RESOURCES FOR YOUNG ADULT MINISTERS

“FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS FOR WELFARE AND NOT FOR EVIL, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.” – JEREMIAH 29:11


Looking for something to do with the kids? Catholic Brain, the No. 1 Catholic faith formation platform for students, parents, catechists and teachers is offering a free 30-day trial, with access to more than 5000 video lessons, e-books, interactive games and quizzes.

Fashioning Faith is a website designed especially for parish catechetical leaders that provides access to hundreds of program, strategies, and resources for promoting faith formation with people of all ages. Free samples of from this subscription website are available.

You, your family, and Catholics around the world are invited to join us in embracing our faith at home. Right now, our Augustine Institute FORMED team is offering a complimentary 40-day subscription so millions of Catholics can watch, read, and listen to Catholic content.

In this time of global pandemic, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd take their mission very seriously, continuing to support catechists, parents, and others in the Church and beyond, as they grow in their understanding of the religious potential of children.

Easy-to-use, downloadable lessons to help parents at home confidently prepare their children to receive the sacraments and live the Faith.

The Pflaum Gospel Weeklies are a liturgically-based catechetical program that helps parents participate in their important role as the first educators of your children.


Documents from the Vatican

Resources for the Month of May from TeachingCatholicKids.com


Sacraments of Initiation and Reconciliation/Confession as of 05/19/2020

RECONCILIATION/CONFESSIONS
In the Archdiocese of San Antonio, General Absolution is not approved at this time. As long as churches can remain open, priests can hear confessions in the church or by appointment, following the requisite sanitation procedures and social distancing guidelines, to include the use of masks.

INFANT BAPTISM
Infant Baptism may take place in parishes at the discretion of the pastor so long as social distancing and sanitation procedures are followed, to include the use of masks.

FIRST COMMUNION
First Communion for children may be celebrated at the discretion of the pastor and according to the requisite sanitation and social distancing procedures, to include the use of masks.

CONFIRMATION
For all adolescent students prepared for Confirmation and for baptized, Catholic adults who have already received first Communion and have been prepared for Confirmation: According to correspondence sent to all pastors earlier this month by Archbishop Gustavo, a date is to be set by each parish for Confirmation. This date is to be between June 16, 2020 and August 31, 2020. The requisite sanitation and social distancing procedures are to be followed, to include the use of masks. When the date has been set (only one if at all possible), please inform  Linda Ramirez at the Office of the Archbishop at of (1) the date and time of the celebration as well as (2) the full name – and saintā€™s name – of all of the confirmation candidates by June 15, 2020. This date presupposes that the pastors who will be transferring to another parish on July 1, 2020, will set the date prior to leaving the parish so that the incoming pastor has the information. Once the Archbishopā€™s Office has received this information, the Archbishop will issue a specific rescript giving each pastor faculties to confirm those adolescents and adults on the submitted list on the specific date the pastor has identified for his parish. If assistance is needed in planning the Confirmation mass, please contact Grace Rodriguez in the Office for Liturgy and Pastoral Care.

Please be aware that as of very recently, the Archdiocese has been informed that there are pending instructions from Rome regarding anointing at the Confirmation celebration. This information will be communicated to pastors and pastoral ministers as soon as possible.


Recommendations for Parish Activities (Outside of Mass & other Liturgies) as of 05/19/2020

The principles of social distancing remain in effect for the foreseeable future. This includes wearing masks, maintaining a six-foot radial distance from other people who are not members of oneā€™s household, and holding meetings in spaces large enough to allow for such distancing.

If organizational or ministry meetings can occur on-line, then this practice should continue whenever possible.

Priests, other parish ministers, staff, or volunteers who meet with individuals should be careful to wear masks and maintain a six-foot distance. Confessions, spiritual direction, or pastoral counselling should be conducted in a place that allows for such distancing, yet maintaining privacy.

All in-person meetings must follow social distancing protocols. Parish staff should wear masks at work and maintain the six-foot radial distancing.

Regular parish formation such as religious education, RCIA, Scripture study, youth ministry, etc. may take place following social distancing and sanitation guidelines, to include the use of masks.

With regard to a restart of any food service parish ministry, any and all food preparers must wear masks, gloves and strictly follow all sanitation and food safety procedures. Food should be served in individual covered containers/wrappers and picked up by recipients for ā€œtake out.ā€ This applies to all activities and fundraisers involving food, such as breakfast tacos, bake sales, plate sales, etc.

Updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.


First Communion Resources

Resources from Loyola Press

This chart shows how to access various programs available through Loyola Press online. Free e-books for the rest of the academic year 2019-2020 are available to those parishes/schools that ordered hardback student books from Loyola Press this year only.


Resources from Our Sunday Visitor

Sometimes the thought of getting kids to sit down and sit still for a Rosary is overwhelming. And that’s okay. We’ve gathered some ideas that we hope will help. And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect!


Short prayer sessions throughout the day can improve your mood, your interactions and bring you closer to God. The best thing is that it’s not one size fits all. Pray as little or as much as you’d like. Whatever you can do, check in with God throughout the day.

Much of the U.S. is still dealing with COVID-19. Check out these suggestions for caring for your family’s spiritual needs during this time.

Free digital access to the May issue of Take Out: Family Faith on the Go. This issue features a poster all about the Holy Spirit, why Mom’s need Mary, and a kids page about JPII.

These flipbooks and at-home lessons have always been free for Our Sunday Visitor customers, but given these times, OSV has decided to offer these same digital resources to any parish or school in need of at-home support for the next six weeks. These credentials are temporary, and will be changed out in 6 weeks.


Resources from Sadlier

If your school or parish is shifting to an online learning approach, Sadlier is providing, free of charge, e-books for their print programs for use for the remainder of the school year.