Catholic East Elementary School
The mission of Catholic East Elementary School, a richly diverse Catholic community, is to pursue academic excellence, nurture strong moral development and foster lifelong learning through living out the Gospel values. Catholic East is the parish school of Saints Peter and Paul, Our Lady of Divine Providence, Old Saint Mary, Three Holy Women, and the Cathedral of Saint John. The 3rd-8th grade campus is located at Saints Peter and Paul and the K3-2nd grade campus is located at Three Holy Women-Holy Rosary. For more information call 414-964-1770 or visit www.catholiceast.org.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade are invited to a special liturgy September-May at the Three Holy Women-St. Hedwig 8:30 am Mass and the SS Peter & Paul 9:30 am Mass. Children attend Mass with their parents but are called forward by the priest before the First Reading and dismissed to go downstairs with adult prayer leaders for a child-focused liturgy. Children hear the Scripture readings, discuss them in an interactive, child-friendly way, and pray together before rejoining their parents for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Adults who love God and love children are invited to become volunteer leaders for CLW, while middle schoolers can serve as lectors for our liturgy, and high schoolers volunteer as CLW assistants.
For further information contact Mamie Riyeff, Family Ministry Coordinator, at mriyeff@ffpmke.org or 414-962-2443.
Good News Adventure Summer Camp
Are you ready for an Adventure? Good News Adventure is our five-parish family’s free, fun, faith-filled annual summer camp for kids of all ages. The Adventure will take place July 29 to August 2, 2024 from 9 am to 12 pm each day. Kids who are entering K4 through grade 5 are invited to participate, while youth entering grades 6 and up are encouraged to join in the fun as volunteers.
For more information, to sign up, or to donate funds or supplies, please visit the Good News Adventure page or contact Mamie Riyeff, Family Ministry Coordinator, at 414-962-2443 or mriyeff@ffpmke.org. It’s an incredible week – You don’t want to miss it!
If you want to get a peek at what Good News Adventure is like, check out our fabulous photo slideshow! GNA Slideshow
Nova Middle School Ministry
Nova is our parish’s exciting new youth group for middle schoolers. All students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade (from any school or religious background) are invited to join in the fun! We’ve been averaging about 30 kids at each event, from a huge variety of schools and neighborhoods, and we are always eager to include new people. We would love to get to know you!
Nova meets once a month, usually on Sunday evenings, for faith, friends, and fun. For the latest information about upcoming events, please go to tinyurl.com/novanight2024.
For further information contact Nino Rebholz, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at nrebholz@ffpmke.org or 414-271-6577.
Religious Education (UPLIFT Family Formation)
UPLIFT Families
“Uniting People Living in Faith and Truth” (UPLIFT) Families is the religious education program serving the parents and children (K3-8th grade) of the Family of Five Parishes (Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Old St. Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence, SS. Peter and Paul, and Three Holy Women). Our family program is designed to support and equip parents/caregivers to be the primary educators of the faith for their children and assist and encourage families to live in the fullness of our Catholic faith as disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. Not only do we strive to uplift families by providing parents and children opportunities to grow in relationship with Christ and each other, but we prioritize opportunities for service and community building at each meeting too.
Families will attend classes twice a month from September – April on either Wednesday evenings (5:30 – 7:30 pm) or Sunday mornings (10:45 am – 12:45 pm). An optional community meal will be available leading up to the program start time. A light breakfast will be available beginning at 10:15 am on Sundays and dinner will be available beginning at 5:15 pm on Wednesday nights. The location of all UPLIFT Families classes will be at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 831 N Van Buren St, Milwaukee (Enter through the glass Atrium door behind the bench of the homeless Christ statue).
Sunday Program
During our Sunday program, we will continue to offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) lessons for K3-K5. CGS teaches young children the faith through a Montessori-based learning environment.
Parent classes in Spanish and childcare (3 years old and younger) will also be offered during the Sunday morning program only.
First Reconciliation and Communion
There are additional sacramental preparation meetings and a retreat for children in second grade (or older) and their parents/caregivers. Second graders prepare for both First Reconciliation and First Communion in the same year. If the child does not attend a Catholic school, then the family will be required to register for UPLIFT Families (Wed or Sun program), in addition to the sacrament prep classes and retreat. If a child attends a Catholic school, only the two sacrament prep classes and retreat are required.
Register for UPLIFT Families
To register for UPLIFT Families go to forms.office.com/r/q416A7TmK0 and complete one registration form for your family. Registration deadline is September 11, 2024.
If you would like to become a catechist or have questions about registration, please email familyformation@ffpmke.org or call 414-962-2443 x302.
UPLIFT Teens
UPLIFT Teens provides spiritual formation for all High School students from the parishes of Old St. Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence, SS. Peter and Paul, Three Holy Women, and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. UPLIFT Teens will encounter Jesus Christ and be in a peer community that supports a life of discipleship. Whether you are a Junior or Senior in High School preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation or an underclassman open to learning more about your Catholic faith, UPLIFT Teens is for you!
We strongly encourage at minimum two years of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Exceptions will be given to those who are just joining as a Junior or Senior; however, it becomes much more crucial to attend, participate, and engage!
Our UPLIFT Teens format will meet two Wednesdays a month for two hours at St. Rita Church (1617 N Cass St). Our time will consist of a dinner meal, prayer in the church, videos, small group discussion and games and community building throughout the night.
Register for UPLIFT Teens
Please register for UPLIFT Teens at tinyurl.com/upliftteen2024. If you have questions, please contact Nino Rebholz, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at nrebholz@ffpmke.org or 414-271-6577.
Special Events for Families
We host a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year, like our annual Epiphany Party and Pentecost Party, as well as many others. These are all great ways for families to build community and bring their faith to life.
SPRED (Special Religious Development)
SPRED, Special Religious Development, is a small faith community in our parish that includes people with special needs. It combines both religious education and community building. SPRED is an intuitive model grounded in relationships and the use of symbol. The goal of this symbolic method is to develop a sense of the sacred, the sense of Christ and a sense of Church.
A relationship with God is accessible to all. Friendship is the human experience closest to understanding the presence of God in life. By calling to mind life experiences and sharing these experiences in a circle of friendship, the small community of faith becomes aware of the sacredness of all life and then returns to daily life changed.
Three Holy Women serves a group of youth age 11-16 years old; SS Peter & Paul serves a group of adolescents age 17-21; Our Lady of Divine Providence serves a group of adults age 22 and older. If you know someone with special needs who may benefit from SPRED, if you would like to be a part our SPRED group at Saints Peter and Paul, or if you simply want to know more about SPRED, contact our parish chairperson, Helen Bolgrien at 414-322-3412 or hbolgrien@gmail.com. You may also visit spredmilwaukee.org.