Child & Family Formation
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Welcome!
Welcome to our Child & Family Formation page for 1st - 5th graders and their families!
Our parish has selected the Blest Are We: Faith in Action series for our families with children in 1st - 5th grade. It includes two key family components: “Family Faith in Action” and “Family Life Connection."
Please scroll down this page for:- Program Description
- Home Study Option
- Sessions & Calendar
- Catechist Resources
Questions? Contact the Faith Formation Office at 515-850-1883 or email familyfaith@stbonifacechurch.org
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Program Description
Blest Are We: Faith in Action is a thematic program that invites all learners to explore and grow in Faith, Word, and Action. The series is offered by RCL Benzinger, one of several Catholic publishers approved and recommended by the Office of Evangelization & Catechesis in the Diocese of Des Moines. Each grade level theme has five units with four chapters correlated to the four pillars of the Catechism:
- What Catholics Believe
- How Catholics Worship
- How Catholics Live
- How Catholics Pray
Format and Content
Grade 1: Introduction to the Holy Trinity. Units include Our Church Community, Our Loving God, God's Son Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Jesus Church of Followers. Participating in Grade 1 sessions is a pre-requisite to Grade 2 sessions and preparing to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
Grade 2: The Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Community. Units include We Gather as Believers, We Ask God's Forgiveness (preparing for Penance & Reconciliation), We Celebrate the Word of God, We Celebrate the Gift of Eucharist (preparing for First Holy Communion), We Go in Peace.
Grade 3: Introduction to the Catholic Church, its Structure, and Core Beliefs. Units include The Church is One, The Church is Holy, The Church is Catholic, The Church is Apostolic, The Church Has a Mission to the World.
Grade 4: Moral Teachings of the Catholic Church. Units include The Goodness of God, Jesus is the Son of God, The Holy Spirit, The Church, Social Justice. Themes focus on the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.
Grade 5: The Sacraments. Units include God's Gift of Life, Baptism & Confirmation, The Eucharist, Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders & Matrimony.
Family Faith Evenings: During 2021-22, we hope to offer three intergenerational sessions to complement Blest Are We: Faith in Action, and to support and offer resources to parents as primary faith formators of their children.
Home Study Option
Families who have chosen the home study option for their child(ren) in 1st-5th grade will receive:
- a copy of the student workbook for their child's grade
- account login information to access digital resources for their child's grade through the Flourish website associated with our Blest Are We: Faith in Action curriculum
Online Access
This year our new Blest Are We: Faith in Action curriculum for 1st-5th graders includes online resources available to families. Whether your child is attending sessions in person or you have chosen our home study option, please explore the Flourish website! In addition to a digital copy of your child’s workbook, the site also has a wide variety of free Catholic faith resources, such as discovery and prayer activities for seasons like Advent and Lent, saints stories, virtual tours of cathedrals around the world and much more!
To access your child’s online account- Go to https://www.flourishkh.com/
- Click on LOGIN in the upper right corner
- Enter in lower case the first letter of your child’s first name followed by your child’s last name (in some cases where we had duplicates, you may need to enter the first two letters of your your child’s first name)
- The password for everyone is faith
- The PIN for everyone is 50263
Sessions
Grades 1 - 5 meet weekly during the faith formation year, with breaks for holidays that align with local school districts and Catholic Church holy days. Additional parent information meetings and parent/child sacramental preparation sessions may also be part of the formation year. Please see the Faith Formation Handbook 2022-23 for specific dates, and watch for emails throughout the year from the Faith Formation Office. Session times are:
Mondays
4:30-5:30pm
5:45-6:45pm
Wednesdays
4:30-5:30pm
5:45-6:45pmCalendar 2022-23
Please note that while we do our best to maintain the published schedule, dates and times are subject to change. Thank you for understanding!
Date Time Location Session, Event, or Activity 2022 Dates Mon, Aug 15 6:00pm Church Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary (Holy Day of Obligation) Aug 25 and 31 6:00pm Mary & Joseph Room Training for 1st-5th Blest Are We catechists Mon, Sept 12
Wed, Sept 144:30 and 5:45pm Church, various rooms First week opening sessions (with parents) Sun, Sept 25 12:00pm Church Parent/child sacramental preparation (2nd grade) meeting Tues, Sept 27 6:00pm Church Parent/child sacramental preparation (2nd grade) meeting Mon, Oct 24
Wed, Oct 266:00-7:30pm Parish Hall Family Faith Formation Evening (all ages with parents) Tues, Nov 1 6:00pm Church All Saints Day (Holy Day of Obligation) Nov 21-25 NO SESSIONS Thanksgiving Break Thurs, Dec 1 6:00pm Church Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation) Dec 19-Jan 6 NO SESSIONS Christmas Break 2023 Dates Wed, Jan 4 6:00pm Mary & Joseph Room Planning for 1st-5th Blest Are We catechists Mon, Jan 11
Wed, Jan 134:30 and 5:45pm Various rooms Sessions resume Mon, Jan 23
Wed, Jan 256:00-7:30pm Parish Hall Family Faith Formation Evening (all ages with parents) Sun, Feb 12 12:30pm Church First Reconciliation Tues, Feb 14 6:00pm Church First Reconciliation Wed, Feb 22 4:30pm, 6:00pm Church Ash Wednesday (attend with your family) Thurs, Mar 2 5 - 8:45 pm Church & Hall Surge of the Heart - Lenten Event Mar 13-17 NO SESSIONS Spring Break April 2-8 Holy Week Church Attend with your family these Holy Week liturgies:
Palm Sunday
Holy Thursday 6pm
Good Friday 6pm
Easter Vigil 8pm
Easter SundayMon, Apr 17
Wed, Apr 194:30 and 5:45pm Various rooms Last week sessions Wed, Apr 26 6:00-7:30pm Parish Hall Appreciation Evening for catechists, core team members, office
assistantsSat, Apr 29
Sun, Apr 30Sat 5:30pm, Sun 8:30am
or Sun 10:30amChurch First Holy Communion Sun, May 28 Solemnity of Pentecost Church Mass times Summer TBD Faith Formation Center Vacation Bible School
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Catechist Resources
This section is under construction. Thank you for your patience!
Catechist Training Fall 2022
Click here to sign up for required catechist training on either Thurs, Aug 25 or Wed, Aug 31 from 6-8pm.
Grade 1 Resources
Lesson plans coming soon!
Grade 2 Resources
Lesson plans coming soon!
Grade 3 Resources
Lesson plans coming soon!
Grade 4 Resources
Lesson plans coming soon!
Grade 5 Resources
Lesson plans coming soon!
Internal Forms
Click on the document title to view and print.
Parish Ministry Application
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