introduction & expectations

Introduction & Expectations As we transition back into some sense of normalcy for the fall, we want to keep our family formation focus on

faith fundamentals and the holy Mass. The holy Mass is the central form in our worship of God and is truly the

best way for us to grow deeper in our faith. This is why it will be our overarching theme this year.

Since the Mass restrictions have now been lifted, students and families are expected to attend Mass in person.

While we will continue to offer Mass via LIVEVIEW for those who are unable to physically attend, we strongly

encourage physical attendance in one of our churches each weekend… the virtual experience can never offer

the fullness of being physically present.

We will also be holding monthly in-person sessions for families with students in grades 1-6. These

sessions will provide our families with the opportunity to come together as a community to learn more about the

important fundamentals of our faith. Parents will meet in small Discipleship Groups while children meet in their

grade-level small groups. Since we will be meeting only a few times during the year, it is important that parents

and students are present for all sessions.

We realize that many of you are already overwhelmed by everything going on in your life, so we are mindful

of keeping the responsibility for you and your children to a minimum. And yet, there is nothing more important

than sharing your faith with your children. As the Baptism Ritual states, parents are the “first and best” teachers

of their children in the ways of faith. Our goal with this program is to have you, as parents, continue to engage

with your child in practicing and talking about your faith at home.

2�

�th the heart of the home

Unit�g the heart of the church

Aspirations �� Strengthen the life of faith in our families

�� Offer realistic and manageable ways to make faith a part of everyday family life

�� Make prayer something families can do together in achievable ways

�� Help families grow in their relationships with one another

�� Connect the life of the family with the life of the Church

�� Create bonds of faith between our faith formation families

�� Most importantly, help families grow in their relationships with Christ and His Church

Calendar & Schedules Family Faith Formation Calendar, Deep Dive Schedule, and Class Schedule are posted on our

website: www.theholyrood.org

1. Every Day- Pray as a Family (goal: 15 minutes a day)

�

� “Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on ever� occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason,

keep aler� and never give up; pray always for all God's people.” ~Ephesians 6:18�

Praying each day is an essential practice for discipleship; praying together as a family can

have a tremendous impact on the faith lives of both children and adults in the home.

However, habits are often difficult to form, and finding a way of praying that works for an

individual or family can be challenging. Therefore, the daily expectation and support hopes

to provide both some accountability and offer exposure to a variety of ways of praying

that may make forming this habit easier.

Expectation

�� Gather each day as a family and pray together

�� Record which days you prayed, alongside your thoughts or reflections of your family

prayer experience

Support

�� A prayer journal and monthly tracker is provided

�� Tips for teaching how to pray

�� How to set up a prayer space

�� Prayer-focused Deep Dives

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

3�

Program expectations There are four expectations: one daily expectation, one weekly expectation, and two monthly

expectations. Each expectation is coupled with supports geared to helping families be successful

at meeting these expectations.

Below � the outl�e for the Daily Expectati�:

2. Every Week– Celebrate Mass as a Family

�

“For I received *om the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he

was bet/ayed, took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for

you. Do this in memor� of me.’ In the same way, aster the supper he took the cup and said, ‘This cup is

God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memor� of me.’” �

~1 Corinthians 11:23�25�

�

The catechism teaches that the Mass is the “source and summit of Christian life” and that

“participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of

belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church.”

At Mass, the faithful, as a community, celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of

Jesus Christ and receive Him in the Eucharist. Catholics have a moral obligation to attend

Mass every Sunday and on certain holy days. It is hoped that the expectations and

supports relating to Mass attendance will help it to become a more integral part in the lives

of our families.

Expectation

�� Participate in the celebration of Sunday Mass

�� Have a family discussion regarding the experience of Mass that week

�� Apply a lesson from Mass to the upcoming week

Support

�� Grade level “Tickets to Heaven” Mass tickets will be available at all parishes for monthly

drawings

�� Grade appropriate Missals will be provided

�� A copy of Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families will be provided

�� These resources will provide both reflection questions for discussion and an “action item”

for the week that are connected to that week’s readings

4�




Below � the outl�e for the Weekly Expectati�:

...continued�

3. Every Month– Participate in a Deep Dive

“They spent their time in lear9ing *om the apostles, taking par� in the fellowship, and sharing in the

fellowship meals and the prayers.” ~Acts 2:42�

Deep Dives are a chance for families to enter more fully in the liturgical life of the Church,

experience Catholic devotions, learn about the Faith together, and connect with the

community. Each Deep Dive is an invitation to explore one or more of the many various

ways of growing closer to Christ offered by the Church. As families take the time to try

different things, it is hoped that they may discover ones that are helpful to them on their

faith journey.

Expectation

�� Participate in approximately 1 Deep Dive a month and complete a short reflection

�� 8 Deep Dives should have been completed by the end of the year

Support

�� A variety of Deep Dives will be offered throughout the year

�� There will be in-person, virtual and off-site options

�� There will be options for families with young children, families with older children/teens

�� Guides and Reflections will be provided for the Deep Dives

- Guides will provide an introduction and any information that may be needed before

participating

- Reflections will offer a few questions to contemplate as well as a chance to provide

feedback

5�




Below � the outl�e for the 1st M�thly Expectati�:

...continued�

4. Every Month– Participate in a Discipleship Group (grade 1-6 parents)

“Let us be concer9ed for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up

the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since

you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.” ~Hebrew 10:24�25�

The support of a community with similar values and goals can make a significant difference

when it comes to raising Catholic children. In today’s hectic world, it can be more difficult to

find and form relationships with other Catholic parents. The hope of Discipleship Groups is

to offer a chance to build such relationships with other families who are also striving to pass

the faith on to their children.

Expectation

�� Meet with your assigned Discipleship Group once a month

- Discipleship Groups will consist of 6-8 families

�� Families with similar grade level make-ups will be grouped together

�� Meeting dates and times will be the same as students’ small group time

Support

The following will be provided

�� Meeting guides to be used for discussion

�� Opportunities to check-in, sharing successes and struggles

�� Parent Formation Aide and adult formation

�� Best practices, resources, and updates

�

6�




Below � the outl�e for the 2nd M�thly Expectati�:

...continued�

7th and 8th Grade Program �� Students will meet in-person once a month

- Sunday afternoons at St. Margaret from 11:15 am -12:45 pm

�� Students are encouraged to attend Mass either prior to or after our class session

- St. Margaret Sunday Mass is at 10 am

Sacramental Preparation Sacramental Preparation programs are typically 2-year programs, as mandated by the Boston

Archdiocese, ensuring that all students are properly and consistently prepared to receive the

sacraments. Participation in The Holy Rood Collaborative Family Faith Formation program

expects enrollment of your child(ren) in the sacramental program regardless of his/her grade

level in either public, Catholic or home-school environments.

First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

�� This preparation generally begins in the 1st grade

�� These Sacraments typically occur in the spring of student’s 2nd grade year

Confirmation

�� Preparation generally begins in the 9th grade

�� Confirmation typically occurs in the spring of Grade 10 or the fall of Grade 11

Grade 2 First Communion Preparation �� Students in their second year of First Communion preparation meet twice a month

- once at their parish for their assigned grades 1-6 Family Gathering Session

- once at St. Mary’s from 9:15-10:45 am for an additional STUDENT ONLY preparation

�� Students are encouraged to attend Mass either prior to or following their class session

- St. Mary Mass is at 9 am

Grade 9 & 10 Confirmation Preparation �� Students will meet in person approximately twice a month

- Sunday afternoons at St. John from 4:15 - 5:45 pm

�� Students are encouraged to attend Mass either prior to or after our class session

- St. John Sunday Mass is at 6 pm

7�

8�

On the following pages, you will find the Family Faith Fundamentals

Monthly Tracking Sheets. These tracking sheets are used to assist you in

tracking your progress at home.

Once a month, you will be asked to transfer the information from these

sheets to the online form that can be found at...

www.theholyrood.org/faith-fundamentals-tracking

To assist you, a FLOCKNOTE will be sent each month, reminding you to

complete this form.

Remember.../ We are NOT expecting perfection!

We are hoping for participation and progress.

��

October: Family Faith Fundamentals Tracking

Parish: � St. Mary � St. John the Evangelist � St. Margaret of Scotland

Name of Family:

Name and Grade Level of Child(ren): _________________ ___________________________

Attended Mass as a Family�

�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�

� week of 10/3� � week of 10/10� � week of 10/17� � week of 10/24� � week of 10/31�

We prepared or reflected on Mass using Celebrating Sundays for Catholic Families Booklet�

�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�


Weekly: The Holy Mass�

Pray as a family 15 min a day� Sun� Mon� Tues� Wed� Thu� Fri� Sat� Thoughts?�

week of 10/3� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 10/10� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 10/17� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 10/24� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 10/31�

� � � � � � � �

Daily: Family Prayer�

Deep Dive Event� Completed Reflection�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

Monthly: Deep Dive�

How did it go this month? ( insights/successes/struggles)

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

Prayer Requests? (For what can we be praying for your family?) �

� � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ____�

9�

10

Th� page t�ti ay left bl�k

��

11�

November: Family Faith Fundamentals Tracking


Name of Family:



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�

� week of 11/7� � week of 11/14� � week of 11/21� � week of 11/28� � n/a�


�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�




week of 11/7� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 11/14� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 11/21� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 11/28� � � � � � � �

�

�



�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�



______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�


� � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ____�

12�


��

13�

December: Family Faith Fundamentals Tracking


Name of Family:



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�




week of 12/5� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 12/12� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 12/19� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 12/26� � � � � � � �

�

�



�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�



______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�


� � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ____�

14�


��

15�

January: Family Faith Fundamentals Tracking


Name of Family:



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�




week of 1/2�

� � � � � � � �

week of 1/9�

� � � � � � � �

week of 1/16�

� � � � � � � �

week of 1/23�

� � � � � � � �

week of 1/30�

� � � � � � � �



�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�



______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�


� � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ____�

16�


��

17�

February: Family Faith Fundamentals Tracking


Name of Family:



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�




week of 2/6� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 2/13� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 2/20� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 2/27� � � � � � � �

�

�



�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�



______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�


� � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ____�

18�


��

19�

March: Family Faith Fundamentals Tracking


Name of Family:



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�




week of 3/6� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 3/13� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 3/20� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 3/27� � � � � � � �

�

�



�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�



______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�


� � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ____�

20�


��

21�

April: Family Faith Fundamentals Tracking


Name of Family:



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�




week of 4/3� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 4/10� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 4/17� � � � � � � �

�

�

week of 4/24� � � � � � � �

�

�



�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�



______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�


� � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ____�

22�


��

23�

May: Family Faith Fundamentals Tracking


Name of Family:



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�



�

1

st

week�

�

2

nd

week�

�

3

rd

week�

�

4

th

week�

�

5

th

week�




week of 5/1�

� � � � � � � �

week of 5/8�

� � � � � � � �

week of 5/15�

� � � � � � � �

week of 5/22�

� � � � � � � �

week of 5/29�

� � � � � � � �



�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�



______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�

______________________________________________________________________________________________�

�


� � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � ____�

introduction & expectations

Documents