Hello Faith on the Go Families!
Thank you for registering your children for FOGO, St. James' family-based religious education program! My name is Marge Fitzpatrick and I will be your guide as you and your children learn more about the Catholic faith and strengthen your relationship with God and each other.
The purpose of this email is twofold. Since on-site religious education begins Sunday I want to give you some information so you know what to expect, although you may have already received it. Second, I am sending this via Flocknote which is how St. James Church communicates with parishioners and I can see who received and opened it, thereby making sure my list is correct.
Kick-Off: Our year will start with a kick-off lesson on Sunday, Sept. 26th, in the Parish Hall from 10:30-11:30. You and your students must attend together. We will complete the first lesson of the year as I model how to teach and give tips for making the most of these lessons at home. Please wear masks and bring a notebook for each child which will be used as a faith journal. If you already have a faith journal you may continue to use it. If you cannot or are uncomfortable attending our kick-off in person please email me and we can arrange an alternate solution.
Moving Forward you will receive a Flocknote each week with an interactive lesson to complete with your student. I encourage including other family members since the discussions open up channels of communication and build your family's faith. Each lesson contains a warm-up discussion, the Sunday Gospel reading, a reflection on God's Word and how it applies to our lives, and an activity to complete, often in the faith journal. If your child has a friend in FOGO completing the lessons together adds another dimension as a small community of faith.
Weekly Check In: Upon completion of the lesson you will take a photo of the completed assignment and email it to me. This is how I track "attendance". You have one week to submit your assignment before it is marked as an absence.
Schedule It! Many of you have hectic schedules and have chosen FOGO for its flexibility. Those families who schedule the 45-minute FOGO lessons on their family calendar (rather than waiting to do it when you have time) are far more successful in completing the program. This makes faith formation, and faith itself, a priority in your lives. Many families do their lesson on Sundays before or after mass.
I look forward to meeting/seeing you on Sept. 26th. If you have any questions about Faith on the Go please email me at mfitzpatrick@sjnovi.net. Please do not reply directly to this email since it doesn't come to my inbox
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May God bless and strengthen your family