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Registration For Fall Faith Formation Classes (CCD) Will Begin Soon
The Religious Education Office along with the Diocese is working on bringing classes to your family this Fall. We are in the final stages of approval. Once approval is granted, by the Bishop’s Office, we will open up registration. Please watch the bulletin, website, and your email for more details.
Good Afternoon First Communion Families,
Father Tom and Father Adams would like to invite your child to attend the First Penance Service held at St. Bernard Church, on Saturday, June 13th, from 9:00 am to Noon. There will be four priests on hand to hear confessions. Please note, the priest would like you, as parents to participate in the Penance Service too. They feel it should be a family experience.
Your child must have their First Penance before their First Communion. If this date does not work for your family, please contact the parish office(s) to schedule another date. To sign up for the Penance Service please use this link:
This year, due to the new safety procedures, the First Communion Mass will be your choice as a family. We are asking parents to sign up for the Mass that works best for your family. Each Mass will be limited to four families only, due to the 25% capacity restrictions we must adhere too. Your choice must be on a Saturday evening or a Sunday.
Attached to this email is a Mass request form, one for St. Joseph Parish, and, one for SS. John and Bernard Parish. We are asking for three choices due to the limitations we have. We will do our very best to give you, your first choice, but we cannot guarantee any date, as the first request received will be issued, first. Please be sure to download the request form for the parish of your choice.
The parish office will contact you, and notify you, of your child's First Communion Mass. Family members are encouraged to attend, but please be mindful. we are only allowed to have 25% capacity, and other parishioners will be in attendance.
We understand this is not a perfect way, and we hope you understand that we are in an unprecedented time. Email your request to Relgiousedoffice@att.net only because the parish office(s) are still closed, due to the stay at home order issued by the governor.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Roxanne Rogers
Department of Religious Education
St. Joseph & SS. John and Bernard Parishes
Religiousedoffice@att.net
Dear Parents and Confirmandi,
I hope this email finds you well. I know that this time of Sheltering in Place has caused a lot of stress and worry in many people's minds and homes. I hope that we can alleviate some of that confusion with an update regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation. We have received an email from Bishop Bradley about the scheduled masses and sacraments that he needs to preside over. We have included this bishop's own words below.
“I know that we are all looking to the future and wondering when, and how, we will be able to return to some time of normalcy. We keep wondering when our national/state leaders and health experts will begin to lift the 'Stay Home, Stay Safe' restrictions. While no one seems to know the specific answers to those questions, it is clear that we are getting closer to knowing some answers. It also seems clear to me that the return to 'normal schedules' will occur gradually, rather than all at once. Until we have those answers, we all need to abide by the restrictions that currently are in place.
While that certainly applies to all parish-based scheduled events, I have been giving considerable thought and prayer to what the implications are for the multiple Diocesan-wide events that are planned, or other sacramental celebrations involving me, in particular, in regard to the celebration of Confirmations. Because there has been very little ability to continue the Confirmation preparation, and all the other related preparations that must be done in anticipation of Confirmation dates, I have decided that ALL Confirmations that were originally scheduled for April, May or June will be rescheduled. At this time, the plan to reschedule is still not determined".
With that said, we will be continuing to work to get you some prep work that can be completed at home, so there is not a rush to complete everything when the order is lifted. You can expect to receive an at-home retreat to complete with your student(s). It will be a combination of reflections, videos, and prayer times. Other aspects of the prep, will be postponed, such as the confirmation interviews.
I would encourage you to turn in any remaining paperwork to the office. You can do so by scanning it and emailing the information to the Religious Ed Office (Religiousedoffice@att.net) or Chad (4ChurchesYM@gmail.com). You can also send hard copies to the office (220 Church Street, St Joseph MI 49085).
It is important to note that the bishop is not removing any of the prep requirements at this time. The more forms and prep we can complete, the smoother the turn around time will be before the Confirmation Mass.
Please let us know if you have any questions or if you need help finding forms do not hesitate to ask us.
The Religious Education office will inform you of the next steps that will be taken as soon as any more decisions are made.
If you have children waiting to make their First Penance and First Communion, those decisions have not been made yet. As soon as we receive any decisions, we will inform all parents.
Take care & Stay Safe!
We will keep you informed as we update schedules