GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER

GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER

Welcome to GIFT (Growing in Faith Together)

Dear Parents, Family and Friends, GIFT is offered to all families across Catholic Exeter: the parishes of Sacred Heart, Blessed Sacrament and Holy Cross, Topsham. Together we have significantly changed the way in which we support families both with their ongoing
faith journey and with sacramental preparation.

Parents are instrumental

The Church has always maintained that catechesis, the passing on of faith, is the primary responsibility of parents. As your parish family, we are here to work with, support and encourage you in this long-term process.

We do this by gathering all families together to celebrate, learn and worship: we introduce you to other faith families, provide you with quality resources that will help you and your children grow in faith and answer questions. Deepening your own faith and supporting your children to grow in their faith is fundamental to every family’s faith journey and to the life of the Church.

GIFT: an ongoing faith journey

GIFT is currently for all families with children aged 0-16: GIFT tots (pre-school), GIFT (primary families) and GIFT Youth (secondary families). To reflect our ongoing faith journey, GIFT has no beginning or end date. Families join us monthly.

GIFT Tots

Young families come together to pray, sing, explore and create the Good News on the second and fourth Monday of the month. This happens in the Sacred Heart Lower Room Parish Centre from 10:00-11:00am

GIFT and GIFT Youth

Please note that all children in primary school must be supervised at GIFT by a named adult over the age of 18.

Saturday Family Sessions

We hold monthly Saturday family sessions for parents and children at St Nicholas Catholic Primary School, Ringswell Avenue, EX1 3EG from 9:45-12:15. Please see the separate attachment with dates.

What happens at GIFT

We begin by celebrating Mass and enjoying refreshments before receiving family friendly faith teaching (catechesis) and sharing family faith activities.

GIFT Youth

After Mass, GIFT Youth meet separately. We hope that this will be an opportunity for the young people of our parish to ask questions, engage with and grow in faith together and to support each other as they learn what it means to be a Catholic in today’s world.

GIFT Youth Parents

We encourage GIFT Youth parents to join us for the morning with other GIFT parents. When primary families split off, we will take this opportunity to meet for a discussion.

GIFT Youth Socials (School years 7-9)

Meetings take place on the 2nd Friday of every month, from 7.00 – 8.30pm in the St Richard Reynolds Centre (RRC) at Blessed Sacrament Church. All adults volunteering with GIFT have a DBS and safeguard training

GIFT Youth Caritas (15-17 years of age)

Meetings take place on the 1st Friday of every month, from 7.30-9.30pm in the St Richard Reynolds Centre (RRC) at Blessed Sacrament Church. Together the group learn about Catholic Social Teaching, identify international/local needs and plan fund-raising/awareness activities around chosen themes. Young people collectively facilitate this group under the guidance of a team of GIFT Youth adults.

GIFT Registration

Please register for GIFT using the appropriate link below:

GIFT Journey to the Sacraments

Reconciliation and Holy Communion
Informal sacramental preparation grows out of a family’s ongoing participation in GIFT, regular attendance at Sunday Mass and the faith life you as parents create at home. Through GIFT, we support parents to begin a process of formal sacramental preparation when ready.

First Holy Communion

We no longer base ‘readiness’ for receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion simply on a child reaching the age of 8 (academic Year 3). The parish priests and our team of trained catechists will support you in discerning when the time is right for you to prepare your children. We support you with separate parent sessions and parent friendly resources for you to prepare your children with. We allow all families a good 6 months to settle into GIFT before discussing readiness.

Receiving Holy Communion for the first time takes place individually at the Mass you normally attend. There is no longer a single First Holy Communion date in each parish. As our family faith journey does not end when our children receive the sacraments, families continue to attend GIFT afterwards.

GIFT Readiness for Holy Communion

Confirmation

Regular attendance at GIFT Youth and Sunday Mass show a commitment to faith growth and a willingness to be formed as disciples of Jesus. Young people who express a desire to be confirmed will be supplemented throughout the year with additional support including day and weekend retreats.

Bedtime Chats
Set aside 10 minutes at bedtime to snuggle up, watch a bible animation, quietly reflect on the Good News of Jesus and say a prayer. Cuddly toys are essential! Click on the attachments below to access individual Bedtime Chats.
The Good Shepherd
The Holy Spirit Comes
Walking on Water
Jesus Calms the Storm
Jesus Feeds the People
Two Sons and a Father
Jesus Heals a Man
The Parable of the Sower
The Good Samaritan
Jesus Was Like Us
Creation
Abraham
Noah’s Ark
Joseph
Ruth
Moses
Preparing for Jesus
Jesus is Baptised
The Bible