EDGE/Confirmation Parent Orientation

1. EDGE/Confirmation Parent Orientation 2019-20 School Year Janet Cook, STAFF, K-8 Religious Education Director Marissa Dawson, Staff, HS Youth Minister & confirmation MC Mary Jo Davis, volunteer, Admin EDGE program Cody Bouse, Volunteer, EDGE MC and EDGE BIG Fish Team Leader Amy McGovern, Volunteer, Admin Edge Program

2. Core team and BIG FISH the people that make it all happen each week! Adult CORE 18+ years old, HS graduates Small group leaders Administrative Support BIG FISH High school students Application included references Motivated to share faith with younger students Most assigned to small groups

3. 30+ Amazing BIG FISH joined our team I really enjoy helping out and leading others. Having just gone through Confirmation, I feel I can be very knowledgeable about the Catholic faith and help others learn more. Furthermore, when I was going through Confirmation, I felt very grateful to have other kids that could guide me and that I could relate to. I want to be this person to other kids in the faith formation program I would like to be a big fish this year because I want to be able to share my faith with others. I also want to be able to help kids to be able to experience the Lord in a way that they haven’t before. I want to be a big fish so I can be there as a mentor for the middle schoolers, as they learn about Jesus, and I know how much edge and retreats meant to me, and how cool it was to have high schoolers at edge and on retreats. 1. I want to help kids experience God in the amazing ways that I have 2. I love being a leader and being someone that younger kids can look up to

4. Today’s Agenda Welcome, Introductions and Prayer Introduction – Fr John - EDGE/Confirmation Purpose EDGE talk- Mary Jo Davis 6/7 parents excused Confirmation- Janet Cook

5. EDGE Parent Orientation 2019-20 School Year The Faith Formation program for all 6th, 7th and 8th graders at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church

7. WHAT IS EDGE? Edge is a Catholic middle school youth ministry program. It provides a safe fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith, and, most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and personal way. Edge resources speak to the physical, psychological, cognitive, relational, and spiritual maturation of middle school youth. Edge resources make it easier for parishes to plan out their semesters of Edge Night, retreats, and to train a team of adults, the Core Team, to assist them in the ministry. The resources present Catholic teaching in a way that young people can understand. Edge answers the needs of this age group in a catechetical, fun, and relevant way and provides a foundation for youth to continue onto Life Teen.

8. EDGE has been developed with your middle school student in mind LIFE Teen has been in the business of developing resources for parish use for high school and middle school students for over 30 years. In 2016, they released a completely redesigned EDGE program. The program covers the entirety of the Catechism of the Catholic church as it applies to MS students over the course of 3 years • Each year has three new units that cover the following general topics • CREED *Existence Winter 2020 • SACRAMENTS/LITURGY * Transformation Fall 2019 • MORALITY

9. A typical EDGE night has four parts • Gather This is when we welcome all the student with Praise and Worship • Proclaim – This is the teaching portion of the night, usually 10-15 min long • Break- Now we move to small groups to “break open” the message of the proclaim • Send – Meet in the Church. This year we will be focusing on four types of prayer

10. Fall 2017 semester overview video- check out what EDGE is all aboutCan be found on EDGE website on EDGE News and Events page

11. How does confirmation fit into EDGE? Diocese of Lansing is encouraging parishes not to have a separate Confirmation program, but to encourage MS and HS students to attend regular parish faith formation. Confirmation sacrament preparation is done as part of these regular programs with some extra activities added to round out the students preparation. We are trying to avoid the “check the box” confirmation program where kids enter the program, finish and then we never see them again. Our EDGE program will prepare students well to continue being active in their faith as High School students.

12. Expectations of studentsRespect Investment Equality • Each week students need to • Bring an attitude of respect and willing participation • Leave cell phones at home or turn them in at check in • Wear Modest and respectful clothing

13. How can you help We expect to have 90+ families registered in EDGE. 10 of those families have stepped up to be Adult CORE members. However, that is not the only help we need to run a fabulous program. We need each family to help in some way. There are so many options. Take a look at the EDGE Parent Support Sheet and make your selection. This was sent electronically – thanks to all who already completed it. If everyone selects one or two jobs, we will have all the support we need! Set up and clean up Providing Food or paper goods Monitoring Doors and parking lot PRAYER SUPPORT Substitute Group Leaders Phone calls to families And more… https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c45acaf22a1fa7-edge

14. Food Logistics1. Food is needed at 6:15 pm in the FFC a. Kids eat from arrival until 10 minutes after Mass ends b. Food will be monitored to ensure even distribution2. The Sign-Up Genius will list all food and paper goods needed for the entire semester3. Please only provide the quantities specified on the Sign-Up Genius.

15. Calendar of Events Refer to the calendar that you were given Highlights September 29 all EDGE students 6th-8th Day long Retreat EPIC 11 am start. Kids will get dinner at 4:00 . All will attend 5:30 Mass. At that Mass, Confirmation students will receive a special blessing. After Mass we are inviting parents to join us for dessert as we have a retreat wrap up with you and your children. If you had younger siblings or other family members come with you to 5:30 mass they are welcome to attend. Father John is speaking and we will hear testimonies about the retreat. We will end by 8 pm. October 13th - HOLY FIRE Students will need to bring a sack lunch, labeled with their name Need permission slip turned in by first night of EDGE Sept 15th.

16. Thank you 6th/7th Grade Parents for Coming you are welcome to stay for the Confirmation portion of the night, otherwise you are excused.

17. PURPOSELifeTeen’s newest resourcefor Confirmation Prep Transformative Experience Empower the youth to become lifelong disciples and evangelists in a world that is desperately seeking a PURPOSE that can only be found in Christ. The curriculum is founded on 3 main questions the youth will explore through talks, testimonies and small group discussions Why God? Why Jesus? Why Church? In addition, we will guide them in building a prayer life that will lead them into a personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

18. Where can I find resources?https://standrewsaline.org/confirmation

19. Confirmation Administrative TasksForms, Letters, Projects, Service Expectation Agreement – Parent / Child – return on 1st day – Sept 15 Sponsor – try to choose one by November 3 Baptized Catholic, 16+, Confirmed, not the Parent of the candidate** Parents can PROXY SPONSOR VALIDATION CERTIFICATE – sponsor fills out, has their parish sign off and return to St. Andrew Choose someone available to the student and willing to learn along side them BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE Church of Baptism holds ALL Sacramental records If NOT St. Andrew, please contact church of Baptism and request Baptismal Certificate It must have Holy Communion notation on the back CONFIRMATION NAME Usually a “Saint” name you admire or aspire to be like Some use their middle (Baptismal) name SAINT PROJECT

20. Thanks for being here and loving your children enough to lead them to a relationship with God and his church