FAITH FORMATION PROGRAMS FOR 2024-2025
St. Junipero Serra Faith Formation program is offering Whole Parish Catechesis (Gr. K – 5) and Grs. 6 – 10 Classes for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Saint Junipero Serra Parish is excited to highlight the source and summit of our faith, the Holy Eucharist in our program this year. This is in union with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
CCC1324 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."
As such all of our program’s sessions from Grades K-10 will begin with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ending with a catechesis class. We hope to instill a fire and love for the Holy Mass and Eucharist, as well as build up our Church and families by breaking bread, fellowship, and learning together. A small snack and refreshment will be provided at Grade K - 5 classes that follow the Mass.
The parent is the primary teacher, and these lessons are meant to enhance or add to what the parents will be teaching such as projects, prayer, and at home practice which will be suggested at each class along with pertinent handouts and suggested family engagement teaching the importance of frequent reception of the Sacraments.
More than anything our goal this year is to bring families back to Mass. For we know that the goal of catechesis is not just to learn about Jesus, but to meet him in the Eucharist, and the other Sacraments and then go forth to our homes, and neighborhoods, and bring His light into the world.
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Whole Parish Catechesis (WPC)
Begins with Sunday Mass at Saint Margaret Mary 11 a.m. – followed by a snack and refreshment – then catechesis
| Saturday, Session A will begin at the 4 p.m. Mass- until 6:30 p.m.; 9/21, 10/26, 11/16, 1/25, 2/08
Sunday, Session B will begin at the 11 a.m. Mass – until 1:30 p.m.; 9/22, 10/27, 11/17, 1/26, 2/09 |
If you choose the Saturday Session option – Mass will be at 4 p.m. at Saint Margaret Mary – followed by a snack and refreshment – and catechesis.
We offer Whole Parish Catechesis for Families with a Gr. K – 5, focus. Older and younger siblings may join the family, but the material and resources will not be at their level.
*Classes meet at St. Margaret Mary Church Hall (Visit our website for updates and the calendar SaintJuniperoSerra.org > Faith Formation Tab
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Primary Sacramental Classes
(First Reconciliation is (usually Gr. 2) and First Eucharist is (usually Gr. 3)
Preparation consists of a Parent Meeting, Aug 29th at 7pm. and four different workshops for each Sacrament during the year at St. Margaret Mary Church Hall. Parents are the primary Sacramental teachers for their child and the Sacramental books will be received at Parents Meeting in August. The Workshops will emphasize and enhance what the parents have already taught their child.
First Reconciliation is usually at the end of March and First Eucharist, is usually at the end of April or in early May. Any parents or parishioners wishing to lead small groups as volunteers for this program may email FaithFormation@sjs-sw.org
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Grades 6-8 Classes
All children in Gr. 6 – 10 should register for classes at their grade level.
Grs. 6th, 7th, and 8th students have 2-hour classes about twice a month, one on a Sunday beginning with the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Francis followed by a light snack and refreshment. Class will end at 11:30 a.m.
The second class will be a Sunday Evening class from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Saint Francis Church Hall.
Grs. 6 and 7: Encounter, a bible series and YOUCAT, understanding of Church Teaching for middle school students.
Gr. 8: Altaration, a study of the Mass for the first half of the year and then Theology of the Body for Teens, Middle School Edition which is basically a deeply spiritual viewpoint of who they are and the beauty of marriage, developed by Saint Pope John Paul II.
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Confirmation 1 and Confirmation 2
(Confirmation is a two-year program)
Confirmation 1 and 2 students will have alternating classes. Some of the classes will begin with the 9 a.m. Mass at Saint Francis – ending at 11:30 a.m.
The second class will also be on a Sunday. That class will take place in the evening at Saint Francis Church Hall from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is usually at the end of May or early June. That date cannot be finalized until we get word from the Bishop in January some time.
Confirmation 1, (Gr. 9): CHOSEN, Your Journey toward Confirmation, Part 1 – 15 hours of Service
Confirmation 2, (Gr.10): CHOSEN, Your Journey toward Confirmation, Part 2 – 15 hours of Service
We are currently in the process of finalizing class dates and the website will be updated once they are complete.
* Any parent wishing to be a small group leader can email FaithFormation@sjs-sw.org or ConfirmationCoordinatorSJS@gmail.com _______________________________________________________________________________
Volunteers
Volunteers who are not already Virtus certified are required to attend a Virtus course and follow other requirements. This includes anyone planning on assisting at Reconciliation/ Eucharist workshops, Gr. 7 – 10 classes, or summer bible camp. E-mail the faith formation office for more information on how to prepare to be a volunteer.
Positions available – Hall Monitors, help with food and clean- up, and table leaders.
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Registration Fees
* Note that there are three different registration forms: one for Whole Parish Catechesis, another for the children who attend any of the Grs. 6th,7th, and 8th grade classes and a third form for Confirmation students in grades 9 and 10. Some families will need to complete three forms.
WPC - Gr 1-5, Registration fee, if you attend our Registration Night on June 4, 2024
A family with one child -$80
A family with two or more children -$100
WPC - Grs 1-5, Registration fee, if you do not attend our Registration Night on June 4
A family with one child - $90
A family with two or more children - $110
Sacramental fee, children making their primary sacraments will pay an additional -$30
(materials provided during their four sacramental workshops which will be held during the year.)
The primary sacramental program is a two-year program. First Reconciliation is usually in Gr. 2 and First Eucharist usually in Gr. 3.
*The fees for Gr. 6 – 10 classes include book costs, access to online videos, class projects and for Grs. 9 and 10, a Confirmation Retreat.
Gr. 6th,7th, and 8th grade classes, Registration Fee,
if you attend our Registration Night June 4, 2024 - - $65
Gr. 6th,7th and 8th grade classes, Registration Fee,
if you do not attend our Registration Night- - $75
Confirmation 1 and Confirmation 2 – Grades 9 and 10,
Registration Fee, if you attend Registration Night on June 4th - $75 + Retreat fee $25
Confirmation 1 and Confirmation 2 – Grades 9 and 10,
Registration Fee, if you do no attend Registration Night- - $85 + Retreat fee $25
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Order of Christian initiation for Adults - OCIA Program
If you are a baptized and have a desire for the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or the Eucharist or If you are a fully initiated Catholic desiring to nurture your faith or if you have never been baptized and would like to be received into the Catholic Church, please contact the Faith Formation office. We would truly love to hear from you!
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No child will be denied a religious education if the family cannot pay some or all, the parents are simply asked to speak with the pastor about this.
With God’s grace this plan will be carried out for the duration of the year. But we reserve the flexibility to change it as necessary.
Thank you,
Rev. Jorge E. Castro, Pastor
Anton Miranda, Director
Faith Formation Office
Saint Junipero Serra Parish
80 Hayes Rd, South Windsor, CT 06074
860.644.2411 ext 106
