Mission Statement
Empowering families within the larger faith formation context of St. John-St. Paul Catholic Collaborative, the Family Faith Formation program seeks to accompany and equip parents in their baptismal role as the first and best teachers of the faith for their children. Creating a dynamic and enriching atmosphere of learning and formation, Family Faith Formation nurtures the faith of adults and children alike to experience the richness of our Catholic faith and to grow together in loving relationship with God and our entire Collaborative faith community.
What is Family Faith Formation?
Family Faith Formation empowers, supports, and equips parents to impart the faith to their children.
Family Faith Formation represents a noticeable role reversal from the typical “classroom” model of CCD, in which faith formation is treated as a subject to be learned. With Family Faith Formation, parents are empowered, supported, and equipped to impart the faith to their children as a way of life.
Family Faith Formation programs feature monthly gatherings of parents and children together at the parish for catechesis and community. In between these gatherings, the faith is learned and lived out at home. In addition to the input from the monthly sessions, families are provided with a grade-level book (from the RCL Benziger “Be My Disciples” series) for each child to help guide their faith formation, ensuring a solid foundation from a trusted curriculum.
In this model, the role of the parish is to meet parents and children where they are, to accompany them in tangible ways, and to provide the tools they need to have a shared encounter of God in their homes. These programs also offers a flexibility that accommodates a much wider range of schedules and learning styles than traditional classroom-based programs, which makes them easier for families of all shapes and sizes.
About Our Family Faith Formation Program
Our Family Faith Formation program for children in Grades K-7 is organized in three grade-level cohorts:
Each cohort meets six times over the year (October through April) for 45 minutes. All cohorts focus on the same theme each month, which creates a cohesive structure that supports families with children in multiple grades. Please visit the page for each cohort for details and schedules.
Sacrament Preparation
Children preparing to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion (usually Grade 2) participate in the six Family Faith Formation sessions with their families. In addition, there are five Sacrament Preparation sessions: an introduction and overview session in the fall, two reflection and catechesis sessions over the winter, and two detailed sacrament preparation and instruction sessions in the spring. Please visit the First Reconciliation and First Communion page for more information.
Children preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation (Grade 8 and up) participate in our Confirmation Preparation Program.