Welcome to our Parish!

Inquirers about our Catholic Faith

Come and see – Do you know someone who …..

desires to know more about our Catholic faith;
has been baptized in another Christian tradition but is interested in knowing about the Catholic faith;
has never been baptized
has been baptized Catholic but has not celebrated Confirmation and/or Eucharist….and/or desires to be reconnected to the Church and to enter more fully into our Catholic faith.

Call Sr. Joanne at the parish center 288-7372 or jloecher@sj.org for more information about Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

Baptism Formation

Parents anticipating the birth and/or baptism of your child. Baptism parent preparation is for each child as you anticipate celebrating the sacrament of Baptism. We encourage attendance prior to the birth of your child. Call the parish center 288-7372 to register and to schedule baptisms.

FAITH FORMATION

We have a full program to offer our parishioners, age 3 on up.

CHILD CARE: We are now able to provide child care for infants (newborn-age 2) as well as for toddlers (age 3-5). Two adults are always in the room, along with several youth. Child care is available during 9:30am Mass year round.

PRESCHOOL: We offer Sunday preschool during 9:30 Mass. Registration is required for this program (Sept-May) and is available to children ages 3, 4, and 5. The coordinator of the preschool program and child care is Mary Rownd. Mary is able to provide all these services because of the wonderful volunteers in child care and parent helpers in preschool.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Children grades kdg-grade 3 are invited during 9:30 Mass. The priest calls the leaders and children forward right after the opening prayer to be dismissed to the chapel for Liturgy of the Word on a child’s level. They then return after the homily.

FAITH FORMATION GRADES 1-8: Children who attend public school attend faith formation classes on Wednesday evenings, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Sept-March. The program we use is called Gospel Weeklies. Each week, the children receive a handout containing the Gospel of the coming Sunday, along with stories, discussion questions, doctrine, and activities pertaining to the theme of the Gospel. These weeklies are interesting for the children, and the parents are able to use these as they talk to their children about their faith and prepare for Sunday Mass. And it is all applied to our lives today!

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

1ST Reconciliation & 1st Eucharist: Usually, children in the 2nd grade prepare to receive the sacraments of reconciliation and Holy Communion. This preparation is a parish activity. ALL children in both public and Catholic schools come together with their parents to prepare for these important sacraments. All parents and children attend an orientation meeting and learning center evening for each sacrament. There is also a retreat included with the sacrament of Eucharist.

Confirmation: All students, both public and Catholic schools, participate in confirmation preparation. It is a 2-year program in which students meet monthly in small groups in the homes of parents. Curriculum for the 9th grade is a scripture-based study of issues relevant to teens. The 10th grade curriculum is totally centered on the study of the sacrament of confirmation. This study is also strongly scripture oriented. A required retreat is scheduled in November, and the sacrament is celebrated in the spring.

Adult Bible Study: Bible study is offered on Tuesday mornings led by Edythe Hoppe and Fred Krueger in the fellowship area, 10:30-noon. Registration is not required.

For those who wish to make use of the hour while their children are in faith formation, another study is offered on Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the fellowship area. No registration is required. All are welcome!

As you can see, there is something for everyone. The programs listed above are under my umbrella of Faith Formation. But any time we gather and grow in our faith, it is faith formation. Look through the bulletin for other opportunities such as marriage prep, baptism prep, and RCIA. You are always welcome to come and see! To learn more about any of our opportunities, contact Maggie DeStazio, Director of Faith Formation.