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GIFT 2024-2025

Another year of GIFT is in the books! With help from familiar faces like Nancie Chmielewski and Mike Kolze and new ones like Dr. Lorrie Wenzel and Leah Sealey, this community has grown in understanding of the Eucharist in a way that allowed us to celebrate both gratitude and sacrifice. And celebrate we did! Donut Sunday was a delightful success as was our community lunch following the second annual Parish Spring Clean.

None of this could have been possible without our amazing catechists, catechist subs, childcare supervisors, and GIFT Core Team. Thank you for all that you do to support GIFT!

Thank you to every household that joined us this year. Whether you were here for the entire season or participated in select sessions, we are so glad that you were here. We truly came together as the Body of Christ and discovered that we are Eucharist.

We hope you join us for another year of formation and fellowship as a part of GIFT! The calendar for 2024/2025 is locked in as is our theme: “Prayer, Hope & Justice.” We are hard at work rounding up a dazzling line-up of presenters to lead you in your faith formation. While we secure the line-up, be sure to register for the 2024-2025 season of GIFT!

All sessions are 9:05 am-10:20 am, unless otherwise noted.

Session One: September 15

Hope and Prayer lead us to Justice with Mike Kolz

Hope is the power to want something that is positive and lifegiving.

Prayer is the power to keep hope alive. Justice is the outcome of hope prayed for. In other words: hope is the initiator, prayer is the sustainer, and justice is the will of God for God’s hope filled prayerful people. One who is filled with hope and prays is destined to find justice. Today we will examine the concepts of hope and prayer as a means to live a just life.

Michael Kolz currently teaches theology and scripture at Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, and previously taught at Pius XI Catholic High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Cardinal Stritch University and a masters in pastoral studies from University of Loyola University of Chicago. He is a proud father of three young men. And most importantly he is the blessed husband of his wonderful wife Lisa for 36 years. His passions are coaching, participating, and watching multiple sports. He believes that sports and the bible are excellent ways to shape young people’s lives.

Session Two: October 6

Conscience Formation and the Election

Our basic mandate as Christians (and the mandate for all people of good will) is to love—to do good and to avoid evil. We all have been socialized in value systems that form a foundation for how we make choices in our lives. We have an in-built sacred space called conscience where we meet God—a space where we prayerfully discern what is right or wrong, especially in major areas of our lives. During this session, we will identify aspects of conscience and show how it is formed. This is an ongoing process that requires that we engage in an ongoing process of pursuing truth. This is part of what it means to grow spiritually. The bishops of Canada offered three types of conscience: static (unchanging); excessively dynamic (I am the only source of what is right and wrong); and dynamic (while based in a value system that includes scripture, Church teaching, dialogue with other people and an ever-changing world, we are challenged to reconsider choices we may have made in the past in order to determine where we must stand). We will discuss this in light of the major election that will require us to vote in November.

Brief Bio for Chuck Schramm

Fr. Chuck Schramm was ordained in 1971 and is now a senior priest of the archdiocese. One of his regular help-outs is here at Our Lady of Lourdes. In addition to a Master of Theology degree (interdisciplinary) from St. Francis Seminary, he also has a Master of Social Work from UWM. He enjoys doing a weekly scripture class at St. Matthias Parish with Brian Jens, Youth and Adult Formation Minister. He also loves doing adult formation and has recently been part of presentations on Evolutionary Theology with formation directors Brian Jens and Peter Morello there. In preparation for the past few major elections, he has also worked on presentations on conscience and conscience formation, which he is currently doing at several parishes.

Session Three: October 27

Conversations in the Spirit

The Synod on Synodality is going on right now at the Vatican. We will pray, listen, discern, react, and share as we delve into the issues raised at the Synod on Synodality.

Session Four: November 17

Fall Service Session: House of Peace Holiday Food Boxes

Our Lady of Lourdes has been part of this wonderful ministry for a number of years. This year, we are again going to pack the food boxes as a community during our November 17 GIFT session. Our goal is to fill 200 boxes, as the need is great in our community.

Donating items: There will be tags on a bulletin board in the south hallway with items that are needed for the boxes. We combined them in such a way that we believe each set of groceries costs about the same for each tag. Select however many tags you would like and purchase those items. NO GLASS jars, please, and check the use by dates.

Session Five: December 8

Hope Does Not Disappoint

Steve Szymanski will lead us in an exploration of the jubilee year that begins on Christmas Eve and runs through 2025. This is also our Donut Sunday. Join us on
December 8 from 8:45 am–9:00 am for some sweet treats and fellowship before GIFT. RSVP to tinyurl.com/adventdonuts by December 3 to get a donut! If you have any dietary restrictions that need to be considered, please let Maggie know before December 3 as well.

Session Six: January 12

What’s So Amazing About Grace?

From baptism to our present contentious times our hope lies in the gift of grace!
Come explore how we can seek, find, and share grace.

Mary Osep was a youth minister for 35 years, 17 here at OLOL, also working with young adults. She considers raising 5 sons and enjoying her grandchildren in retirement her greatest work.

Session Seven: February 2

Prayer with Deb Steppe

In this session, our delightful and wise Parish Director, Deb Steppe will lead GIFT attendees in a discussion and reflection on prayer.

Deb is the pastoral and spiritual leader of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. She was appointed by the archbishop and has been given the responsibility for the spiritual life of our parish, the administration of the parish and its physical plant. Deb directs the Women’s Retreat and oversees the Pastoral needs and life of our faith community.

Session Eight: February 16

Prison Ministry & Doing Time Together

Deacon Tom Hunt will share his experiences working in prison ministry and family support. He leads Doing Time Together, a support group for families experiencing incarceration. Doing Time Together is an interfaith support group dedicated to working through the issues faced by families whose loved ones are currently incarcerated or returning back to the community. Tom Hunt serves as deacon at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

Session Nine: March 16

A Study in Hope with Maggie Russell

GIFT goes to the movies, well, not quite. In this session Maggie will lead a discussion and reflection on the movie Big Hero 6 and its connection to the virtue of hope.

Session Ten: April 6

Conversations in the Sprit: Synodality

Join us to pray, listen, discern, react, and share as we delve into the pertinent issues raised at the recently completed four-year long Synod on Synodality. This GIFT session, facilitated by Steve Szymanski, is open to all. Please call the office if you are not registered for GIFT and would like to join us for this session.

Session Eleven: April 26

Spring Service Event: Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Clean Up
9:00 am-12:00 pm

In honor of Earth Day, GIFT is joining with the Social Justice Committee, and Milwaukee Riverkeeper, in urging OLOL members to join in the annual spring clean on Saturday morning, April 26. Milwaukee Riverkeeper provides the gloves, trash bags, and amazing FREE T-SHIRTS. YOU provide the people power to pick up the trash that finds its way into our beautiful river system. Together, we can help Care for God’s Creation by restoring our waterways. After beginning at Jackson Park for cleaning up, we will return to OLOL for a pizza lunch.  

Session Twelve: May 4

Prayerpalooza: An OLOL Community Event
9:00 am-12:00 pm

Like the Kick-Off Event and the New Year’s Potluck, this event is designed to bring together communities that don’t usually get to participate in fellowship and worship together. The day will start with liturgy at 9:00 am, then brunch, then a nontraditional GIFT session. There will be a variety of prayer workshops and people can choose which three they want to attend. Want to learn about mediation? Have you ever tried praying with music, the rosary, or journaling? Did you know that dance could be a prayer? All are welcome to learn more about prayer and the different ways you can incorporate prayer into your life.

GIFT FAQs

What is GIFT?

  • GIFT is Generations in Faith Together
  • An innovative approach to faith formation for everyone!
  • GIFT is our program of faith formation.
  • It is an intergenerational learning experience as singles, seniors, couples, and families/households of all varieties and forms gather to grow in faith together.

Our gatherings include:

  • An opening experience that is an introduction to the theme of the session.
  • Learning sessions on the topic that are age appropriate.

Why GIFT?

  • To offer Catholic Christians a method of faith formation that speaks to both their lives and the world we live in.
  • To strengthen those who still feel that faith is a priority, but struggle in commitment.
  • To make sense of all that is part and parcel of Catholicism.
  • To live our faith and grow in it in the day to day of family life, jobs, school, etc…
  • To impart our faith to the young people in our community which accompanies. them on a life-long faith journey, as research shows that those who grow up discussing faith with adults are more likely to remain engaged in their faith.

When is GIFT?

  • We gather 12 times per year, between September and April/May, approximately every 3–4 weeks.
  • We meet on Sundays between the 8:00 am and 10:30 am liturgies
    (from 9:05 am-10:20 am).
  • Households with school aged children: our expectation is that you will be in attendance the entire 10 sessions each year.
  • If your child is preparing for the sacraments of reconciliation and first Eucharist, you will also participate in a separate preparation program.

1st grade parents

2nd grade parents

How much does GIFT cost?

Season Pass (Good for all 12 Sessions plus snacks and supplies! )

  • $ 120  Household…1-2 Adults
  • $ 200  Household with 1 child (K4-Gr. 11)
  • $ 280  Household with 2 children
  • $ 360  Household with 3 children
  • $ 440  Household with 4 or more children
  • *** NO FEE for seniors in high school ***
  • $ 100  Senior Household (65 years and older)
  • Payments can be made in full, quarterly, or monthly through WeShare. Balance needs to be paid in full by June 16, 2023.
  • Tuition scholarships are also available.

How can I get involved with GIFT?

GIFT Core Team

The GIFT Core Team assists, plans, and evaluates each monthly GIFT session. Some experience in planning processes and our Catholic teachings is helpful. A sincere desire to explore and plan for the whole community is necessary. This team meets every other month.

Contact:

Steve Szymanski………………………………………..(414) 545-4316, Ext. 127

GIFT Catechists

Adults (21 and older) are needed to teach our faith for K4-K5 yr. olds, Gr. 1-2, Gr. 3-4, Gr. 5-6, Gr. 7-8, Gr. 9-10, and Confirmation. Guide plans and materials for each session are provided.

Catechists are asked to work together to implement and evaluate each session. In-service training, safe environment training and continuing education are needed. The catechist should be a person of faith actively involved in the liturgy and life of the parish.

If you enjoy working with children and youth and desire to share your faith, you are invited to call our faith formation directors for more details.

Contact:

Steve Szymanski…………………………. Grade K4-Grade 6

GIFT Aides

Teens and adult helpers are needed to assist the catechists with the activities and needs of the children and youth.

Teens and adult helpers are needed to assist the catechists with the activities and needs of the children and youth.

Contact:

Steve Szymanski………………………………………..(414) 545-4316, Ext. 127

Returning Household Registration

If you are a returning household, please click here to register for GIFT. Use this form to update any changes to your household. We will update ages and grades of children automatically in our database.

If you prefer to print out a form and turn it into the Parish Office, click here to download. Households with children have an additional form. This form must be signed by hand. Hard copies are available at the Parish Office. If you prefer to print out a form and turn it into the Parish Office, click here to download.

If you are new to GIFT, please use the registration form below.

Register for GIFT 2024-2025

If you prefer to print out a form and turn it into the Parish Office, click here to download. Households with children have an additional form. This form must be signed by hand. Hard copies are available at the Parish Office. If you prefer to print out a form and turn it into the Parish Office, click here to download.

Fill out my online form.