ABOUT US

The BRIDGE Program

Building a loving and inclusive community of faith, where all can come to know, love and serve Our Lord.

Founded in 2011, our adapted Faith Formation program, called The Bridge, is now celebrating its 15th year of service. We specialize in providing tailored religious education for individuals with special needs, ensuring that every participant can grow in their relationship with God at their own pace. After a brief interruption in 2020 due to COVID, we have returned to a full schedule of in-person learning and fellowship.

Please note that The Bridge is a specialized faith formation program and does not serve as an alternative pathway for those seeking to bypass traditional sacramental preparation/faith formation enrollment.

We work alongside families to ensure students are properly prepared for the Sacraments through the parish’s established sacramental classes.

FAQs

Who is eligible to participate in this program? Can people join mid-year if needed?

The Bridge is open to everyone ages 6 and up. We love and welcome having adult learners! You are welcome to join at any point during our school year, which runs from Labor Day through the end of April. We follow the Gwinnett County school calendar. Classes are held on Sundays after the 8 a.m. Mass in rooms 208-210.

What is the cost? How does someone enroll?

There is a flat fee registration cost of $60 which is paid to Faith Formation. Contact Elizabeth Chinery, Director of Faith Formation, for assistance with enrollment. Please indicate whether a student is verbal or non-verbal.

Does a child/adult need a formal diagnosis to participate?

To ensure we provide the best possible experience and support, we do need to know if a student is on the Autism spectrum, has an intellectual disability, or has a visual or hearing impairment. Additionally, as our curriculum is delivered in English, all students should have a functional understanding of the language.

Is this a general faith formation program or a sacramental preparation program?

This is a general faith formation program designed for ongoing religious education. While we explore the foundations of our faith, this program is separate from our specific Sacramental Prep tracks for First Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, or Confirmation.

Parents must proactively request Sacramental preparation; students are not automatically enrolled. To ensure a strong foundation, students must complete one full year of our general program before requesting Sacramental preparation. These sessions are conducted one-on-one following our regular Faith Formation classes. Ultimately, the student’s readiness to celebrate a Sacrament is determined by their catechist.

What does a typical class look like? What are the maximum class sizes that The Bridge can accomodate?

For our students who are verbal, our class meets on Sundays from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. We use the Pflaum Gospel weeklies curriculum that follows the liturgical calendar. Maximum number of students is 12.

For our students who are non-verbal, we offer a dedicated class on Sundays from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. Rachel Marder, a certified special educator, brings the Gospel to life through multi-sensory learning. Using a combination of visual aids, auditory aids and tactile resources, Rachel creates a space where students can engage with their faith in a way that respects their individual strengths and developmental stages. Maximum number of students is 8.

If a class is at full capacity, prospective students will be added to a waitlist. We monitor our enrollment closely and will reach out to families in the order they joined the list as soon as a spot is secured.

What safety and supervision policies are in place?  Do parents/caregivers stay during class?

To ensure the best experience for our students, we ask that parents of non-verbal students stay for the duration of the session. For our verbal students, parent participation is encouraged but not required, and students may attend independently.

What happens if a child/adult becomes overwhelmed during class?

If the student is non-verbal, the parent would remove the student from the class. If a disruption occurs with a verbal student, the catechist or helper would attend to the student outside of the classroom.

Still have a question?

Contact Marianne Van Name (bridge@saintlaw.org)

or Elizabeth Chinery (echinery@saintlaw.org) for information.