Our Children’s Faith Formation (CFF) children are continuing to learn about the season of Lent and participating in virtual activities. Last week they learned about the Stations of the Cross and how each station represents a different part of Jesus’ Passion story. To see some examples of their work, please click on the article title. We’re so proud of our kiddos for adjusting to a crazy year away from the normal classroom here at church. We love to see their progress from home on our Children's Faith Formation Facebook page, and can’t wait to have everyone back in church again someday! If your student is enrolled in Children's Faith Formation classes this year and you would like to join the Children's Faith Formation Facebook page, please request to join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/stcatherinesienacff. Karen Galloway, our Children's Faith Formation Director, will approve your request and you’ll have access to the most up-to-date information on CFF classes and any future programs.

With Lent starting this Wednesday, we hope your family will incorporate time to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. While our Children's Faith Formation classes can’t meet in the classrooms this year, we have several websites we recommend with Lenten Activities for the Family. Please click on the article title to see our list of resources. If you need any additional ideas or resources, feel free to contact Karen Galloway anytime!  Don’t forget—we also have a Facebook page just for our Children’s Faith Formation children/parents. Please request to join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/stcatherinesienacff. Karen Galloway, our Children's Faith Formation Director, will approve your request and you’ll have access to the most up to date information on CFF classes and any future programs.

Our Children’s Faith Formation (CFF) continues to provide weekly religious education lessons remotely. These lessons are custom made using the Our Sunday Visitor series, Alive in Christ. We could not make these virtual lessons possible without the generous help and support of Rosana Van Vleet, volunteer, and Kendra Stampor, IT & Communications Coordinator, in our parish. Thank you both for helping make CFF virtual classes possible! We have 50 children in level one preparation for the sacraments and 60 children in sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and the Eucharist this spring, if allowed. Reminder for Parents: please return your online Virtus form soon as this needs to be turned into the Diocese. Don’t forget—we also have a Facebook page just for our Children’s Faith Formation children/parents. Please request to join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/stcatherinesienacff. Karen will approve your request and you’ll have access to the most up to date information on CFF classes and any future programs.

Congratulations to the children who received their First Holy Communion in 2020. We pray that the peace coming from our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you now and forever. Please click on the article title to see the complete list of our 2020 First Holy Communion recipients.

After a long wait, we’re excited to have our MagnifiKids, a spiritual guide to the Mass for kids ages 6 through 12, back in church! Every week, MagnifiKid offers the readings and the prayers of the Sunday Mass with explanations of the difficult words and the meaning of the rituals; a suggested prayer for morning and evening; many suggestions on how to live the entire week with the Lord; various games, a comic, and activities to help children learn about Christian life and culture; a page intended for the parents with suggestions for family prayers. You can find these magazines by the bulletins in the vestibule for your enjoyment. Please make sure if you touch a magazine that you take it with you to keep the spread of germs away. We do not need any copies back. Please enjoy this gift from our Knights of Columbus Council #6980! For more information about MagnifiKids, please click on the title of this article to visit the MagnifiKids website.

Children’s Faith Formation (CFF) registration for 2020-2021 is complete and over 150 kids have enrolled in our online classes! Our classes will begin this week and continue through May 2021. For 2020-2021, our Children's Faith Formation classes will take a hybrid approach with online instruction (offered through the Diocese of Kalamazoo) and in-person fellowships as they are scheduled. If you have questions about our CFF program or requirements, please contact Karen Galloway (cff@stcatherinesiena.org or 327-0861).

1st through 5th Grade Children's Faith Formation classes begin this week! Today, Sunday, October 4th, is the last day to register your child for 2020-2021. Children's Faith Formation Class Registration is available online only using the registration form on our website (https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/cff2020registration). The fee for 2020-2021 is $35.00 per family and is due at the time of registration. Please use our Online Giving and Payments Portal (https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/onlinepayment) to pay your $35.00 fee. Our parish accepts electronic checks, credit cards, and debit cards through our online portal. As a reminder, parents of first and second graders must enroll their child(ren) in Children's Faith Formation classes this year if they want their child(ren) to make their First Communion the spring of the child’s second-grade year. Sacramental preparation in our Diocese is a two-year program. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact Karen Galloway. We look forward to welcoming our children back to Children's Faith Formation for 2020-2021! If you have any questions, please contact Karen Galloway (269-327-0861 or kgalloway@stcatherinesiena.org).

2020-2021 Children's Faith Formation classes for 1st through 5th grades begin next week! For 2020-2021, our Children's Faith Formation classes will take a hybrid approach with online instruction (offered through the Diocese of Kalamazoo) and in-person fellowships as they are scheduled. On September 20th, students were invited to a special blessing of Chromebooks/computers as the new school year begins. Some pictures of this CFF fellowship are posted on the Children's Faith Formation Classes page of our website (click on the article title to visit this page). CFF Class Registration for 1st through 5th grades is available online only using the registration form on our website (https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/cff2020registration) and registration closes on Sunday, October 4th. The fee for 2020-2021 is $35.00 per family and is due at the time of registration. Please use our Online Giving and Payments Portal (https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/onlinepayment) to pay your $35.00 fee. Our parish accepts electronic checks, credit cards, and debit cards through our online portal. As a reminder, parents of first and second graders must enroll their child(ren) in Children's Faith Formation classes this year if they want their child(ren) to make their First Communion the spring of the child’s second-grade year. Sacramental preparation in our Diocese is a two-year program. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact Karen Galloway. We look forward to welcoming our children back to Children's Faith Formation for 2020-2021! If you have any questions, please contact Karen Galloway (269-327-0861 or kgalloway@stcatherinesiena.org).

Registration for 2020-2021 Children's Faith Formation Classes for Grades 1 through 5 continues through Sunday, October 4th; classes begin the week of October 5th. This year, our Children's Faith Formation classes will take a hybrid approach with online instruction (offered through the Diocese of Kalamazoo) and in-person fellowships as they are scheduled. Registration will be online only using the registration form on our website: http://www.stcatherinesiena.org/cff2020registration. The fee for 2020-2021 is $35.00 per family and is due at the time of registration. Please use our Online Giving and Payments Portal (https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/onlinepayment) to pay your $35.00 fee. Our parish accepts electronic checks, credit cards, and debit cards through our online portal. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Galloway (269-327-0861 or kgalloway@stcatherinesiena.org). We look forward to welcoming our children back to Children's Faith Formation for 2020-2021!

Though our programming may be different than previous years, we still have a lot going on around the parish. Please click on the article title to read our update about events and activities going on at our parish this fall.

Registration for 2020-2021 Children's Faith Formation Classes for Grades 1 through 5 is underway. This year, our Children's Faith Formation classes will take a hybrid approach with online instruction (offered through the Diocese of Kalamazoo) and in-person fellowships as they are scheduled. Registration will be online only using the registration form on our website: http://www.stcatherinesiena.org/cff2020registration . Classes will begin in October. The fee for 2020-2021 is $35.00 per family and is due at the time of registration. Please use our Online Giving and Payments Portal (https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/onlinepayment) to pay your $35.00 fee. Our parish accepts electronic checks, credit cards, and debit cards through our online portal. As a reminder, parents of first and second graders must enroll their child(ren) in Children's Faith Formation classes this year if they want their child(ren) to make their First Communion the spring of the child’s second-grade year. Sacramental preparation in our Diocese is a two-year program. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact Karen Galloway. This year’s third-graders are encouraged to use Saturday morning "drive-in" confessions (every Saturday from 11 am - 12 pm in the main parking lot ) for their First Penance. However, if this is inconvenient for your family, you can make an individual appointment with either Father Mark (frmark@stcatherinesiena.org) or Father Ben (frben@stcatherinesiena.org). If you choose to make an individual appointment, please contact Karen Galloway once the sacrament has taken place so that she can clear your family to sign up for First Communion. We look forward to welcoming our children back to Children's Faith Formation for 2020-2021! If you have any questions, please contact Karen Galloway (269-327-0861 or kgalloway@stcatherinesiena.org).

Thank you to everyone who has patiently waited for Fr. Mark, Karen Galloway, and our Diocese to work out a plan for us to give our First Communion class from 2019-2020 their First Communions this fall. We are starting the process to get all the children and their families scheduled by the end of November at the Saturday 4:00 pm Masses. Up to six children per Mass will have their First Communion starting tomorrow, Saturday, September 19th. For third graders who need to sign up for their First Communion, they should use the Sign-Up Genius link sent out by Karen Galloway. For a copy of the First Communion Protocol for 2020-2021 (emailed to First Communicants and their families by Karen Galloway), please click on the article title. Please pray for these children as they accept their first Holy Communion!

Did you know that there is a patron saint of computers? There is! His name is St. Expeditus!! Please join our Children's Faith Formation students on Sunday, September 20, 2020, at 1:00 pm on the grounds behind the Stanley Centre as Father Ben blesses our computers and Chromebooks for the school year. This blessing is open to teachers and students alike. We will gather behind the Stanley Center, near the Mary Grotto. Bring a chair and your computer. Displays featuring other patron saints of students will be on hand as well as some “COVID- cool” snacks. Masks and social distancing are required. Please note that in the event of rain, the event will be canceled. Questions? Please contact Karen Galloway (269-327-0861 or cff@stcatherinesiena.org).

Registration for Children's Faith Formation Classes for Grades 1 through 5 begins today, Monday, September 14th. For 2020-2021, our Children's Faith Formation classes will take a hybrid approach with online instruction (offered through the Diocese of Kalamazoo) and in-person fellowships as they are scheduled. Registration will be online only using the registration form on our website: http://www.stcatherinesiena.org/cff2020registration. Classes will begin in October. The fee for 2020-2021 is $35.00 per family and is due at the time of registration. Please use our Online Giving and Payments Portal (https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/onlinepayment) to pay your $35.00 fee. Our parish accepts electronic checks, credit cards, and debit cards through our online portal. As a reminder, parents of first and second graders must enroll their child(ren) in Children's Faith Formation classes this year if they want their child(ren) to make their First Communion the spring of the child’s second-grade year. Sacramental preparation in our Diocese is a two-year program. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact Karen Galloway. This year’s third-graders are encouraged to use Saturday morning "drive-in" confessions (every Saturday from 11 am - 12 pm in the main parking lot ) for their First Penance. However, if this is inconvenient for your family, you can make an individual appointment with either Father Mark (frmark@stcatherinesiena.org) or Father Ben (frben@stcatherinesiena.org). If you choose to make an individual appointment, please contact Karen Galloway once the sacrament has taken place so that she can clear your family to sign up for First Communion. We look forward to welcoming our children back to Children's Faith Formation for 2020-2021! If you have any questions, please contact Karen Galloway (269-327-0861 or kgalloway@stcatherinesiena.org).

Children's Faith Formation classes for Grades 1 through 5 begin soon! For 2020-2021, our Children's Faith Formation classes will take a hybrid approach with online instruction (offered through the Diocese of Kalamazoo) and in-person fellowships as they are scheduled. Registration will begin on Monday, September 14, 2020, and will be online only using the registration form on our website. Classes will begin in October. The fee for 2020-2021 is $35.00 per family and is due at the time of registration. Please use our Online Giving and Payments Portal (linked to the title of this article) to pay your $35.00 fee. Our parish accepts electronic checks, credit cards, and debit cards through our online portal. As a reminder, parents of first and second graders must enroll their child(ren) in Children's Faith Formation classes this year if they want their child(ren) to make their First Communion the spring of the child’s second-grade year. Sacramental preparation in our Diocese is a two-year program. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact Karen Galloway. This year’s third-graders are encouraged to use Saturday morning "drive-in" confessions (every Saturday from 11 am - 12 pm in the main parking lot ) for their First Penance. However, if this is inconvenient for your family, you can make an individual appointment with either Father Mark (frmark@stcatherinesiena.org) or Father Ben (frben@stcatherinesiena.org). If you choose to make an individual appointment, please contact Karen Galloway once the sacrament has taken place so that she can clear your family to sign up for First Communion. We look forward to welcoming our 1st through 5th-grade children back to Children's Faith Formation for 2020-2021! If you have any questions, please contact Karen Galloway (269-327-0861 or kgalloway@stcatherinesiena.org).

Please welcome back Karen Galloway, Director of Children’s Faith Formation, and Phil Dezern, Director of Youth Faith Formation! We’ve missed them this summer and look forward to having them back. Please give them time to adjust to being back in the office. They have many emails and updates they need to address before they can get back to everyone about First Communion and Confirmation. They will get you information as soon as they can. Thank you for your patience!

Due to COVID-19, most of our current parish programs are currently suspended through August 2020. Daily Mass (Monday through Friday), weekend Masses, and “drive-in” Confessions are held each week (please see the calendar below for details). We have not yet made any decisions about programming beyond August 2020, but hope to be able to do so soon. We know that Sacramental programs such as Children’s Faith Formation, Confirmation preparation, and RCIA will continue in some form, and Sacraments like First Communion and Confirmation (previously scheduled for Spring 2020) will be rescheduled soon. Please like/follow us on Facebook and continue to check our website for additional updates as we learn more. Thank you for your patience during these unusual times!

Due to COVID-19, our Children’s Faith Formation, Youth Faith Formation, and Adult Faith Formation staff are furloughed through August 22, 2020. Staff for these groups will be unable to answer phone calls or emails until their return. If you have any emergency concerns, please contact our Front Office at FrontDesk@stcatherinesiena.org or 327-5165.  We will update you as we know more information about upcoming programs and return dates. The pandemic has created a difficult time for many. Please continue to pray for our staff and our priests.

We asked our Children’s Faith Formation (CFF) children to create artwork to donate to nursing homes locally to help brighten a community member’s days. We are thrilled to report we met our goal of 300 pieces of artwork. We will share these masterpieces at Brookdale Assisted Living and Centre Meadows Senior Apartments. Parish children from ages 1-10 participated with some writing page-long letters to seniors! The artwork and positive messages were outstanding. Thank you to all who helped with this CFF service project. We appreciate all you do to help us spread the love of Jesus! To see more examples of the artwork received, please click on the article title to see the Photo Album on the Children's Faith Formation page.

We need your help! Please join our Children's Faith Formation (CFF) students and families in a new service project to create homemade artwork to send to the residents of local nursing homes. Please watch CFF Director Karen Galloway's video announcement on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/CFFServiceProject for complete details about the project. We hope this artwork will bring some colorful "cheer" during this time of quarantine. Artwork may be dropped off at the church anytime between Sunday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 17th. Look for a box labeled "Children's Faith Formation" in the vestibule, between the two sets of main church building doors. The outside doors are open all the time, so you can drop your donations off whenever it is convenient! Karen will pick up the donations regularly and deliver the art to the nursing homes. Thank you in advance for helping to share the love of Jesus with others during this challenging time!