Religious Education

Old Town Parishes at St. Michael is proud to offer Family Faith Formation as the cornerstone of our religious education program.  The Family Faith Formation program offers a combination of in-class learning as well as at-home learning.  Teaching children about the Catholic faith is first and foremost the privilege and responsibility of parents.  That is the reason we strive to include families in our educational initiatives.  We dedicate ourselves to helping families raise their children in the Catholic faith by promoting lifelong learning and growth in the Four Pillars of Faith: faith-formation, worship, service, and community.  The Family Faith Formation model is designed to give parents the tools, knowledge, and best practices to pass on the faith to their children.  Further, the model allows parents to experience an ever-growing community in the parish, to find support among fellow Catholic parents, and to learn, experience, and grow in their faith along with their children.  Family Faith Formation assists in not only strengthening one’s relationship with Jesus but also within the entire family…even intergenerational!

Family Faith Formation empowers families to deepen their relationship with God, live and learn their faith, share their faith stories, and strengthen their relationships within their families.

The benefits/strength of Family Faith Formation are 1) it reawakens the faith of the whole family; 2) it sparks rich conversation within the family; 3) it affords flexibility & adaptability for busy families; 4) it is proven to be a long-lasting and effective model for children to continue their faith beyond the Kindergarten through 8th grade religious education years; 4) it is fun and engaging for children. 

Classes will begin on September 17, 2023.  In-class learning will be on Sundays from 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM in St. Michael’s Parish Center (1711 N. Cleveland Avenue) with an adjacent parking lot.

Click here for the 2023/2024 calendar

THE FOUR PILLARS OF FAITH

Faith-Formation

We provide Sunday Religious Education classes for kindergarten through 8th-grade children.  These classes are intended for children currently not attending a Catholic school.  

Our classes meet on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM from mid-September to mid-May in the Parish Center of St. Michael Parish (1711 N. Cleveland Avenue).  We offer small classes (approximately 10 students) led by volunteer catechists trained and mentored by our Director of Lifelong Formation.

Classes are taught using the Finding God series published by Loyola Press.  Finding God emphasizes the topics of God, Jesus, the Church, Sacraments, Morality, and the Saints. 

Four consecutive in-class sessions will take place in September and April.  During the six months between (October – March), each monthly unit will be introduced to the children in class while parents/guardians will meet separately to discuss the topics that will be taught at home for the next 2-3 weeks.  Parents/guardians will be armed with knowledge, tips, ideas, and confidence to impart their faith and learning to their children in a meaningful, effective, and joyful way.  These parent/guardian meetings are mandatory.   Again, families are the cornerstone of Old Town Parishes Religious Education program because family is imperative for a child’s spiritual development.

What is needed at home for at-home learning:  1) an at-home lesson (online or paper format); 2) the child’s workbook; 3) an online session review for the children for accountability purposes (excluding kindergarteners). Families can work at their own pace…on THEIR time.  They can work around the kitchen table or in the backyard! Enjoy the flexibility and adaptability of Family Faith Formation.

We will offer other forms of faith-formation activities for parents with speakers, an optional ALPHA series, an optional Scripture Study program, Theology on Tap, and more.  It is paramount that parents/guardians feel supported and empowered in their efforts to pass their faith onto their children.

Worship

The program will include monthly Religious Education Masses where the children can participate as ushers, greeters, and gift-bearers.  These will be followed by family get-togethers with coffee and donuts in our Parish Center.  We will also celebrate the Holy Days of Obligation on the appropriate days with meaningful ways to teach the children and engage them in these important days of worship.  Other worship opportunities will include exposing the children to the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross.  Learning and loving the Order of Mass will be a primary goal for the program.

Service

Myriad service opportunities will be offered throughout the year for children and families.  Teaching the children to serve, give, and look out for others is an important part of our Religious Education program.  Service projects will include opportunities to help refugees, prisoners, the hungry, and other marginalized people.

Community

Instilling a sense of community for both the children and parents is also an important part of the program. Opportunities for these gatherings will be planned throughout the year.  We like to think, “We’re building a community, not a program.”  Family picnics, potlucks, and regular coffee/donut gatherings after the Religious Education Masses will be planned for continued community-building. 

Reconciliation & Eucharist

Our 2nd-grade class will be preparing the children for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.  Please reach out to Barbara Shields, the Director of Lifelong Formation, for special exceptions ([email protected]).

We will work with your child no matter their age or grade.  While it is preferred that your child was enrolled in religious education classes for kindergarten and 1st grade (since this lays the foundation for preparation for the Sacraments), we will do our best to accommodate your needs based on the circumstances.  We thank you for your understanding of this. 

We also ask that children preparing for these Sacraments attend classes regularly.  For exceptions, please contact Barbara Shields.  An extra fee is incurred for these Sacraments to cover the costs of retreats, materials, and meals. 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on March 9, 2024, at 10:30 AM at St. Michael Church.  Our Reconciliation retreat will be held on Friday, March 1 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

The Sacrament of the Eucharist will be celebrated on May 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Michael Church.  Our retreat for the Sacrament of the Eucharist will be held in late April.  Please stay tuned for the date.

Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated for the 8th graders.  Please note: the archdiocese mandates that each Confirmand must have completed 7th-grade religious education.  Please contact Barbara Shields ([email protected]) with concerns, questions, etc.  We are here to help you through this process.  The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on March 2, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Church.
The special Confirmation fee covers retreats, materials, and other Confirmation preparation materials.

We look forward to your participation in our Religious Education program.  We will faithfully and joyfully assist you, the family, as you accompany your child/children through the beauty of the Catholic faith tradition and all the blessings that are a part of it.  

Tuition and Fees

We are hoping to build a successful partnership between our Old Town Catholic Parishes Religious Education program and your family.  Please let us know if we can help you get registered.  All registration information and forms are below.  NOTE THAT A REGISTRATION FORM NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED TO ENROLL YOUR CHILD IN OLD TOWN PARISHES RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM EVEN IF HE/SHE WERE IN THE PROGRAM THE PREVIOUS YEAR(S). 

The fees are as follows:

• Family Registration fee - $100/family
• Tuition for one child - $375
• Tuition for two or more children - $475
• Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion - $75
• Sacrament of Confirmation - $75

***A late fee of $25.00 will be charged for registration forms that are turned in after September 3, 2023.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REGISTRATION