Children’s Faith Formation

“The Christian family loudly proclaims both the present virtues of the Kingdom of God and the hope of a blessed life to come.”

Lumen Gentium

OVERVIEW OF ST. JOHN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

Education and formation in the faith is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give to their child. In a modern age increasingly hostile to religion, it is vital to take this duty of formation in the faith seriously to truly equip those who will be the future of the Church.

While we know that parents are called to be the primary educators of the faith for their children, we also know that teaching in this way may be very new for many parents. With this in mind, we are focusing on preparing and forming our parents as a cornerstone of our Faith Formation program so that they may be confident in instructing their children.

We also require classes for children who are going to receive a Sacrament to attend in person to act as supplements to the discussions on the faith they have at home with parents.

Parent classes for the 2026-2027 school year will be held once a month from 5:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. These classes are mandatory and will begin in October. All children in grades 1st – 5th are invited to participate in a children’s community meeting at the same time as the parent class. They will need to be registered (at no cost) during the registration times listed above.

Children’s Classes for the 2026-2027:

All sacramental classes will be held on Sunday from 9:15-10:15. This will give students an opportunity to attend Mass 8:30 a.m. Mass or 10:30 Mass with parents.

The classes for children who are receiving their Sacraments are mandatory, but will only focus on Sacramental Preparation. Parents still are responsible for practicing the faith and teaching the Family of Faith curriculum at home.

Reconciliation (Confession)

Children in 2nd grade and above who have been Baptized and have not yet received their First Reconciliation will prepare for that Sacrament during their first year in Family of Faith. Children who are in First Grade or Kindergarten are not yet eligible for reception of Sacraments.

Holy Eucharist and Confirmation

Children are eligible to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist on any given year after they have received First reconciliation, dependent on an evaluation of their readiness. When a child and a parent believe they are ready, they will attend classes for a whole school year learning and preparing for the Sacraments, submit a Saint report about their Confirmation Saint and a Sponsor form for an eligible Sponsor for Confirmation.

Frequently asked questions about Family Catechesis

The old model of faith formation and religious education has been ineffective, and struggled to transform family life. Since many young people who go through this old classroom-style faith formation are leaving the faith, we are proposing a new model (which is actually an ancient model) where the parish focuses on catechizing the parents in order to strengthen parent/child engagement in the Faith. This increases the likelihood that a child will receive an authentic education in the Faith and develop into a knowledgeable and practicing Catholic. Countless studies have shown that parental engagement with the child is the single most effective way to develop young people into disciples of Christ.
A Family of Faith is completely turn-key for the parents, giving them the easy-to-understand content and step-by-step instructions for each activity, helping them to gain knowledge of the Faith and confidence as they teach it. Various tools are also available to help parents turn potentially problematic situations into successes, such as what to do when a child asks a question you do not know.
Wouldn’t we be better off just maintaining the status quo?

This did not prove to be the case in the pilot tests conducted with Family of Faith at parishes across the country. While it is true that some parents opt to simply not do any religious education instead of becoming involved in the program, the vast majority of families are finding A Family of Faith to be far more flexible, enabling them to transform the family activities they already do into encounters with God. Parents are able to enter into those “teachable moments” of everyday life. A Family of Faith leads parents into a conversion to Jesus Christ, which is beneficial to the parish, but most of all to the children they are raising.
No. There are two lessons to teach each month, along with a variety of family and child activities. Each lesson should take no more than 30-45 minutes to complete, and requires minimal preparation on the part of the parent.
Because this program focuses on teaching the faith to parents and helping them make it an organic part of family life, it is perfect for parents with children of all ages. For example, a monthly feature called “Your Catholic Home” gives specific advice for ways to make the Faith a regular part of each day. The Children’s Activity Books are recommended for children in grades K-6, and features engaging activities at various grade levels. Parents can skip the activities they believe are too elementary or too advanced for their child.