StM Faith Formation Newsletter

Hi Families,

On the last Sunday of each liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, or Christ the King. This year, it will be celebrated on November 24th. For more information about this special feast day connect with the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. At St. Michael's we will be Confirming 13 adults at the 10:30 am Mass. This will be a perfect opportunity to talk with your children about the meaning of Confirmation as a sacrament that "confirms" our baptism. I hope you choose this Mass to attend and experience this beautiful reception of the sacrament.

If you have a child receiving a sacrament this year, please make sure you have completed the corresponding data form from below and that they have a baptism certificate on file with us. If your child was baptized at St. Michael, we already have this on file.

PARENT SUPPORT is NEEDED, especially dads in the Conquest program!
Please sign up with this link: CC & SUB SIGN UP to assist in a classroom or contact Joyce Blum.

We will have class this Sunday and then again December 8 to finish out 2024. We wish you all a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Many blessings,

The Faith Formation Team

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.

• G10 MESSAGE: The boys will be taking a church tour this Sunday, November 24th, led by the music director, Alex Hill!

• 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 will be held on November 24th in the CONFERENCE CENTER GALLERY.

This week teens meet in the Conference Center Gallery to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King! As we are reaching the end of another liturgical year with the season of Advent beginning on December 1st, you will notice the readings at Mass focus on Christ as our beloved king and encourage us to prepare our hearts and minds to welcome him with greater devotion through prayer and service to neighbor. To keep with this theme, we will be reflecting this week on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell and how these topics relate to our search for true happiness and inspire us to live following the example of Jesus Christ.

We will be watching the following video from Formed.org during the session this week: https://watch.formed.org/videos/am-i-saved-the-search-begins-episode-6

Additionally, 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

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

FF November 10, 2024

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