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Disciple Groups
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WHAT ARE DISCIPLE GROUPS?
Disciple Groups include four to six young people in 7th and 8th grade with one or two adult mentors to help plan and carry out service projects with them. Disciple Groups are optional but highly encouraged.
WHO MENTORS THE DISCIPLE GROUPS?
Mentors for these groups have come from the entire St. Clare Parish Community. Parents participate as well as aunts, grandparents, sponsors, young adults and senior members of our community. Usually a Disciple Group finds its own mentor. A Confirmation sponsor may act as a Disciple group leader. Parents and candidates should form and select their own disciple group.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCIPLE GROUP LEADERS?
Disciple Group Leaders should be Confirmed Catholic adults who have submitted a criminal background check form to the Religious Education office and taken a Protecting God’s Children (PGC) class. You may register for a PGC class and download a background check form at: http://www.aodonline.org/AODOnline/Safe+Environments+14627/090126Abuse.htm
No adults may mentor children until these two requirements are met, pursuant to the safe environments policy of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
WHY PARTICIPATE IN A DISCIPLE GROUP?
A goal of St. Clare’s Religious Education program is that the students not only understand the meaning of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, but also to become disciples and participate in the life, mission and work of the Church. The purpose of the disciple group program is to make these service experiences worthwhile and enjoyable for young people as a group.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION STUDENTS:
7th grade religious education students are asked to complete 15 service hours per year. 8th grade religious education students are asked to complete 15 service hours per year. Since Religious education students meet only weekly, (instead of daily like St. Clare School students) their number of service hours differs.
ST. CLARE SCHOOL STUDENTS:
7th grade St. Clare School students are asked to complete 15 service hours per year. 8th grade St. Clare students are asked to complete 15 service hours per year. School students are required to perform more hours because they have religion classes five days a week and weekly Mass, and are therefore able to acquire more service hours more readily because it is part of the curricula.
Disciple Groups are just one of a variety of ways to complete a portion of the total service project hours required.
WHERE CAN WE FIND IDEAS FOR SERVICE?
There are opportunities in a variety of areas - family, neighborhood, parish, school, and community. Please call the Religious Education Office at (313) 647-5057, for contact names and organizations that would welcome young people to do service ministry for them. You may also contact Mr. Michael McDevitt, Christian Service Coordinator at (313) 647-5025.
HOW DO STUDENTS KEEP TRACK OF THEIR SERVICE HOURS?
The students are given a service hour certificate (which is also available on our parish Confirmation web page) to fill out to verify the service they have completed. The certificate is turned into their catechist each semester. The certificate includes the date, service description, how long the service took, and a signature by a parent, mentor or person who received the service. The catechist/teachers and director of religious education periodically reviews this record, and it is also reviewed by the priests during Confirmation interviews.
ARE THERE DEADLINES FOR COMPLETING THE SERVICE PROJECTS?
A written service verification certificate should be completed for each project and submitted to the student’s catechist/teacher or to the religious education office each semester. All service project certificates are due after the project is completed. All service hours are to be completed by April 24, 2013.
Confirmation Service Log sheets are all due to the religious education office by April 24, 2013
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