Growing Catholics
Family Faith Formation
(SCROLL DOWN FOR REGISTRATION LINKS)
This past year was amazing - the changes we made to children’s faith formation have born a lot of fruit. Here's the program for the 2025-26 school year:
PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN: Sessions for children 4-6 years of age (not yet in first grade) will introduce them to Jesus and what He said and did. Our most basic goal is to help children feel happy and at home at church.
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION YEARS ONE & TWO (children of any age who have not received their first Sacraments): A parent (or another adult - godparent; grandparent, etc.) will attend the Sacramental Preparation I and II classes with their children. Children may begin the class when parents feel they are ready and the classes always have children of various ages for many different reasons.
FLOURISHING CATHOLICS Children, typically in third grade and older, (who have received their first Sacraments) will come together into our Flourishing Catholics Groups. Each child (or sibling set) should be accompanied by at least one parent, grandparent, godparent or older sibling.*
*If there is no parent available to accompany their children to class, just let us know. We will have alternative options for parents to consider. Or you might consider our Homestudy Program; find out more HERE.
PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN: Sessions for children 4-6 years of age (not yet in first grade) will introduce them to Jesus and what He said and did. Our most basic goal is to help children feel happy and at home at church.
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION YEARS ONE & TWO (children of any age who have not received their first Sacraments): A parent (or another adult - godparent; grandparent, etc.) will attend the Sacramental Preparation I and II classes with their children. Children may begin the class when parents feel they are ready and the classes always have children of various ages for many different reasons.
FLOURISHING CATHOLICS Children, typically in third grade and older, (who have received their first Sacraments) will come together into our Flourishing Catholics Groups. Each child (or sibling set) should be accompanied by at least one parent, grandparent, godparent or older sibling.*
*If there is no parent available to accompany their children to class, just let us know. We will have alternative options for parents to consider. Or you might consider our Homestudy Program; find out more HERE.
OUR MISSION
The Church invites us to think about faith formation in a broader and more beautiful way than simply running a “religious education program.” In the General Directory for Catechesis, we are encouraged to develop an intergenerational (or family-centered) vision of formation. In other words, faith is not something handed only to children in a classroom. It is something lived, shared, and strengthened together.
The Church invites us to think about faith formation in a broader and more beautiful way than simply running a “religious education program.” In the General Directory for Catechesis, we are encouraged to develop an intergenerational (or family-centered) vision of formation. In other words, faith is not something handed only to children in a classroom. It is something lived, shared, and strengthened together.
- Rather than feeling like a separate program, faith formation should be a process that draws all of us more deeply into the life of the parish — our liturgy, the sacraments, the rhythm of the Church year, prayer, justice, and service. These are not add-ons; they are the heart of who we are at St. John.
- This vision does not focus only on children. It looks at the whole family, however that family is made up, and values people of every age. Adults, especially, play an essential role, because they are the primary teachers and living examples of faith for the children around them.
- It also moves us beyond a strictly age-segregated, school-style model. While we still provide learning that is appropriate for different ages, we also look for ways to connect generations. Faith grows stronger when it is shared across the family and the parish community.
- Instead of relying mainly on a textbook, we look to the life of the Church itself as our curriculum. The Church year, the sacraments, community prayer, and works of mercy and service are rich gifts that shape us. Our role is to help families participate in these fully, so that learning happens through living.
- Finally, this approach means that parish staff and families to work closely together. The home is not separate from faith formation, it is central to it. When parish and family support one another, faith becomes something real, rooted, and lasting.