With summer coming to an end, Saint Benedict Parish is excited to announce that our children’s programs, SBPkids and The Encounter, will be starting again this month.

SBPkids will be back starting September 10th, and The Encounter will launch again September 13th, with pre-registration online. These programs are designed for children from 6 months to grade 6. Saint Benedict’s Children’s Minister, Laura O’Rourke, has shared some details on each of the programs.

SBPkids


What is SBPkids?

SBPkids is a place for kids to be themselves as they meet Jesus and discover that God knows them, loves them, and wants to be their friend! At SBPkids, we want kids to have an opportunity to know that church is a place they belong to, and where they can begin or deepen their relationship with Jesus.

SBPkids is for Children from grade primary to grade 6. Lil’ SBPkids is for babies, preschoolers, and pre-primary-aged kids. SBPkids Online Church is available in formats for both preschoolers and elementary kids.

When does the program take place?

SBPkids takes place during both the 9am and 11:30am Sunday Masses, in the auditorium downstairs. Kids are welcome to come downstairs shortly before Mass begins. All children will go back upstairs to rejoin their families before communion. With that in mind, it's good to tell your kids where you will be sitting so they can easily find you. On days when there is a Baptism, children are often brought up early so they can experience the baptism before going to join their family.

Lil’ SBPkids happens at the 9am Mass. Parents bring their children downstairs to the intake desk at the end of the hallway. Kids can be picked up at the end of Mass, or at any point during the Mass. On the first day children attend, parents should expect
to fill out a brief intake form. There are plans to launch this program at the 11:30am Mass as well, but we’re still trying to develop a volunteer team to make it possible. If you’re interested in helping with this ministry at either the 9am or 11:30am Mass, email Laura at [email protected].

The SBPkids Online Church videos are posted to youtube.com/SaintBP the same weekend they take place in person. The elementary version of the program is also streamed immediately after the 9am Livestream Mass. Typically, the elementary version of SBPkids Online Church teaches the same lesson as the in-person SBPkids experience. This is a great option if there’s a reason your family cannot come to church that week.

What can my kids expect from SBPkids?

We’re going to engage with kids in age- appropriate ways and give them a chance to experience church in a fun and exciting way. We firmly believe that Jesus is accessible to every person at every learning level. These programs are designed with the best research about what engages kids at their developmental levels to help them know, learn, get excited about, and follow Jesus. At SBPkids, kids will have the opportunity to be creative, worship, pray, have fun, and learn about God through the Bible.

How does SBPkids relate to the family?

While the programs help children become disciples of Jesus, it will be so much more impactful if these programs are paired with faith development at home. This isn’t confined to just the faith of the child. If parents want to prioritize their children’s faith, one of the best things parents can do is to work on developing and growing their own faith. This sets a beautiful example for our kids that faith is something that matters not just for kids, but for everyone throughout life. Parents are also welcome to join the SBPkids ministry to help support as a volunteer for Sundays.

At Lil’ SBPkids, children will be sent home with pages that advise parents what was discussed that week, as well as recommendations on how to continue those conversations at home.

The Encounter


What is The Encounter?

The Encounter brings pre-teens together to experience God’s love in a fun new way! Pre-teens will have the opportunity to make friends, have fun, and realize that God is relevant to their concerns.

What is the age group for this program?

The Encounter is for kids in grades 4, 5, and 6. This is like a youth group for ‘middle grades.' It is more age-specific to older kids and allows kids to talk with other kids their own age. Many of these kids also come to SBPkids, since there is an overlap in grades.

Developmentally, this age group is looking to belong somewhere, which is why The Encounter is so important. Kids this age identify with their friends, so we want to help them identify as followers of Jesus and find friends at church. This is also a great transition ministry between SBPkids and youth ministry, which will help kids feel comfortable before aging into the older and bigger ministry of The Rise.

When does Encounter take place?

The Encounter takes place on Wednesday night, both in-person or online. This ministry thrived online throughout the pandemic, and we have kids still joining us from outside of Halifax. That means kids do not need to live in Halifax to join! If you are joining us in- person, the Encounter runs from 6:30-8pm. Kids can find us by coming in the front doors of the church and going to the St. Joseph room on the left. If you are joining online, the Encounter runs from 7-8pm. Sometimes kids are able to stay longer to play digital games and connect.

What can I expect?

The Encounter starts with a fun game, moves into a video lesson, followed by a discussion group. To finish, all kids come back together for a goodbye and a prayer. If joining in- person, kids will also get a snack!

SBPkids has a newsletter that parents can sign up for at saintbenedict.ca/sbpkids. More info can be found about The Encounter at saintbenedict.ca/encounter.