Category: Faith Formation

Faith Formation for Children and Teens at Padre Serra!

7/16/2019

Registration Open Now
Space is limited!

Registration packets are available in the parish office or download/print them here.

Download Registration Packet

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

Sacred Heart Servants Mission

7/7/2019

Mission Trip August 11 to 17

We have 17 teens and young adults who will take part in this inaugural mission trip to serve the poor in St. Martinville, Louisiana. This will be a life changing, cultural faith experience. If you would like to sponsor one of our young adults please contact tere@padreserra.org

The Sacred Heart Servants Mission is an opportunity for hands on service to the poor. Participants will work directly with families in need, learn about the committed religious life of our hosts, participate in the Fete-Dieu de Teche eucharistic boat procession and experience the unique food and culture of this region of Louisiana.

For more information contact
Tere Delgado, tere@padreserra.org
Howard Durand, hdurand@line6.com

Also visit: Youth, Young Adults

Landings

7/5/2019

A Caring Ministry for Returning Catholics

Begins September 12
Thursdays
San Juan Bautista Room
Next 10 week series. Watch for details!

If you are an inactive Catholic you may want to consider Landings.

We are a group of Catholics who, for any number of reasons, were away from the church and came back to regular attendance and active participation.

We share our faith journeys and want to hear your stories. We also discuss contemporary Catholic themes and have resources available for questions about the Catholic Faith and the Church.

Landings offer a safe place to tell one’s story, discern a place in the Church, and find a way home.
Join us, we welcome you.

Information:
landings@padreserra.org
or call Teresa Runyon
(805) 482 · 6417

Also visit: Adults Faith Formation

Gwen Ripplinger, Denise Ginty.
Photo by Julius Acero

The University Series

7/1/2019

An adult education series in Lent
February 27 - April 3, 2020

Over 85 presentations connecting faith with real life in areas such as current events, contemporary moral issues, evangelization, faith and science, marriage and family, church history, scripture, and prayer will be offered in 13 parishes around the county.

Catalogs in the church lobby or parish office.
Learn more about all the sessions offered and sign up at ventura.theuniversityseries.org/classes

Also visit: Faith Formation for Adults, Lent

Summer Camp

6/17/2019

Padre Serra Parish presents

Summer Camp is Full!
Forms available in Parish office, download them here or sign up online today!

Download Sign Up Form

June 17 - June 20
Serra Center

1:00 - 4:00 pm
Campers (Grades 1 - 6) $50, includes T-shirt

12:30 - 4:30 pm
Jr. Counselors (Grades 7 - 8)
and Counselors (High School) $40, includes training & T-shirt*

*Training attendance is required for all Jr. and High School Counselors on Saturday, June 15.

Questions? Christine Olsen, (805) 482·6417 x349, christine@padreserra.org

JustFaith

6/1/2019

Next Series Begins July 15
8 Mondays 6:30 - 9:00 pm
2 Saturdays 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

JustFaith invites participants to look at contemporary issues through the lens of Christian faith by engaging in reading, prayer, thought-provoking dialogue, encounter, and by building lasting relationships with a small group in three 8-week phases. To broaden perspectives, each of the 3 phases include an immersion where participants visit local organizations and connect with those living and working on the margins of society. Each phase also contains a retreat that provides a foundation for community building. Each phase is stand-alone and can be taken in any order.

Phase I:
Living Compassionately – Caring for the Poor
October 7 – November 25, 2019
Participants focus on poverty, consumerism, and the Gospel call to care for the poor.
Questions and to register: Michelle Paschen mcpaschens@gmail.com

Phase II:
Living Justly – Caring for Each Other
February 24 – April 13, 2020
Inspired by a new level of understanding about issues of racial and economic justice, participants will develop new levels of passion and compassion for the ongoing work of social justice.
Questions and to register: Michelle Paschen mcpaschens@gmail.com

Phase III:
Living Simply – Caring for the Earth
July 15 – September 9, 2019
Participants embrace the invitation to care for the Earth as they investigate the teachings of our faith.
Questions and to register:
Joe Zuback zubackj@gmail.com
Gary Freeberg gfreeberg@gmail.com

$70 new participant (includes books, binder, online access)
$50 returning participant
$100 couple

"Somehow the highest praise of God is not in speaking unintelligibly but, rather, in speaking a language of inclusion where barriers are dismantled, circles are widened, and no one is left outside." - Fr. Gregory Boyle

JustFaith is ecumenical and all Christian faiths are welcome.
Also visit: Groups, www.justfaith.org

Little Church

5/22/2019

Sunday preschool
9:00 am and 11:00 am Mass
Age 3 through Kindergarten

Our Summer sessions will begin on June 2.

Sign up your little one for a fun time at church during Mass.
Children learn so much! From the Sign of the Cross to bible stories, songs and more.
Super fun to make friends and be at church on Sundays!! Parents love it too.
Register your child as soon as they turn 3.
soraya@padreserra.org

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

Tuesday, April 2
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Serra Center

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

Adult Faith Formation Meeting

3/1/2019

Wednesday, April 10
7:00 pm
San Juan Bautista Room

Visit our monthly team meeting to see how we dream, plan, and present adult formation opportunities for our parish.

Contact Leo Paulo

Youth Prayer Service

3/1/2019

Wednesday, April 17
7:00 pm
San Juan Capistrano

All high school teens, meet Brett and the Young Adults for a special Holy Week Reflection and Guided Meditation.
youth@padreserra.org

Also visit: Youth, Lent

Got Questions? Try Alpha

1/28/2019

Life is busy. Every day we ask so many questions: What should I wear? What’s the weather going to be like? What’s happening today? How am I going to fit everything in?

But then there those bigger questions: Why am I here? Where am I heading? Is there more to life than this? Alpha is your chance to explore life’s big questions...

What is Alpha?
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks, plus an Alpha Day. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe in many different settings and everyone is welcome.

Who is Alpha for?
Alpha is for everyone, specially those who:

don’t believe at all
are new to the Christian faith
want to grow in understanding and faith

What does Alpha look like?
Every session includes a meal and a chance to get to know each other, followed by a short video presentation, and concludes with a small group discussion.

For more information about Alpha contact:
Teresa Runyon
teresa@padreserra.org
(805) 482·6417 x322

“Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
- C.S. Lewis

Also visit:

Santa Barbara Youth Day

1/26/2019

Saturday, January 26
9:00am check-in
9:30am - 4:00pm
Villanova Preparatory School
12096 N. Ventura Avenue, Ojai, CA 93023

Bishop Barron will preside mass. Speakers and musicians are Gabe Rivera and Jackie Kearns.
Cost per teen is $18 and includes lunch.
For more information:
(310) 663·8639, kamcloughlin@sbpr.org
Confirmation Y1 must attend.

Also visit: Youth

Becoming Catholic

12/2/2018

Tuesday evenings
7:00-8:30pm
San Miguel room

Do you know someone who is wondering if the Catholic Church is the place for them? It could be your neighbor, your coworker, or someone in your family.

At Padre Serra, we have a group which meets on Tuesday evenings, year-round, to explore what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in the Catholic tradition. The atmosphere is informal, open and free of any pressure. Those attending are invited to ask any questions they may have followed by a discussion on various topics regarding our faith.

If you know someone who might be interested, invite them to accompany you to one of the meetings. We serve great refreshments, too!

For information please contact:
Catherine Shadduck
catherine@padreserra.org
(805) 482·6417 x331

Also visit: RCIA

Fr. Patrick, Marcia Galles, Catherine Shadduck.
Photo by Julius Acero

Venus and Mars Revisited

11/6/2018

A New Look at Male and Female Spirituality
Fr. Jim Clarke and Sr. Kathleen Bryant, RSC.

Spirituality is a broad subject area that has rightfully garnered much publicity in recent years. Men and women approach this field of study and practice differently.

In this workshop Fr. Jim and Sr. Kathy will unpack the differences through stories, analogies, images and humor. Come and join the fun and expand your own repertoire of spiritual practices!

Sponsored by the Adult Faith Formation Team.

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

Family Life Matters

10/16/2018

How to Leave the Footprints of Faith on the Hearts of Our Children

A whole community experience for adults, parents, grandparents, and families to enjoy a meal and presentation by Deacon Manuel and Chella Valencia for adults and activities for kids.

In Jesus’ Jewish culture, children learned their faith from infancy from their parents. It was so imprinted on their hearts and minds that the children would sooner forget their own name than forget their faith. This evening is an opportunity to reflect: are we, as adults, parents, family, a and catechists, teaching our Catholic faith today in a way that our children will remember and really live their faith, have a lifelong relationship with Jesus, recognize God working in their daily lives, and be active disciples?

Questions: teresa@padreserra.org
Sponsored by the Adult Faith Formation and Children’s Formation.

Presentations:

Importance of Parents and Family

Footprints of Faith

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

Catechetical Sunday

9/16/2018

Thank you!

Catechetical Sunday is a day set aside to recognize the vocation and ministry of teaching and sharing the faith with others. A wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each baptized person plays in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel.

On this day catechists throughout the diocese, and country, are commissioned and dedicate themselves to their vocation of teaching the faith to the children, teens and adults of our parish community.

The catechists of our parish, wonderful men and
women who answered YES to the call to be present and walk the faith journey with the adults, youth and children of the parish, are called forth to receive a blessing and be formally commissioned to continue the beautiful labor of sharing and growing in the faith.

To all catechists in our lives, parents and grandparents, priests and deacons, religious sisters, church family, all who have been encounters of Jesus in our lives, we thank you!

Also visit: Children, Youth, Adults, RCIA

Congratulations!

8/19/2018

On Sunday, August 19 at the 9:00am mass, five people were received into the Catholic Church: Robyn Apodaca and the entire Pickens family. Already one with us as baptized Christians, they made a profession of faith in the Catholic Church, were confirmed and received Eucharist for the first time.

It is with great joy that we welcome them and thank God for their presence which renews and strengthens our community.

New members are welcomed into the Catholic faith through the RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. If you are interested in learning more about the process of becoming Catholic, please contact Catherine Shadduck at (805) 482·6417 x331 or catherine@padreserra.org

Also visit: RCIA

Stuff for High School Teens

5/1/2018

4:12
(pronounced four one two)
Wednesday nights
from late September to mid May
7:00 - 9:00pm
San Juan Capistrano Room

Our high school PSP Youth Ministry Group.
Different teens are there from week to week due to sports and jobs. That is the beauty of it, you can always go or miss from time to time and there will always be people there to welcome you and make you feel at home. Brett Becker and the peer leaders do a great job addressing current world events, playing the latest music, games and videos, and enjoying life.

Youth Confirmation
Sunday
11:00am - 2:00pm
San Juan Capistrano Room
for half the year then in a weekly hands-on ministry of their choosing for the other half of the year.

Generally begins at the start of ninth grade. It is a two year process injected with a ton of activities to choose from. It is an awesome period of growth not to be missed.

Please register your teen today.
Attend a parent meeting to get all the scoop.
Contact: Brett Becker

Also visit: Youth Faith Formation

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

<<Previous

​News

Registration Open NowSpace is limited!

Mission Trip August 11 to 17

Begins September 12ThursdaysSan Juan Bautista RoomNext 10 week series. Watch for details!

​An adult education series in LentFebruary 27 - April 3, 2020

Padre Serra Parish presents

June 17 - June 20Serra Center1:00 - 4:00 pmCampers (Grades 1 - 6) $50, includes T-shirt12:30 - 4:30 pmJr. Counselors (Grades 7 - 8)and Counselors (High School) $40, includes training & T-shirt*

Next Series Begins July 158 Mondays 6:30 - 9:00 pm​2 Saturdays 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sunday preschool9:00 am and 11:00 am MassAge 3 through Kindergarten

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

Please RSVP

Tuesday, April 25:30 - 7:30 pmSerra Center

Wednesday, April 107:00 pmSan Juan Bautista Room

​Wednesday, April 177:00 pmSan Juan Capistrano

Saturday, January 269:00am check-in9:30am - 4:00pm​Villanova Preparatory School12096 N. Ventura Avenue, Ojai, CA 93023

Tuesday evenings7:00-8:30pmSan Miguel room

Presentations:

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.

Thank you!

​4:12 (pronounced four one two)Wednesday nightsfrom late September to mid May7:00 - 9:00pmSan Juan Capistrano Room

​Youth ConfirmationSunday11:00am - 2:00pmSan Juan Capistrano Roomfor half the year then in a weekly hands-on ministry of their choosing for the other half of the year.

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

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