4:00-4:45pm preceding the Sunday 5pm Youth Mass
(Powers Hall at St. John/Parish Hall at St. Paul)
IMPORTANT: There are two Family Sessions (parents and children together) and four Student-Only Sessions.
All sessions begin at 4:00pm with an opening prayer and “Focus on Faith” reflection given by a member of our pastoral team. Following the reflection, students participate in small-group discussions and related activities. (At the two parent sessions, after the reflection the students will work with the Children’s Faith Formation Team while the session leader guides parents in further discussion, reviews the At-Home Discipleship material for the coming month, and answers questions.)
Sessions end at 4:45pm so students and families can participate in the Sunday 5pm Youth Mass together. After Student-Only Sessions, students will be dismissed from the Parish Hall/Powers Hall to a parent/guardian. Parents, please plan to park and come in to the Hall to meet your students before heading to Mass or heading home. (For safety reasons we cannot let students leave on their own to meet you outside.)
In the weeks in between sessions, children and parents continue the at-home discipleship lessons on their own schedule, in whatever space and time works best for them. This model helps to transition children to a more independent experience in Confirmation Preparation in Grade 8, while allowing parents to continue to accompany their children on their faith journey.
One of the great things about the Family Faith Formation model is the flexibility. With only six in-person sessions scheduled over the course of the year, we are hopeful that most students will be able to attend most sessions. If you miss a session, students and families can watch the recording of the session which will be posted below, along with the At-Home Discipleship material for the month.
At-Home Discipleship and Session Recordings
The At-Home Discipleship and “Focus on Faith” reflection recording (if available) for each session will be posted below, in chronological order from first to last.