Category: Faith Formation

Faith Formation for Children and Teens

9/2/2021

Live a Life of Faith, Understanding and Love...

Registration ends September 30!

Online Registration

Questions contact:
Tere Delgado
tere@padreserra.org
(805) 482·6417 x347

Mardi Gras

2/25/2020

Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday," is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday. In the past, people would clean out their cupboards, removing all the sugar, fat, and lard to prepare for the forty days of fasting ahead. Here at Padre Serra, we share a delicious dinner or dessert and talk about what we will do as a family to draw closer to Jesus this Lent.

Also visit: Children, Lent

Stations of the Cross Family Craft

2/1/2020

Our Lenten Stations of the Cross Family Craft gathering has been cancelled. Kits will be available after Mass on Sunday for you to take home and work on this beautiful and prayerful project.

Come and join us in making a meaningful Lent project with your whole family!
This project will entail painting and decoupaging peg people. Once completed, this set has the characters you need to act out the Passion of Jesus, including everyone you need for the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Set this up in your home to remind everyone of Jesus' sacrifice for us and his triumphant resurrection.
Donation: $10 per family.
Contact: christine@padreserra.org

Scripture’s FAQ

1/13/2020

Fr. Patrick Mullen
Monday, January 13
7:00 - 8:30 pm
St. Peter Claver
West hall of the parish center
at 2380 Stow St., Simi Valley, 93063

The adult faith formation committee of St. Peter Claver parish invites you for an informative, uplifting, and interactive question and answer session with Fr. Patrick who will address the many challenging and interesting questions about our sacred scripture.
Refreshments will served.
Free will offering appreciated.
Questions:
Office of Faith Formation (805) 526·0680
adultfaithformation@saintpeterclaver.org

33 Days to Morning Glory

1/4/2020

Encounter Jesus through Mary.
Written by Fr. Michael Gaitley, 33 Days to Morning Glory is a six-week small group journey to draw closer to Jesus through his mother, culminating in consecration to him through Mary. We'll learn what the Church and four great saints - Louis de Montfort, Maximilian Kolbe, Mother Teresa, John Paul II - have to teach us about the power and influence Mary and then how to live as better disciples. Whether you are brand new to the concept of Marian Consecration, or you wish to renew your consecration, you are invited.

Questions:
Grace Martinez grace@padreserra.org

Visio Divina

12/1/2019

Noticing God during Lent through the images in my life.
Dr. Michael Cunningham
Monday, February 3
7:00 pm
Serra Center
Doors open at 6:30 for refreshments

Visio Divina is an ancient prayer form, often referred to as praying with icons. However, it is so much more…Dr. Cunningham will lead us through a prayerful experience of Visio Divina and how we can use it in our everyday lives to deepen our relationship with God.

By the end of the session, you will be able to use this ancient and contemplative prayer form with your cell phone and use photography to reflect on the glory and meaning which surrounds our everyday lives.

The Lenten period gives us the reason to dedicate some special time for reflection and contemplation in this simple but powerful prayer form.

Michael Cunningham OFS is a Secular Franciscan and Retreat Center Director at Mater Dolorosa in the Sierra Madre.

No cost.

Sponsored by the Adult Faith Formation Team

Homeboys

10/15/2019

Somethin’s Comin’, Sometin’ Good.

Tuesday, October 15
Serra Center
6:30 doors open
7:00 presentation begins

Founded by Fr. Greg Boyle in 1988, Homeboy Industries is the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. Homeboy provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women, to redirect their lives and become contributing members of the community.

While Fr. Greg was initially scheduled to be here and regrets that he is called away, we have the unique opportunity to see Fr. G and Homeboys Industries through the eyes of the people who know him best.

Representative Homeboys will be with us to share the stories that brought them to Fr. G and how he and his outreach ministry forever changed their lives.

Learn more about Homeboy here.

Sponsored by the Adult Faith Formation Team.

Santa Barbara Regional Congress

9/28/2019

Saturday, September 28
St. Bonaventure High School
3167 Telegraph Road
Ventura, CA 93003

Come be nourished and grow in faith and knowledge of our Catholic faith through workshops, prayer, and Mass with Bishop Robert Barron.

Early registration is $30 by September 20.
You may register online until Tuesday, September 24.

Details and Registration

Also visit: Adults

Hidden Graces

9/10/2019

Lessons about God, Life and a Very Special Boy - Dr. Ross Porter

Tuesday, September 10
7:00 pm
Doors open for refreshments at 6:30 pm
Serra Center

Dr. Ross Porter spent 23 years as a school teacher and holds both a Masters in Divinity and a Ph.D. in Psychology. But his most excellent teacher has been his firstborn son, John Michael, who is blessed with Down’s syndrome. God, through John Michael, has given Dr. Porter greater understanding about what is essential to happiness in this life and the next. Come and be inspired!
No cost.

Sponsored by Adult Faith Formation Team.

Why I’m Still a Catholic

5/7/2019

Tuesday, May 7
7:00 pm
Doors open at 6:30 pm for refreshments
Serra Center

If asked, most of us could easily answer the question: Why are you Catholic? After all, we were born into the faith. Our families are Catholic. We married into it or we went to Catholic schools. But with today’s screaming headlines many of us find ourselves challenged by those who are now asking: Why are we still Catholic?

Join us for an uplifting evening of shared stories as we honestly answer that question with humor, insight, and love.
Why are you still Catholic?

No charge. Sponsored by Adult Faith Formation Team.
Also visit: Young Adults

Holy Week at Home

4/2/2019

For families with children in Spark! Grades 1 - 5.
(Younger and older siblings are welcome too; the workshop is geared to elementary age children and their families).

Come as a family – plan about 1 hour.
Go through 7 stations where children (with parent assistance) will make a craft representing each day of Holy Week.
Follow along and honor Jesus’ last week on earth.
Children will go home with a special symbol representing each day – from Palm Sunday through Easter – and instructions for how to celebrate Holy week at home.

To better help us prepare ourselves during this time of lent; we will have the opportunity to practice the three pillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving.

May Holy Week become a rich experience for your family.

Also visit: Lent, Holy Week

Faith Formation Volunteer Opportunity

4/1/2019

This is a beautiful, wonderful, friendly bunch of folks! Every year with about 600 children and teens enrolled in after school learning, we really need about 100 loving, happy adults to help teach and lead. This small army of volunteers are the face of Jesus and his church to our young people. Our Faith Formation staff do all the work! We plan and write all the lessons, prepare all the games, crafts and other materials. We create teams of two to lead the sessions then train, mentor and guide you throughout the year. You are never alone. You just have a great time rolling it out with your partner. Contact: tere@padreserra.org

Also Visit: Children

Operation Christmas Child

10/22/2018

What will the students do?
Our elementary students, more than 100 of them, will be creating and wrapping beautiful gifts for poor, sick and suffering children in third world countries. Our Padre Serra third through fifth graders participate in this world wide outreach effort by filling shoe boxes with donated items, decorating the boxes and making a beautiful, personal card.

What they learn?
The children watch a DVD about this project and learn that not all children in the world have toys or pencils, or even an empty shoe-box.

What can you do as a parent?

Bring a shoe-box and some donated items listed below.
Stay and assist your child with this project if you are able to.
Wrapping the boxes can be challenging and so any additional help is appreciated. Besides, it's a rewarding project to be able to do with your child.
Donate extra supplies, if possible.

Suggested Gifts:

Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch a Sketch toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), slinky, etc.
School supplies: pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, coloring books, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books etc.
Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
Other: Individually wrapped hard candy, lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, sunglasses, flashlights (with extra batteries), ball caps, socks, T-shirts, toy jewelry, hair clips, watches, small picture books, etc.

Please DO NOT include the following:

Used items
War-related items: toy guns, knives, etc
Chocolate, gummy, or perishable food items
Liquids: shampoo, liquid soap, lotion, bubbles, etc
Medicines: vitamins, cough drops, ointment, etc
Breakable items: mirrors, china dolls, etc

If you have any questions, contact the parish at (805) 482·6417 and ask for Christine at x349.

Also visit: Children

The Canaanite Woman

9/25/2018

A Model for Mass Goers
Tuesday, September 25
7:00pm
Serra Center
Doors open at 6:30 for refreshments

For Catholics, the Mass is the source and summit of our faith. It is the place we are expected to encounter the divine, and yet at times we may wonder if God knows, understands or cares about us at all. Sometimes Mass just feels like "the same old thing," and we wonder, "where was God in all that?"

Come join Fr Steve Thoma as he talks about the Canaanite woman's encounter with Jesus, as found in Matthew's Gospel, and why her story might be a good example for us.

Sponsored by the Adult Faith Formation Team.

Catechist Formation

9/20/2018

Thursday, September 20
6:00 - 9:00pm
Serra Center

Think you're having fun now? Wait until you have volunteered in Spark!
Lively instruction, spiritual depth, genuine caring, all in small groups with lots of adult support and... all lesson plans and materials are provided! Help our team lead and teach children in grades 1 - 5.
Come to this session to learn how easy it is.

Also visit: Children

Faith Formation Parent Meeting

9/17/2018

September 17 or 18 (Attend only one)
6:30pm
Serra Center

Parents! Get all the info you need for each child (grade 1-12) enrolled in Faith Formation in one night.
We begin in the Serra Center for a brief overview then go to break out sessions to get specific information on your child's group. Remember if sacraments are needed, we take care of all that too.
The Faith Formation staff will present their own area of learning, have plenty of time and handouts so you will leave feeling very informed and excited.

Faith Formation Starts September 23. Register today!
Packets are available here or in the parish office.

Questions contact:
Tere Delgado
tere@padreserra.org
(805) 482·6417 x347

Also visit: Faith Formation for Children and Teens as Padres Serra!, Little Church

Resurrection Garden Activity

3/25/2018

Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018
After the 11:00am mass
Back yard, behind the Serra Center

Come to make a beautiful centerpiece for your Easter table.
The whole family can help!
All materials provided. Suggested donation $10.
Sponsored by our fun friends in Faith Formation!

Succulent growers: Please root and donate your clippings on Palm Sunday behind the Serra Center for this wonderful craft project. Blessings!

Also visit: Palm Sunday, Lent

An Evening of Stories with Fr. Ron Hoye, CM

8/2/2017

Tuesday, August 22, 2017
6:30pm refreshments
7:00pm story time
Backyard Patio

Enjoy Fr. Ron’s homilies? Come spend an evening! Gather in our backyard patio to enjoy light refreshments and more of Fr. Ron’s inspirational parables and amusing anecdotes.

You will go away refreshed in body and spirit as you reflect on the deeper meaning of his message.

Also visit: Adults

Live a Life of Faith, Understanding and Love...​

Fr. Patrick MullenMonday, January 137:00 - 8:30 pmSt. Peter ClaverWest hall of the parish center​at 2380 Stow St., Simi Valley, 93063

Noticing God during Lent through the images in my life.Dr. Michael CunninghamMonday, February 37:00 pm​Serra CenterDoors open at 6:30 for refreshments

Tuesday, October 15Serra Center6:30 doors open7:00 presentation begins

Saturday, September 28St. Bonaventure High School3167 Telegraph RoadVentura, CA 93003

Lessons about God, Life and a Very Special Boy ​- Dr. Ross Porter​Tuesday, September 107:00 pmDoors open for refreshments at 6:30 pm​Serra Center

Tuesday, May 77:00 pmDoors open at 6:30 pm for refreshmentsSerra Center

Please RSVP

A Model for Mass GoersTuesday, September 257:00pmSerra CenterDoors open at 6:30 for refreshments

Thursday, September 206:00 - 9:00pmSerra Center

September 17 or 18 (Attend only one)6:30pmSerra Center

​Faith Formation Starts September 23. ​Register today!Packets are available here or in the parish office.

Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018After the 11:00am massBack yard, behind the Serra Center

Tuesday, August 22, 20176:30pm refreshments7:00pm story timeBackyard Patio

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