ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH
FAITH FORMATION HANDBOOK
2016 – 2017
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
PARISH
FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM
MISSION STATEMENT
With compassion and respect for all, we cultivate our youth
to be visible signs of the Risen Christ through a Faith
Formation Program centered on Creed, Word, Sacrament,
Prayer and Christian Life.
GOALS
 Provide our students the opportunity to be involved in quality
Catholic Education
 Provide our students opportunities to explore and develop
their religious faith
 Nurture spiritual growth in our students in a positive,
prayerful, and sacramental way
 Enable all our students to accept the responsibility of living
and sharing the Gospel teachings
 Build and grow in a sense of “service or outreach” to our
community and the broader community
FAITH FORMATION CALENDAR, 2016 – 2017
Please refer to the middle section of handbook.
FAITH FORMATION HANDBOOK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 1
Staff
Page 2
Office Hours, Registration, Attendance,
Program Options
Page 3
Inclement Weather, Emergency Procedures,
Arrival/Dismissal
Page 4
Student Safety, Curriculum
Page 5
Elementary School, Middle School
Page 6
High School, Confirmation
Page 7
First Sacrament Preparation, First Reconciliation,
First Eucharist
Page 8
Youth Ministry, Permission Slips, Churchtime
Page 9
Vacation Bible School (VBS), ACRE, Home Study
Page 10
Safe Environment, Discipline, Electronic
Equipment/Cell Phones
Page 11
Volunteer Information, Faith Formation Advisory
Board
FAITH FORMATION STAFF
Staff members may be contacted at the Parish
Office by calling 434-2145.
 Pastor: Fr. John Bergstadt
Ext 211 or [email protected]

Parochial Vicar: Fr. Scott Valentyn
Ext 210 or [email protected]

Coordinator of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry,
Grades 9-11 and Confirmation: Amy Koehler
Ext 212 or [email protected]
 Facilitator of Grades 1-5, First Reconciliation, and
First Eucharist: Susan Casleton
Ext 205 or [email protected]
 Coordinator of Grades 6-8, Middle School Youth
Ministry: Katie Westhoven
Ext 204 or [email protected]
 Youth Minister: Jody Engebos
Ext 215 or [email protected]
 Coordinators, Churchtime: Cathy Seidl and
Susan Casleton
Ext 205 or [email protected]
 Faith Formation Secretary: Veronica Ordaz Rosas
Ext 206 or [email protected]
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OFFICE HOURS
 Monday – Thursday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
 Friday: Hours vary. Please call ahead.
REGISTRATION
 FEES
 Parish members: $75 per child
 Non-parish member: $125 per child
Non-parish families need to register as parishioners
no later then July 1st of the current Faith Formation
Program year to be eligible for the parish fee.
 Late Registration is open only to Registered Parish
Members.
 Tuition Assistance for the Registration Fee is only
provided for Parish Members who have at least one full
year of membership.
ATTENDANCE
Parents are asked to call the Faith Formation Office to
report a child’s absence.
 Grades 1-10
Before 4:00pm: 434-2145 ext. 206
After 4:00pm: 434-2145 ext. 229
 Grade 11 and Confirmation
Any time on Sunday: 434-2145 ext. 229
PROGRAM OPTIONS
 Grades 1-5 meet Mondays or Wednesdays,
6:00pm - 7:15pm in School.
 Grades 6-8 meet Mondays or Wednesdays,
6:00pm -7:15pm in the Ministry Center and School.
 Grades 9 and 10 meet Wednesday evenings,
7:30pm – 8:45pm in the Ministry Center and School.
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 Grade 11 meets on Sunday evenings, 7:00-8:30pm, in
the School.
 Confirmation meets on Sunday evenings, 7:00-8:30pm
starting in Church for prayer and moves to School for
class.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
 If the Howard/Suamico schools are closed due to
inclement weather, Faith Formation classes will NOT be
held. Sunday evening classes will be notified at least 1
hour ahead of time.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Emergency Procedures are on file in the Faith
Formation Office and located in each catechist’s
handbook.
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL
 Grades 1-5 enter door 1 and go directly to their
classrooms. The inner double glass doors will be locked
5 minutes after classes begin. In the event that you
are late, please ring the door bell on the left side of
the doors.
 Grades 6-8 go directly to the Ministry Center. The
Ministry Center door will be locked 5 minutes after
classes begin. Students arriving late are to ring the
door bell.
 High School students, arriving before 7:30 pm, go
directly to the Upper Level of the Ministry Center. If
the door is locked please use the door bell. Prior to
class-time, NO student is to wait outside or in the
school building. Students arriving more than 10-15
minutes late need to check in the Faith Formation
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Office in SCHOOL and may need to ring the door bell
on the left side of the inner double glass doors.
 11th Grade students enter door 1 and go directly to
the Commons. The inner double glass door will be locked
after students move to the classrooms for the
remainder of class. In the event that you are late,
please ring the door bell on the left side of the inner
double glass doors.
 Confirmation candidates enter the main church doors
and go directly into the church for prayer. Church
doors will be locked 10 minutes after when prayer has
concluded. Candidates must use Door 1 to enter the
school building when arriving late/after prayer time.
STUDENT SAFETY
 For the safety of your children, please pick them up
promptly.
 Students are NOT allowed to leave the Parish grounds
during scheduled classes or activities for any reason
without the written consent or phone call of their
parent/guardian.
 We do not assume responsibility for students who
arrive late or leave before and after scheduled classes
or activities.
CURRICULUM
Faith Formation is a journey in our relationship with God.
It begins in the family, the PRIMARY community, where faith
is shared and nurtured in your child/ren. The Church
community provides SUPPORT throughout this formation
process.
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It is important that your child/ren attend formal classes,
not just in preparation for the reception of the sacraments,
but throughout their formative years.
Students will use a variety of materials in their classes.
Supplementary books, bibles, handouts, videos/DVDs, music,
online resources, and guest speakers are just a few examples
of what enhances the students’ learning about their faith.
Remember, any formal faith formation program can only
supplement and support what is being taught at home.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
 Children in grades 1-5 are taught from the Alive in
Christ, Our Sunday Visitor series. Children receive a
workbook specific to their grade.
 The lessons include: Revelation/Scripture, Trinity,
Jesus Christ, the Church, Morality, Sacraments, and
the Kingdom of God, Catholic Social Teaching and
Church History. There is also a Family & Faith page for
each chapter.
 Children, with the help of their parents, are expected
to learn the prayers appropriate to their age level.
Prayers can be found in the back of your child’s Alive in
Christ book.
 Your child will bring home his/her book each week.
Parents are asked to check for any communication from
the catechist or Faith Formation Team.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
 Middle School students in grades 6-8 are also taught
from the Alive in Christ, Our Sunday Visitor series.
Students receive a workbook.
 The lessons include: Revelation/Scripture, Trinity,
Jesus Christ, the Church, Morality, Sacraments,
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Kingdom of God, Catholic Social Teaching, and Church
History.
HIGH SCHOOL
 Students in grades 9, 10 and 11 will use The Catholic
Faith Handbook for Youth published by St. Mary’s Press
as their basic text. The lessons include:
Revelation/Scripture, Jesus Christ, the Church,
Sacraments and Morality.
 Lessons will be enriched using resources from:
 Chosen: This is Your Catholic Faith video series
(Ascension Press)
 You: Life, Love, and The Theology of the Body
(Ascension Press)
 Life Teen curriculum guides
 A retreat, a Westside Collaborate event called,
“Journey of Faith,“ and a community service project are
all included each year.
CONFIRMATION
 Junior Year, Spring Semester
 Candidate/Parent Meeting
 Candidate/Sponsor Meeting
 Senior Year – Immediate preparation and Celebration
of Confirmation
Confirmation candidates begin their preparation
 when they are juniors in high school.
 when they have attended formal Faith Formation
classes or theology classes at a Catholic high school
prior to the year they are to celebrate the Sacrament
of Confirmation.
 If a teen hasn’t participated in Faith Formation classes
or in Catholic high school theology consistently, he/she
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will need to meet with the coordinator to make
arrangements before he/she can prepare for the
Sacrament of Confirmation.
FIRST SACRAMENT PREPARATION
Children must have attended first grade Faith Formation or a
Catholic school to receive the Sacraments of First
Reconciliation and First Eucharist in their (2nd) grade year.
Children in second grade or older, who have not been enrolled
in Faith Formation or a Catholic school and who have not
received their First Sacraments, must attend one full year of
instruction PRIOR to the year in which the sacraments are to
be received.
FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST EUCHARIST
 Preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist usually occurs
in second grade.
 All registered students preparing for the Sacraments
of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist and their
parent/s attend the scheduled Parent/Child Meetings.
Program details and books are given at the first
scheduled meeting for each sacrament.
 This preparation takes place at home with the parents,
as well as attending three parent/child sessions during
regular scheduled class time.
 In accordance with the Diocesan guidelines/policies,
preparation and reception of First Reconciliation is
to be received prior to the reception of First
Eucharist.
 A parent interview is scheduled with a staff member
before the child’s reception of First Eucharist.
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YOUTH MINISTRY includes:
 Activities, experiences and social events that support
middle school and high school youth to explore, develop,
understand and embrace their Catholic identity and
spirituality.
 Events/activities sponsored by the parish, Westside
Youth Ministry and the Diocese are scheduled
throughout the year.
 Service opportunities, youth conferences, and retreats
are announced as information is received.
 Middle School Mania, Wednesdays, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
before scheduled class time in the Ministry Center
“Fish Bowl.”
PERMISSION SLIPS
 Our Faith Formation and Youth Ministry programs are
enhanced by trips/travel. Students may not participate
without a signed parent/legal guardian permission slip
(Consent and Liability Wavier Form).
 Permission Slips for students in grades 6 through High
School are available online or at the time of
registration.
 This “one” permission slip covers any of the events
sponsored by Faith Formation or Youth Ministry for the
year.
 They are kept on file in the Faith Formation Office.
CHURCHTIME
 Four year olds through first grade are welcome to
attend the Churchtime program during the 10:00 am
Mass throughout the school year.
 The catechist leads children in understanding the day’s
gospel on their level through prayer, scripture reading,
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discussion, an activity sheet, and music. Celebrating
the Lectionary, Liturgy Training Publications is used as
a guide.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS)
 A one week summer program for children in Pre-K
through 5th grade.
 Children come to know God and Jesus through the
scriptures.
 Activities include Bible stories, music, crafts, skits,
games, and snacks.
ACRE (Assessment of Catechesis Religious Education)
 ACRE assessment is given each year to students in
grades 5, 8, and 11.
 The ACRE assessment:
 Serves as a tool for assessing the strength in our
program, as well as areas that may need additional
attention or improvement.
 Offers a picture of where students are in their
basic religious knowledge.
 Assesses the religious beliefs, attitudes, practices,
and perceptions of students in these grades in
addition to an evaluation of their religious
knowledge.
HOME STUDY
Sometimes, we are asked about “home schooling” for faith
formation. We truly believe that parents are the first and
best teachers of their children in the ways of faith. We also
have seen the wonderful things that happen when a young
person continues to journey with peers and great catechists
to integrate faith in their daily lives. Our goal must always
be, “How can we best serve this young person?” If questions
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of home school arise in your family, please give Amy, Susan,
or Katie a call and we can talk about it.
The Diocese has guidelines for those who wish to home
school regarding content, participation in Mass, retreats, etc.
SAFE ENVIRONMENT
 As mandated by the Diocese of Green Bay, a yearly
class, 1st grade through high school is provided.
 These classes give our children information in
promoting personal safety, good choices, and healthy
relationships.
 Together we can work toward minimizing the risk of all
child abuse, especially child sexual-abuse.
 Parents not wishing to have their child/ren attend this
class must sign a Diocesan “opt out” form. The lesson
will be sent to you to use at home.
DISCIPLINE
Our students are wonderful, loving children. They show
proper respect for their teachers and fellow classmates.
However, if a student continually disrupts the class, the
following procedures will be followed:
1. The catechist will speak with the child.
2. The coordinator will speak with the child.
3. The coordinator will call and/or meet with the parent/s.
4. The Director of Faith Formation will speak with the
child and contact the parent/s.
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT/CELL PHONES
Electronic equipment and cell phones are not to be used in the
building during class times. Students who bring cell phones to
class must keep them turned off and in their coats or
backpacks. Any student found using any electronic
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equipment/cell phone during class risks having their item
confiscated by the catechist or coordinator for the class
period.
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
 Volunteers are vital to the success of the Faith
Formation programs. Volunteers are needed as
catechists, aides, substitutes and chaperones. Small
class sizes can only be achieved with the help of a large
number of volunteers.
 All volunteers who have contact with children are
required to:



Complete an application form and Background check
Complete the VIRTUS Adult Awareness Training
Session (required for any volunteer 18 or older).
Sign and return the Diocesan Code of Pastoral
Conduct for Volunteers sheet.
FAITH FORMATION ADVISORY BOARD
MISSION STATEMENT
Through advising and supporting the Faith Formation
staff, the mission of the Faith Formation Advisory Board
is to help lead our parish youth in becoming committed
Catholics.
The Faith Formation Advisory Board membership is
made up of representatives from our Faith Formation
Program and parish community.
Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month,
August through May, 5:45pm – 7:15pm in the Parish Office.
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