One of the many challenges of our current situation is that planning for the next 6-12 months is all tentative. We can’t know for certain when we will be able to have large gatherings again. This uncertainty is affecting plans for faith formation programs at our parish. I am sad to say that Totus Tuus has been canceled for this summer. Hopefully, we will be able to invite the Totus Tuus team back in 2021. But that leaves the question- what will faith formation look like this summer?
Some of the things to consider are that we will either still be completely shut down to any gatherings, partially shut-down (allowing for small group gatherings), or fully open. If we are fully open to large group gatherings, we could utilize a VBS program that we had bought for last year, but ended up not using because we chose to do Tutus Tuus instead. In the past, these VBS programs were months in the making. If we were to utilize a VBS program we would have to scale it down in consideration of the fact that we still cannot gather to make preparations. We could consider other programs or create a program of our own. No matter what, if we are open to large group gatherings and plan to have a program- we will need volunteers. If we are open to limited small group gatherings, we could try to utilize the VBS program and adapt it to multiple small group meetings. We could have different grade levels meet at different times and/or days to maintain the group size limits. We could also create or find another program alternative that would work with small groups meeting at different times. These options would also require volunteers. If we opt for an at-home program. This could either be online or off-line (with take-home packets) or a combination. I do worry that our kids are getting tired of this type of option as it mirrors what they have been doing for school for the past couple of months. The final option is to not have any structured faith formation program this summer. I would continue to have suggestions available on the Faith Formation This Week webpage and share ideas through Facebook. Your family would be encouraged to develop your prayer life at home while enjoying an unstructured summer without any mandatory requirements. This week I will be sending out a survey about Summer 2020. Please fill out the google form survey to help us make a decision about what to do this summer. Your feedback will help us make an informed decision about summer faith formation.
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Kelley TanseyFaith Formation Coordinator Archives
June 2021
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