FAITH FORMATION Growing with the Saints Programs: Much more than 1 week camp! Growing with the Saints’ ministry is designed to help rebuild the Catholic culture through the early faith formation of children four to twelve years of age. Our programs strengthen Catholic identity by including the sacraments, encouraging vocations and revealing the saints as our true faith heroes and heroines. Our summer camp programs are being used for much more than a one week camp. The content is great for catechetical leaders, teachers, retreat planners and PSR volunteers who desire fresh and exciting material. Grade level faith lessons, Bible Stories, activities, games, crafts, skits, music, dance and song are key components of each program. Our “hands on” approach JUMP STARTS each faith lesson and holds the interest of every child. As catechists we are called to form children in the ways of faith by fostering a deep love of Jesus and his Church. Our faith is a great treasure and was given to us to be shared. The family and parish are in a partnership to rebuild the Catholic culture through faith formation. We desire to keep our baptized children Catholic throughout their lives. Great strides have been made with adult and teen formation and everything we do for them we should be doing for our young children as well. Pope John Paul ll called for a new evangelization and renewal in the Church. Children make the greatest evangelists because they are not afraid to talk about their faith with others. Evangelize the adults in the family through the faith of their children. How do we as catholic educators accomplish this? Foremost, our children must be deeply rooted in sacred scripture, tradition, prayer, and educated on the lives of the holy saints. Directors of Religious Education, teachers, catechists, parents, grandparents, godparents and volunteers are responsible for ensuring that children have every venue available to learn about their faith. Now is the time for RENEWAL! An Imprimatur was granted from Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades & John M. D’Arcy of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese. Bishop D’Arcy acknowledged our ministry as “a very worthwhile endeavor.” It is our hope and prayer that with your leadership, the faithful in your diocese will become God’s agents of change in His world by making the commitment to implement Catholic programs and grow with the saints as models of holiness.