Faith Formation Grades 1-6

We have openings for catechists for Grades 1 - 6!
Find out more 

Faith Formation OneDrive Cloud

Alive In Christ

Preparing the Sunday Gospel:

• ​​​​​​​Sunday, March 15, 2020 Third Sunday of Lent, John 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

• Team Catechists
• Classroom Assistants
• Substitute Catechists
• Family Faith Night Catechists
• Family Faith Night Office Aides
• Family Faith Night Hall Monitors

See position descriptions below for more information about these postions.

Weekly Ministry Positions:

Catechist

Classroom Assistant

Office Aide

Hall Monitor

Substitute Catechist


Family Faith Night (FFN) Ministry Positions:

FFN Catechist

FFN Office Aide

FFN Hall Monitor

FFN & Catechist Meeting Child Care Assistant

FFN Hospitality Team Member


Periodic Ministry Positions:

Substitute Catechist

Volunteer Ministers Make It Happen!:
We cannot offer these programs without the help of our dedicated volunteer ministers (about 160), many of whom are parents like you!  Both adults and young people that serve in this ministry follow the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Guidelines. 

o    All adults (ages 18+) will attend VIRTUS safe environment training, sign a Code of Conduct, and complete a background check and online Code of Conduct and mandatory reporting trainings, as mandated by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.  Adult volunteer ministers will update their volunteer screening every 3 years.

o    All young people (ages 12-17) will submit 2 letters of reference, and read and sign the Code of Conduct for Youth, as mandated by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Catechists:  Catechists may be an adult, or a young person that has received the Sacrament of Confirmation (typically 10^th grade or older). 

Classroom Assistants: Classroom Assistants may be an adult or young person.  

For students who are in first - sixth grade, Faith Formation meets one time a week. 

Registration for Faith Formation: is now closed.  

Classes meet:  Have moved to a coordiator, catechist, and online supported home study for the remainder of the 2019-2020 Faith Formation year.

Theme for 2019-2020: Live Out Your Purpose: "Let Your Light Shine" -Matthew 5:16:   God created each one of us with a purpose and gave us gifts to help us live out our purpose.  We will take time to look at how we can live out our purpose and let our light shine in our daily lives as a family in our home, neighborhood, church, and world.

Family Faith Night: Our next Family Faith Night is March 31 and April 1 and will be online.  Christina Krutza is providing an online video as well as printable resources with tools to strengthen families in faith while remaining at home together.  Watch for an email from Christina.

First Eucharist Retreat: Will be done at home with online resources. See the email from Mary Ann Marschall for details about the retreat and other important information about First Eucharist.

First Eucharist Rehearsals & Masses:  Due to the extension of the governor's stay at home order, the First Eucharist celebrations scheduled for May 2 & 3 have been postponed.  Watch your emal for information and updates.

To enroll your child to prepare to receive First Reconciliation, and later First Eucharist (Communion), parents must attend one of the First Reconciliation Parent Enrollment meetings on October 8 and   W9.  The U.S Bishops ask that children be prepared for First Reconciliation before being prepared for First Eucharist (Communion).   Click here for more information.

For the Grades 1-6 Faith Formation Calendar click here.

Registration for 2019 - 2020 Faith Formation is closed  

Grades 1-6 Faith Formation Program:

The aim of catechesis (faith formation) is to foster communion with Jesus Christ that empowers the children to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.  The program at St. Vincent de Paul involves three main parts: weekly classes, monthly Family Faith Nights, and catechist and classroom assistant training. Click on the link below for the general schedule for Elementary Faith Formation.

Curriculum: Alive In Christ by Our Sunday Visitor:

Scope and Sequence: Alive In Christ follows a systematic Scope and Sequence organized around key themes of Catholic teaching that repeat each year within a grade-level focus, building ont the child's knowledge of the faith at each developmental stage.  

Foundational Themes of the Faith:  The seven essential, foundational themes of the faith - Revelation, Trinity, Jesus Christ, The Church, Morality, Sacraments, and Kingdom of God - provide the structural framework that organizes the content of the grade level.  These seven foundational themes are also the themes of our Family Faith Nights.  Progressing from the first to the sixth grade level, the child deepens understanding as he or she is presented content that is theologically precise and developmentally appropriate. 

Catholic Prayers and Practices:  As part of the curriculum, each grade level focuses on learning Catholic prayers and practices as appropriate to the child's development.

Curriculum Focus by Grade Level:  Lesson schedules for 2019-2020 will be posted in August.

Prayers and Practices to Learn by Grade Level

For Children and Parents/Guardians:  Home session plans, people of faith activities,interactive reviews, and games are available online for each chapter that your child is studying in class.  This is an excellent way for you and child to work together to share faith, review key lesson concepts and/or to study for a test.  

For Parents/Guardians: Articles and videos are available online to foster a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith.

          Click on  http://aliveinchrist.osv.com/family
          Click - In the Home and Grade Level for Home Session Plans and People of Faith Activities
          Click - Interactive Reviews and Grade Level for Interactive Chapter Reviews
          Click - Games and Grade Level for Lesson Related Games and Activities
          Click - Adult Learning for Articles and Videos for a Deeper Understanding of the Catholic Faith

The National Directory for Catechesis states that: “All persons with disabilities have the capacity to proclaim the Gospel and to be living witnesses to its truth within the community of faith and offer valuable gifts. Their involvement enriches every aspect of Church life” (no. 49).

Faith Formation/Sacraments
Students with disabilities are included in Faith Formation classes with their same-age peers.  If needed, a classroom assistant is provided to assist those students. Parents may be classroom assistant if they would like. Adaptive curriculum for sacramental preparation is available.
 
Students with Physical Disabilities
Accommodations will be made for students with physical disabilities. 

For students who have difficulty learning in a regular classroom setting
Faith Formation classes at the student’s level will be available.