Welcome to Children's Faith Formation!

Children: Age 3 to Grade 5

Early faith formation is an important way to begin your child's spiritual growth. Holy Name of Jesus offers programs for age 3 through grade 5 that focus on helping children learn and grow in their relationship with God through the sacraments of First Eucharist and Reconciliation, as well as through weekly class time.

Please use the menu at the left to learn about each of our programs.

 

INFORMATION INCLUDED ON THIS PAGE:
>QUICK LINKS FOR FAITH FORMATION
>FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
>VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (Listed Highest Commitment to Lowest Commitment)

 

QUICK LINKS FOR FAITH FORMATION

> Registration for 2019-2020 Faith Formation is now available! Click HERE to register online or feel free to pick up a registration sheet at the Parish Office.

> Click HERE to be a Faith Formation Volunteer! Help make this faith formation year a success for our children here at HNOJ! (See Volunteer Position Descriptions below)

> Class Schedules for our different programs are available below to download:
                - Sunday School Class Schedule
                - Wednesday Faith Formation Schedule

HNOJ’s First Sacraments Program
Is your child going into Second Grade (or older) and ready to begin the process for receiving First Sacraments?
>Click one of the links below to get more information regarding our First Sacrament’s Program.
**Registration for 2019-2020 Sacraments Year to be posted soon
                - First Reconciliation
                - First Communion

Please Note
-If you’d like to receive information for our First Sacrament’s program for your child this year (grade 2 and older):
Please click the “Send me Information about First Sacraments” button on your online registration for 2019-2020 Faith Formation OR put “FS” next to your child’s name on your paper form found at the Parish Office.

- If you are an HNOJ School Family, your second grader will automatically be sent the First Sacrament’s information in the fall.

- If your child is older than second grade and has not received their First Sacraments, you’re welcome to indicate on your registration (online or paper) that you’d like to receive information for First Sacraments in the fall.

 

FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Sunday School:
Am I allowed to stay with my child?
Absolutely! If you’d like to stay for a few classes or if your child is having a little difficult time acclimating to Sunday School, you’re welcome to attend the first couple of sessions (or more if you’d like) with them until they are more comfortable with the classroom, their fellow students and their teachers.

If we are unable to make our scheduled Class Mass Time, can we attend the other Class Mass Time?
We ask that there be no swapping of class times during the year if there is a conflict.
With students assigned to Class Mass Times and Classrooms, swapping class times makes it difficult for the Teachers with a certain number of students already assigned to their rooms.

If you are unable to make it to class, you are welcome to request the family packet to be given out the following week when you can make it to your scheduled class time. That way you can discuss the information learned the previous week at home as a fun activity together!

Do we receive Sunday School Bags?
You sure do! Students who attended Sunday School this last Faith Formation Year have received their Sunday School Bags (if you have lost your bag or need a new one please, send Theresa Reichert an e-mail). Those starting Sunday School in the Pre-1 classes will receive their Sunday School Bags in the first couple of weeks of Sunday School. Those starting Sunday School for the first time in Pre-2 or Kindergarten, please send Theresa Reichert an e-mail request so your child can also receive their Sunday School Bag.

Elementary Faith Formation:
What time is Fine Dining?
Fine Dining is scheduled every Wednesday when Elementary Faith Formation Classes are in session. Fine Dining – located in the Good Samaritan Center – runs from 5:15 – 6:45 p.m.
The entrée changes weekly, but staples such as salad, milk, lemonade, optional cheese sandwiches for finicky eaters and yummy desserts are always available; all for a free will offering!

Fine Dining is open to anyone in the community who would like to attend! Come together as a family and enjoy a delicious meal together without having to cook!

What time is Open Gym?
Open Gym runs from 4:15-4:45 p.m. every Wednesday night that Elementary Faith Formation Classes are scheduled.
We encourage students to spend some time working off their energy in Open Gym before heading to class.

What if I have conflicts?
As a church, it’s hard to compete with sports/activities scheduling conflicts. We understand that our students might not be able to make every single session, but we also hope that families will allow their sons and daughters to miss a practice or game from time-to-time.
We also hope that Christian parents, coaches and students can be advocates for keeping Wednesday nights free for students who desire to be active in their Faith Community.

If we have a conflict, can we come to a different class time?
We ask that there be no swapping of class times during the year if there are conflicts.
With students assigned to classrooms and class times, swapping class times for an evening makes it difficult for teachers with a certain number of students already assigned to their rooms, especially if multiple students swap at once.

If you are unable to make your scheduled class time, we ask that you work on the chapter at home together for that week. Completion of the review homework can be shown when you are able to return to class the following week.

 

VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
Listed by Highest Commitment to Lowest Commitment for each program
-Elementary Faith Formation Program
-Sunday School Program

> Click HERE to sign up to be a Faith Formation Volunteer! Help make this year’s Faith Formation Program a success for our students!

- Child Care is available to all volunteer positions listed if needed.

- VIRTUS and Essential 3 are to be completed before Faith Formation year begins – for more information, please contact Theresa Reichert (treichert@hnoj.org) or Chris Kostelc, Director of Faith Formation, (ckostelc@hnoj.org) who would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

- If you have any questions regarding Volunteer Positions listed, please do not hesitate to e-mail or call Theresa Reichert treichert@hnoj.org or (763) 745-3483

Adult Volunteer Positions Needed for Elementary Faith Formation Program 2019-2020
> View the Faith Formation Calendar HERE for your convenience to see when classes are scheduled for this upcoming 2019-2020 Faith Formation Year (please reference schedule key for abbreviations).
 

Faith Formation Catechist (Teacher) *specific number of teachers needed subject to change as necessary per grade level
> Helps Teach Classes 2-4 times per month (Depending on Scheduled Breaks/Parish-Wide Activity Nights; Please Note: October only month with four classes)
> Teaching Lesson Plans and Activities in Classroom to students (Smaller Class Sizes of 12-15max). Total Prep time for Lessons is 10-20 minutes each week.
> Needed at HNOJ 10-15 minutes earlier than class time to gather class materials and bring to classroom (4:30/4:45pm, 6/6:15pm)
> Teaching Materials, Lesson Plans and Activities are Prepared for Teachers (Teaching Materials given to teachers for year, Lesson Plans and Activities are updated and available 1 week in advance for prep/planning for each class session)
> Option to Teach Alone or Teach with a Partner (Can list name for Teaching Partner Preference)
> Subs are available if unable to make class (24 hour notice preferred)
> Child Care Available if needed for Faith Formation Catechists (Teachers)

Gym Coordinator
> Helps 2-4 times per month
> Chaperones the Gym area while students play games together and get energy out before class
> Gathers gym balls from Catechist Resource Room for Open Gym time from 4:15-4:45 p.m.
> Needed at HNOJ 5-10 minutes earlier than Open Gym time to gather materials and open up gym area.
> Excuses students from Open Gym Time with enough time to head to class rooms.
> Gathers gym balls after Open Gym Time to put back to Catechist Resource Room.
> Child Care Available if needed for Gym Coordinator

Faith Formation Substitute
> Availability 1-3 times per month (Availability per month dependent on need for subs each month – will be asked via e-mail regarding Sub for Classroom or as needed elsewhere – typically 24 hour advance notice for ask of help)
> Available to help as Classroom Sub – Teach Classroom Lesson Plans/Activities (All Lessons/Activities Pre-Planned – see Faith Formation Catechist position above)
> Flexibility with helping as needed:
   - Hallway Monitor – Watch and keep track of students walking to bathrooms, leaving class early, etc.
   - Front Desk Attendant – Answer Phone Calls from Parents/Take Notes, answer questions regarding classroom
     locations, stay with students getting picked up early/leaving early
   - Sticker Store Helper – Help set-up Sticker Store Items, Bring Classes down to Sticker Store Area,
> Child Care Available if needed for Faith Formation Subs

Front Desk Attendant
> Helps 2-3 times per month (Rotating Schedule with other Front Desk Attendants – One Front Desk Attendant Scheduled at a time – Schedule Sign-Up via Sign-Up Genius)
> Receive phone calls from parents (ex: Student Sick/Unable to make class), take notes of student’s names and grades for Faith Formation Coordinator to reference
> Help give Parents directions to classrooms for where to pick-up students
> Check-Point for students to wait to be picked up (if leaving early or needing to go home because not feeling well, etc.)
> Child Care Available if needed for Front Desk Attendants

Hallway Monitor
> Helps 2-3 times per month (Rotating Schedule with other Hallway Monitors – At least 2 Hallway Monitors Scheduled Together at a Time – Schedule Sign-Up via Sign-Up Genius)
> Watch for students when leaving classrooms – going to the bathroom and back, etc. – keeping an eye on students and noting their location when outside the classrooms
> Watch for students horsing around outside classrooms, making sure students are respectful when moving from classrooms
> 4:45pm: One Hallway Monitor to go around to classes and pick-up students leaving early for Children’s Choir and bringing them down to the Old Church for Practice
> 6:15pm: One Hallway Monitor to go to Old Church to pick up students from Children’s Choir Practice back to classrooms
> Child Care Available if needed for Hallway Monitors

Sticker Store Helper
> Helps 3-4 times per Faith Formation Program Year with Sticker Store (about every 7 chapters, grades 1-3 & grades 4-5 separate sticker store visits)
> Visit classrooms and bring classes down to the sticker store area throughout the class time (begin at 5pm for 4:45pm, begin 6:30pm for 6:15pm)
> Cross off stickers ‘spent’ per sticker store visit from sticker booklet when students pick items to ‘buy’
> 4:45pm Helpers: Set-up Sticker Store (Tables will be set out; would be to help put out the items and labels with sticker value out on the table organized lowest to highest sticker value) and replenish items between class times (4:45pm replenish for 6:15pm Class visit)
> 6:15pm Helpers: Clean-up Sticker Store (put items in containers with labels on supplied carts, fold table cloths and put on carts, bring carts down to the Catechist Resource room after classes have visited Sticker Store)
> Child Care Available if needed for Sticker Store Helpers

 

Volunteer Positions Needed for Sunday School Program 2019-2020
> View the Sunday School Calendar HERE for your convenience to see when classes are scheduled for this upcoming 2019-2020 Faith Formation Year (please reference schedule key for abbreviations).
Class schedule to be posted shortly.

Sunday School Teacher *specific number of teachers needed subject to change as necessary per grade level
> Helps Teach Classes 3 times per month (Family Mass Days are scheduled each month, Holiday Breaks)
> Teaching Lesson Plans and Activities in Classroom to students
> Needed at HNOJ 10-15 minutes earlier than class time to set out materials for students when arrive (All class materials are brought to the classroom for each class)
> Teaching Materials, Lesson Plans and Activities are Prepared for Teachers (Teaching Materials given to teachers for year, Lesson Plans and Activities are updated and available 1 week in advance for prep/planning for each class session)
> Option to Teach Alone or Teach with a Partner (Can list name for Teaching Partner Preference)
> Subs are available if unable to make class (24 hour notice preferred)
> Child Care Available if needed for Faith Formation Catechists (Teachers)

Sunday School Substitute
> Availability 1-3 times per month (Availability per month dependent on need for subs each month – will be asked via e-mail regarding Sub for Classroom or as needed elsewhere – typically 24-hour advance notice for ask of help)
> Available to help as Classroom Sub – Teach Classroom Lesson Plans/Activities (All Lessons/Activities Pre-Planned – see Sunday School Teacher position above)
> Child Care Available if needed for Sunday School Subs

Music Coordinator
> Helps Teach children new songs during the year both for fun to learn as well as to be preformed in the Church for the congregation after Christmas and at the end of the year.
> Playing an instrument (ex. guitar or piano) preferred, but not required
> Helps each class during music time (if 8:30 a.m. Mass – from 8:45-9:05 a.m., if 10:30 a.m. Mass – from 10:45-11:05 a.m.)
> Works with Faith Formation Coordinator to select songs/motions to teach the students
> Child Care Available if needed for Music Coordinator