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Goals of Middle School Faith Formation
The Middle School Faith Formation program is based upon these goals:
- Form a cohesive community of Middle School youth;
- Allow space for small group discussions to deepen faith understanding;
- Honor the significance of the Middle School years for identity and faith development
- Offer a fun, engaging, and safe environment for youth so as to cultivate a positive experience of church; and
- Invite Middle School students to consider how their faith can impact their life for the better and enable them to do good in the world.
2022-23 Middle School Faith Formation
The public health situation permitting, Middle School Faith Formation classes will be held in person from once a month from October through May in O'Connell Hall. One session will be held on Sunday nights from 5-6:30 p.m. Enrollment in the Sunday session is capped at 40 students. If needed, a second session will be held on Tuesday nights from 7-8:30 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to choose either the Sunday night session or the Tuesday night session on a first come, first served basis at the time of registration. See below for more information. As always, we will follow CDC and Archdiocesan guidelines regarding social distancing, masking, and other best practices.
We anticipate that some families may prefer the Zoom format that we implemented in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Accordingly, we will continue to offer an online Middle School Faith Formation option for those who prefer it. For more information about the online Middle School Faith Formation option, see the heading below entitled "Zoom Discussion Group: Beatitude Attitude" or contact Teresa Coda.
If you determine that our plans for Faith Formation sessions will not work well for your family and would like to explore homeschooling curriculum, feel free to contact Monica LaFond or Teresa Coda for resource recommendations.What is Faith? Exploring What It Means to be a Catholic Middle Schooler
The guiding theme for our in person Middle School Faith Formation classes this year is faith and what it means to be a Catholic middle schooler today. We’ll spend our sessions exploring issues important to middle schoolers in 2022-23 and examining how our faith speaks to those issues. The overall goals of the program are to create a space for thoughtful conversation, demonstrate the relevance of our faith to the lives of middle schoolers today, and build community.
Curriculum resources used for the development of our sessions include: The Center for Ministry Development, Education for Justice, Catholic Central, Busted Halo and the McGrath Institute for Church Life, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible.
Students will need a personal Bible for class. Any translation of the Bible is fine, as long as it is a full Bible (not a children's storybook Bible). If they already have a Bible, wonderful. If not, here are a few good options: a Catholic Youth Bible, an inexpensive Bible, and a study Bible.
Volunteers are always needed! If you are available to serve as a facilitator, please contact Monica LaFond.
Monthly Sessions
In person Middle School Faith Formation classes will meet once each month, on Sundays from 5-6:30 p.m. or (if needed) on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. Enrollment in the Sunday night session is capped at 40 students. The Tuesday night session will be opened if the Sunday night enrollment cap of 40 students is reached. Enrollment in the sessions is on a first come, first served basis. See below for the full program schedule.
**NOTE: As of September 22, 2022, we have determined that enrollment does not warrant opening a Tuesday session this year. All students registering for in person faith formation will be assigned to the Sunday night session. If Sunday night does not work for your family, please contact Teresa Coda at tcoda@olossharon.org to discuss enrolling in the Middle School Zoom discussion group, "Beatitude Attitude," as an alternative.**Service
Service Opportunities provide students with a chance to live out their faith and participate in the Acts of Mercy to which Jesus calls us. Though the social distancing necessitated by the current Covid-19 pandemic limits the number and type of service opportunities available, the Office of Faith Formation is attempting to provide ideas and opportunities for service as we are able to do so. Click here to learn more.
Zoom Discussion Group: Beatitude Attitude
In lieu of or in addition to in-person faith formation, Middle School students are invited to participate in a zoom discussion group that meets on Sundays weekly (minus weekends when in-person faith formation gathers) from 7-8 p.m. from Oct. 9-December 11. In this 8-session group, Middle School students will discover how, as Pope Francis says, "Jesus' Beatitudes are a plan for happiness."
You can register for this program using the registration link below. Please direct questions to Teresa Coda.
Registration
Questions or concerns can be directed to Monica LaFond or Teresa Coda at 781-784-2265.
Middle School 2022-23 Schedule
Orientation for the In Person Sunday Night and Tuesday Night Sessions: An orientation will be held in O'Connell Hall on Sunday, September 18 from 5-6 pm for parents of students enrolled in the in person Sunday night session. If a Tuesday session is needed, an orientation for parents of students in the in person Tuesday night session will be held in O'Connell Hall on Tuesday, September 27 from 7-8 pm.
In Person Monthly Sessions: Enrollment in the Sunday night session is capped at 40 students, and the Tuesday night session will be opened if the Sunday night enrollment cap is reached. All classes take place in O'Connell Hall. The Sunday night session runs from 5-6:30 p.m., and the Tuesday night session runs from 7-8:30 p.m.
The in person Sunday night session meets on the following dates:October 2
November 6
December 4
January 8
February 5
March 5
April 2
May 7If needed, the in person Tuesday night session will meet on the following dates:
October 11
November 8
December 6
January 3
February 7
March 7
April 4
May 9
Online Option: Enrollment in the online discussion group will be capped at 12 students. The discussion group will take place via Zoom (links will be sent to registered particpants) from 7-8 p.m. on the following Sundays:October 9
October 16
October 23
October 30
November 13
November 20
November 27
December 11