St. Patrick Catholic Church

• Introduction - I am Melissa Harshbarger, the Director of Faith Formation. I have served as the Youth Minister for 9 years and as the Director of Religious Education for the last 3 years. My husband, Otto, and I have two girls. Riley is 14 and Isabella is 6. They attend St. Michael High School and Parkview Elementary. I love serving the families of St. Patrick and I am happy to help you prepare their child for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. 
• Registration - The form is in your packet. Please return that to me. If your child was not baptized at St. Patrick, please send me a copy of their baptismal certificate. If you don't have one, you can call the church of baptism and they can get a copy for you.
• Flocknote - I will use Flocknote for reminders. If you would like communication sent to a different email or phone number that what is listed on the registration form, please note that on your registration form.
• Schedule - Our meetings are scheduled for 10:30 am. We will begin right after 9:30 Mass. So if Mass is running a little late, we will wait until Mass ends. Our meeting will end before 11:30 Mass so that you could attend that Mass as well. 
• At least one parent and your child should attend all meetings. You are welcome to bring the whole family! Siblings are always welcome! We will meet family style, meaning parents and children will meet together for one session. 
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children, therefore, we will help you to educate and prepare your child for the sacrament. You have already started to prepare your child for reconciliation. By correcting them when they did something wrong and by teaching them to understand what is right and wrong, you have been preparing their conscience. 
• Mass attendance is very important. The way you talk about and prepare for Mass is what your child will learn. 
• Confession - Fr. Michael hears confessions on Saturdays at 2:30. I encourage you to go!
• Packet
  • 3 lessons to complete by the next session. Each lesson has information for you to walk your child through the pages. If these seems overwhelming in any way, please let me know! 
  • Everything You Need to Know About Reconciliation Book - this is an extra resource. It has a lot of good information with parts of it made for children and parts made for parents. 
  • Learning Your Prayers the Write Way - extra resource - This is a great way for your child to learn the prayers. This papers are not required just a helpful resourse.
  • Act of Contrition booklet - Extra resource to help your child learn the Act of Contrition. NOTE: If your child is learning a different Act of Contrition, you do not need to learn this one. Please help them learn whichever one they are learning. There are many Act of Contrition prayers and it can be a prayer spoken from the heart. Lesson 3 has 3 different Act of Contrition prayers. We will use the one on page 13.
• Resources that I like:
  • Mass journal - Every Sacred Sunday is the one I use
  • Bible - I love the Catholic Youth Bible by St. Mary's Press
  • Pocket Guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation by Fr. Josh Johnson and Fr. Mike Schmitz 
  • Catholicicing.com has wonderful ideas to incorporate our faith into our everyday lives.
• St. Patrick Ministries for Children and Youth
  • Youth Group: 3rd-5th grade meets once per month
  • Youth Group: 6th and up meets most Sundays
  • Scouts: 6th and up
  • Children's Choir: 3rd - 9th grade
  • Parish School of Religion: Summer program for 1st - 10th grade
  • Vacation Bible School for Kindergarten - 5th with 6th and up junior volunteers
  • Sacramental Prep for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
  • Sacramental Prep for Confirmation
• We are also looking for families to help with our Coffee and Donut Ministry! I will be sending out more information soon!

Contact:
Melissa Harshbarger
Office - 753-5750
Cell/text - 937-8587 (easiest way to reach me)
Email - mharshbarger@stpatrickbr.org