We seek to form young disciples by introducing them to Jesus and our Catholic Christian faith. Our children come to know the love that Jesus has for them and seek to share that love with others. Because children and youth are part of Faith Formation for All, they gather on Wednesday evenings with others who are also seeking to grow in their faith, instilling in them the message that our formation in faith is a lifelong journey.

Scroll down for registration information.

Materials

We use the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies materials for grades K–1 and 3–8. Participants hear and learn the Sunday Gospel to be better prepared to love and live the Gospel. Further information about the curriculum can be found at pflaumweeklies.com.

Schedule

Faith Formation for All on Wednesday evenings offers faith formation for children in grades K-8 (including preparation for 1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion in 2nd grade) and adults. The schedule for the evening is as follows:

5:45 Monthly Community Meal*

6:30 Prayer Service in the Church

6:45 Faith formation sessions

7:45 Grades K-8 end

8:15 Adults end

* Meal will require an RSVP. Look for sign up in bulletin on meal weeks.

2023 – 2024 Calendar

September
27          FFA – Week 1*

 October
4            FFA – Week 2
11          FFA – Week 3
18          MEA break
25          FFA – Week 4*

November
1            All Saints’ Day
8            FFA – Week 5
15          FFA – Week 6
22          Thanksgiving break
29          All Parish Advent Wreath Making Night*
30          First Reconciliation Celebration

December
6            FFA – Week 7
13          FFA – Week 8*
20          winter break
27          winter break

January
3            FFA – Week 9
10          FFA – Week 10
17          FFA – Week 11*
24          FFA – Week 12
31          All Parish Jell-O Bingo Night*

February
7            FFA – Week 13
14          Ash Wednesday*
21          FFA – Week 14
28          FFA – Week 15*

March
6            FFA – Week 16
13          FFA – Week 17
20          FFA – Week 18*
27          Holy Week

April
3            Spring break
10          FFA – Week 19
17          FFA – Week 20*
24          FFA – Week 21
27          First Communion Retreat

May
1            FFA – Week 22
4/5        First Communion Celebrations
8            Table Prayer*
18/19    Registration for fall

*Dinner included these nights

Protection of Children and Youth Initiative

Faith Formation for All catechists are trained for their ministry role. An initial training session is provided as well as yearly renewal sessions. In addition, all adults undergo a background check, complete safe environment training and sign a Code of Conduct. All catechists under age 18 provide written references and sign the Youth Code of Conduct.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) mandates that all dioceses provide age-appropriate, church-approved safety instruction for children in faith formation. Children in grades K-5 will engage in the safety awareness program KidSmartz, grade 6 uses NetSmartz and grades 7-8 use the middle school NetSmartz. For more  information contact the Coordinator of Faith Formation with Children.

Registration

To register your child for our Faith Formation for All ministry, please download this PDF and print it out. After completion, the form may be mailed to or dropped off at the parish office. Our mailing address is found on the form.

The faith questions we have as adults are not the same as the ones that occupied our minds as children. At Saint Thomas the Apostle, we seek to engage adults as adults – respected in their unique state of life and their own journey in faith. Adults are invited to gather either in person or online (via Zoom sessions) according to the schedule below.  (The Wednesday evening session includes a monthly community meal and a weekly brief prayer service prior to the breakout session).

Materials

We offer other special opportunities for adults throughout the year such as book-discussions, film-discussions, and occasional speakers.  For the current year – 2022-2023 – we will be reflecting on the Sunday readings, using “The Word Among Us” resource.

Registration

Registration takes place in September, but you may join at any time, and need not commit to being at every session.

Schedule

The schedule of adult sessions is as follows:

Tuesday evening, 6:30 – 8:00, via Zoom

Wednesday morning, 10:00 – 11:30, in the Parish Center Living Room

Wednesday evening – 5:45 monthly community meal* in Dillon Hall, 6:30 prayer in Church, 6:45-8 meeting in Dillon Hall

Friday Morning, 10:00 – 11:30, via Zoom

*Meal will require an RSVP. Look for sign up in the bulletin on meal weeks.

Calendar

September 2023 – May 2024

 Weekly Adult schedule can vary, please refer to weekly bulletin for any changes to the above schedule.

Saint Thomas Aquinas famously said, “grace perfects nature.” As Catholics, we believe that the Sacraments are channels of God’s grace. Our ability to receive and appreciate that grace is enriched when we are well-prepared to celebrate those Sacraments. Therefore, we offer ministries of preparation for those children who expect to celebrate the church’s Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, those youth who expect to celebrate Confirmation, and those adults who are seeking to marry, to have their child baptized, or themselves be initiated into the Catholic Church. For more information, please go to our Sacraments page and explore the Sacraments of interest to you.

Catechists (Teachers)

Sacramental Preparation catechists are trained for their ministry role. An initial training session is provided as well as yearly renewal sessions. The time commitment is approximately two hours most Wednesday evenings from September through May. Any parish member high school age or older is welcome. In addition, all adults undergo a background check, complete safe environment training and sign a Code of Conduct. All catechists under age 18 provide written references and sign the Youth Code of Conduct.

Our catechists are the backbone of Faith Formation for All and we would be unable to provide this ministry without them. We always need catechists to lead, substitute and help with special projects. Please consider offering your talent and time to this meaningful and fun ministry. For more information, contact Tina Erazmus