​CALENDAR AT A GLANCE
Sunday, January 5 - No classes
Wednesday, January 8 - Questions of Faith #1: Does God Answer My Prayers? (No classes)
Sunday, January 12 - Sunday classes resume
Wednesday, January 15 - Wednesday classes resume
Sunday, January 19 - No classes (MLK weekend)
Wednesday, January 22 - Sponsor Eligibility Letters due in class (2nd Year Only)
Sunday, January 26 - Sponsor Eligibility Letters due in class (2nd Year Only)
Wednesday, January 29 - No classes (Catechist Appreciation Event)
Saturday, February 1 - Confirmation Retreat (2nd Year Middle School Only)
Thursday, February 6 - Questions of Faith #2: Why Does God Allow Suffering?

QUESTIONS OF FAITH SPEAKER SERIES
​Wednesday, January 8, 7:00 - 8:00pm
Does God Answer My Prayers? with Father Tom Ferguson
The first in our series of three events designed to help teens explore difficult faith questions. Students preparing for Confirmation are expected to attend all three events in the course of their two-year preparation program. 

• Parents are invited to enjoy refreshments and fellowship in Hall 1 while students are with Father Tom.
• Teen participants and adult volunteers: Please sign up HERE.
• See the Calendar Page for details on upcoming events in February and March.

NOTE: There are no MSHS Wednesday classes on January 8.

​2ND YEAR CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES
UPCOMING REQUIREMENTS
Wednesday, January 22 or Sunday, January 26, 2020: Sponsor Eligibility Letter due.

• ​Sponsors should give their Eligibility Letter directly to the Candidate, who will submit it directly to their catechist. Eligibility Letters should not be sent to the parish office by mail, fax, or email.

OPENING YOUR HOME TO YOUNG ADULTS FROM NET MINISTRIES 
The young adults who lead our Middle School Confirmation Retreat travel around the country from September to May giving retreats for teens. At each parish, parishioners volunteer to house and feed team members during their stay. It is a wonderful experience! Please contact Rosie for details if you are able to offer two or more young men or young women:

• a place to sleep on Friday night, January 31;
• breakfast on Saturday morning, February 1;
• a ride to Good Shepherd on Saturday morning, February 1.

We also provide a potluck dinner for team members at Good Shepherd after the retreat. Please let Rosie know if you are interested in contributing. 

CALENDAR REMINDERS
Sunday session:

• December 15, 2019: last class before Christmas and New Year holidays
• January 12, 2020: Classes resume. NOTE change in original calendar - no class on January 5. Updated calendar HERE

Wednesday session

• December 18, 2019: last class before Christmas and New Year holidays
• January 15, 2020: Classes resume.

QUESTIONS OF FAITH SPEAKER SERIES
​Wednesday, January 8, 2020 7:00 - 8:00pm
Does God Answer My Prayers? with Father Tom Ferguson
The first in our series of three events designed to help teens explore difficult faith questions. All teens are welcome; students preparing for Confirmation are expected to attend all three events in the course of their two-year preparation. 

• Teen participants and adult volunteers: Sign up HERE.
• See the Calendar Page for details on upcoming events in February and March.

NOTE: There are no MSHS Wednesday classes scheduled on this date.

2ND YEAR CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES 
​Sunday, December 8 or Wednesday, December 11, 2019: Confirmation Name Form due in class. 
Wednesday, January 22 or Sunday, January 26, 2020: Sponsor Eligibility Letter due in class.

Questions of Faith Speaker Series: Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Thursday, February 21, 7:00 - 8:00pm
​At our second session of the Questions of Faith Speaker Series, Father Ramon will help students understand why a loving God would allow human suffering. Sign up HERE.
Note: Students must attend 2 of the 4 sessions offered each year. See the complete calendar on the electronic sign-up and on the MSHS Calendar Page.

​This year's Lenten Parish Mission is designed to help parishioners of all ages "make room for God" in their lives. Families can attend on either Saturday evening after the 5pm Mass or Sunday morning after the 9am Mass.

• Adults will enjoy guest speaker Mary Elizabeth Sperry, author of Making Room for God: Decluttering and the Spiritual Life, as she helps us explore the relationship between physical and spiritual clutter and offers practical tips for decluttering our lives.
• Pre-K and K-6 Children will enjoy an age-appropriate activity that will help them learn to make room for God.
• Teens will have an option to either volunteer to set up, serve, and clean-up the meal, or to participate in an activity that will help them clear what clutters their minds and hearts in order to make room for God. Note: Teens can sign up to volunteer on one date and participate at the other.

Service Opportunities and Parish Events During the Advent and Christmas Season
​Students and their families are invited to celebrate and to serve during the special seasons of Advent and Christmas. See the parish Advent Brochure and the Teen Volunteer Opportunities Page for details. Highlights include:
​November 24 - December 9: The Giving Tree
December 1 - 24: Reverse Advent Calendar
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Holy Day of Obligation
December 10: Pizza and Penance
December 12: Masses and Celebrations of Our Lady of Guadalupe (no Wednesday classes)
December 15: Christmas Blanket Service Project
December 15 - 23: Las Posadas
December 19: Youth Ministry trip to decorate the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
December 22 & 24: Decorate the parish for Christmas Masses
December 27: Parish Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
December 31: All-Day Adoration
January 1: Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God - Holy Day of Obligation

​Parent Meetings 
Thursday, December 13, 6:30 - 7:30pm: For parents of Second Year First Communion students
Sunday, February 10, 7:45 - 8:45pm: For parents of 2nd Year Confirmation Candidates 

​​ALL STUDENTS
​Diocesan Safe Environment Lessons: Formation in Christian Chastity (Middle School) and
​Tricked: Inside the World of Teen Sex Trafficking (High School)
The Arlington Diocese requires all students to take an annual Safe Environment class. The age-appropriate lesson is designed to educate youth about making safe and healthy decisions as they navigate their environments. This required class takes place for both Middle and High School during our students' regular class times on November 28 (Wednesday Classes) and December 2 (Sunday classes).

​Click HERE for details on the content of grade level lessons. 

• After reading the content of each lesson, parents who choose to have their child opt out of the class and teach the material at home must submit an OPT-OUT FORM  directly to Rosie in the parish office or in the designated bin across from the Nursery in the RE hallway no later than Sunday, November 18. Please do not give Opt-Out Forms to your child's catechist.

​Please contact Rosie with any questions. 

​MSHS COMMUNICATIONS
We use several methods of communication to keep Middle and High School families informed:

• Website: Please visit the Teen Faith Formation Pages of the parish website for complete information about the MSHS program, including calendars, curriculum, policies/requirements, teen volunteer opportunities, and more. 
• Monthly Newsletter: Parents receive a text and an email each month with a link to the Monthly Newsletter that highlights important information and upcoming events.
• ​Email: Parents will receive  emails with important reminders as needed. If you are not receiving these emails, please contact Rosie to make sure we have your correct email address.
• Text Messages: Parents receive text messages when we need to communicate information immediately, such as in the case of class cancellations, and to direct you to important information as needed. If you are not receiving text messages, please contact Rosie to make sure we have your correct cell phone number.

Thank you in advance for staying apprised of communications from Middle and High School Faith Formation!

OPENING MASS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL FAMILIES
Saturday, September 29 at 3:00pm (Please note the time change)
We kick off a new year of Faith Formation with an opening bilingual Mass for MSHS students and families. All students should attend with at least one parent; all family members are welcome!

SECOND YEAR STUDENTS
Confirmation Requirements are now past due.

• In order to be eligible to receive Confirmation on October 20, any missing requirements must be submitted directly to Ms. Rosie before the Candidate's scheduled Confirmation Interview in the summer. 
• Candidates who have not submitted all of their requirements may not proceed to the Confirmation Interview and are therefore no longer eligible to receive Confirmation on October 20.

Sign Up for Summer Confirmation Interview

• Candidates must sign up for a Confirmation Interview HERE.
• Information on how to prepare for the Confirmation Interview will be coming soon.

​
Calendar of Required Confirmation Events in the Fall
Please see the complete Calendar of required Confirmation events HERE.

​FIRST YEAR STUDENTS
​Middle School Bash! 
Saturday, April 21 at Bishop O'Connell High School 
Meet at Good Shepherd at 2:00pm; Return to Good Shepherd between 9:30 - 10:00pm 

• Thanks to the students and chaperones who signed up! Don't forget to submit your permission form and payment before April 21. All details can be found HERE.
• If you neglected to sign up and can go, please sign up HERE no later than April 3.​

​Service to Parish Project - REVISED!
We have revised the Service Project requirements for First Year classes.
PLEASE SEE THE REVISED PROJECT ASSIGNMENT HERE
Due May 3 (Thursday classes) and May 20 (Sunday classes)

• Stay tuned to the Teen Volunteer Opportunities Page for additional upcoming opportunities.

SECOND YEAR STUDENTS
See the Confirmation Candidate Packet for details on the following requirements:

Confirmation Name Form, Sponsor Eligibility Letter, and Sponsor Interview Due: 
Sunday Classes: April 22
Thursday Classes:  April 26
We ask Candidates or a parent to arrive 15 minutes before class begins to submit all required paper work directly to Ms. Rosie in the Commons. Read all instructions carefully. In addition, please:

• Do not give paper work to your catechist. Only Ms. Rosie can accept Confirmation paper work.
• Do not submit paper work early or late. All paper work will be accepted before class on the designated date.

Pentecost Project Due: 
​Sunday Classes: May 6
Thursday Classes: May 10
Candidates will turn in their poster projects in class and share their service experiences with their classmates. 

Sign Up for Summer Confirmation Interview
Candidates may sign up for their Confirmation Interview HERE.
Candidates who do not submit their Confirmation requirements on time in April and May are not eligible for the Confirmation Interview or eligible to receive Confirmation on October 20.
​
Calendar of Required Events for Confirmation
Please see the complete Calendar of required Confirmation events and paper work deadlines HERE.

​YOUTH MINISTRY EVENTS
New High School Youth Group Time - Starting April 8
High School Youth Group has a new time! Join us on Sundays from 4:30 - 6:30pm!

Middle School Youth Group
Meets on Thursdays, 6:15 - 7:15pm when classes are in session. Join us! 

​Visit the Youth Ministry Page for details on upcoming events. Contact Miguel, m.deangel@gs-cc.org

​​​​Candidates who do not attend the GS HS retreat are responsible for finding a retreat at another parish.

​​Candidates who do not attend the GS MS retreat are responsible for finding a retreat at another parish.

​Calendar of Required Events for Confirmation
Please see the complete Calendar of required Confirmation events and paper work deadlines HERE.