Crossroads Jr High Ministry

Meeting Times

    Sunday Evenings

  • Twice Monthly
  • 4:00-5:30PM
  • Second Floor of the Angelo C Caserta Center (St. Boniface Church)

08-09 CR Downloads

Confirmation Candidates

Catechists

  • 7th - Pam Black 
  • 8th - Karen Husa
  • CRE - Jon Paul Hebert 
  •  

Overview

"Who am I" - it is the question that each person one day comes to ask of himself/herself.  It is a question that teens in Junior High ask themselves often.  It is a question that if not answered in truth leads to doubt, fear, and anxiety.  The answer to which can be found in God's response to Moses, "I Am" because only in God is it possible to find out who we are.  The security of knowing that God is, and the knowledge that we are made in his image allows us to explore the answer to the mysterious question.  The catch is that unless we know God, we are at a loss for the answer.

Crossroads is a joint effort between St Boniface and St Mary Parish to draw Jr High teens closer to Christ.  All teens in 7th and 8th grade are welcome to participate in the Crossroads Program, however, it is primarily designed for students not currently attending Catholic school. 

The purpose of the program is to aid parents in their primary role as catechists by providing a welcoming faith-based learning environment for young catholics.  Differing from the traditional classroom setting of the Religious Education Program, Crossroads approaches classroom catechisis in a "youth-group" like setting.  7th grade students currently focus on the basics of what it means to be a Catholic by honing in on the 10 commandments, the Creed, the Sacraments, Christ, Prayer, and the Virtues.  8th grade students focus on preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Requirements

  • All students entering the Crossroads Jr High Ministry are required to fill out the Crossroads Enrollment Packet (See above to download)
  • All 8th grade students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation are required to have previously received the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist
    • Open Enrollment for 8th Grade Sacrament Preparation begins in August.  You may download and fill out the Sacrament Enrollment Packet above, then return it to the Parish Offices addressed to the "Confirmation Coordinator" before the Parent, Candidate, Sponsor Meeting.
    • If you are enrolled with the parish, you will recieve a mailing with this information.  The information is also presented at the Crossroads Open House.

Crossroads General Information

CR Year - Sessions meet twice a month on Sundays from 4:00-5:30PM beginning in Early September and finish in April.  They are held on the second floor of the Angelo C Caserta Center adjacent to St Boniface Church.

CR Class Sizes - Class sizes vary between 10 and 20 students in any given year.  Each grade has its own dedicated catechist and high school or adult assistant.

CR Staff - Each member of the teaching staff is an active member of the Catholic Faith Community.  They are all given the opportunity to increase their skills and knowledge through Archdiocesan certification classes and workshops, retreats, and personal spiritual growth.  Without their help, there would be no CR Program.

Cost - The Crossroads Program is offered by the parish as a free service.  Families are encouraged to join the "$7 a Month Club" which supports all religious education for the parish.  For more information, please see the $7 a Month Club page.

Sacrament Preparation - Students in the 8th grade prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Collaboration between the CR Program and Piqua Catholic School results in a solid foundation for the reception of the sacrament as well as the active building up of the Catholic Community. (See Above Special Dates Calendar for more Information)

  • Enrollment - Each candidate must fill out a Candidate Registration Form and submit it to the CRE to officially be enrolled in the 8th grade sacrament preparation program.  For candidates not in 8th grade who would like to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, please contact the Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE)
    • You will also find a Contract of Enrollment for download above.  This contract is for the candidate to sign as a commitment to God, the Parish, him/herself, his/her sponsor, and his/her parents to go through the preparation process as a full, active, and conscious participant.  These are turned in at the Investiture Mass during the Offertory.
    • The Event Calendar is a list of dates that the Crossroads and Piqua Catholic Students participate in together during their preparation time.  Most events require a parent or sponsor to be present.  These events are mandatory unless otherwise stated.  Participation in each event is designed to enrich the preparation process outside of the classroom.
  • Cost - The cost for preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is $55.00.  This covers most of the cost of the annual overnight retreat.  Money should not be a hindrance to receiving the sacrament or participating in the preparation process.  Grant applications can be downloaded above and submitted to the parish.
  • Sponsor - Each candidate is required to choose a sponsor for the sacrament.  A guide to choosing an appropriate sponsor can be downloaded above.

Policies - A list of the Crossroads policies can be downloaded above.  Policies are covered annually at the Open House.