Faith Formation Update

As an extension of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Bishop Noonan has asked  the suspension  of religious education and faith formation through April 15 th . While we have not made a decision regarding the remainder of the year, the Diocese has suggested for families to supplement Catechesis with Family-Based Education.

SJN Faith formation/Religious education update:

Faith Formation invites our families with the following SIMPLE resources that have been suggested by our Diocese to facilitate prayer, uplifting discussion, and reflections on God’s divine providence:

  1.  Dinner table (or car ride) questions that relate the to our faith:

Click here for a set of podcasts from the USCCB’s resources for catechetical Sunday,  “Helping Parents and Families Engage and Evangelize the Nones in their Homes.”  These podcasts have even more great ideas for discussing the faith with children of all ages.

  1. Use an app to pray together. Consider Hallow (audio, and free) or Laudate/iBreviary. Hallow includes audio reflections on the daily gospel (lectio divina), the Examen prayer, acts of spiritual communion, the Rosary, and more. Laudate and iBreviary both include the Liturgy of the Hours as well as other resources but may need more introduction and support.
    1. This could be used to create a family schedule and rhythm of prayer, which might lend a sense of normalcy to an otherwise interrupted schedule.
  2. For families who are looking to go deeper and have more time, they could login to a site like  Formed.org  and participate in a study program, likewise using the program to establish a family routine.
  3. Propose a parish novena  to your patron saint or parish devotion and share the novena prayers on social media.
  4. Help your family understand the  practice of spiritual communion  ( here is a prayer ), a good daily practice whether or not we are able to attend Mass.

As follows is list of local services that will help families meet their basic needs in case of a family crisis. Please Call first for hours of operations since schedules and availability of rental aid & food schedules are changing daily.

1-     Catholic Charities of Central Florida  including their mission markets (407) 658-1818

2-      Family Stability Program , the latter of which helps families pay bills in times of need (863) 686-7153

3-     Catholic Charities  – Lakeland (863) 686-7153

4-     Dept. of Children & Family  (866) 762-2237  

5-     Food, Medicine & Financial  Aid (863) 294-1939