Information Family of Faith
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Contact UsPlease email us at [email protected]
or call the office at 978-562-2552
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"Let the Little Children Come to Me"
It is our goal to assist parents in fulfilling their sacred mission of being the first teachers of the faith for their children. As a family of families, the parish aids in this process by journeying with parents and their children through each stage of their spiritual and religious development.
Note: Registration and Faith Formation Dates are found in the side menu. -
Grades 1-8The best formation in the Christian Faith is the Holy Mass, where we hear God speak to us in Scripture, we bond together in offering prayer to our Father in Heaven, and we are nourished by the reception of our Lord's Body in the Eucharist. In between the sacramental preparation years families should be attending Sunday Mass each weekend.
Family Faith Formation is a new model based on an old idea (parents as primary catechists to their children). This represents a radical role reversal in typical Catholic religious education, but it's really just an application of the Church’s mandate to form adults so that families can catechize their young. When this occurs, children are taught the faith as a way of life and not just as a weekly class. A Family of Faith promises to create communities of families who grow in faith and in relationship with one another. Catholic families not only learn the Faith but live it fully, becoming lifelong disciples.
For the parents, there will be two meetings per month. The first meeting is for the faith formation of parents. In this session, there will be a presentation which will teach the parents the faith they will pass on to the children.
At home, the methods and times of faith formation will be up to the parents. Parents will be given a guide helping them with the two lessons each month and each child will have an activity book through which the child will learn the faith. It is not strictly classroom instruction, but rather an engagement between parents and children—it is a sharing of faith.
The second meeting is for the family: parents and children. This will be a review of the material covered, and the children will be quizzed about what they should have learned. There will also be activities for the parents and children.
The goals of the program are:- To encourage and equip parents to fulfill their God-given duty and privilege of educating their children in the Catholic Faith.
- To support and nurture strong Catholic families who image the Blessed Trinity.
- To provide parents the opportunity for continued growth in the Faith.
- To build community and celebrate Catholic life together through common prayer, service to others, social activities, and liturgical celebrations.
The requirements for Faith Formation in Family of Faith:
Attendance at Sunday Mass
Participation in Monthly Gatherings for Family of Faith (parent's and family meetings) -
sacramental Preparation
Sacramental preparation for First Holy Communion (normally second graders) and for Confirmation (normally ninth and tenth graders) is offered separately from Family of Faith and further explanation and requirements is given at the Sacramental Preparation page (found on the menu). Ordinarily, parents are not required to attend these Sacramental Preparation classes (which is different from Family of Faith).
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ContactBob LeBlanc, Coordinator of Faith Formation
Office of Faith Formation for more information regarding grades 1-8.