I spent Monday gathering resources for the Faith Formation This Week webpage. When I was done I decided to go for a walk. I popped in my ear buds and listened to music from Porter’s Gate gate as I hit the path that connects East Lake Park to the High School. I had a lot on my mind and was hoping that the fresh air would help clear my mind. It was a nearly perfect weather for me- I love when the temperature allows me to wear jeans and a light jacket comfortably.
I looked around and saw trees still bare from winter. I reflected on all the plans I had had for the next 6 months. As I climbed up the hill to the old pioneer cemetery I was feeling overwhelmed with all the questions that I could not answer - When will public worship return? What will summer faith formation look like? Will we be able to meet in the Fall? I have to make plans for alternate possible futures. I was overwhelmed. I got to the part of the path just before you walk along Grand Avenue, which is where I turn to walk back the way I had come (I was enjoying the isolation of the path and didn’t want to walk along the road). When I turned to go back, I took notice of the field. Not too long ago there was a controlled burn. It was when I turned to go back that I noticed there was new growth already in the burned field. As I walked I noticed that the trees were not winter-bare but rather there were small buds where leaves would soon burst. I had been mourning the losses of what we had been missing with time stuck in our homes- all the plans kids had for concerts, games, band trips, birthday celebrations, Confirmation, family vacations. I’ve also been mourning what will not be in the future. I had PLANS- cue God’s laughter! As I started taking more notice of the new Spring life, my mindset also changed. This was a time to stop and savor. This is a time to enjoy and to welcome. I am appreciating all this extra unhurried time with my family at home. In the past we have been fairly consistent with having family meals most nights of the week- but they were often rushed meals because someone had a meeting/work/game/practice/etc. This past month we have eaten together and have had time to talk and to relax and to laugh. On my walk back home, the more new life I noticed around me, transforming the burned fields and the winter-bare trees, the more I realized what an exciting time this can be. It is one thing to stop and take stock of your own life- this may or may not result in a change. Effecting change in your life can be difficult when you are the only one deciding you need a change. This shut-down is forcing everyone to stop and reevaluate their priorities. We are all being forced to really look at what is necessary in our lives and what we can live without. If everyone is altering how they live their lives, maybe there is hope for all of us affecting a permanent change. Sometimes in the busy-ness of the before-the-pandemic-time we felt like there were so many parts of our lives beyond our control. We were allowing ourselves to be swept along with the current of the crowd around us. We let fear of missing out rule many of our choices of how we spent our time. God gave us all free will. We have the freedom to choose what we think and what we do. We choose who we serve. This week, I encourage you to take the opportunity to savor this time. Reflect and pray about the changes that have come and will come in your life because of this pandemic. Welcome the Holy Spirit to guide your steps as you go forward in these uncertain times. Ask God to give you the grace of wisdom to discern what is truly valuable in your life and the strength to honor those values as we slowly emerge from our pandemic cocoons.
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HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!
This is an amazing and challenging time to be alive! It is exciting- and maybe a little scary. I saw a cartoon today and didn’t think to save it to share, so I will describe it: Satan and God are sitting at a table. Satan says something like “I have sent a sickness that closed all the churches in the world.” God calmly responds “I’ve opened up churches in every house.” The thing is, even before this virus, our homes have always been the “Domestic Church.” What exactly is the “Domestic Church?” In Lumen Gentium #11 Pope Paul VI said “The family is, so to speak, the domestic church. In it parents should, by their word and example, be the first preachers of the faith to their children; they should encourage them in the vocation which is proper to each of them, fostering with special care vocation to a sacred state.” In this time when we cannot bring our children to Mass, how are we being preachers of the faith at home? Being a “preacher of the faith” doesn’t have to be actual “preaching” in the usual sense. It is in the ways that you bring God into the everyday. Find ways to be of service to each other in your house- and to others outside. Have your child make cards or write letters to elderly friends and family that may be even more isolated than usual during this social isolation. Make regular phone/video calls to distant family with your child. Be an example of a caring neighbor and friend. Give a prayer of thanksgiving before meals. Count your blessings together in your night prayers before bed. Is your child getting anxious because of the virus and the upheaval of our lives? Teach them to turn to God in prayer- that they can trust their worries in the Father’s hands. Since we aren’t all rushing off for school in the morning- there is time for a morning offering. Put up a prayer by the sink to say while they wash their hands (instead of saying the ABCs or singing “Happy Birthday”). Download an “Alleluia” coloring page to send to church- and talk about how we didn’t sing alleluia all through lent but now we do in Easter time. Don’t hide your faith- discuss it openly at home. It is ok that you do not know everything- and it is ok to tell your child you don’t know the answers to all their questions or even that you have questions yourself. There are ways to find answers- reach out to us at the parish. Being a “preacher of the faith” can be formal- like creating a dedicated prayer space or reading the Bible together and discussing it. But it is also a million different ways you show your child that they are loved. When they hear “God the Father”- your parental love is how they will imagine God’s love for them. In this challenging time, show them patience and kindness. Show them that no matter what they are loved. Welcome to the new Faith Formation web pages! On these pages you will find descriptions of the various faith formation programs and the opportunities to join a team to make these program a reality.
Originally I was going to offer multiple public meetings this Spring to present the new Faith Formation plan, answer questions, and encourage everyone to find a team to join. Sadly, public meetings are temporarily on hold. I am super excited about the new plan just cannot wait to share it you all. So here we are! Before I summarize the plan, please keep in mind that every one of these ministries will require a team of volunteers. There is room for everyone to help in an area that interests them. In a nutshell, here is the New Faith Formation Plan for all ages:
You can explore these Faith Formation pages to get into more details for each program. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] with any questions or to join a faith formation team! Registration forms for faith formation programs will be available soon. |
Kelley TanseyFaith Formation Coordinator Archives
June 2021
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