HOLY APOSTLES PARISH
OFFICE OF FAITH FORMATION
Fr. Mike Hobson frmikehobson@ololsjtw.com 781-293-3581 ext. 222
Fr. Kwang Lee kwang123@protonmail.com 781-293-3581 ext. 215
FAITH FORMATION "OFFICE HOURS" by Phone
Sunday afternoon 2:00pm-4:00pm
Monday evening 6:00pm-8:00pm
Thursday evening 6:00pm-8:00pm
Friday afternoon 2:00pm-4:00pm
Goals of Parish Faith Formation Programming
Parents are the primary educators of the faith for their children and our faith formation efforts in parishes are designed to support and enhance those efforts. To learn more about this understanding of faith formation please visit https://www.bostoncatholic.org/digital-faith-formation. See also canons 226 and 773-780 in the Code of Canon Law, which speak of the interwoven obligations of pastors and parents when providing catechetical instruction to young people. In particular, canon 773 commends us all (see canons 756-761), and especially pastors of souls, “to take care of the catechesis of the Christian people so that the living faith of the faithful becomes manifest and active through doctrinal instruction and the experience of Christian life.”
Adult faith formation, youth ministry, and young adult ministry are not allowed to take place inside parish facilities in person at this time. However, conversation regarding each of these areas of ministry is ongoing and additional updates will be forthcoming.
Families are always invited to any of our parish three indoor Masses (sign up is required) or two outside Masses (no sign up is required). Please see our parish website home page or parish bulletin for further information. As the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation will continue for the foreseeable future (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) Cardinal Seán O'Malley strongly encourages people in vulnerable populations, especially the elderly and those with complicating physical conditions, to continue to watch Mass from their homes, on their parish’s social media or on CatholicTV. The Sunday 10:30am Mass at Saint Joseph the Worker church is Live Streamed each week and can be watched on our website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
FALL FAITH FORMATION/RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES
In light of COVID-19 there will not be any in-person classroom instruction this year at either parish of Our Lady of the Lake or Saint Joseph the Worker. The health and safety of all parishioners, especially our youth, is paramount in all of our considerations. Understandably, there are numerous challenges with holding classes during this pandemic, such as ensuring sufficient number of volunteers for teaching as well as monitoring safe distancing and building entry. In addition, a city or town that on a given day is in the State of Massachusetts' red category for being at elevated risk for COVID infection will not be allowed to have in person faith formation on that day. Thankfully, there are other ways in which we will be able to continue with Faith Formation for our youth during this current school year.
GRADE 1 THROUGH GRADE 5
Grades 1 through Grade 5 will be using the Project Nazareth curriculum. These online materials are FREE to parishioners in the Archdiocese of Boston and focus on the upcoming Sunday Mass scripture readings. Each week consists of about 3-4 pages which are spread throughout the week. Begin looking over the material on a Sunday afternoon/evening. Each weekday, discuss the basic questions/thoughts/reflections with your child/children for only about 5-10 minutes. The four steps during the week are to Ponder, Listen, Pray, and Act upon the Sunday Mass Scripture readings. There is a Parent Guide and Prayer Guide that need to be downloaded, as well as the Monthly Toolkits that include all the monthly material needed.
Please follow the following steps to register for Project Nazareth. Once again, this is free, but be sure to use the "Discount Code" mentioned below.
1. Go to https://www.evangelizeboston.com/pages/projectnazareth
2. Add to cart "Family License: English" for $40 (you won't actually pay anything)
3. From the "SHOPPING CART," click, "CHECK OUT."
4. On the "LOGIN" screen, click "Create account." (Type in your e-mail address and create a password.)
5. This will bring you to the payment page. Go to the "Discount code" (on the right side of the screen) and enter "HolyFamily" (case sensitive). This will make the price $0. Fill in the "billing information" and click, "continue to payment."
6. Click "Pay now."
7. Now you can "ACCESS DIGITAL CONTENT."
THERE ARE NO GRADE 6th, 7th, or 8th CLASSES AT THIS TIME.
THERE MAY BE AN EARLY SUMMER PROGRAM THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
SPECIAL SUNDAY 12 NOON MASS
FOR GRADE 2 and GRADE 9
The monthly grade-level Masses will be as follows:
1st Sunday of the Month -- Grade 2 Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion beginning in December 6th
3rd Sunday of the Month -- Grade 9 (Group A) Confirmation Preparation beginning Sunday November 15th
4th Sunday of the Month -- Grade 9 (Group B) Confirmation Preparation beginning Sunday November 22nd
Due to difficulties with the sound quality during Live Streaming of the Grade 9 Mass/Cass, we have shifted the program to "Decision Point" with Matthew Kelly. This is a very popular Confirmation Program by Dynamic Catholic and used widely throughout the United States.
We will be focusing on Lessons 7-12 listed below and will be discussing them during the remaining three Masses/Classes.
Group 9 Group A
Sunday March 21st Lessons 7 & 8
Sunday April 18th Lessons 9 & 10
Sunday May 16th Lessons 11 & 12
Grade 9 Group B
Sunday March 28th Lessons 7 & 8
Sunday April 25th Lessons 9 & 10
Sunday May 23rd Lessons 11 & 12