BLAZE! Set Your Faith on Fire!
What is Blaze?
Blaze is a catechetical model of life-long learning of our faith. Everyone in the parish is invited to join Blaze whether you have school aged children or not. Blaze is an opportunity to share a meal, get to know fellow parishioners, and deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Why Blaze?
For the past 50 plus years the focus of parish Christian Formation has been on children and teens. In paragraph five of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (November 17, 1999) “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”, A Pastoral Plan for Adult Formation states, “Adult formation, by which people grow in the life of Christ through experience, reflection, prayer, and study, must be “the central task in this catechetical enterprise”, becoming “the axis around which revolves the catechesis of childhood and adolescence as well as that of old age.”
Who does BLAZE include?
Blaze includes all parish households. Single person households, households with or without children and empty nesters are invited to join Blaze. Life-long learning is for everyone in the parish. Nursery will be available at each session after the meal and pre-school aged children are invited to participate.
How often does BLAZE meet?
Blaze will be offered once a month. Households will have the choice each month to flex which day of the week best suits their needs. Blaze will always start the first Sunday of the month and run through Wednesday. You will choose only one of those days to participate. You will be given an opportunity to sign up three weeks prior to the Blaze week. Every household will be asked to help with the monthly session, for example; bringing in a supply item, hall monitor, set-up, clean up, roles in the monthly program, etc.
How can I register for BLAZE?
We will hold Blaze/Christian Formation Registration September 15 & 16 and September 22 & 23 after all masses. Registration will also be taken during the Christian Formation Office hours Tuesday – Thursday from 9 am to 4pm after September 15, 2007.
Blaze Registration Costs?
The registration fee before September 27, 2007 is $25.00 per participant with a maximum of $100.00 per household. Please note any registrations received after September 27, 2007 will be increased to $40.00 per participant with a maximum of $160.00 per household. Inability to pay the registration fees should not prevent you from registering – as always.
When does Blaze begin?
We will begin October 2007. Each month Blaze will begin the first Sunday and run through Wednesday. Sunday’s and Wednesday’s sessions will be from 4:30pm-6:30pm. Monday’s and Tuesday’s sessions will be from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Each session will begin with a pot luck meal. This meal is not optional. Following the pot luck, the group will gather for a prayer service and break into small groups for sharing.
Are text books needed?
High school students will need to use their Catholic Faith Handbook that was purchased and used last year. All rising 9th graders will be asked to purchase the handbook at $20.00 per book. Supplemental material will be sent home with each household.
Sacramental Preparation:
The immediate preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation will be separate from the Blaze program. Participants in these programs are expected to be enrolled in Blaze.
What is Pathways?
Pathways is a catechetical training certificate program required by the Diocese for all adults who plan to teach in the church. Pathways is required for facilitators of adult study and family models such as Family Faith. There are three levels of Pathways; children, youth and adult. The materials needed to complete the program are provided by the church.
Pathways Workshops
If you plan to teach in any of the models of Christian Formation you must be Pathways Certified. Pathways can be taken on-line, with a group at a workshop provided by the church or independently at church. Please pre- register for Pathways with Kim Kirkby by email or phone.
Christian Formation Office 757-204-4565, Tue-Thur 9am-4pm
Judie Schuett jschuett@ssmrcc.org
Kim Kirkby kimkirkby@ssmrcc.org
Blaze Events and Notes
Blaze Schedule for 2007-2008
COAT COLLECTION: Thanks to those who donated coats this month. We collected over 100 coats of all sizes! The coats have been donated to CHIP; Healthy Families Chesapeake. They are very thankful for the donation of all sizes to help our Chesapeake Families in need stay warm this winter!
NEST SUPPLIES: There is a collection box in the commons for NEST supplies needed by January 28th. Please see the list below for donations needed. We make a bag of toiletry items for each of the NEST guests with the supplies on the list. The box will be emptied throughout the month so please do not discouraged if you see it empty! Thanks. The items needed are: Travel Sized Shaving Cream, Pocket Sized Tissues, Men's White Crew Socks, Chapstick Lip Balm, Travel Sized Mouthwash, Travel Sized Shampoo, Travel Sized Conditioner, Small Body & Hand Lotions, Single Packaged Toothbrushes, White Washcloths, Travel Sized Bar Soap, Travel Sized Deodorant, Nab Crackers (4, 6, or 8 per pack), and Cough Drops.
BLAZE FAMILIES: Please be sure to visit the BLAZE web page for outreach information and the BLAZE schedule. If you were unable to make January's BLAZE session then please be sure to move your magnet to one of the three sessions offered February 10th. The session times are as follows: 1-2:30pm, 4:30-6pm, and 7:00-8:30pm. We have reduced the number of sessions due to NEST. We will not be asking for the typical duties this month either. Our February outreach items are to please bring a bag of candy to be bagged up for our Troops serving in Operation Freedom and Baby Bottles will be distributed (to be filled with money and returned in 2 weeks) at BLAZE for Birthright. The Youth Ministry session for February 10th will be done at the end of each BLAZE session on the 10th. There will not be a Youth Ministry session from 7 - 9pm on February 10th as printed in your bright orange schedule booklet.