Below are links to all the communications that have been sent this year.  Please contact Joanne Russell (joanne.russell@stmarysimsbury.org) if you are not receiving regular emails.

Welcome Letter w/ Calendar Dates(8/29/22)
Sign-Up for REMIND Text Reminders (9/9/2022)
Faith & Service Information (9/12/2022)
Faith & Service Log Form (9/12/2022)
Attendance Expectations / PickUp & Drop Off (9/18/2022)
Faith & Service Opportunities (Week of 9/25/2022)

Welcome to St. Mary’s Faith Formation Program.  One of the requirements for our students is to engage in both Faith and Service events during the Middle and High School years.  The service and faith log form should be maintained throughout the year and handed in to the coordinator of your program.  Below are guidelines by grade as well as descriptions of Faith and Service events. 

Faith
Along with weekly Mass attendance, our church has a rich tradition of prayer and study.  There are many offerings at St. Mary's and we encourage you to experience a variety of all that we offer.  It is important that even after you are Confirmed you continue to grow in your faith.  By participating in these events now, you will know what is available to continue to deepen your faith lives.

Service
Throughout your time in our youth program, you will share your time with our parish, the Catholic Church, and the community itself. This service reminds us that we are the hands and feet of Christ in the world. When you serve, you are taking part in a lifelong, Catholic tradition of sharing your time and talents with others. As Jesus said, “For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).

Guidelines By Grade
Students are asked to participate in events that strengthen their faith and events that serve others.  The minimum guidelines by grade are outlined below.
 

• 7th Grade:  Faith Event (2 hrs) + Service Event (3 hrs) = 5 hours

• 8th Grade:  Faith Event (2 hrs) + Service Event (3 hrs) = 5 hours

• 9th Grade:  Faith Event (5 hrs) + Service Event (5 hrs) = 10 hours

• 10th Grade:  Faith Event (5 hrs) + Service Event (5 hrs) = 10 hours

Students are required to keep track of their own faith and service hours.  You should maintain a log form throughout the year and hand it in on the last day of class.  For each event, you must obtain a signature from an adult verifying that you participated in the event. 

The events listed below are offered by the parish to enhance and strengthen our faith.  Check the bulletin during the year for specific dates and time.  You are encouraged to bring a friend and/or family to participate. 

• Adoration

• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation

• Rosary on Saturday mornings

• Lenten Taizé prayer service

• Lenten Series

• Advent Taize prayer service

• Holy Day of Obligation Mass

• Stations of the Cross during the season of Lent

• Mass during the Holy Triduum:  Holy Thursday, Good Friday and/or Holy Saturday

• Steubenville East Youth Conference

• Men’s Ministry on Saturday morning

The events listed below are events in our parish that may need volunteers.  Check the bulletin for events during the year and contact the chair to see how you can help.  Please note that you are strongly encouraged to diversify and serve in multiple areas.

Some examples include:

• Women's Ministry event

• Knights of Columbus breakfast

• Sunday Morning Coffee

• Parish Tag Sale “Granny's Attic”

• St. Mary’s Carnival 

• Vacation Bible School

• Altar Serve during the year

• Help decorate for Christmas or Easter

• Weed the gardens around the church

• Music Ministry

• Volunteer to make sandwiches for shelter

• Make a dessert for Mercy Shelter (check bulletin for details)

• Social Outreach Committee – help with monthly collection (see bulletin)

• Christmas Giving Tree

Service in the Community
Any “free” service you do as an individual or as a group to help out the community in which we live.  Some examples include:

• Raking leaves

• Handing out flyers

• Clothing or food drives

• Service projects

• Helping with youth sports or youth groups

A parent or guardian must be present if a teen is volunteering with an outside organization.  Below are organizations in the area:

• Catholic Worker House, Hartford;  [website] 860.724.7066

• FoodShare, Bloomfield; (strict age requirement of 12 years old); Group Volunteering 860.286.9999; Individual Volunteering foodshare.volunteerhub.com 

• Gifts of Love, Avon; Group or individual (7th grade and up);  [website] 860.676.2323 

• Governor's House Nursing & Rehibilitation Center, Simsbury; Group or individual (9th grade and up); 860.658.1018

• House of Bread, Hartford; [website] 860.549.4188 Sisters of Saint Joseph

• McLean Village, Simsbury; (9th grade and up); [website] 860.658.3725 or 860.658.3700

• Mercy Shelter, Hartford; (monthly) Bake a dessert and/or buy fruit for the dinner. Drop-off in Magowan Center (check bulletin for dates);

• Simsbury Food Closet, Simsbury; [website] 860.658.3200

• Special Olympics (Winter Games)

• Turkey Trot

• Knights of Columbus Events (ice cream social, tootsie drive); contact Rich Farrell (richardfarrell@baystatefinancial.com)