Parents are the first and most important educators of their own children, and they also possess a fundamental competence in this area: they are educators because they are parents. They share their educational mission with other individuals or institutions, such as the Church and State. But the mission of education must always be carried out in accordance with a proper application of the principal subsidiarity.
St. John Paul II, Letter to Families
The first catechists in any child’s life are its parents or guardians. They are the ones who first provide a child with a concept of right and wrong; the ones who—for better or worse—make manifest the Father’s love.
With this in mind, our goal here at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church is to create a faith formation program for our parish youth that affirms and supports parents in their essential role. Our hope is to enter into a sacred partnership with parents, working together to form these precious little ones so that they can internalize and embrace the truths of our Church within their lives.
This is why we are excited to announce our newly implemented Family Faith Formation program for children in grades K-8, using the A Family of Faith program from the Sophia Institute for Teachers. This program is for any parish family with children who are not currently enrolled in a Catholic school OR for a Catholic school family wishing to supplement their religious education. It will take the place of our traditional Monday evening Parish School of Religion (PSR) classes and will include the following:
Monthly Family of Faith gatherings typically take place on the first Monday of every month. These sessions are for BOTH parents and their children and will last approximately from 6:30-8:00 p.m. During this time students will be divided into age-appropriate classes where they will be given a lesson by a volunteer catechist. At the same time, parents will form a separate group where they will be catechized, encouraged, and equipped so as to be able to successfully instruct their children in the faith at home for the remainder of that month. Additionally, each family will be assigned a mentor catechist who will serve as both a resource and support.
During the remaining weeks, parents and students will complete weekly lessons that are designed for the entire family to do together. These lessons are intended to be interactive, filled with games, Scripture quotes, crafts, etc., and are designed to reinforce and deepen your family’s understanding and appreciation of our Catholic faith. Families also are given options, allowing them to choose the lessons/activities which best fit the needs of their particular child(ren).
Registrations for the 2023-2024 School Year are due by Friday, September 1, 2023. New Families: Please include copies of Baptismal/First Communion certificates (if applicable) with your child’s registration.
Children preparing for their First Communion must pay an additional fee of $75. See our Sacramental Preparation Page for more information.
For more information contact Cullen Burton at [email protected].