Faith Formation Grades 1 to 8 Classes, Events and Liturgies – 2015-2016 Sunday: Grades 1-5 10AM – 11AM at St Mary & 11AM – 12PM at Blessed Sacrament Grades 6-8 6PM- 7PM at Blessed Sacrament Monday: Grades 4-8 415PM – 515PM at St Mary Grades 5-8 7PM – 8PM at St. Mary Tuesday: Grades 1-8 415PM – 515PM at Blessed Sacrament Sunday September 27, 2015 October 4, 2015 Columbus Day Weekend— No classes October 18, 2015 October 25, 2015 November 1, 2015 November 8, 2015 November 15, 2015 November 22, 2015 Thanksgiving Holiday-- No classes December 6, 2015 December 13, 2015 Nativity Play – Dec 20, 10am Christmas Break--no classes January 10, 2016 January 24, 2016 January 31, 2016 February 7, 2016 Winter Break-- No classes February 21, 2016 March 6, 2016 March 13, 2015 Sunday, March 20th— Palm Sunday March 27th –Happy Easter— No Classes April 3, 2016 April 10, 2016 (final class) Monday September 28, 2015 October 5, 2015 Columbus Day Weekend— No classes October 19, 2015 October 26, 2015 November 2, 2015 November 9, 2015 November 16, 2015 November 23, 2015 Thanksgiving Holiday— No classes December 7, 2015 December 14, 2015 St. Mary Parish Hall Christmas Break-- No classes January 11, 2016 January 25, 2016 February 1, 2016 February 8, 2016 Winter Break-- no classes February 22, 2016 March 7, 2016 March 14, 2015 All families are encouraged to attend Palm Sunday Mass together as it marks the beginning of Holy Week March 28th—Happy Easter— No Classes April 4, 2016 April 11, 2016 (final class) Tuesday September 29, 2015 October 6, 2015 Columbus Day Weekend— No classes October 20, 2015 October 27, 2015 November 3, 2015 November 10, 2015 November 17, 2015 November 24, 2015 Thanksgiving Holiday— No classes December 8, 2015 December 15, 2015 All Classes invited Christmas Break-- No classes January 12, 2016 January 26, 2016 February 2, 2016 February 9, 2016 Winter Break--no classes February 23, 2016 March 8, 2016 March 15, 2015 No regularly scheduled classes this week-March 29th—Happy Easter— No Classes April 5, 2016 April 12, 2016 (final class) Dates to Remember: NEW in 2105-2016: Class Masses We invite all students and families into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Participation in the celebration of the Mass each Sunday is a blessed privilege for us as Catholics. The focus and strength of our lives is found in the celebration of the Eucharist. We believe that the Eucharist is not merely a sign or symbol of Jesus, but rather the real body and blood of Christ. We are open to receiving this real presence and to becoming the body of Christ in the world. Our full, active participation in the Eucharist brings us closer together as disciples of Jesus Christ. If your child attends class at St. Mary's, then it would be a 9am Mass at St. Mary's and if the class is at Blessed Sacrament, then it would be a 9:30am Mass at that church. Families are of course encouraged to sit near their child's class. Following the Mass, the children will have their regularly scheduled class. Please join our faith formation and parish community to gather and pray together celebrating God's enduring love. October 25th, 2015—Grade 8 November 22nd, 2015—Grade 7 December 13th, 2015—Grade 6 January 10th, 2015—Grade 5 January 24th, 2015—Grade 4 February 7th, 2015—Grade 3 March 6th, 2015—Grade 2 April 3rd, 2015—Grade 1 April 10th, 2015—ALL GRADES (Classes end April 10-12). Sacramental Preparation for Grade 2 We all know how important First Communion is. Families look forward to seeing their child receiving the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ for the first time. It is the source and summit of our faith because it feeds and nourishes the soul of this child in a way that it has never been before. It is part of the Sacraments of initiation in which a Christian enters into full communion with the Church. At its heart, the Eucharist is a sacrament of communion, bringing us closer to God and to our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. Before we receive the Eucharist, our hearts must be fully open to the possibility of the graces available by being free from all sin. This is why the Church brings children preparing for the Eucharist first to the sacrament of Reconciliation. First Reconciliation will take place at both St Mary Parish and Blessed Sacrament Parish in the month of February 2016. February 3rd and February 11th (4-6pm) @ Blessed Sacrament Parish February 4th and February 5th (4-6pm) @ St. Mary Parish First Communion will take place in the month of April 2016. First Communion Dates at Blessed Sacrament Parish April 23rd at 10:30am April 30th at 10:30am for Blessed Sacrament School Students (and others) and 1:30pm First Communion Dates at St. Mary Parish April 16th at 10:30am May 7th at 10:30am There will be a required parent meeting for all families of eligible 2nd graders who will be receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation on January 10, 2016 from 11am to noon. 1st Communion Parent Meetings will be held on February 21, 2016. More information about the sacramental process for families will be available soon on our websites. Important Grade 2 dates: As part of the preparation for the sacrament of First Communion, all 2nd grade students will be required to attend the Family Mass at their Parish each week for the month of March 2016, in addition to attending their regularly scheduled Faith Formation classes. March 6th, 2016 is the scheduled date for 2nd Grade Class Mass. March 13th and 20th are also required dates for 2nd Grade attendance at Mass.