras familias. ¿Le gustaría tener otras familias con las que pueda compartir sus victorias y luchas en la fe? ¿Le gustaría tener otras familias que puedan apoyarlo a usted y a sus hijos en sus viajes hacia el discipulado apasionado en la Iglesia? Ese es nuestro sueño para las familias en San Rafael y es por eso que estamos haciendo grandes cambios en la Formación en la Fe y la Preparación Sacramental. Estos cambios empoderan a los niños, jóvenes y familias para que se acerquen más a Dios, donde cuenta: ¡a nivel personal!
¿Por qué debemos hacer cambios?
¿Por qué necesitamos hacer cambios? Veamos algunas de las realidades que enfrentamos a nivel nacional y parroquial. A nivel nacional, la asistencia a la iglesia está disminuyendo y los católicos están menos comprometidos con su fe. Muchos se refieren a la sociedad actual como "postcristiana", lo que significa que el papel de la fe cristiana ha disminuido como luz guía en nuestra sociedad. Cuando se les pregunta sobre su religión, un poco más de 1 de cada 4 adultos estadounidenses se identifican como “ninguno” y el 13% de los adultos se identifican como ex católicos. Diez años después de ser confirmado, el 80% de los jóvenes adultos han abandonado la fe católica. Aquí en San Rafael aproximadamente 200 niños y jóvenes reciben su Primera Comunión cada año, y aproximadamente 100 jóvenes son Confirmados. Mirando los datos anteriores, ¿cuántos de esos niños y jóvenes seguirán siendo católicos practicantes como adultos? Le dejaré hacer los cálculos ...
Estas estadísticas no son de ninguna manera un reflejo del arduo trabajo o la dedicación de tantos en nuestra parroquia a lo largo de los años. Gracias a la generosidad y creatividad de muchos de ustedes, algunos durante muchos años, han sucedido muchas cosas buenas en nuestra parroquia. Pero, con el tiempo, el mundo ha cambiado, por lo que nuestros métodos deben cambiar. Piense en su familia, sus amigos y las personas que conoce en la comunidad. ¿Dónde ve las presiones de la vida y la sociedad actual que disminuyen la vida de fe de las personas? ¿Cuántas personas conoces que se hayan alejado de la iglesia? Padres, ¿cuántas de esas personas son sus propios hijos adultos jóvenes? ¿Crees que las personas tomarían decisiones diferentes si tuvieran relaciones cristianas auténticas con los demás? ¿Le gustaría hacer algo para revertir estas estadísticas y ayudar a nuestros jóvenes a encontrar realmente a Jesús y convertirse realmente en sus discípulos, con los sacramentos de la Iglesia como parte vital de ese viaje más amplio y profundo?
¡Lo hacemos! Es por eso que el personal de la parroquia se tomó el tiempo durante el año pasado para investigar y discernir nuevos métodos para apoyar y equipar a nuestras familias justo donde están.
Un nuevo modelo para la formación en la fe y la preparación sacramental
Me complace anunciar que a partir de este otoño, la formación en la fe y la preparación sacramental se realizarán en Grupos de Vida Familiar. Un grupo de vida familiar es un grupo de varias familias que se reúnen para crecer en la fe y vivir la vida juntos. Estos grupos son muy similares a los grupos de amigos que quizás ya tenga, con una diferencia importante. Los grupos de vida familiar se centran intencionalmente en torno a nuestra fe católica. Ofrecen a las familias una manera de poner en práctica la fe con un propósito, en la vida diaria. Son un lugar seguro para que todos los miembros de la familia se cuestionen, aprendan y se apoyen mutuamente y, lo más importante, crezcan juntos como familia en la fe. Todo esto con el apoyo de la parroquia.
El modelo del Grupo de Vida Familiar reconoce que la fe es un viaje que dura toda la vida, que todos necesitamos apoyo en el camino y que cada familia es diferente. Este modelo responde mejor a las necesidades de las familias y los niños y jóvenes individuales que un programa de salón de clases estándar. Las familias pueden ser creativas y responder a los dones y necesidades únicos de cada miembro de la familia. Pueden discernir cuál es el mejor momento para que su hijo reciba el sacramento en lugar de seguir un cronograma preestablecido. El modelo también es integral en su enfoque, ayudando a las familias a integrar la fe en sus vidas y relaciones diarias. Y reconoce el importante papel de los padres como el primer y principal testigo y maestro de nuestra fe de sus hijos, y les brinda el apoyo de otros padres que también están tratando de criar a sus hijos en la fe católica.
Este modelo no es exclusivo de San Rafael. Los modelos familiares de formación en la fe están surgiendo en todo el país a medida que la Iglesia Católica explora formas de ayudar a las personas a fomentar una relación con Cristo en un momento y una sociedad que a menudo los aleja del verdadero mensaje de salvación.
Si tiene más preguntas, haga clic aquí.
Al comenzar este nuevo método de ayudar a las familias a construir relaciones con Cristo, ¡ únase a mí en oración por el éxito de nuestros Grupos de Vida Familiar!
Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo, eres nuestro Dios Uno y Trino y en Ti mismo eres una comunidad que es amor. Jesús, cuando viniste como nuestro Salvador, naciste en una familia humana con María y José. Tu Madre se apresuró a acompañar y ayudar a mantener a la familia de Isabel y Zacarías. Usted mismo visitó las casas de las familias y reunió a diferentes familias como sus discípulos. Por favor, guíe y bendiga a nuestros Grupos de Vida Familiar parroquial, para que los cónyuges, padres e hijos por igual puedan apoyarse mutuamente para llegar a conocerlos verdaderamente y seguirlos cada vez más profundamente en su Iglesia.¡Amén!
San Rafael... ¡ruega por nosotros!
Padre Felipe Hurley, S.J.
Párroco