Middle School: Grades 6th-8th

 

Youth MINISTRY STAFF

Joyce Swietlik, Director of Religious Education - jswietlik@stme.church

Helena Dziadowicz, Associate Director of Youth Ministry - hdziadowicz@stme.church

Juliette Anderson, Administrative Assistant - janderson@stme.church

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Who can attend?

Intended for middle schoolers (6th, 7th, 8th grades) attending public schools to have ongoing religious education. ...like "Sunday School" when they were in grade school!

When & Where?

Fridays 4-5:15pm @ St. Eugene's

**Helena will be present with snacks & games beginning at 3:30pm if kids need to be/want to be dropped off earlier**

Why new time?

- Every night of the week, someone has some other activity

- So much is expected on school nights that it can be stressful to get to class

- Friday after school people are ready for fun & friendship!

- We plan for this program to be engaging, and not just feel like another lecture!

What to expect?

- We'll still be using the Finding God series, same as St. Eugene & St. Monica school

- We'll have 6th graders separate, and 7th & 8th graders combined

- We'll learn content, pray with the Saints, visit Jesus in the Church, & play games!

NEW: What’s “Optional Fun”?

I would love for our public-school middle schoolers & our Catholic-school middle schoolers to have opportunities to meet one another before high school. So, once a month on a Friday after school, we will have a FUN activity! At these events, we will still visit Jesus in the Church or have some other form of prayer, but the focus will be fun & friendship! Your child in religious education does not have to come to these, but I hope they'll want to :)

As noted on the above calendar, these combined "Optional Fun" events will take place at St. Monica. The Optional Fun dates are the following Fridays:

October 18th

November 15th

December 20th

January 24th

February 14th

March 7th

April 25th

May 30th

CURRICULUM

Our Middle School Program uses Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts curriculum from Loyola Press (www.loyolapress.com).

In class, students will study a chapter from the workbook which we send home. The final page of each lesson has a review, suggestions on activities to live what they learn and a closing prayer. We ask parents to review this at home and then students should complete and submit an online review after each lesson.

MASS ATTENDANCE

Regular Sunday Mass attendance is an essential part of being Catholic and thus is expected of our Middle School families. Parish Mass Times are:

  • St Eugene: Sat 4:30 pm; Sun 8:30 & 11:00 am                            

  • St Monica: Sat 5:00 pm; Sun 8:00 & 10:15 am

SAFEGUARDING ALL GOD'S FAMILY

St. Eugene and St. Monica Parishes are committed to providing a safe environment for all. In compliance with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, all volunteers over the age of 18 MUST attend a (free, one-time) Safe Environment Education Session, pass a criminal background check and read and sign the Code of Ethical Standards for Church Leaders. In addition, it is our goal to have ALL parents attend this class to increase awareness and safety. This would also qualify parents to chaperone field trips, work on service projects or assist in classrooms. To register for a class, please go to www.archmil.org/offices/safeguarding.htm. 

HOW TO REGISTER FOR CHILD AND YOUTH MINISTRY CLASSES

Child and Youth Ministry Registration will once again be completed online through ParishSoft (click to begin) our parish database. While registering for classes, please take the time to review your information and update any emails, phone numbers or anything else that may have changed.

PARISH REGISTRATION – If you are new to St. Eugene and St. Monica – welcome! Please begin the parish registration process by filling out the online form (links below). We will contact you to complete parish registration so you can then register for classes.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We are asking all parents to prayerfully consider becoming part of our Ministry team. We can’t do this without you! Opportunities are below or let us know if you have other ideas.

Catechists

Materials, orientation and training are provided. The materials are very user-friendly - you don’t need to know everything! We encourage you to talk to your friends and to parents of your children's friends. Consider team-teaching. You can take turns leading the lesson and assisting. Being a catechist is a great way to refresh your faith, form new relationships at church, be a role model for your child and serve God.

**We are pleased to offer a full tuition waiver (just pay sacrament and retreat fees) for ALL children (K4-Confirmation) of a catechist who commits to teach weekly!

In addition to Full-time Catechists, we need . . . 

  • Substitute Catechists (teach when you are available)

  • Aides in all classrooms.  (weekly and substitute)

  • Lesson preparation and clerical help in the office during the week.  

  • Assistance with special events such as service proects, times of prayer, speakers, occasional crafts, etc.

  • High school students may volunteer for service hours.

**All adult volunteers are required to attend a Safe Environment Education Session, pass a Criminal Background Check and sign the Code of Ethical Standards.

Email YouthMinistry@stme.church to volunteer or for more information.