Generations In Faith Together!
An inter-generational approach to life-long faith formation. All ages learning, growing, living in faith, through common experiences, age-specific learning and interactive sharing.
Generations In Faith Together (GIFT) involves everyone in our faith community. Through this innovative approach, all ages learn and grow through our experiences and participation in Church life.
What will it look like?
The first Sunday of each month, we will:
- come together for a simple meal
- enjoy an opening experience that includes prayer and activities
- move into age-specific or intergenerational learning activities
- reunite to share our experience
- receive a take-home kit to connect our learning to our everyday lives.
Who is it for?
The short answer is Everyone! The longer answer is:
- Adults (singles, couples, parents, grandparents, college students, etc) who want to learn more about their faith
- Children and teens who attend Catholic school and want to participate in a faith formation opportunity with our parish community
- Children and teens who have participated in our Faith Formation program
- Pre-school children who want to learn about their faith too!
The first Sunday of the Month from 11:30 AM to 1:45 PM at the Chapel + Cultural Center.
GIFT 2019-2020 | Speaker Mini-Series | |
---|---|---|
22 September 2019 | Written Records and Authorities | (The Bible, Didache, Apostolic Tradition, the Teaching of the Apostles) |
27 October 2019 | Guide to Faithful Citizenship | |
24 November 2019 | Christian Beliefs | (The Creeds of Athanasian, Apostles, Nicene) |
15 December 2019 | Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) | Sacraments of Healing (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick) Sacraments of Service (Marriage and Holy Orders) |
19 January 2020 | Commandments of the Church | |
9 February 2020 | The Trinity | |
22 March 2020 | Prayer and Spirituality | |
26 April 2020 | Mary and other Women in the Church | |
May 2020 |
Generations in Faith Together (GIFT) is an approach to faith formation that emphasizes 3 things:
- Faith formation is a life-long process (in other words, we dont need to learn everything about our faith by the time we are confirmed, and we can all benefit from continuing our faith development as adults).
- Our faith is best formed by experiencing it, not just studying it.
- The events and liturgies of the church year are a rich curriculum for our faith formation.
Generations in Faith Together hopes to meet several needs in our parish:
- Interest in more on-going faith formation opportunities for adults.
- A more experiential approach to learning for our children and teens.
- Resources for individuals and families to integrate their faith formation into their daily lives at home.
- More opportunities to get to know more people in our parish.
Each topic or theme (for example the Feast of All Saints) will include 3 parts:
- A Generations in Faith Together gathering to help everyone learn about that theme and prepare for the event.
- The Event itself which we will all more fully participate in and experience because of our preparation.
- A Home Kit to help you continue your preparation for the event and apply what you learned to your daily life.
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued its first report assessing compliance by dioceses nationwide with “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” This report is based on a thorough review by independent auditors of the work of U.S. dioceses since June 2002 to establish effective procedures to receive, investigate and act upon complaints of clergy sexual abuse of minors; to prevent future abuse through background checks and the creation of safe environment programs, and to promote healing by providing comfort and assistance to victims, among other goals.
Independent auditors found the Albany Diocese in complete compliance with all provisions of the Charter. The USCCB’s full report an recommendations can be read at www.usccb.org. The report on the Albany Diocese audit and full information about our Diocese’s programs to address clergy sexual abuse of minors is available at www.rcda.org.
The Albany Diocese has a zero tolerance policy for clergy sexual abuse of minors. We encourage all victims of clergy sexual abuse to come forward for help. To report an incident of abuse, please contact the Albany Diocese Assistance Coordinator, Frederick Jones at (518) 453-6646, or write to him at assistance.coordinator@rcda.org . Detailed information on the Safe Environment procedures for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany can be found at: https://www.rcda.org/offices/protecting-children-young-people