Christian Formation

At all levels, parents are the primary formers of faith in their children. Catechists and parents form a partnership through good communication and helpful suggestions for how to make faith alive in everyday living. The Sunday Eucharist is an essential part of our Christian Formation program.

The Christian formation of our parish children pre-school through grade 6 is coordinated by the Director of Christian Formation; grades 7-10 and Confirmation is coordinated by the Director of Youth Ministry. Program details are described below. Registration is required for all programs except Liturgy of the Word with Children. Fees vary for each program. Financial assistance is available upon request. The registration form and information can be printed with the following links.

Christian Formation Registration Form (2008-2009 information coming soon)

Fee Statement (2008-2009 information coming soon)

Covenant

Christian Formation Registration Information (2008-2009 information coming soon)

Volunteer Form

Christian Formation Calendar

Christian Formation Mission Statement

St. Matthias Christian Formation involves the entire parish community, both hearing and Deaf. We share our gifts of time, talent and treasure with people of all ages, abilities and walks of life in developing our Catholic faith. Our mission is to put people in communion and intimacy with Jesus Christ through lifelong learning.

We fulfill our baptismal calling as Christians by

• seeking to know our Catholic faith
• celebrating and learning about our liturgical tradition
• continually growing in our moral life
• praying
• building community life
• professing our faith in word and deed as we reach out to others

Goals for Children and Youth

By participating in the pre-school through high school Christian Formation program, children and youth will accomplish the following goals:

Focus: “The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy with Jesus Christ.” (General Directory for Catechesis, #80) With Jesus as their model, our children and youth will know and live their faith.

Knowledge: Children and youth will have a basic understanding of the fundamental beliefs and practices of the church (as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church) and will have familiarity with sacred Scripture.

Liturgy: Children and youth will have knowledge about the liturgy and sacraments. They will know how important it is to participate in Sunday Eucharist on a regular basis.

Moral Formation: Children and youth will know and use the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes
as they form their consciences and understand the demands of the Gospel.

Prayer: Children and youth will know, understand and practice personal and communal prayer.

Community: Children and youth will grow in their relationship with the church community, especially through worship and service, as well as the ecumenical and civic communities.

Professing Faith: Children and youth will recognize their talents from God and share them with the parish and wider community. They will learn to be present as Christians in their social lives.

Christian Formation Philosophy Statement

We believe God loves all people equally. As Christians, we come to experience God’s love first through the love we experience from others. We strive towards a welcoming respectful community in which all feel a sense of self-worth and belonging.

We believe we all need help in forming our Christian identity. We earnestly desire and commit ourselves to know Jesus and to grow in our relationship with him.

• Because the Eucharist is central to our Catholic life, we pray and celebrate our faith as part of the parish community.
• We incorporate prayer in our family life and individually.
• We continue exploring the teachings of Jesus and the church throughout our lives.
• We reflect on the sacred Scriptures and apply them to our daily lives.
• We evaluate and challenge those societal messages, values and practices which conflict with our faith.
• We strive to become mature Christians by living the Gospel daily.
• We reach out in service to others.

We believe each person in our parish community is a blessing from God. We unite with our parish community in sharing our gifts of time, talents and treasures with people of all ages, abilities and walks of life.

• As a parish community, we are responsible for one another’s continued growth and formation in the Catholic faith. We provide resources and opportunities to help us recognize God’s presence in our life experiences.
• We encourage constructive communication as we work together for quality Christian formation.
• We affirm parents as the primary formers of faith in their children, and assist them in handing on our Catholic faith and identity.

By virtue of our baptismal calling, we accept the responsibility to follow the example of Jesus’ life in all we do.

3K

This is a once a month program for parent(s) and child together. It meets from 10:15-11:00 am.

Junior Kindergarten (age 4)

Children explore these concepts in concrete and fun ways: God Made Me; I Can Discover; I Discover God’s Gifts; I Can Love; I Can Celebrate
In addition to the regular sessions, this level includes a once a month opportunity for parent(s) and child to learn together.

Kindergarten (age 5)

The curriculum guides young children through engaging lessons that lay a foundation for the stories (Scripture), beliefs (doctrine), and celebrations (liturgical year) of our Catholic faith.

Grades 1-6

Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts children’s program is soundly grounded in Scripture and Church Tradition and is presented in a climate of prayer. To mentor children into a lifetime relationship with God, every session includes three authentically Catholic prayer opportunities, each reinforcing the session content. This spiral curriculum has five units each year: God Loves Us; Jesus Loves Us; All Are Welcome; Meeting Jesus; Living Like Jesus; plus seasonal sessions throughout the year. The units include Scripture; references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church; Catholic Social Teaching; New Words; Saints and Holy People; and Basic Prayers.

Grades 7-8

The texts at this level include: Scripture chapters integrated into the text to help teens develop a deeper appreciation for the Bible; weekly liturgical-year sessions to connect young people with the Sunday liturgy; Church history chapters to trace the roots of the Church from the apostles through John Paul II. Grade 7 looks at Liturgy and Morality. Grade 8 looks at the Creed and Prayer.

High School Christian Formation (Grade 9-10)

High School Christian Formation is a two-year program; and is a pre-requisite for Confirmation preparation. There are similar but distinct programs for public and Catholic High School students.

Special Needs Education (Children, Youth and Adults)

Children and youth are integrated into the Christian Formation program when trained assistants are available. Please contact the Director of Christian Formation or Director of Youth Ministry.

Adults meet weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6:45- 7:45 pm, September through May in the St. Matthias School building.

Liturgy of the Word with Children (Ages 4-Grade 5)

Beginning in Advent and continuing until Pentecost, children ages four through grade 5 are invited to hear and discuss God’s Word in a setting designed specifically for them. The format is similar to the Liturgy of the Word for those in the main assembly. A lay minister of the Word leads the children and their teen leaders to Steiger Hall. They listen to the first reading and the gospel, hear a short homily, meet in small groups led by high school youth, and pray the creed and prayers of the faithful. They return upstairs to rejoin their families at the preparation of the gifts. After Mass, children receive a kid’s bulletin from the teen leaders at the doors of the church.

There is no fee or registration for Liturgy of the Word. It is part of our Sunday Eucharist celebration. All children are welcome.

Baptism of Children and Youth (Ages 7-18) See Sacramental Life.

First Eucharist, First Reconciliation and Confirmation  See Sacramental Life.