Religious Education
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Our Religious Education program at St. Ambrose Parish in Bristol, VT serves youth in Pre-School through High School. Families who are registered in the parish are welcome to sign their children up for classes.
Our Classes meet from September to May on Sunday mornings starting with the 8:30am Mass, class starts at 9:45am and dismisses at 11 am from classrooms. The calendar can be found in the right hand column above.
All families need to register their children, a link is provided to the side, or a paper copy can be found below. Please mail it to or drop it off at the parish office. -
Sacraments
Students in grade two prepare to receive two important sacraments – Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. Students must be baptized or show proof of baptism prior to receiving these sacraments. Students who have not received these sacraments and who enter this program after grade two prepare for them, in addition to attending regular classes with their peers. Generally this involves a parent-guided home study; materials are provided.
Students in 6th grade and up are eligible for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Special Confirmation classes take place outside the regular religious education schedule, still on Sunday mornings.
Parent meetings are held for all First Communion and Confirmation parents. -
Volunteer as a Catechist or Classroom Aide
As with any parish, St. Ambrose relies on volunteers to teach religious education classes. We are always interested in strengthening our volunteer pool. No prior experience is necessary – just the willingness and desire to walk with the youth of our parish on this part of their faith journey. God invites us all to share our gifts and talents with our community – is God asking you to bear witness to the gospel as a catechist?
Our Catechists meet regularly to help ensure that the sharing of our faith for all age levels is as effective as it can be. Can you give your time as a Catechist, Classroom Aide, or Substitute for the 2018-2019 year?
Fill out this form: goo.gl/forms/KDS63tmELYh5wIVt1
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Contact Us
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Lisa Grover-Directorsaspministrygmail.comFamily Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
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Tanya Bradtmullertanya7403gmail.comPreK/Kindergarten
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Emily Baconebaconewsd.orgPreK/Kindergarten
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Joan Siminitusjoansiminitusyahoo.com1st/2nd Grade Teacher
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Laura Doylelaurajoandoylegmail.com1st/2nd Grade Teacher
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Erin Lathroperin_lathrop2004yahoo.com3rd/4th Teacher
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Kielee Pellandkpellandrnoutlook.com3rd/4th Teacher
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Allison Sturtevantasalisbuvt55gmail.com5th/6th grade Teacher
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Andrew Rainvillea.rainville11gmail.com5th/6th grade Teacher
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Cathleen Forandcat_erichotmail.comConfirmation Teacher
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Office Hours
Monday 8:30-4:30 @ St. Ambrose Tuesday 8:30-4:30 @ St. Ambrose
Thursday 8:30-4:30 @ St. Peter's
Friday 8:30-4:30 @ St. Peter's
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Welcome Letter
Week 1: St. John the Baptist.
Partner in Faith
What Makes us Catholic
Hands on Faith
Field Trip, Reflection & Prayer
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Week 2: Saints Peter & Paul:
Partner in Faith
What Makes us Catholic
Hands on Faith
Field Trip, Reflection & Prayer
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Week 3: Saint Maria Goretti:
Partner in Faith
What Makes us Catholic
Hands on Faith
Field Trip, Reflection & Prayer
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Week 4: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
Partner in Faith
What Makes us Catholic
Hands on Faith
Field Trip, Reflcetion & Prayer
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Week 5: Saint Mary Magdalene
Partner in Faith
What Makes us Catholic
Hands on Faith
Field Trip, Reflcetion & Prayer
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Week 6: Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Partner in Faith
What Makes us Catholic
Hands on Faith
Field Trip, Reflcetion & Prayer
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Week 7: Saint John Vianney
Partner in Faith
What Makes us Catholic
Hands on Faith
Field Trip, Reflcetion & Prayer
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Week 8: Saint Edith Stein
Partner in Faith
What Makes us Catholic
Hands on Faith
Field Trip, Reflcetion & Prayer
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Religious Education Communications
- 11/14/20, Going Fully Remote
- 10/29/20-Weekly Parent email
- 9/18/20-Update
- 9/8/2020, Religious Education Update
- Session 3, Family and Faith Summer Kit
- Session 2, Family and Faith Summer Kit
- Session 1, Family and Faith Summer Kit
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Good afternoon Religious Education families,
As you've probably heard, Governor Phil Scott has instituted new restrictions and recommendations in Vermont's efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. At this point these restrictions and recommendations do not affect religious institutions, however we are extremely mindful about the consequences of continuing our Religious Education program as is.
So we have made the decision to go fully remote beginning with class on November 22nd (next Sunday). This Sunday we have left the decision in the hands of our amazing teachers. If they chose to go remote THIS SUNDAY, they will contact you individually. If as a family you have decided not to attend in person, we fully understand, but please let us know so we can make sure your students receive the work they will miss.
If you chose not to attend, we ask you to please watch Mass virtually as a family. Either via Live Stream on the St. Peter's Facebook page beginning at 4:30 pm tonight, or recorded via our website anytime after 6:30 pm tonight. Please have a discussion about the Gospel and Father's Homily, maybe even leave us a comment on the video so we know you were there.
Every in person student will be given a hand out at class tomorrow outlining how to access Zoom and Spirit of Truth. If your student is not in person tomorrow this hand out will be mailed to your family. In yesterday's update I sent a copy of our "Plan B" outline. In case you missed that email click on the link below to access "Plan B". The week of November 28th I will be offering a parent Zoom class on the Spirit of Truth program so you can help your child navigate it as easily as possible.
Thank you for bearing with us during these difficult times. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Blessings,
Lisa
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Good morning St. Ambrose Families!
We had a great start to in person classes last Sunday! Everyone was very respectful of our new procedures, getting their temperature taken, wearing their masks, it was awesome to see. This Sunday (November 1st, All Saints Day) we will have class in person beginning at 9:45 am, please arrive through the front doors of the church. Students will dismissed to their classrooms from there. Students will have the opportunity to grab a snack and drink to eat outside before heading to class. I've attached an updated calendar for the rest of the year below. In person classes will continue as long as it is safe, and the State and Diocesan guidelines allow for it.
Your student might have come home with some Bingo cards (hopefully), these are for the Zoom Halloween Bingo event happening tonight! If you didn't receive your bingo cards the can be picked up on the St. Ambrose Rectory porch, there is pile on the picnic table to the right of the door. Join us on Zoom at 7pm, here's the info:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89011901743?pwd=TnpFL05SMXhRMG42VW85NEJMWTN3Zz09
Meeting ID: 890 1190 1743
Passcode: 123271
Monday night we'll celebrate All Souls Day with a special Spanish Mass at 7pm. Followed by a bonfire, Mexican cuisine, and a showing of Coco (in Spanish) in the back parking lot at St. Peter's. See below for a note from one of our Migrant Outreach Coordinators, Jodi Fearon.
This weekend we "Fall Back" and change our clocks for daylight savings. So before you go to bed Saturday night make sure you turn your clocks back one hour, so you're not super early for class on Sunday! This is also a great time to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Blessings,
Lisa
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Good morning St. Ambrose Families!
It is so nice to be able to send a normal weekly reminder about Religious Education again! I've missed all of you so much, so I'm very excited to see you all this Sunday.
Please remember to log onto Zoom by 10:30. In case you missed the link here it is again: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82556822669?pwd= UFcwTUVhbDZNNmt1RmhUeW5INzFyUT 09
Meeting ID: 825 5682 2669 Passcode: 387414
This is the log in information for the first 4 virtual classes of the year. Don't worry I'll resend it each week so you have it. If possible each student should log into the meeting on their own device: computer, tablet, phone, etc. They will be divided into breakout rooms according to their grade level last year. Please forward this email to your students so they have the login information at hand. Parents are welcome to join as well.
The first 4 classes will be review and getting reacquainted. It will also give us time to get used to this new format, your students are probably much better at Zoom then we are! These 4 classes will last NO MORE than 1 hour, it's up to each teacher to decided when their class is finished.
If you haven't already, please register your student using this link: https://forms.gle/gTDDYb6V1d3dVNYNA. This will help us purchase the correct number of books and online subscriptions of our new Religious Education Program "Spirit of Truth" (Grades 1-6). Even if you plan to have your student learn remotely the entire year, it is important to register. We're also asking for a $20 donation per student (family cap of $40), to offset the cost. Instructions for submitting payment are found on the registration form. Please let me know if you have any questions.
One last thing I want to mention, slightly off topic, is that St. Ambrose (and other 5 town churches) have partnered with United Way of Addison County to bring services to the 5 town area. In order to know what services are needed/wanted the United Way has developed a quick survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3WML633. Please take a minute to fill it out, you'll be entered to win a gift certificate to a local restaurant!
There is no doubt about it, this will be a difficult year in Religious Education. So we've adopted a theme to help us: R.I.S.E. Which stands for Relate, Inspire, Support, Educate. These are our objectives for the year. Along with the Holy Spirit, R.I.S.E will remind us of our priorities.
Blessings,
Lisa
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Happy Birthday Mary!
Today, September 8th 2020, is the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or in more modern terms: Mary's Birthday Celebration!
Mary, the Mother of God, was Jesus' first teacher, and He was our greatest teacher. So it seems only fitting that I'm emailing all our Religious Education Families on Mary's feast day to tell you about our upcoming religious education year.
This year will be different, as I'm sure you expected. We are going to adopt a hybrid model, similar to what most of the schools in Vermont are doing, some in person, some virtual. Since last year was cut short, and our sacramental students missed out on their sacraments (First Holy Communion, and Confirmation), our first few classes of this year will be a review to get students up to speed.
Students will begin this year with the same teacher/class they had last year. After First Holy Communion and Confirmation take place, students will step up into their current grade. These initial classes will be virtual for most students, students receiving a sacrament in October will have some in person classes. Look for information directly from teachers about this.
Here are some important dates to remember:
September 20th-First virtual class!
September 27th - Virtual Class
October 4th-Virtual Class
October 11th-Virtual Class
October 17th-Confirmation (at St. Joseph's Cathedral, by invitation only)
October 18th-First Holy Communion! (No Class)
October 25th-Step Up day & First in person class!
A full calendar will be published soon, please be patient with us. Students will join us virtually via Zoom, everyone will have the same link. As students join they will be divided into rooms with their teachers and classmates. These virtual classes will start at 9am for St. Peter's Students, and 10:30 am for St. Ambrose Students. They shouldn't last more than an hour. Our youngest students (preK and Kindergarten) will have shortened classes.
Very soon parents will be asked to pick up either their student's workbook, or a packet of at home work put together by their student's teacher. This material will cover the first 4 weeks of virtual classes.
When we begin in-person classes on October 25th students will be introduced to our new program "Spirit of Truth", by Sophia Institute for Teachers. We are purchasing the program for our 1st-6th grade students. Older students will continue to use Decision Point for Confirmation prep. **A 100% virtual option is available for families not wanting to return to in person classes.** Please mark on your registration form that your student will not be attending in person and I will reach out to you directly with options.
Depending on how many students register and plan to attend in person, we may have to divide classes into smaller A and B groups that will meet in person on alternating Sundays. Following Vermont State guidelines most of our classroom spaces will only be able to accommodate 6-10 people at a time. Below you find a link to state guidelines, along with guidelines from the Diocese of Burlington. There is also a link to our online registration form. If you would like a paper copy please email me directly.
Please register your student as soon as possible so we can have a better sense of how our program will work. I'm also asking all parents to please bear with us this year, plans WILL change, schedules WILL change, but if we can all be flexible and understanding I know our program can be successful.
Blessings,
Lisa
