Generations of Faith
2004-05

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Holy Week Event
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Advent Event
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Two events of three sessions each prepared parishioners for the seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter:

HOLY WEEK 2005 EVENT
Living the Week We Call Holy: A Family Experience

This parish event, held on three separate days, was designed to help families have a more meaningful experience of Holy Week. We started out with a Seder Meal as a memorial ritual in preparation for the Lord's Supper. Families then had an option of attending an activity related to Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Easter/Vigil. Adults without children could attend an adult learning activity.

Each session included:

• A Prepared Seder Meal – The Passover Meal that was the turning point between Jesus' Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) and His Death on the Cross. As more and more Christians are including the Seder Dinner in their Holy Week activities, as more and more Christians are learning the significance of this ceremony and the connection we all have with our Jewish heritage, and as more and more Christians are inviting others to Seder, The Body of Christ seems to be coming together around The Lord's Table. This prepared meal also gave families an opportunity to relax, eat together, and socialize with other parishioners.
• Breakout Learning Sessions – These one-hour sessions allowed families and adults without children to take part in activities that brought greater understanding of Word, symbols and rituals of Holy Week liturgies.
• Whole-Group Sharing – Different age groups came back together to share what they have learned. Home kits with instructions were distributed.
• Reflection – Families reflected on how they could engage in a more meaningful participation in Holy Week liturgies and events.
• Closing Prayer

Following the shared Seder meal, participants went to one of the following learning activities they had chosen:

(1) Holy Thursday – Viewing of an entertaining & informative video on the meaning of Holy Thursday. Families explored the reason behind Jesus' washing of feet, and experienced a prayerful washing and blessing themselves.

(2) Good Friday – Families looked at why we venerate the cross; reflected on who has given of themselves and brought life to the family, and wrote a prayer for that person and brought it to the cross. They participated in the passion of Jesus in the Stations of the Cross.

(3) Easter – Little ones especially enjoyed learning about Jesus' passion and resurrection by discovering various symbols within Easter eggs that brought forth the story and meaning of Easter in a creative and fun way. Families also had an opportunity to use their creativity in transforming an ordinary pillar candle into an Easter candle that could be the center of family prayer during Holy Week.

(4) Adult Activity – Participants prayerfully explored the Word, symbols and rituals of Holy Week liturgies.

ADVENT 2004 EVENT

Parishioners gathered in intergenerational groups. The goal of the event was to provide a context for participation in and reflection about Advent: Preparing the Way of the Lord - Steps & Bridges Along the Way. Activities, direct instruction, learning materials, reflection opportunities, and home kits were designed to help everyone better understand events in the life of the Church.

Each session included:

• A Prepared Meal – To alleviate the stress of food preparation, the parish will provide a meal so that families can relax, eat together, and socialize with other parishioners.
• Opening Experience – An introduction to the theme presented in an intergenerational setting. This may include prayer, a speaker, activities or discussion.
• Learning Sessions – Breakout sessions will allow different ages to receive instruction geared toward preparing for the season of Advent in a developmentally appropriate way.
• Whole-Group Sharing – Different age groups will come back together to share what they have learned. Home kits with instructions will be distributed.
• Closing Prayer

Following a shared meal, a skit by Fr. Bob Rohrich featuring Santa Claus and John the Baptist was performed.

Parishioners then chose to participate in one of the following learning activities:

• Manger – Creation of a manger out of Popsicle sticks. Pieces of hay (strips of yellow paper with Bible verses) are laid in the manger during Advent in preparation for the coming of baby Jesus.
• Advent Wreath – Creation of an advent wreath, along with learning about this Catholic tradition and prayers that can be said with it.
• Jesse Tree – Decorate a small tree or one on paper with scripture ornaments that the participants decorate. Participants receive an explanation of the tradition and instructions on how they can add their own family genealogy to the tree.
• Advent Calendar – Construct a personalized calendar that reinforces the theme of waiting, preparation and answering the call (taking steps along the way). It will involve group discussion.
• Adult Theological Reflection on Scripture – Using Messiah as the focus. How it affects what we do to prepare for Christmas. Connecting Scripture with our experience: what we want to do, what we have done, and what we plan on doing this Advent season to wait and prepare for the Lord.

Judging from the number of parishioners who attended one of the days the three-hour event was held and their very positive responses, this is the kind of whole-community formation parishioners want and enjoy. Comments from the 117 families and 410 participants included:

• "Great idea! It brings families together to reflect despite busy lives. Off to an excellent start!"
• "We really liked the idea of whole-family learning, and our kids really liked it as well."
• "Great presentations without any pressure put on the children – learning was relaxed."
• "Having a family event was good, presentation was appropriate, timely with the coming of Advent."
• "Really enjoyed the experience!"
• "Fun environment."
• "This helps us as parents to continue this education process at home."
• "Very inspirational!"
• "Thanks for the dinner... Who doesn't like pizza?"
• "Well planned...excellent facilitators...kids did a wonderful job with the skit...learned a lot!"
• "Fun! And all the supplies were more than we could have asked for!"
• "Good to eat and talk together."
• "Important and rewarding to celebrate this type of gathering as a family and a parish!"
• "Excellent! My husband has been skeptical about the church due to recent scandals. This event helped him overcome that."
• "Nice to get to know other parishioners that we have seen before."
• "What a wonderful ‘bridge' between the event and our home!"
• "It is never too early to teach our kids about Jesus. I think everyone got a lot out of the event because it was hands-on. Reminds us to focus on the real meaning of Christmas."
• "As a non-parishioner, I applaud your efforts to bring together people of all ages to learn and discuss how we can effectively live out our Christianity in a culture that often discourages simplicity, faith and generosity. I was impressed with the staff's concerted effort to organize and to welcome all. A wonderful investment of time, talent and resources!"
• "Please continue this program!"

For more information about the Generations of Faith program, call Kevin Cody at (630) 257-2371 or Dorothy Lafin at (630) 257-2414, email Kevin Cody, or visit www.generationsoffaith.org.

FOR 2006-07 EVENTS, CLICK HERE