Youth Formation

REGISTRATION 
Sign two required forms here:
permISSION FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS - MUST BE SIGNED BY PARENT / GUARDIAN

Consent and Release for Use of Visual Likeness & Original Works of Minors

Please submit forms to Lynn Schelitzche, Director of Faith Formation, via our drop box (outdoors by the church front door or indoors by the church office), our church office, or via email at [email protected].

Ages 4 years through 4th Grade

Sunday Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)

Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is offered during our 10:30 am Mass, October through April.  CLOW enables children ages 4 years old through 4th grade to enjoy the Sunday Gospel, prayer, and activities at their level. There is no prior registration or fee for participation.  Children are invited forward after the opening prayer at Mass.  They process out with their leaders and meet in the chapel or Community Room near the worship space.  They return just before preparation for Liturgy of the Eucharist.
 

Grades 1-5

Family Faith Formation

Family Formation uses a family-focused, themed approach. Families meet monthly to encounter their spirituality together and to encourage each other to live as Church in their home and family life.

The theme for Family Faith Formation Sundays for 2023-24 is The Saints. The children will make their own Saint book throughout the year. The study of Saints will tie in with the liturgical year, Catholic teaching, and Scripture. Supplemental resources to use at home will be provided at each session. Lynn Schelitzche, Director of Faith Formation, is the lead catechist. Grades 1-5 Family Faith Formation meets in the Community Room, 9:30-10:25 am, on the following Sundays: September 24, October 29, November 19, December 17, January 28, February 25, March 24, April 28, and May 19. Additional optional family service project days will be offered throughout the year.

Formation at Home
Formation at Home is for families who would like to use a textbook-based curriculum by doing the lesson at home. This consists of parents receiving the parish curriculum and completing lessons at home at their own pace and includes access to an online learning system. 
 

Grades 6-9

The Book of Acts (Keys and Sword) Bible Study

Teens will be equipped with a foundational understanding of the Holy spirit, Saints Peter (Keys) and Paul (Sword), and the evolution of the early and first Christian Church communities. Select letters of Peter and Paul will be included in the curriculum. The heroic moments, powerful testimonies, daring escapes, incredible adventures, and lots of humor will leave teens forever changed as they learn more about the holy men and women who dedicated their lives to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Luis Cabrera, our seminarian in his senior year, is the lead catechist.
Youth in Grades 6-9 will meet at the same time as family faith formation—monthly on select Sundays between the morning masses, 9:30-10:25 am. Each youth will receive their own Bible.

Acts Middle School Bible Study meets in the First Floor Conference Room, from 9:30-10:25 am, on the following Sundays: September 24, October 29, November 19, December 17, January 28, February 25, March 24, April 28, and May 19. Additional optional family service project days will be offered throughout the year.

Sacramental Preparation

Parish Policies for Sacraments

All families celebrating sacraments at Lumen Christi must be registered members of the parish. Children must be active participants in faith formation programs at Lumen Christi or be enrolled in a Catholic school, the year before AND the year in which they are to receive the sacrament. Children must attend weekend mass with family members on a weekly basis.

Infant Baptism class is offered monthly year-round, as well as an at-home version. Parents are encouraged to participate in class well in advance of the desired date of Baptism.  More information.

Most children celebrate First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in 2nd grade, but parents decide when their child is ready.  Some choose to wait until their child is older.  More information about this process.

Confirmation will be celebrated on TBD, at the Cathedral, for 8th grade and above. Preparation for Confirmation is in addition to regular attendance in the Lumen Christi Faith Formation program or at a Catholic School.  Program description.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process for becoming Catholic. Those ages 7 or older prepare for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  Those who were Baptized in another Christian tradition may participate in a modified RCIA process to become Catholic.  Each person’s journey is unique, so we begin with a conversation about the individual’s situation.  The RCIA team welcomes no-strings-attached inquiries. More information about this process. Please email Lynn for more information.

Enjoy the 44 ideas for families from our Archdiocesan website.

I especially like children making a fancy dinner for parents, the links to three types of dances for the family to learn together, and the outline for creating a monastic schedule to your day for families (and it includes plenty of time for activity).  Click here.

Connected Families

This website offers the articles 4 Tips for Parenting During a Pandemic  and Keep Calm and Stay Connected to Your Teen.  Connected Families is a faith-based organization in Chanhassen that provides wonderful resources for families including webinars, articles, coaching, workshops, and books they have authored. At the time of this writing, they are also offering their Sibling Conflict Online Course for free. www.connectedfamilies.org

Create a Prayer Table with Your Children

A prayer table can be a step-stool, deep windowsill, end table, shelf, short dresser, small table, or hearth with a prayer cloth on it as the base. Symbols on it include finds from nature walks (creation), child’s artwork of Jesus and/or Mary, a cross, a plant or pot with seeds they plant, a battery-operated candle, a prayer book or Bible, a statue of a saint, and other symbols you invite your child to use as they look around the house.

A basket may be used on the prayer table to hold prayer cards the children make from copying scripture, such as: Your 3-6-year-old child may like to copy the following scripture. • Psalm 23:1 • Psalm 23:1-3 • Psalm 23:1-4 • “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” “Blessed are you among women; blessed is the fruit of your womb.” The 6-12-year-old child may copy verses of Psalms: • Psalm 43:1 • Psalm 51:15 • Psalm 18:3 • Psalm 124:8 • Psalm 121:1-2 • Psalm 58:10 • Psalm 17:8 • Psalm 3:5 • Psalm 51:10, the whole Hail Mary prayer, the whole Lord’s Prayer.

How to Tell Stories to Children

This is a book for parents on telling stories to your children. As you can see at the link, it has great reviews. One of the things that bonds families more than anything, and builds confidence in children, is parents telling stories to their children. Consider this book as a family gift to yourselves.

Order on Amazon:

How to Tell Stories to Children