Sacraments of Initiation at St. Brigid Parish

This is what we are all called to do as Christians—spread the Good News and bring others closer to Jesus. As the Director of Faith Formation, much of my time is spent working with people of all ages and faith experiences to find and take that “next step” on their faith journey.

I sure don’t do it all alone. There are dozens of parishioners who volunteer their time to “faith formation” activities, as well as our school teachers, but also parents, families, and friends who provide the constant companionship and encouragement to those seeking to grow in their faith. If you are one of those people who has an understanding of faith and parish life, but aren’t quite sure how to share it with others, here some possibilities to consider. Please contact me if interested:

We are in need of parish sponsors to accompany those who are preparing for their Sacraments of Initiation. We have adult candidates who will make their Confirmation this spring. We also have children who will be baptized or welcomed to the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil. And we also hope to have new inquirers coming forward during Lent and the Easter season.

This year we have close to 150 adolescents who will be making their Confirmation. We try to pair parish adults with 1-3 students who they can connect with at least a couple of times (with at least one parent present) to get acquainted with other parishioners, and to ask/answer questions about parish/Church life between now and their Confirmation at the end of April.

We can always use extra hands (and coordinators) to help with hospitality for events such as the Confirmation Retreat on Feb 24 or refreshments after the Easter Vigil on March 30.

Valerie Walker, Director of Faith Formation
vwalker@stpatrickwadsworth.org

FAITH FORMATION NEWS

Quick links:

Resources for Lent
The Catholic Mass Explained
Living our Faith
Upcoming Events
Virtual Resource Library
Sacraments Information for School and SRE
SRE Information
For Teens and Young Adults

Resources for Lent:


Making New Disciples - All Are Welcome!!

Jesus Christ calls each of us to invite others to a true encounter and lifelong relationship with Him as His disciples in His Church. This journey of faith and conversion does not necessarily follow a calendar schedule. There are many ways and times to become fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Here at St. Pat’s, it is an ongoing process throughout the year that we work with seekers of all ages from grade school and up to complete their Sacraments of Initiation, which are Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist, and/or to profess their faith in the Catholic Church.

Please pray for all our catechumens and candidates who are preparing to be baptized and/or complete their Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil on April 8.  All parishioners are invited to attend this very special evening Mass.

Val Walker, Director of Faith Formation
vwalker@stpatrickwadsworth.org

A Letter from Pope Francis: Laudato Si’ – On the care of our common home

The month of May marks the anniversary of this landmark document addressed to the whole planet. The Pope renewed his urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis: “The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor cannot continue…Let’s take care of creation, a gift of our Good Creator God.” Here are some of the activities at all levels of the Church, in order to open the conversation for potential action here at our own parish.

From Rome

The encyclical only achieves its objectives if it draws us to action. The Vatican has released a multi-year plan aiming for total sustainability in the spirit of the integral ecology of Laudato Si’. This 7-year outline starts with a focus on families, and then dioceses/parishes, before moving onto other major groups.

Around the Chicago Archdiocese

  • A number of parishes already have or are forming Care for Creation teams. Different groups have focused on topics/activities such as Laudato Si’ Gardens, energy initiatives for parishes and schools, advocacy for state legislation, fostering awareness of Church teachings on the environment, etc.

  • The Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity has provided resources and learning opportunities online at www.archchicago.org/creation to assist families and community in learning about the opportunities.

Things “Taking Root” at St. Brigid (link)

Care for Creation

When we care for creation, it is a sign of respect for God, our Crea-tor. The earth and its resources be-long to all God’s creatures and to future generations, which requires us as a community to protect and sustain our planet. Watch for a new periodic feature in our bulle-tin’s “Creation Care Corner,” which will offer information and sugges-tions on how we all can participate in caring for this precious gift of our world around us.

It is always the “right time” to grow in Faith!

Our faith journeys are not limited to a pre-determined school year schedule. Whether it is completing your Sacraments, or going through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, or even just want learn more about our Catholic beliefs, we are happy to talk with you and help guide you through the best steps for your situation. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in learning more.

SOS Intercessory Prayer Group – Follow this link https://www.stpatrickwadsworth.org/sword-of-the-spirit to submit a prayer request or learn more about being a “prayer warrior.” The group is now meeting bi-weekly on Thursday evenings via Zoom for ongoing spiritual development. 

VIRTUAL RESOURCE LIBRARY

Formed.Org   Anyone can register “as a parishioner” for full access to a wide variety of video/audio clips, movies, e-books;  To register, all that is needed is your email address, and our parish zip code of 60083 to find “Saint Brigid Parish.” Content can be accessed through your web browser, iOS, Android and TVOS, as well as Roku and AndroidTV. Offline playback is available through the Formed app at your local App store.

Perpetual Adoration Sites Around the World    https://virtualadoration.home.blog/  Choose your favorite environment.

Popular Sites for Online Catholic Mass

The Catholic Mass Explained

Here are a few sites which offer an explanation of the Catholic Mass, and how to make it more meaningful for you and/or your family.  

Catholic Mom:  www.catholicmom.com.   A variety of articles and resources for everyone

Catholic Cuisine:  www.catholiccuisine.blogspot.com.  Try out some of these recipes to make at home.

Additional Resources for Lent:

SACRAMENTS INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL AND SRE

Our school (SPS) and religious education (SRE) programs  are both important ministries of our parish, and we strive to foster a sense of unity in our Sacramental celebrations by bringing these communities together for these important milestones.  Your specific teachers may also have additional information and dates that are not listed here.

First Reconciliation - Important Dates HERE

First Holy Communion FOR SPRING 2025 - Important Dates HERE

SRE Information

Confirmation - Important Dates HERE

Here is a reflection on Pentecost and the Holy Spirit (video)

Confirmation Mass – What to Expect

SRE INFORMATION 

Click here for the latest news: www.stpatrickwadsworth.org/sre-latest-news

FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS

Our St. Pat’s Youth Group is excited to have such a large group of young people to accompany as they continue their faith journey throughout high school. But to be successful, we need young adults who value and practice their faith to help plan and lead activities (both virtual and in-person) for our teens. Right now, all we are asking is for a couple of short evenings a month. If you love to be around teens, and would like to help grow our Youth Ministry, please visit https://www.stpatrickwadsworth.org/pageym to learn more, or call me at the Parish Office to talk about the possibilities.

St. Pat’s Youth Ministry page https://www.stpatrickwadsworth.org/pageym

Register for Parish Youth activities  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0444a5a72aaafc1-youth

Local Young Adult Ministry https://vic1chicago.org/young-adult

NEWSLETTER

If you are not receiving the monthly Parish Newsletter, please submit your email to us at

https://www.stpatrickwadsworth.org/newsletter-signup

Val Walker, Dir. Faith Formation