Faith Formation: Children, Youth, and Families
Children, Youth, and Families - Adult - Get Involved
2020/2021 Faith Formation
It's time to register again for the 2019/2020 Faith Formation School year. The complete registration packet can be found below. To register your child in faith formation, please print out forms below, complete the forms, and return them to the parish with appropriate fees.
2020/2021 Faith Formation Registration Packet
Due to the challenges we are facing this year, we are transitioning to family based faith formation (for K through 8th grade students) and online faith formation for our high school aged students.
We also offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for our pre-Kindergarten (3K and 4K) and Kindergarten students.
All children attending faith formation, must be registered in the program.
Additional copies of the calendar can be found here:
2020/2021 Faith Formation Calendar
Religious Education Classes
We recognize and affirm that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children in the Catholic faith. We believe that religious faith formation occurs within the family and a worshiping community. The religious education classes are here to reinforce those teachings and to build-up and support the family faith journey. Our program uses the Diocese of Superior guidelines for religious education as the basis for learning our Catholic Faith. For our K through 8th grades students, we will use Sophia Institutes's Family of Faith program and our high school students will use the Ascension Press's Teen Programming.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Children, beginning at age 3 through Kindergarten, are invited to participate in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program located in our atrium (in the lower level of the church). The children learn about our Catholic faith through a hands-on approach using the Montessori method. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd meets in the atrium on most Sundays from October through April during the 10:00 a.m. mass.
First Sacraments
Children typically prepare for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist during their second year of faith formation; this is accomplished through a combination of parish-based and home-based learning. It is recommended that children preparing for sacraments have attended religious education classes for one full year prior to receiving the sacraments.
It is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation that we become friends again and turn toward our loving, merciful God. A period of reflection and preparation is required for all students making their first Reconciliation. The sacrament is then celebrated in early December.
Eucharist is the source and summit for living as a child of God. The parent and candidate retreat through several gatherings; First Eucharist celebrated in April.
Way Cafe
Way Cafe has to be postponed this year until we are able to safely serve family style meals.
Home-style family meals, open to everyone in the parish, are served in the parish hall most Wednesday evenings of Youth Faith Formation classes. A $5 donation ($3 for smaller appetites) is suggested and includes an entree, salad, dessert and beverage! When known in advance, menu appears in the bulletin.
Confirmation
Confirmation strengthens and deepens baptismal grace through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Candidates begin preparation during their tenth grade of high school. Students are traditionally confirmed in the fall of their twelfth grade of school, depending on the bishop's schedul. Preparation includes weekly classes, companionship of a Sponsor, liturgical and community service hours, and a Confirmation retreat. Necessary paperwork can be found below:
Diocese of Superior Confirmation Guidelines
Rosary Club
Rosary Club is postponed until we can safely meet again.
School-aged youth have the opportunity to learn the Catholic tradition of the rosary by creating rosaries from simple cord and beads. Completed rosaries are then sent to missions around the world. Annually, this has amounted to over 100 rosaries! Rosary Club meets monthly in the parish hall immediately after youth faith formation classes; check the calendar for Rosary Club dates.
Altar Server
Altar Servers assist the priest and deacon throughout various liturgies and bring the assembly into a fuller understanding of the liturgy and a greater love of God. Boys and girls 4th grade through 12th grade are welcome and encouraged to participate in this ministry.
Please contact the Coordinator of Children's Faith Formation at 715-356-6284, ext 5 or by email at [email protected] with any questions or to get involved.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
We are excited this summer to offer these three summer faith building programs. See below for more information and registration forms.
To learn more or to sign up for any of these opportunities, please contact Jamie Klappa at [email protected] or 715.356.6284 ext. 154.
Totus Tuus
Totus Tuus is a summer catechetical program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through catechesis, evangelization, Christian witness, and Eucharistic worship. "TOTUS TUUS" was a motto of Blessed John Paul II that means "Totally Yours." The goal of Totus Tuus is to help young people develop their relationship with Jesus Christ and strive to become saints! The program calls upon college students and seminarians from across the United States to carry out this mission. Those hired are trained and put onto teams of four (two men and two women) to go out into a parish for a week, putting on a "parish mission" in order to teach the faith and inspire the young. A Totus Tuus teacher helps to make the faith real to the youth as a way of life and love and not simply a set of rules and obligations, while growing in his or her own life of discipleship.
- Children entering Kindergarten through Sixth grade meet Monday through Friday from 9 am until 2:30 pm (July 15 through July 19).
- Youth entering Seventh through Twelfth grade meets Sunday through Thursday from 7 pm until 9:15 pm (July 14 through July 18).
More information can be found by clicking here.
Extreme Faith Camp
Extreme Faith Camp is a week long Catholic Summer Camp for Middle School Students! This camp is open to students who have completed their sixth, seventh, or eighth grade by the summer of 2019. Together we will rock-climb, canoe, tie-dye shirts, and play games. In addition, we offer Mass, adoration, a reconciliation night, small groups, and topics for teens. The camp will be led by the Extreme Team which is formed of adult and senior high youth leaders from participating parishes.
This year, extreme faith camp runs in at Crescent Lake in Rhinelander, WI from June 17 through June 21. More information can be found here.
One Bread, One Cup
"One Bread, One Cup" is a five-day liturgical leadership conference focusing on the Word, Sacrament and Mission of the Roman Catholic Church for high school youth groups and their campus and youth ministers. Conferences focus on community building, leadership development, catechesis, liturgical and spiritual formation, and theological reflection. This year our youth will be attending Conference 2, which runs from June 28 through July 2.
If interested, you can learn more here.