Embarking on a four-year plan
This year, we're embarking on a four-year study plan. The plan has three areas of emphasis:
Home practice. We'll be learning (or getting refreshers on) simple Catholic practices that enrich our daily lives with our faith. We're talking about simple practices like blessing the people and events in our home, praying the rosary, creating a prayer space, entertaining questions, and doing the works of mercy. During each GIFT session, we'll be coaching you through one of these Catholic practices so that you can continue practicing them at home during the remainder of the month.
Exploring our tradition. Over the course of four years, we'll explore our Catholic faith tradition as it is presented in the
Catechism of the Catholic Church. During each GIFT session, we'll explore a particular aspect of that tradition, including the practical applications for our daily lives. Later, you'll have the option to explore that topic in more depth by reading about it in your home study materials and discussing reflection questions with friends and family. Over the course of four years, participants in grades 3 - adult will have surveyed the entire
Catechism. (Students in grade 2 will focus on their Growing Up Catholic sacrament preparation materials, while children ages 3 - 7 will be introduced to basic Catholic customs and traditions.)
Exploring Scripture. We'll also be taking a closer look at one book of Scripture every year. This year, Brian Singer-Towns will introduce us to the Gospel of Matthew during our September session. We'll be reading the Gospel of Matthew all year, briefly checking in with Brian every month as we work our way through it. Also, families with children and youth will receive a CD called Seeds of Faith, which sets Scripture verses to catchy contemporary music . . . great for on-the-go faith formation in the car.
New home study materials
In order to help you bring GIFT home, we've pulled together age-appropriate home study materials. You can order these through the
GIFT registration form, or order them directly from the publisher. You can find a complete list of these materials on our
GIFT Home Study Materials page.
In addition to any optional home study resources you purchase, all GIFT households will receive a
GIFT @ HOME booklet, which serves as a guide for bringing GIFT home every month.
More adult faith formation opportunities
The Church calls us to make adults the center of our faith formation activities, because we are all called to grow deeper in our discipleship of Christ. Fortunately, our parishes offer a wide variety of adult faith formation opportunities beyond the monthly GIFT Gatherings, including several new opportunities this year. You can find a complete list under the More for Adults page.
