St. Philip’s 2020 – 2021 Action Plan for Faith Formation
St. Philip’s Catholic Faith Formation is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all our children/youth, parents and volunteers. St. Philip’s Faith Formation has developed the following Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines are intended to help us fulfill the mission to which we have been called – to support families as the first educators of faith for their children.
Our goals are to provide faith formation opportunities while minimizing the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our ministry and communities. We all children, youth, parents, volunteers and staff will have to cooperate with each other and act with empathy and respect to achieve a positive, faith-filled experience.
Policies and practices for the 2020-2021 faith formation year will be flexible and responsive to new information and developments. We acknowledged that that we may need to refine and adapt protocols. Special considerations will be made to best provide for the needs of individual children and families.
Please prayerfully consider volunteering in Faith Formation. We need Catechists, Small Group Leaders for Middle School and High School, building monitors, office help, and especially prayers!
Communication
Kris Jensen, Faith Formation Director, is the primary contact person for raising concerns or questions that any program participant (catechist, learner, parent) might have regarding procedures and/or incidents. Any information, feedback, suggestions etc. from parents, learners and our catechetical volunteers are welcome.
Communication will be mostly through email and the Church’s website - stphilipsbemidji.org
Resource
We will rely on guidelines/recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Minnesota Depart of Health, Beltrami Health Department, other public health officials and the Diocese of Crookston.
Three Models of Faith Formation during Covid-19
Option A: Onsite, In-Person Faith Formation and Activities (See Option A: Guidelines for Onsite Faith Formation)
Option B: Virtual, Online, or At-Home (distance) Faith Formation and Activities (See Option B: Guidelines for Virtual Faith Formation)
Option C: Hybrid Approach, Combination Virtual, At-Home (distance) and In-Person Faith Formation and Activities
St. Philip’s Faith Formation will use Option C to start.
Elementary Faith Formation will meet twice a month on Wednesday evenings without Middle School and High School Faith Formation and Middle School and High School Faith Formation will meet twice a month on Wednesday evenings without Elementary Faith Formation. We will start the year with this schedule. We will review and possibly change the plan as needed.
If In-Person Faith Formation is canceled/postponed, Faith Formation will use Option B in presenting instruction/activities.
Catechists, small group leaders, volunteers, parents and parish staff all are responsible for implementing this plan.
Faith Formation schedule will be emailed to parents and posted on the Church’s website.
Catechists, small group leaders and volunteers will be properly trained on the Plan and demonstrate understanding of their critical role in ensuring a healthy environment for faith formation.
Grade level groups will primarily be held in small groups with 8 to 10. There will be some large group teaching in Middle School and High School Faith Formation. We will meet in school classrooms, the Social Hall, Church, Chapel, school gym, and school cafeteria. There will be limited large group gatherings. Whenever possible, we will implement programming that refrains from mixing grade level groups. If mixing of groups is necessary, a limited number of groups that mix and keep records of staff, volunteers, and participants that mix.
Option A: Onsite, In-Person Faith Formation Instruction and Activities
Per Minnesota Executive Order 20-81, face coverings are required at this time for all over the age of five (children, youth, parents/guardians, faith formation staff, and volunteers) during indoor activities. The Minnesota Department of Health provides further information on this requirement and legitimate exemptions.
use their given name (first and last) when signing into the on-line meeting.
All meetings must have parents’ written consent prior to connecting with minor(s). Consent must also be given for the recording of all on-line meetings, and minors must be informed that they will be recorded.
One-on-one meetings will be conducted by a safe environment certified adult and a parent should also be present during the meeting.
All meetings with minors must always be conducted by safe environment certified adults, and a parent/guardian should have access to the meeting. Exceptions may be granted by certified administrators/leaders for guest speakers who are not safe environment certified.
All meetings including minors, should have passwords and be private invitations, this may vary depending upon solution used (no publicly available links or meeting numbers; waiting rooms should be utilized when available).
All participants should be aware of their surroundings while on virtual meetings. Individuals should be in public spaces of their homes and avoid personal spaces, i.e. lying in bed.
All meeting date/times will be pre-scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
The Faith Formation Director, catechist, or small group leaders of any on-line meeting with minors must create standards for effectively managing conversation and share these at the beginning of all sessions.
Virtual gatherings should take place between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
At-Home (distance) Faith Formation
As the primary educators and catechists of their children, accommodations will be made, and parish support given if parents and caregivers decide to do at-home faith formation this year rather than participate in any in-person/onsite activities.
Parents along with the Faith Formation Directors will provide materials and support for at-home Faith Formation. Parents will need to notify the Faith Formation Directors that they are doing Faith Formation at home.
Thank you for your patience and prayers as we continue to navigate through these challenging times. We ask for your continued prayers and support as we work together to bring our young people closer to Christ.