What is Families Growing in Faith?
How did FGF originate?
What is the curriculum?
What is special about FGF?
When does it meet?
2011-2012 Calendar and Monthly Topics
Register for Families Growing in Faith HERE
What is Families Growing in Faith?
Families Growing in Faith, or “FGF”, offers a parent-led, family-centered faith formation program for families with children in grades 1-8.
How did FGF originate?
John Roberto, founder of the Center for Ministry Development, developed the concept in order to help families of all generations deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith together, which in turn builds a stronger church community. Along with the other faith formation programs at St. Paul, we follow the curriculum standards set forth by the Archdiocese.
What is the curriculum?
The program is designed around a three-year rotation:
1) the Catholic Church Calendar Year,
2) the Sacraments, and
3) Peace and Justice.
The 2011-2012 year will focus on the Catholic Church Calendar Year. While the themes do ‘cycle’, children will absorb different information at different ages.
- Grades 1-5: The lessons are developed for children and parents together with material presented in a variety of ways including art, plays, and hands-on activities. Prayer and song begin and end the session.
- Grades 6-8: These students will usually meet as an independent group, with FGF team members, to delve further into the month’s topic, with thought-provoking discussion and activities. Service opportunities and social activities are added at the middle school level. Parents of middle school students are encouraged to volunteer as small group discussion leaders.
- Our program also includes a homeschooling approach. We will make available workbooks &/or materials for at-home work during the weeks between meetings. These will provide families opportunities to deepen their faith growth in their daily lives, which is the goal of this program. Back to Top
What is special about FGF?
FGF is a cooperative program because it is parent-led. Each month, for 8 months, a small group of parents will plan and run a session. Working with other parents is a great way to get to know other parishioners, and the children see first-hand the parent’s commitment to the Catholic faith and their faith formation. FGF is special because it offers a social setting in which to support each other’s faith. Parents find support and friendship; children make new friends, and parents deepen their faith side-by-side with their children.
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When does it meet?
FGF meets once a month in Higgins Hall on Friday nights from 5:30-8:00 PM. Each gathering begins with socializing at a pizza and pitch-in dinner, followed by the formal program from 6:00-8:00 PM.
Try it out! Come to our first session on September 9, 2011 (5:30-8:00) and see what it is all about. We are excited about this year and look forward to meeting you!
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2011-2012 Dates and Monthly Topics for The Catholic Church Calendar Year
September 9 Intro to the Catholic Church Calendar Year and Tour of the Church
Click here for an online tour of the church from Catholic Update.
• Our church celebrates the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and ordinary time.
• Our church building is a special and sacred place.
• The tabernacle in the Catholic Church is where the Eucharist is kept after the celebration of Mass.
• The Church is a celebrating community.
• The Church celebrates liturgical feasts and seasons.
October 14 History of the Church and Bible Basics
• Our church community includes the pope, clergy, religious and lay people.
• The Catholic Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
• All members of the Church are members of the Body of Christ.
• The Church celebrates its birthday on Pentecost.
• The pope is the leader of the Catholic Church throughout the world.
• God speaks to us through the Bible.
• The Bible is made up of the Old and the New Testament.
• The Bible is organized into books, chapters, and verses.
• We meet Jesus in the Word of God.
• When we listen to God’s Word in Scripture we hear God speaking to us today.
• The Bible teaches us about choices and how to live good lives.
• The Bible teaches us about God’s goodness in our world and ourselves.
• The Gospels tell us about the life of Jesus.
• The four Gospel writers are named Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
• The Psalms are prayers found in the Old Testament.
• There are 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament.
• The Old Testament contains the roots of our faith.
• The Holy Spirit inspired the authors of the Bible.
• Reading Scripture can be prayer.
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November 11 Advent
• The season of Advent prepares us for Christmas and for the second coming of Christ.
December 9 Christmas
• Jesus came to bring us God’s Word.
• Jesus is a person who lived historically and is alive now.
January 13 The Holy Family and Walk through the Mass
• We believe in the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• We meet Jesus in the Word of God.
• The Church-one holy, catholic and apostolic-is the People of God, called together by the Holy Spirit.
• We belong to a parish family and at Mass, we gather together as God’s family.
• The Church gathers at Mass to celebrate the life of Jesus.
• The Church is made up of people who follow Jesus (apostles, saints, us).
• At Mass, we gather as a community to be reconciled, to give thanks, and to celebrate.
• At Mass, we come together to celebrate.
• Sign of the Cross
• Liturgical prayer, Liturgical responses, Mass responses
• Liturgy of the Word
• Liturgy of the Eucharist
• The Psalms are prayers found in the Old Testament that Jesus liked to pray.
• We love our family.
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February 10 Lent
• Lent is a special time for praying, sacrificing, and sharing because of Jesus’ suffering.
• Prayer is listening to and talking with God.
• The Lord’s Prayer
• Prayer of Sorrow
• God hears our prayers
• Spontaneous prayer
• Spontaneous and meditation prayers
• Mealtime, morning and night prayers
• Christians pray daily to talk to God and to listen to God’s will.
March 30 Holy Week and Easter
• Jesus died for us on the cross.
• Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday to give us new life.
• Christians celebrate Jesus’ rising from the dead on Easter Sunday.
• The Eucharistic celebration (Mass) on Holy Thursday reminds us of the Last Supper.
May 11 Mary and the Saints
• The Church is the communion of saints.
• Mary and the saints offer us examples of good Christian lives.
• Mary is the mother of God.
• Hail Mary
• Rosary
