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Education and Formation |
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Christian Initiation Baptism of Infants Initiation of Children First Eucharist First Penance Confirmation Marriage Preparation |
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Upon saying His final farewell to His apostles, Jesus gave His new church the task to evangelize, that is, to bring the message of the Gospel to all the world (Acts 1:8). The Bishops of the United States have pointed out that the first goal of evangelization is to “bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others” (Go and Make Disciples). The family, then, is the first forum in which the mission of evangelization takes place. Hence, parents are recognized as having the primary responsibility for training their children in the practice of the faith (Gaudium et Spes #48). Parish Faith Formation sessions assist in this sacred duty by providing opportunities for parents and children to develop their prayer lives and their formal understanding of the faith. The Gift of Faith, which begins at Baptism, must be nourished throughout the entire life of each Christian. The family is rightfully called “the domestic church” and, as such, is the foundation of the wider church community. Religious Education within the Diocese of St. Petersburg serves all the domestic church by offering the guidance and instruction whereby each individual can come to his/her full potential as members of the People of God. Sincere cooperation between the parish and its member families will bring about the goal of evangelizing youth and children; namely, that they grow in understanding and accepting Catholic Doctrine, in their active participation in and awareness of Catholic Liturgical and Sacramental Life, their embracing of the fundamental principles of Catholic Morality and the life of Catholic Prayer (Catechism of the Catholic Church). |
To review the
2011 Faith Formation Handbook, click
here. To register your child/ren online, click here. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document. To obtain a free version of this software, click here. |
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Sacramental Preparation |
Baptism: The journey toward infant Baptism is an exciting and well defined process. To begin the process, the parents must be registered, practicing members of the parish for a minimum of three months , all paperwork must be completed and certificates of eligibility from the Godparents parish must be on file. When this is completed the parents will be given an appointment with the Pastor. At Father’s recommendation, the parents will be scheduled for a Baptismal Preparation Class and the reception of the sacrament will be scheduled. It is through this process that your child will be welcomed and begin their journey as a new member of our faith community.
The process of Sacrament Preparation at St. James is consistent with the guidelines established by the Diocese of St. Petersburg. For all those 7 years of age or older, the process consists of no less than one year of Faith Formation sessions, followed by a second year of immediate preparation for reception of the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. Placement in all Sacrament Preparation processes is based on the following criteria in accordance with diocesan guidelines. Guidelines for First Reconciliation/First Communion/Confirmation:
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| RCIA
/ Catechumenate |
Catechumenate
is a process of adult faith and conversion. |
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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) RCIA is a catalyst to assist you in discovering the presence of God in your life. This is not an introduction to a new relationship with a stranger. God has been and always will be there calling you into relationship. RCIA is a process of discovery and conversion. Conversion implies change. The conversion we seek is not to Church but to Jesus Christ. Our goal is to assist you in becoming disciples for Christ. As you journey through the RCIA it is our hope that you will come to see that faith is not taught; it is caught. Our purpose is to enlighten and produce a firm commitment to live the Catholic Christian faith. The RCIA is a journey of faith to full communion with the Catholic Church. We seek the source and summit of our faith: the Holy Eucharist. Who should attend RCIA? The Faith Journey: The Rite is divided into four distinct periods. The periods are separated by public rites which serve as thresholds, or decision points, on your journey of faith. Inquiry or Pre-Catechumenate a period of exploring the candidates
questions. This is a time of getting to know each other. It is a time
where we use the Word of God, Gods stories, the stories of the People
of God and the stories of the candidates to facilitate their recognition
of Gods presence in their lives. It is a time of evangelization. As
an analogy, it is the period in a developing relationship from the first
date through getting to know and respect each other and experiencing
that first kiss. You are a: Inquirer until the Rite of Acceptance Sponsors: Prior to the Rite of Acceptance, a sponsor will be selected for you by the RCIA Team, who will accompany you on this journey. The sponsor will serve you as your guide and role model in living the Christian faith. The person selected will be a baptized, fully initiated practicing Catholic Christian and member of St. James faith community. Sponsors attend our catechetical sessions and all Rites discussed above. Schedule Summary: On Tuesday evenings we gather at 6:30 pm for catechesis and faith sharing. Our gatherings are held in the William Room. We begin our journey on Tuesday, Sept 6, 2011 at 6:30pm. We gather on Sunday mornings after the Liturgy of the Word at the 10:00 Mass at the Rite of Dismissal to feast further on Gods Word for Breaking Open the Word which commences on Sunday, November 20, 2011. The Rite of Acceptance/Welcome is celebrated on Sunday, November 20, 2011 and the Rite of Sending/Election on Sunday, February 26, 2012. A Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, March 31, 2012. The Sacraments of Initiation are celebrated at the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, April 7, 2012. The Mystygogy period ends on the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday, May 27, 2012. Information/Inquiry Sessions: Contact: |
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Vacation Bible School |
Vacation Bible School is
a fun-filled week where children ages 4-10 can get fired up about Jesus.
PandaMania will happen June 20-24, 2011 from 8:15 AM to Noon at Bishop
Larkin Catholic School. Its purpose is two fold: to give children a
fun packed learning experience of a variety of activities while
leading them into a deeper understanding and love for Scripture. Vacation
Bible School acknowledges the innate spiritual life of every child and
draws on the Bible, liturgy and a variety of activities to nurture that
relationship. The fee is $35.00 per child. Registration takes place
in early May. Volunteers, both teens and adults are needed for a variety
of roles. For more information, please call the Faith Formation Office
at 869-3130 ext. 304. |
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