Lifelong Faith Formation

CHILDREN’S FAITH FORMATION: The Children’s Faith Formation Program began Sunday, August 15th. Sunday, August 22 we will welcome Sr. Loretto from the Archdiocesan Mission Office to help introduce our mission projects for this year. This is for parishioners age 4 thru 8th grades. Please join us from the start.

FIRST RECONCILIATION: The Rite of Commitment for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will be on Sunday, August 29th. There will be a parent/student meeting at St. Augustine, 9:30 a.m., during the normal Children’s Faith Formation time. This meeting is for all CFF children and Sacred Heart School children and their parents.

CONFIRMATION SESSIONS: The first catechetical session for Confirmation preparation will be Sunday, August 22nd, at Sacred Heart in St. Catharine Hall from 12:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Adult Faith Formation Book Studies: Throughout the coming year there will be three book studies (two on-line and one at Sacred Heart). We will begin with Reconciliation by Bishop Robert Morneau. We are asking all parents of first reconciliation students to read this book and review the discussion questions. Any other parishioners, who would like to participate in the book study, please contact me for a copy of the book. We are asking for a $10 donation for the book.

† ADOPT-A-CHILD: With the end of the school year quickly approaching, we are asking for your help in raising the $5565.00 still needed to help cover this year's fees for St. Augustine parishioners who need assistance. If you wish to make a donation to this program, please mail to Ann Northam or place in the collection. Checks should be made out to St. Augustine Church and make note on the memo line for "Adopt a Child". Thank You.

† Children's Faith Formation (CFF) classes meet Sundays 9:30-10:30 a.m. in St. Augustine Parish Hall. All children, age 4 through high school, who do not attend Catholic schools, should be in Faith Formation. This is an obligation of the Parents, Godparents, and/or Grandparents to see that our young parishioners are formed in the faith. What a gift we have to share! 2009-2010 Faith Formation Schedule

† Wednesday Evening Scripture which meets at 6:30 p.m. each week at St. Augustine Parish Hall, reads and discusses the readings for the following Sunday and is getting ready to discuss the Narrative Books of the Bible in the Great Adventure Bible Series.

† MONDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY sessions take place on Mondays from 10:00 a.m. til Noon, at Sacred Heart in St. Catharine Hall. We are getting ready to begin the story of Joseph in Genesis.

† RCIA WEEKLY SESSIONS: The weekly sessions for those inquiring to learn more about the church are in session on Thursdays, 7:00 p.m. in room #6 of the St. Augustine Parish Hall.

† HIGH SCHOOL BIBLE STUDY: There will be a bible study session for high school students on Sunday mornings when CFF is in session 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine in the parish office. This will be on the Sundays when there is not a Theology of the Body session.

Catholics and the Bible Now available!

   The new year-long Scripture series by international Scripture Scholar Father Donald Senior explores the Catholic understanding of Scripture. This series is in response to the Synod on Sacred Scripture and its recommendations, as well as this year's Catechetical Sunday theme, Catechesis and the Proclamation of the Word. A new article with reflection questions will appear each month until July 2010.

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Congratulations to Jewell Cook, Wayne Tomlin, Nancy Villier and Shawn Gray who celebrated the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion with Archbishop Daniel at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Indianapolis. They are now in the Period of Purification and Enlightenment and are "The Elect" to celebrate the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 3, 2010.

2010-2011 R.C.I.A. Schedule of Classes & Events
PreCatechumenate & Catechumenate

HearGodsCall.com: Everyone has a calling ... What's yours? Learn more about vocations to the priesthood

Sr. Nicolette Etienne's Vocation Story - the vocation director at Our Lady of Grace Monastery for the Sisters of St. Benedict in Beech Grove, Indiana shares the joys of Religious life.

The Church has good news to proclaim about the family and about human love and sexuality. This good news is important for our children to learn as they are bombarded with many mixed messages from contemporary culture, media and a variety of powerful voices. Catholic sexuality education helps one to understand that sexuality is a gift from God, a precious dimension of human life that requires reverence and care. It sets forth the call to chastity and recognizes the critical importance of the family and particularly parents in the education of their children in human sexuality. Unless the family continually impresses the right attitudes, unless the root values and beliefs of the faith are established in the early years of childhood development in the home, other forms of Christian education can scarcely be effective. In helping parents with this critically important responsibility, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis is implementing revisions to the guidelines for chastity and sexuality education in our elementary schools and both elementary and high school faith formation/youth ministry programs.

Our School and Elementary Faith Formation program will be using Benziger Family Life series to provide catechesis on sexuality for our students. This series has been approved by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops for both content and methodology. The role and responsibility of parents in the education of their children regarding faith and sexuality is critical.