(this is/includes what is commonly understood to be Faith Formation)

Dear St. Maximilian Kolbe parish families,

My name is Andrew Zeisel and this is the start of my 2nd year as your Discipleship Director at St. Max.

I officially started at St. Max two July's ago and am very blessed to have come to know many of you.  I look forward to deeping those relationships and fostering new ones. 

Three springs ago a committee of parents and past catechists was formed to focus on one goal: offering a dynamic faith initiative involving the entire family that focuses on joyfully living out our Catholic Faith and striving for Heaven.  The Journey Home Program was the end result.   My intentions for this year are to build upon the strengths of the Journey Home Program and to implement the feedback the Parish received about the Program.  Here are some important ideas for us all to keep in mind

• The fundamental structure of Journey Home from last year will continue into the future.
• We are all currently on our journey home, to Heaven, thus all parishioners are invited to be a part of Journey Home. 
• Parents are essential when it comes to passing on the faith.  Families living the faith in the home is also essential for passing the faith on to the next generation.

Journey Home has one primary GOAL and one simple FOUNDATION.

• The GOAL is for everyone to have a relationship with and grow in their relationship with Jesus and Holy Mother Church.
  • We are to relate with Jesus as savior and friend
  • We are to relate with Church as mother and teacher.
• The foundation or basic building block to keep us moving in the right direction on our Journey Home can be detailed in four parts
  • Attendance at all Masses of obligation
  • Daily prayer life
  • Daily Christian living
  • Confession when we fail to achieve the above three.

The basic structure of Journey Home for the year is as follows

• Journey Home Opportunities – various “not required” events, retreats, gatherings, etc with the goal of fostering growth in our relationship with Jesus and Church
• Journey Home Sacraments – unique to those in sacramental years (2nd grade for 1st confession/Eucharist and 7th grade through 11th grade for confirmation).

What does Journey Home cost?  Who is it for?

• Opportunities will typically be free will offering unless specified otherwise
• First Reconciliation and Communion come with a $30 fee to help cover cost of materials
• Anyone and everyone can participate in the Journey Home.  Signing up is free

More details about the different portions of Journey Home will be shared via e-mail, on the website, and at the informational meetings on September 10th + 11th (after Masses) and September 18th after the 8am Mass.

Thank you for taking time to read through this introductory letter.  Pray for me, please know that I am praying for you.

In Christ,
Through Mary,
Andrew R. Zeisel
Discipleship Director

Journey Home Registration