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Family Activities
Below are some suggestions to get you started...but feel free to be creative!
(Please click on the ideas that interest you on the left column)
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ALL NEW FORMAT!!!
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Family Faith FormationThe Religious Education of your child and family is of primary importance to us. This year we are providing an ALL NEW format for you. The details are spelled out below. Due to the uncertainty of the upcoming months, we are providing a family centered program whereby you, as a family, can work together at building your relationship with Jesus Christ. The program of instruction is outlined below...
- Children will use the website, CatholicBrain.com, which offers faith formation for Pre K - 8th grade students with access to over 1,200 videos, games, quizzes, e-books, Bible stories, Saint stories and more. We are excited to share this opportunity of instruction allowing you to follow your family’s schedule based on your family’s needs.
- Once you successfully register for Religious Education, you will be sent further instructions (Please allow a few days for these instructions on how to access CatholicBrain) to set up your accounts. Once we receive confirmation of your accounts from Catholic Brain, we will place your children in classes, at which point you will be able to access the lessons for the year.
- Please note, once you make your account you may be able to see the lessons for your child but we must have them placed on our end in order to see any activity by your child and to give credit for their work.
- You will receive a confirmation email from us once we have confirmed your active Catholic Brain Accounts and have done classroom placement. At this point we can see all activity and track your child's progress. Now your child can begin!
- REMINDER: you must set up a parent account and an account for each child with passwords.
- Please complete a minimum of 27 lessons by April 30 on the Catholic Brain website.)
- Families will have some responsibilities of service, living out their faith in hands-on ways as well as experiencing God in special ways. We will have a spotlight on the family on our website as you share pictures of your family living out the faith or participating in special activities. This part requires at least eight experiences but can be as many more as you choose!
- Parents will be given the book A Well-Built Faith, by best-selling Catholic author, Joe Paprocki. Each chapter gives a brief overview of the Pillars of our Faith providing information to guide and share your faith more effectively as Catholic parents, the first teachers of faith. A discussion/reflection guide will also be provided.
- Parents, you are encouraged to participate by joining in discussion sessions and selecting from the parent menu of suggested faith builing activities. This book will be available in our office and can picked up Monday - Thursday 10:00am - 3:00pm. Action Bibles for 6th graders will also be available at those times.
- During the Summer months you may complete lessons and review with your children at a relaxed pace. Each child’s efforts are tracked in a student account which will also serve as an attendance record. Note: Each student & 1 parent in the household MUST have their own Catholic Brain account. We will be tracking Quiz results, activity & attendance for each student registered. You will have access to the first ten lessons immediately and the remainder will be posted week by week but can be completed at your pace as posted.
- During the school year it is expected that you live out your faith by regularly attending mass here at St. Stephen’s or another Catholic church and completing activities from the suggested list or another approved activity.
- Families with children in grades 2, 7 & 8 will have required activities/sessions in addition to the online program. These sessions will be in person as safety permits. It is our goal to provide you with the best opportunity to renew your faith and grow as a family of God while preparing your child to receive the sacraments.
- ALL Families registered for our program must live out their faith through study, prayer, actions and activities. As a family, complete at least 8 or more of the following activites. Share them with us through pictures or reflections sent to reledoffice@gmail.com. Upon completion, submit a picture or reflection about how your family was enriched and grew in your Catholic Faith by the experience. These will be shared with other families on ourwebsite under the "Spotlight on the Family 20-21" page.
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To register click HERE
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- Formed.org
- Go take a Hike!
- Scavenger Hunt
- Acts of Service
- Act Out!
- Prayer and Reflection
- Story Time!
- Catholic Coloring Books
- May Crowning
- Walk with Jesus
- Holy Week Liturgies
- Advent is Here!
- Learn about the Saints
- Write Your own Family Prayer!
- Become an Artist!
- Create Your Own Legoland!
- For the Birds!
- Create a Family Prayer Candle
- Even More Ideas ...
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Watch a Catholic movie on FORMED.ORG, enjoy popcorn and a soft drink and snuggle under a blanket. Share a picture of your family and tell us the movie you watched!
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Go on a hike and take pictures along the route, share the name of the trail and your photos! Click HERE for a map of our local trails that kids will love!
Take a hike as a family – walk with the intentionality of being aware of your surroundings, to experience awe and wonder of creation; what animals, insects do you see, what plants and flowers are present on the hike, what is the terrain like? What else do you notice? Bring a lunch or a snack to share as a family on the hike.
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Click HERE to go on a SCAVENGER HUNT for God’s Creation, either search for items to see or have a quiet contest and listen for different sounds. Share your discovery of at least 10 sights/sounds.
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Perform a SCRIPTURE POEM or skit and video it. Share with us at reledoffice@gmail.com to post on website! Click HERE for ideas.
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Read one of your favorite Catholic story books with your child. For a list of suggestions, click HERE.
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As a family, print a scripture passage or saint and spend some quiet time in colorful prayer. Click HERE for some printable coloring pages!
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Have a May Crowning of our Blessed Mother in your home. Click HERE for some great ideas to bring this special way to honor Mary in your home!
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Bring your family to our Outdoor Stations of the Cross at St. Stephens (located behind the church). Click HERE to print out a simple presention of the Stations for children to follow along.
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This Lent, participate with your children in the Holy Week Liturgies. Click HERE for ways to engage your whole family!
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Prepare for Jesus' birth by making an Advent wreath as a family.
Click HERE to learn more about this special tradition, and direction on how to make your own wreath!
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Pick your favorite saint HERE -- read about them, draw a picture or share your thoughts with us!
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Write your own Family Prayer, or illustrate your favorite Psalm and share with us! Get some great Pinterest ideas HERE!
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Draw your images of the Seven Days of Creation - get ideas HERE!
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Build your own church, Nativity, altar or bible story using Legos and share your creation with us! Click HERE for ideas!
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Take care of God's creatures and build a birdfeeder for your yard ... and send us photos of what kind of birds it attracts! Click HERE for some great ideas!
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Decorate recycled glass with glitter or paint, place a battery operated candle in the center and use it for your family prayer center! More ideas are HERE!
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- Attend an Advent Retreat (TBA)
- Storytime ...These pre-recorded stories will be shared on our facebook page and website. (TBA)
- VBS-sign up for the summer program delivered to your home and participate for the week. Share your children's reactions to the activites via photos or drawings
- Make cards for your parish priests (Fr. Jack and Fr. Reynor) and mail to St. Stephen Church, 75 Sanfordville Road, Warwick, NY 10990
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Parent/Adult Faith Formation Activities: ("A Well Built Faith is provided for you and then choose an additional activity to enrich your faith)
- Read "A Well Buillt Faith" and particpate in discussion (Encouraged)
- Participate in a Parish Book Club...watch for the next book to be announced
- Participate in Movie discussion through St. Stephen's.
- Attend a Retreat
- Join a ministry at St. Stephen's...usher, lector, music, Blanket Ministry, Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, etc.
- Participate in an organization that serves our community...Knights of Columbus, Meals on Wheels, Food Pantry, Warwick Hope Chest Thrift Store, Friendly Visitor Program
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