Children's Faith Formation at Divine Mercy Parish


​We know that our children and families need faith more now than ever.
Recognizing that times have changed, we know that the ways children come to know God's love
and the beauty of our Catholic faith must change, too.
Our plan for the future is designed to help our children become lifelong followers of Jesus.
The goal of all of our programming is to better engage the hearts and minds of our children and families in these uncertain times and always.

Spring Sacrament Dates
2020 - 2021

​Reconciliation for Confirmation Candidates
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
5 p.m. Sacred Heart Church
7 p.m. St. Philip the Apostle Church

First Reconciliation for First Communicants
Monday, March 22, 2021
4:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Church
6:30 p.m. St. Philip the Apostle Church

Confirmation
Friday, April 16, 6:00 p.m. Sacred Heart Church
Saturday, April 17, 10:30 a.m. Sacred Heart Church
Tuesday, April 20, 6:00 p.m. St. Philip the Apostle Church

First Communion
Friday, May 7, 6:00 p.m. St. Philip the Apostle Church
Saturday, May 8, 10:00 a.m. Sacred Heart Church
Sunday, May 16, 12:00 Noon Sacred Heart Church
Note: First Communicants have the option to celebrate the Sacrament at any
regularly scheduled Mass - just contact our office to schedule your date.

Sign up geniuses for each First Communion Mass are now live.  Click here.  
Reservations are required for those in attendance.
We are limited to 80 people at Sacred Heart, and 100 people at St. Philip for each date.
We will try to accommodate everyone’s needs.

Note: we will have a professional photographer available to take photos of your child and family
prior to your First Communion Mass. Details to come.
 
Questions? Contact Kathy Handelman at khandelman@divinemercynorthshore.org
or by cell: 847-204-0745.
We look forward to celebrating with you!

Children's Ministry 2020-2021 Session Calendars by Grade

Children's Ministry 2021
Confirmation Video


​Congratulations to our 2021 Confirmation candidates and their families!
We look forward to celebrating with you over the next week.
​Go make a difference in the world!

A Few Photos from our January 2021 Family Mass

Merry Christmas From Children's Ministry!

Enjoy some of our Children’s Ministry students singing and performing
​some of the season’s merry and bright Christmas carols!
It’s the next best thing to being all together!
Following the carols is a charming video about the birth of the blessed baby Jesus.
Merry Christmas from Children's Ministry!

​All Saints Celebration Video

​
​Each year, our 8th Grade Confirmation candidates select a saint that inspires them, and write a report about them.  They learn about the saint’s life and canonization. This year our 8th graders videotaped their reports – please enjoy this video compilation produced by parishioner Jeff Hartvigsen, who deserves a big thank you for all his work.
And thank you to all of our 8th Graders for their hard work and creativity!

The Blessings of Celebrating Our Sacraments
Even During a Pandemic​

​
​Once the Archdiocese of Chicago allowed us to begin to celebrate the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation, we eagerly planned our celebrations.  To date, we have held four beautiful First Communion liturgies and three Rites of Confirmation.  Another will take place shortly.  Children and families were so grateful to gather in church once again.  Even wearing masks and sanitizing our hands couldn't stop us all from smiling.  

Video Retrospective of Our Year Together
Children's Ministry Program
OUR  MISSION

Children’s Ministry focuses on growing faith and engaging hearts. We offer faith formation to children, kindergarten through 8th grade, and their families. 

We foster the life-long growth of our children and families, as disciples of Jesus Christ, in the Catholic tradition. Our program is supported by many generous adults and high school students who share their faith, time and talents with the children of our parish.

​Below are the current plans for the 2020-2021 school year.
We will feature:

  • 3 Drive-in Family Masses, an integral part of the program, these Masses will focus on special teaching moments with children and feature contemporary music.
  • 2 Service Sundays, will focus on projects that serve others as we learn about the call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Children also will receive a Service Journal to document their experience.
  • 1 Saints Celebration, during which we will learn about Catholic saints, and our 8th graders will introduce us to the wonderful saints they have chosen as part of the Confirmation faith journey.
  • 1 Movie Celebration, during which families enjoy a winter weekend watching a movie with some special faith messages.
  • Zoom classes taught by our outstanding, experienced catechists. Some in-person learning will occur for sacramental prep.
  • Lessons delivered to you in an easy-to-use format. We are sensitive to the overload already on your plates.
Family Faith Connection
Family Faith Connection 2020-2021 
​Due to COVID-19, this program is currently not being offered by Children’s Ministry. 
Family Faith will resume as soon as we are able to safely gather in larger groups.
See more about our Family Faith Connection Program (during non-pandemic times) below.
Family Faith is for families who want to learn, grow and pray together as an alternative to weekly children’s ministry sessions. The program combines monthly group meetings on Sunday evenings at the Sacred Heart Parish Center and grade-specific instruction by trained catechists along with at-home sessions guided by parents. Since we cannot meet as families in person this year, we are investigating the possibility of meeting as families online.

Parish
  • 8 times per year families gather together and experience an opening prayer and family activity, followed by lessons for the children and a chance for the parents to meet with a priest of leader to discuss a timely faith topic. 
  • Parents stay with the leader for the continuation of the session and children join catechists for their own session.
Home
  • 20 Home sessions.
  • Parents work with children to complete sessions using parent-friendly materials and instructions. 

This approach helps parents identify the faith lessons in the everyday moments when we teach our children to love, to respect, to forgive one another, to care for God's beautiful creation, and to serve those around us who need our help.  Families get to know others who are interested in growing in faith as a family.  Community is created as parents gather and share and as they realize that they are not alone on this journey.
Who can participate?  
Any family members who would like a shared faith experience can participate.  Parents, children, grandparents, stepparents, aunts,  uncles – all are welcome, and that includes families from both Sacred Heart and St. Philip sites.  Children preparing for Confirmation (Grade 8) must also attend weekly sessions.  Some 8th graders assist as aides as part of their Confirmation service.
 
What if I don’t feel prepared to teach my child?  
The program is designed for parents just like you.  You will learn together with your child as you use the Home Session Plans created just for this purpose and attend our Sunday evening gatherings.
Sacramental Preparation
The ​calendars for Confirmation and First Communion preparation will be released shortly. 
Sacramental Preparation is a 2 year process. This includes grades 1-2 (First Reconciliation and First Communion) and grades 7-8 (Confirmation).
QUESTIONS
We welcome your questions! Please contact Kathy Handelman at khandelman@divinemercynorthshore.org.