St George Faith Formation 2026 – 2027
Our parish Faith Formation program seeks to help children and their families know God and His church in order to better love and serve Him and others in their lives. Through regular participation in the celebration of the Mass and sacraments, classes, youth ministry events, family activities, and service projects, we hope our students not only learn about their faith but about how to live out their faith in meaningful and beautiful ways.
Family
Eucharist
Service
Your family is the center of our program and your child’s faith formation. Our goal is to support you as the first and foremost catechist of your child with engaging materials and clear objectives. We embrace the idea of life-long formation and acknowledge that we are always learning and growing in our faith regardless of age. There will be opportunities for families to learn, share, discuss, and serve together with other families in our parish community. This model is an exciting direction that parishes around the diocese and country are finding meaningful and impactful.
All our sessions focus on the Mass, as it is our greatest prayer and the center of all we are as Catholics. The Family Masses take place on the first weekend of every month, all of which will offer a Children’s liturgy of the word (K-4) and Teen Bible Chat (gr 5-8). A Faith Formation Session takes place on the 3rd Sunday of every month, which includes attendance at the 9am Sunday Mass. Lessons focus on the message of the Sunday Gospel, and the teaching of Jesus Christ.
The Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy are the ways that we seek to serve God and neighbor. Students along with their families engage in opportunities to serve in a ministry or charity each month, which benefit our neighbors in need. Students preparing for confirmation are fostering service-oriented minds and hearts, in part, by giving two hours of their time each month serving their parish, schools, and the community.
Youth Ministry
Our parish Youth Ministry Program is an important partner to our Faith Formation Program – allowing our students the opportunities to grow in their faith, explore specific questions and interests, find support and prayer in difficult times, and enjoy a sense of community with other parish teens. Please click the button below for more detail on the youth/peer ministry program.
Families with children in Grades K-8 will attend two sessions a month together:
Any one of the 4 Family Masses on the first weekend of every month. All of those masses will offer a separate Children’s Liturgy of the Word + craft (for children K-gr 4)
during part of the Mass in the hall and a 15-min Teen Bible Chat (gr 5-8) immediately following Masses during“Coffee and” to make sense
of the readings and homily and apply them to their lives. Catechists and Peer Leader teens will lead these sessions.
Family Mass Times (1st weekend every month):
- Saturdays, 4:30pm St Therese
- Sundays, 7:30am St Mary
- Sundays, 9am St Therese
- Sundays, 10:30am St Mary
A 2.5-hour Faith Formation session on generally every 3rd Sunday of each month ( at St. Therese, including both Mass and related class session. Families will have the
flexibility to choose to attend any of the three sessions that best fit their schedule month to month. Attendance will reflect class and Mass.
At least one parent/guardian/adult must attend with their child(ren), which can include a grandparent, aunt/uncle, Godparent, sibling above 18, etc. There will be opportunities for families to learn, share, discuss, grow, and serve together with other families in our parish community. During a portion of the session, children gather by grade with their individual catechists while parents gather separately. Babysitting is available for younger children upon request – both at Mass and during sessions.
Families will register for one of the following sessions:
- Session A: St. Therese, Sundays 7:30-10:00 AM (9:00AM Mass included)
- Session B: St. Therese, Sundays 9:00-11:30 AM (9:00AM Mass included)
- Session C: St. Therese, Sundays 4-5:30pm (Mass slip will be submitted from attendance at any weekend Mass in or outside of our parish)
Make-up classes are offered on Tuesday evenings following the monthly Sunday sessions
from 5:00-6:30 PM at St. Therese, with a Mass slip from one of the weekend Masses.At St. George, faith is a way of life. Rooted in the Eucharist and centered in the home, our program helps families grow as disciples of Jesus.
Sessions meet twice a month and include family meals, engaging activities, online resources and student classes (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday classes).
FAQ
Will this new model of Family Faith Formation replace our current program?
YES! Beginning this fall, an intergenerational approach to faith formation, will replace our bi-weekly programs. Family Faith is flexible with several options for participation. One Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of each month, families will gather. Children who are preparing to celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation(2nd grade), First Communion(3rd grade) and Confirmation(7th, 8th and 9th grade) will attend additional classes each month as scheduled.
So parents have to attend with their child? What if I have more than 1 child in different grades?
Where will sessions be held?
Family sessions will begin in the church hall. After a community meal, children will go to their grade level class for formation and parents will remain in the church hall.
What about content? Will children be getting all the information the need to learn about our Catholic faith, prayers, traditions, practices?
How will children benefit? How will families benefit?
- spend time together as a family engaged in a meaningful activity
- have all your children come for faith formation on the same date and time
- learn firsthand what your child is hearing and learning about our faith
- grow in your own faith
- learn and develop new family faith traditions.
- meet more neighbors and parishioners with whom you worship at Sunday mass
What about the sacramental preparation programs?
Preparation programs will continue as separate but connected programs. Sessions for Reconciliation(2nd grade), Communion(3rd grade) and Confirmation(7th, 8th and 9th grades) will be in addition to the Family Faith sessions. 9th grade sessions will be this year, 2026 only. Please see individual sacramental preparation pages on our website for further details.