Faith Formation Grades 7-10

Grades 7-9 teachers are wanted!
Find out more 

Volunteer Needs:
We cannot offer these programs without the help of our dedicated volunteer ministers (about 160), who are mostly 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, complete a background check, and read and sign a Code of Conduct for Adult Volunteers, as mandated by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.  Adult volunteers 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 11^th grade or older). 

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

Please Scroll down for the following information that will be in this order:
Class Dates
Grade Information and  Schedules
Confirmation Handbook
Service Projects and directions for make-up 
Confirmation Retreat Registration 
Confirmation Retreat make-up 
Confirmation Date and Information
Youth Mission trip

OUR MISSION:
The mission of the High School Faith Formation Program is to provide moments for the youth of St. Vincent de Paul to encounter Jesus through prayer, sacraments, and fellowship. In the hope that the youth will be encouraged to deepen their relationship with Jesus so that they will desire to live their life with Him at their center, guided by the Holy Spirit.  

Classes Offered: 
The Faith Formation classes for  7th, 8th, 9th, & 10th Grade meet on Sunday evenings
from  6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Due to COVID please see the schedule for dates at the Church. 

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.

Session Dates: 
Large Group events:
Oct. 25 & Nov 1 Opening Mass You will be assigned one Sunday to attend)
Dec. 6  Reconcilation All are welcome to attend
Jan. 31
Feb. 21 7th & 8th grade only
March 7 
April 11 
May 2 7th & 8th grade only

At Home Advent Study: 5 sessions
Nov 22, Nov. 29, Dec 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 20. 

7th & 8th Grade Zoom Small Group Sessions:
Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Jan. 3, Jan.10, Jan. 14, Feb. 28, April, 18, April 25, May 2

9th & 10th D-Group Sessions:
Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Dec. 13, Jan. 3, Jan.10, Jan. 14, Feb. 28, April, 18, April 25, May 2

7th Grade:

2020-2021 Class Schedule

In 7th grade the youth will be in same gender small groups to promote fellowship and faith sharing that will support the youth in our Faith family as well as in the community.  We use the curriculum Encounter by Ascension press. Throughout the year there will be time for participation in liturgical and sacramental moments: Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation. As well as an opportunity for a retreat experience and a service project during scheduled class time. 

About Encounter:
     "Encounter is an eight-part, video base introduction to Scriptue that leads middle-school students into a life-changing encounter with God. This fast paced and dynamic journey through the Bible is based on the popular Great Adventure Timeline by Jeff Cavins. 
       In eight, half-hour video sessions, Mark Hart invites young people to get to know God and his deep love for each of them. He introduces them to the great bibilical heroes of the Faith, and helps them find echoes of (and help for!) their own daily struggles and concerns. In the process, they will become familiar with the basic outline of Salvation History and God's plan for thier lives."  

_______________________________________________________________________________

8th Grade:

2020-2021 8th Grade Class Schedule 
In 8th grade, the youth will have the same small groups from 7th grade. Again, this is to promote fellowship and lasting friendships that will support them in all areas of their life. Their main curriculum will be Theology of the Body by Ascension Press. Throughout the year there will be time for participation in liturgical and sacramental moments: Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation. As well as an opportunity for a retreat experience and a service project during scheduled class time. 

About Theology of the Body:
    "The Theology of the Body (TOB) contains Pope John Paul II's teaching on the significance of humanity created male and female in the image and likeness of God... The TOB provides profound insight into the meaning of manhood and womanhood, thus shedding light on a host of moral issues.
     How does the TOB connect to middle schoolers?  This program ministers to their varied desires by answering life's two core questions, those which the Theology of the Body directly confronts: 'Who am I?' and 'How should I live?' 
     We have been amazed to see how the answers to these questions address nearly every difficulty faced by middle schoolers: body image, techno socializing, dating, sin and reconciliation, healthy sharing of emotions, cyber bullying, weekend culture, and of course, questions about sex and love. We will probe these throughout the program."

______________________________________________________________________________

9th Grade:  Confirmation Preparation Ydisciple

2020-2021 9th Grade Class Schedule

Northwest Metro Mobilpack 2021 HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

Service Project MAKE-UP for 7th & 8th Grade:
Please look at the make-up service project options on the sign up genius link below.(To Come)  Please also download the Service Verification Form  that is below to be turned into your small group catechists when your service project has been completed.

Service Verification Form

9th & 10th Grade Confirmation Discipleship hours: 

• Confirmation Students must complete 10 Discipleship hours each year of Confirmation.
• Please log your hours on the Discipleship log found in your Confirmation Handbook or you may download the form below.
• The Northwest Metro Mobilpack may count for 2 of your hours.
• If you are absent for the Mobilplack you will be expected to make up the hours with a service project of your choosing.  

2019 Discipleship Log 

 10th Grade Confirmation Weekend Retreat September 19-20, 2020

In the second year of Confirmation there is a required weekend Confirmation retreat. This year we are having the retreat earlier in the calendar year in the hope that there will be less conflicts in the school calendar such as finals or playoffs for varsity sports. 

This year’s Confirmation retreat will again be at the NET (National Evangelization Teams) Center in West St. Paul.  

• You must attend the entire retreat  and you may not leave for sporting events or family functions.
• After your registration is complete NET will send you an email with a packing list and other important information for the retreat weekend.

How to register for the Confrimation Retreat:

NET Ministries will be handling all of the registration directly through their website. To register for our Confirmation retreat please use the link below. This link is already open for registration. 
 
Registration Link: https://mission.netusa.org/SeptemberSVDP

Deadline to Register for the Confirmation retreat is September 3, 2020
 
The cost for the Confirmation retreat in September is $100.00 and is due at the time you register. If you are in need of assistance please email me at nicholechang@saintvdp.org as we do have partial scholarships available.


Retreat Make-up Information:

• You will be responsible for registering for and providing transportation to and from the NET retreat.
• To Register please go online to:  www.netusa.org/confirmation
• Select your preferred weekend and complete the online Registration.
• If you have questions please contact: Lauren Ballew 651-450-6833 Ext. 112 at

• The retreat weekends do fill up, please plan accordingly.
• You must attend your Confirmation Retreat prior to Confirmation.  

We will be traveling to the Dominican Republic and staying at  the NPH Home. NPH is a home for orphans (234).  This will be a life changing opportunity for upper classmen to see the world from a new perspective, grow in faith, serve in communities in need, bond as a group from St. Vincent de Paul, and experience some of the foundational teachings of the Gospel and live out our Catholic Social Teaching.

International mission trips provide students with the perfect combination of service, personal growth, belonging to a community, seeing from a new perspective and experiencing new cultures, all through the eyes of faith while on a life changing trip.While on an international mission trip students will grow with the community they are visiting and the one they came with.The lessons learned, experiences had, and bonds strengthened will stay with students for the rest of their lives.
 
While visiting another country learning and experiencing the culture is inevitable,students will get to try different foods, hear different music and language, and gain an all together different perspective on the world. As service to others is foundational to Christianity, students will get to experience this value and have a better understanding of its importance in their daily lives upon returning home. They will serve in a variety of ways, some possibilities: work projects around the home, playing with the children, planning and providing activities for children.When students are not participating in a planned activity they will have other opportunities to encounter Christ, whether that be during morning personal reflection time, at mass, discussion time with small groups, prayer, or in the day to day interactions with others.This trip will be an opportunity for students to see the Catholic Church in a whole new way and grow deeper in their faith!

To Register:

Application for International Mission Trip

1. Complete the above Application for SVDP and return to the parish office along with the deposit of $150.00
2. There are only 16 spots for youth to attend. You must have your application in with your deposit at the parish office to reserve your spot. 
3. Please remember the deposit is non-refundable once flights are purchased.  
 
Other Documents REQUIRED:
1. When you have received notice from Nichole that we have received your application you must then complete the MINOR or Adult Packet Travel Documents at:
https://www.nphusa.org/tripforms/
             *Complete the MINOR TRAVEL PACKET if you are under 18 at the time of travel or the Adult                   packet if you will be 18 at the time of travel and then print. (If you are not yet 18 please date                   the forms using your Birthdate.) 
             *Sign documents
             *Some of the  documents need to be notarized.
             *Once COMPLETE- Turn into Nichole Chang at the parish office

  2. SVDP will have a Code of Conduct and one other form to be signed.

For More Information about NPH and their home in the Dominican Republic
please use this link:

https://www.nphusa.org/resources/