StM Faith Formation Newsletter

Hi Families,

This Sunday will be our only class this month, it also marks the beginning of the 2nd week of Advent - the "Candle of Peace." The Lord loves you and wants to bring you peace in this world of chaos. “Have no anxiety about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ.” - Philippians 4:6-7. Try and find a peaceful place or do something peaceful to draw you closer to God.

Since we do not have but one faith formation class this month, please take this time to immerse your family in the traditions of the Catholic Church. Our bulletin is filled with many Advent activities, such as the Advent Mission on December 18 at 7 pm - the Way of the Star with the Vigil Project. This will be a beautiful night of praise and worship to our Lord! (see flyer below)

As a reminder: December 9 is a Holy Day of Obligation - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - see the bulletin for the Mass schedule.

Our Kindergarten class will begin January 5, see info below.

WE ARE IN NEED OF MANY PARENTS TO SUPPORT OUR CHALLENGE AND CONQUEST PROGRAM THIS SUNDAY. Please sign up with this link: CC & SUB SIGN UP to assist in a classroom or contact Joyce Blum.

Many Advent blessings,

The Faith Formation Team

Please join me in welcoming Karen Dear to the FF Staff Team. She will be around on Sunday learning the ropes!

If you need assistance from her, she can be reached at kdear@stmcary.org / (919) 468-6162.

Pre-School - Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW): during the 8:30 am Mass

Elementary-Middle Sacrament Prep for Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation: 3:15 – 4:30 pm

Middle Grades 3-8 - Challenge and Conquest Program (CC): 3:15 pm – 4:45 pm

High School - Confirmation: 12:30 pm – 2 pm or 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

CLOW has moved to the Liturgy Department!

You can find Megan Bash there: mbash@stmcary.org.

SEE THE BULLETIN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLOW AND THE SCHEDULED DATES

Siblings of youth already registered in Faith Formation are welcome to register (if not already) for our upcoming Kindergarten program. This Program runs from January to May on the same dates as the Faith Formation program (see calendar below). Class time is 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm to allow parents and volunteers to get their other children into their classes.

Required for First Holy Communion:

Copy of Baptismal Certificate and Data Sheet sent to Joyce Blum by NOVEMBER 10.

WHEN YOU SIGN IN YOUR CHILD THIS WEEK, PLEASE LOOK FOR MISSING INFORMATION SHEET WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER.

For Baptismal certificates, you can take a picture or scan and then email it to Joyce Blum. You do not need to bring in the original, a copy will suffice. If your child was baptized at St. Michael, you do not need to submit a certificate as we have that on file already.

• We are always looking for extra hands! Whether you can commit to one Sunday or multiple, we would love to have you join us. You can sign up HERE.

Confirmation on December 8th will be in the ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL GYM - ARCHANGEL HALL.

On December 8th, Confirmation candidates will meet in the School Gym to participate in a series of team building challenges to get to know their small group members while continuing to chat about questions that fellow Confirmation candidates raised at our last meeting on November 24th such as: What is the first thing that you see when you go to heaven? What passages from Sacred Scripture support that Church's teaching about purgatory? What is the Resurrection of the Body and the Last Judgement? How do these questions relate to the season of Advent?

If you would like to learn more about these topics from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, listen to the following episodes of the Catechism in a Year Podcast by Fr. Mike Schmitz:

• Day 139: I Believe in Everlasting Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fr6t_l6cE4
• Day 140: Purgatory and Hell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0mrlrA9Iks
• Day 141: The Last Judgement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENDOLGqmO5g

Contact: Christina Dietzler (cdietzler@stmcary.org)

All Year 2 Confirmation Candidates are required to participate in the Confirmation retreat scheduled for Saturday, February 8th through Sunday, February 9th of 2025. Your teen received information about this retreat at the Open House and an additional handout with more details about the retreat at the Sunday, October 27th Confirmation meeting.

The cost of the retreat is $70. Payment can be submitted at the following Realm link below or you can bring a check or cash in an envelope with your teen's name on it to the next Confirmation meeting.

Registrhttps://onrealm.org/StMichaelArchangel/Registrations/Registrants/465bfbf2-f480-46fb-96fb-b2120100f901ants. The Parent Permission Form can be downloaded below in English and in Spanish.

All Confirmation Candidates in Year 1 and Year 2 need to submit the following paperwork by Sunday, December 8th, 2024. If your teen is in Year 2 of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, we may already have these forms if your teen submitted them last year. Please email Christina Dietzler at cdietzler@stmcary.org with any questions.

• Certificate of Baptism
• Certificate of First Holy Communion
• Confirmation Data Form
• Sponsor Form

This is a faith-based group that focuses on Catholic formation, socialization, and service, for high school-aged youth. Eligible youth will be in high school or of high school age. High School Youth Group encourages youth to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ in a supportive community and empowers them to be leaders in sharing the Gospel. Through weekly meetings, youth share in fellowship with each other, pray with Sacred Scripture and work together to plan special events that help them to explore how their unique gifts can be used in the loving service of Christ and their neighbor.

Youth Group will meet on the following evening December from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the Trinity Center:

Thursday, December 5th A Doorway to Hope Service Project

Special Event

Youth Group Bowling Saturday, December 7th, 2024, 7:00pm-9:00pm

Register for Youth Group Bowling here: Registrants

Contact: Christina Dietzler (cdietzler@stmcary.org)

We thank our many volunteers who come every week to share their gifts and talents with the youth of the St. Michael parish community. We welcome ALL parents, grandparents, and other adult family members to join us in this very worthy service to the parish.

WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

• Door Monitors
• Confirmation Small Group Leaders (12:30 and 3 pm)
• Classroom Assistants
• Substitutes

Prerequisite: A desire to share your faith and to become Safe Environment Certified (Level C).

It is never too late to join our volunteer team, contact Joyce Blum if you are interested.

JOYCE BLUM: Director of Faith Formation

Karen Dear: Administrative Coordinator

MEGAN BASH: Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) Coordinator

DARA HADLEY: Challenge and Conquest Coordinator (Grades 3-8)

CHRISTINA DIETZLER: High School-Youth Minister (Confirmation & Youth Group)

BILL BURNS: Associate Director of Adult Evangelization and Formation

DEACON BERT CHAVEZ: Spanish Classes

WEEK 8: November 17, 2024

WEEK 7: FF November 10, 2024

WEEK 6: FF November 3, 2024

WEEK 5: October 27, 2024

WEEK 4: October 20, 2024

Fall Break: October 13, 2024

WEEK 3: October 6, 2024

WEEK 2: Sept 29, 2024

WEEK 1: Sept 22, 2024

OPEN HOUSE: Sept 15, 2024

August_2024 / Welcome Back

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Email: faithformation@stmcary.org
Website: https://www.stmichaelcary.org/#
Location: 804 High House Road, Cary, NC, USA
Phone: (919)468-6100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelcary