As our children's academic school year starts up again, so does their spiritual school year. With all the paper work to turn in, supplies to buy and lunches to pack, not to mention sports to sign up and volunteer for, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Is there really one more thing to sign up for? It's easy to feel like Sunday school is one more chore to check off on the long list of parenting duties. Unfortunately with this understandable attitude our children's spiritual development gets less attention than everything else, including AYSO. What if we looked at our children's spiritual development like an investment that enhances all other areas of their lives, helping them to cope with all that life will throw at them in the coming years? By spiritual development I don't mean just the memorization of bible verses and songs. Saint Francis strives to offer an environment where our children can grow and deepen their relationship with God. A relationship with God where our children feel God's presence and know they can turn to him with all the joys and sorrows they face as they mature. This is a gift of immeasurable value. As with all things of value, it comes with a price. Luckily, the price is minuscule but the rewards are infinite!
Staying true to St. Francis' goal of offering our children a relationship with God, we are making some necessary changes to our Sunday school program. Level 1, which are the children ages 3-6, will remain Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. They will continue to meet in the level 1 atrium on the left side of the stage.
This year for level 2 and 3, ages 6-11, or elementary school, we will be using a program called Godly Play. The change to Godly Play allows the best use of our current financial and personnel resources as well as our current physical space. Additionally, since Godly Play, as does Catechesis, uses manipulatives to teach the stories of the bible, we will continue to use a great deal of the materials lovingly made by our own parishioners. Godly Play, like Catechesis is also based on the Montessori model of learning. Most importantly, it maintains and encourages the same deep level of spirituality and wonder, as does Catechesis. For example, after telling a story of the bible, the teacher wonders with the children, quietly encouraging them to ask questions and therefore grow in their relationship with God. With both Catechesis and Godly Play, the children are not told how to interpret the story but are allowed to absorb the lessons at their own current level of spiritual awareness.
We know that this change might bring some additional questions, please feel free to contact me, Lauren Sherry, or Mother Sarah to talk about them. We truly believe this path is the best for our parish and addresses the hurdles we faced continuing with Catechesis for level 2 and 3. Even so, change can be disconcerting and we truly appreciate your understanding and support. Level 2 and 3 will now be combined on the stage in the space where the level 2 met previously. We are looking forward very much to working with your children and watching them grow in faith. Please register them now for Sunday school. The forms can be found on the website. See you on the 8th! |
