2020-2021

Overview 2020-2021

Calendar

Registration Overview

Registration & Required Paperwork

Contacts & Resources

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The Sacrament of Confirmation One of the most common misconceptions of the Sacrament of Confirmation is that it is a “graduation” of some sort; that after you have completed your

“requirements” and gone through a “ceremony” that somehow you are finished with your faith. On the contrary, the Sacrament of Confirmation is only the BEGINNING of your faith journey. What was started by the grace of your Baptism will be sealed by the Holy Spirit through the grace of your Confirmation. This process will complete the Sacraments of Initiation into Full Communion with the Catholic Church but more importantly, it will be a tremendous opportunity for each candidate to strengthen his/her faith in Christ. Pope John Paul II once said, “The Church entrusts to young people the task of proclaiming to the world the joy which springs from having met Christ. Dear friends, allow yourselves to be drawn to Christ; accept his invitation and follow him. Go and preach the good news that redeems; do it with happiness in your hearts and become communicators of hope in a world which is often tempted to despair.” It is our hope and prayer that through this journey, each candidate will have a profound encounter with Christ, come to realize how much He is already working in their lives, and how He is sending the Holy Spirit to guide them through the Sacrament of Confirmation. - Mike Lahey Coordinator of High School Faith Formation

“Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his action, his gifts, and his bidding – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of the confirmands.” Catechism of the Catholic Church #1309

Lord, help me to love you with my whole

heart, mind, soul, and strength!

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Life Teen Mission:

“Leading teens closer to Christ.”

† Through celebration of the Eucharist. † Through the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church. † Through an experience of being loved and accepted.

➢ Life Teen encourages teens to embark on a journey of faith in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and His Church.

➢ Through the Life Teen Mass and Life Nights, high school teens learn more about their Catholic faith and grow to love the Word, and the Sacraments, especially the Mass.

➢ As a parish that implements the Life Teen model, we strive to build a positive environment where teens feel loved, accepted, and compelled to reach deeper into their faith.

Life Teen Mass: The community of St. Martha gathers for Life Teen Mass on Sunday at 5pm. This is where teens

experience the depth of God's love through the Word, the parish community, and the Eucharist.

The Upper Room meets every Wednesday night in the Youth Center from 7:00PM-8:30PM

for fellowship and worship. All high school students and their friends are invited to join us for a different activity each night like dodgeball, ultimate frisbee, group games, bible studies, and so much more! For more information contact Mike Lahey at mikel@stmartha.com

Prayer Team for Parents of High-Schoolers We invite you to join the ‘Prayer Quilt.’ You are simply assigned one day each month to privately

pray for the high school students of the parish (public, private, or home schooled), and do so from mid-August through mid-June. In this way, we join our prayers as parents and “cover” the

high school youth in prayer every day of the school year. To be given a day, email Lori DiSorbo: lrdisorbo@gmail.com

Life Teen Track A Registration https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/details/4453

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Life Teen Track A Responsibilities

1. WEEKLY MASS ATTENDANCE The Sunday obligation 2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin. – Catechism of the Catholic Church

2. CATECHESIS

It is the responsibility of each teen to attend all twelve (12) sessions on Sunday nights. However, as situations arise, he/she may miss no more than one (1) session per semester. Those receiving catechesis through enrollment in Catholic School are exempt from attending Sunday Catechesis at St. Martha but must fulfill all other responsibilities. It is still highly encouraged that Catholic School students attend on Sunday nights, to join in community with their fellow confirmands.

Life Teen Track A Sessions Begin: Sunday, September 13 @ 6:45 - 8:15PM

3. KICKOFF RETREAT Our Archdiocese recognizes how important a retreat experience is, as “retreats serve as an essential component in the Confirmation formation process.” Therefore, each candidate has the responsibility to attend the Kickoff Retreat at the parish during the month of October.

Kickoff Retreat: Saturday, October 24 @ 10:00AM-4:00PM

4. SERVICE DAY Each teen participates in one (1) service day that includes mass, service at a site around Houston, prayer and reflection on the service completed, and how it relates to our faith.

Service Day: Saturday, November 7 @ 10:00AM-4:00PM OR Saturday, February 27 @ 10:00AM-4:00PM

5. DAY OF REFLECTION

To reflect on his/her journey towards the Sacrament of Confirmation, each teen has the responsibility to attend the Day of Reflection at the parish in late Spring. Parents will arrive at 3:30 PM for a meeting on what to expect during the 2nd year of Confirmation preparation.

Day of Reflection: Sunday, May 2, 2021 @ 1:30 – 4:30 PM (Parents attend from 3:30 – 4:30 PM)

Lord, help me to love you with my whole heart, mind, soul, and strength!

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The First Year of Preparation

Complete 1st Year of

Confirmation Preparation

Step 2

Submit Copy of

Baptismal

Certificate with

Paper

Registration OR

on 1st Day of

Class

By August 7, 2020

Step 1

Info Session

July 9

Calendar

Register

by August 7

Pay Registration

Fee

Step 3

Attend Sunday Mass

Pray Every Day

Attend Life Nights

Submit Service Date

by September 27th

Attend Kickoff

Retreat on

October 24

Complete Service on

November 7 or

February 27

Step 4

Day of

Reflection

May 2

(Parent attends

with teen)

By September 13, 2020 By April 25, 2021 By May 2, 2021

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Step 1: Registration Process Attend an Info Session: Registration & Responsibilities, July 9, from 7-8 pm,

via Zoom or watch the videos sent through Flocknote.

Review the Calendar in this guide or on the website

https://stmartha.com/life-teen

PLAN AHEAD: Please mark your calendar for all important dates:

Sunday Life Nights

Kickoff Retreat: October 24

Service Day: November 7 or February 27

Day of Reflection: May 2

Register for Life Teen Track A via Faith Direct or Paper Registration (detailed

instruction to follow).

Pay the Registraton fee – $80 for Life Teen Track A 2020-2021. This covers

food/materials/books/other expenses.

Cost: Covers: Due:

$80 All session fees, books, food by 8/7/20 via Faith Direct or FFO

For Catholic School teens who choose not to attend on Sunday nights, please register in person and pay the $40 fee for books which will be used during the 1st and 2nd year of prep.

Cost: Covers: Due:

$40 Books to be used both years by 8/7/20 via FFO

Payments can be made via Faith Direct by credit card, or at the Faith Formation Office (FFO), by cash, check or credit card. 3702 Woodland Hills Dr. open M-F, 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For financial assistance or to discuss payment options, please come to the Faith

Formation Office.

Complete by august 7, 2020

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Registration via Faith Direct

Registration must be completed online via Faith Direct or at the Faith Formation Office.

Below are detailed instructions on how to complete the Faith Direct online form.

Please note that in ADDITION to registering online via Faith Direct, a copy of your teen’s

baptismal certificate is required on the FIRST Day of Class (September 13)

To complete the Life Teen Track A registration via Faith Direct: (see screenshots that

follow):

1. Click on this link to Faith Direct: https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/details/4453

2. Scroll to the bottom, to the “SELECT REGISTRATION” heading, and payment option 1 (Pay $80 by credit card).

3. In the drop-down box, select QTY of students enrolling: select 1 (Note: you must enroll 1 student at a time, so select 1. This opens up the registration form for you to fill out)

4. Fill in the requested data for your child in the registration form 5. Click on the “Continue Registration” button to finish your registration and go to

the payment screen.

For questions or assistance with Faith Direct, contact Mike Lahey. If you don’t have Internet access to complete the Faith Direct Registration form, or need to pay by cash, check, payment plan, or Catholic School not attending Sunday nights, please come to the Faith Formation Office at 3702 Woodland Hills Dr. M-F 9-4.

Complete by: august 7, 2020

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Faith Direct Registration – Screenshots

You may enroll 1 student at a time, so under Quantity, select 1. After entering “1”, the

Registration data entry page opens.

3. Scroll to the bottom, to

“Select Registration” heading

4. Select the quantity “1” to

register 1 student at a time

1. Click on link:

https://membership.faithdirect.

net/events/details/4453

2. Para Español haga clic en

"Translate" en la esquina

superior derecha

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5. The Registration form opens:

Fill in all the requested data

for your child

6. Click on “Continue

Registration” to finish your

Registration & go to the

Payment Screen

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Step 2: Baptismal Certificate

1. Submit Copy of Baptismal Certificate with Paper Registration OR

on 1st Day of Class, September 13, 2020

For questions regarding Baptismal Certificate, contact Mike Lahey.

Complete by: september 13, 2020

Step 3: Catechesis and Events

As you progress on your journey, your attendance and engagement are key. It is there that you build

knowledge, grow in understanding, and most importantly, form the relationships that allow the

Holy Spirit to do his work in you and reach those He wants to reach through you.

Engage in ALL Life Nights and Events:

• Sunday Mass - This is the primary way God asks us to worship Him.

“The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments… and

all ministries and works… are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in

the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ

himself” - Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324.

Going through life as a Catholic without attending Mass is like trying to run a marathon with no

food or water.

• Daily Prayer (You cannot get to know someone you never talk to.)

• Sunday Track A Life Nights (6 per semester)

Attendance

Policy

For Sunday Life Nights, ONE absence per semester allowed.

For Kickoff Retreat, enriching, meaningful make-up work will

be given & required to be turned in to Mike Lahey by the

November 14 (3 weeks after missed retreat)

Notify Mike Lahey about absences beforehand, at

mikel@stmartha.com or (281) 358-1959 x252

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Complete your Service Experience:

• Choose your date, either November 7, 2020 or February 27, 2021 and submit your choice via

Google Form by September 27, 2020; form will be available at a later date.

• Complete and submit Service Day Parental/Guardian Consent Form and Liability Waiver and

Medical Consent * Form due by September 27, 2020

Attend the Kickoff Retreat October 24, 2020:

• Complete and submit your Retreat Parental/Guardian Consent Form and Liability Waiver and

Medical Consent * Form by October 18, 2020

• For those who miss the Kickoff Retreat, enriching, meaningful make-up work will be given &

required to be turned in to Mike Lahey by November 14 (3 weeks after missed retreat).

* Note: Parental/Guardian Consent Form and Liability Waiver and Medical Consent Forms will be

provided to you at a later date.

Complete by: april 25, 2021

Step 4: Day of Reflection

Attend the Day of Reflection on May 2, 2021 • Reflect on the year from 1:30 – 3:30, with a parent joining from 3:30 – 4:30 for information

about the 2nd year.

Complete by: May 2, 2021

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Contacts & Resources

For Assistance with: Contact: Attendance Class Sessions & Scheduling Make Up Work Registration Assistance Retreat Information Student Information

Mike Lahey, Associate Coordinator of High School Faith Formation mikel@stmartha.com 281.358.1959 x252

Account Information Account Payment/Billing questions Baptismal certificates Faith Direct

Jan Zanca, Office Manager Janz@stmartha.com 281.713.8967

Payment options or financial assistance available

Online via Faith Direct (Credit card only) Paper Registration: Faith Formation Office (Credit card, Check or Cash)

Faith Formation Office 3702 Woodland Hills Dr. Kingwood, TX 77339 281-358-1959 M-F, 9 am – 4 p.m.

Thank You for allowing us to be your guides during your

Journey to Confirmation!!

Your St. Martha Confirmation Team!