Faith Formation will occur on one Sunday each month from October to May. Then parents (or another responsible adult) will guide their family through three brief but meaningful activities in the weeks before our next month's meeting. Each month, families will be provided packets with materials and everything they need, including all the words to say, to make the activities in the in-between weeks fun and fruitful.
Families will come together for 10 am Mass on the dates below and then parents will join together for a presentation in the gym and children will go with their peer groups to have a lesson with catechists and do an activity. This will all take place in the church and the gym and rooms of St. Joan of Arc School - concluding by 12:30.
There is one registration fee of $100 ($115 after Sept 5) per family. There are additional materials fees for those preparing for sacraments - $60 for First Reconciliation & Eucharist, and $35 for each year for Confirmation to cover materials in year one and additional materials and the retreat in year two.
Monday, September 26, 6-7:15 Parents and Children
Prayer, year overview, distribute First Reconciliation materials, and activity for children. Collect baptismal records of students not baptized at SJA. Place: Emmaus Fellowship Hall and Gathering Space of the Sr. Carol Center. A child-friendly meal will be provided.
Monday, January 30 – Parents and Children 6-7:15
(Open sign up for first Reconciliation times and First Communion Masses). Place: the Emmaus Fellowship Hall and Gathering Space of the Sr. Carol Center.
Tuesday, February 28 - Family event
Sacrament of Reconciliation and drop-in banner-making workshop 4-6:30 - In Sr. Carol Center Reconciliation rooms and Emmaus Fellowship Hall (for banners)
Thursday, March 16 – Mini First Eucharist Retreat:
A meal, prayer, bread tasting, church tour and practice, and a visit to Holy Hour. Emmaus Fellowship Hall and Church. 5:30-7:15
First Communion Weekend is the first weekend in May. (May 6-7). Sign-up will take place at the January 30 Parent-child meeting.
Traditionally, sacrament preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is in the second grade*, after at least one year of faith formation. We understand there are exceptions to that timetable (most notably due to Covid). If you have a child older than second grade who needs sacramental preparation - please indicate so on the form. The fee is for materials. There are some special events that families will need to participate in throughout the year as well. This is a $60 materials fee for students preparing for sacraments who are enrolled in Faith Formation.
*Families with baptized Catholic children who are in older grades and have not yet made their first reconciliation or Eucharist should contact Mrs. Hass for special arrangements. khass@sjascs.org
Formation for the Sacrament of Confirmation at SJA takes place over two years. Students in 7th grade and older are invited to begin with the first year of this formation. Students who were in our program last year should register for year two.
The $35 fee includes materials (year one) and retreat (year two).
Stay tuned for news on the return of our Exceptional Needs program.