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Faith Formation: Children, Youth, and Families

 

2021/2022 Faith Formation
 
Dear Holy Family Faith Formation Families, Catechists, Aides, and Volunteers,
 
As you may know, Holy Family continues to search for a new Director of Faith Formation as well as catechists and aides ahead of the start of the new Faith Formation year.  Having the director and volunteers trained and in place is key to a successful launch of the program.  We are optimistic of filling these roles soon but we're just not there yet.  In consultation with the diocese and our Pastoral Council, we have made the necessary decision to postpone the start of our Faith Formation year.  We realize this will call for some unplanned openings on your family calendar, but we feel it's best for all concerned that we start the year with the necessary individuals in place. We also feel it's better to postpone the launch and do it well rather than risk compromising the quality of youth faith formation by adhering to an earlier, self-imposed start date.  
 
As soon as we are able, we will communicate new dates for the Open House (originally scheduled for September 29) and a revised calendar for the instruction year.
 

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.

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. 

 

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.      

Students in Grades K through 5:
Monthly parent meeting at 5:30 pm on Wednesdays
Resources and activities sent home to work with your child
 
Students in Grades 6 through 8:
Monthly parent meeting at 5:30 pm on Wednesdays
Resources and activities sent home to work with your child
Optional youth group on Wednesdays from 3:45 pm until 5:00 pm
Eighth graders will take one online course 
 
Students in Grades 9 through 11:
Online curriculum to complete (1 or 2 courses depending on year)
Optional youth group on Wednesdays from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm
Optional attendance at our Family of Faith parent meetings

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:

Confirmation Sponsor form 

Diocese of Superior Confirmation Guidelines

Service Hour Card

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.  

Register here!

Informational Page

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.