Children's Ministry 1st-8th Grade
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St. Priscilla Youth Faith Formation
IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR THE 2022-2023 YEAR
Classes now begin on Oct. 9, 2022. Please read ALL changes laid out on this page and contact Alyssa via email with questions.
The Catholic Church is changing and so is the dynamic of our Faith Formation program. The St. Priscilla staff along with the catechists, have made the decision to switch to a Family-Model of catechesis. This is a result of the changes in enrollment over the past several years as well as the changes in the family dynamic since the COVID pandemic.
Parents tell the Catholic Church at the time of their child's baptism, that they agree to raise their child in the faith. As a result, parents are the primary catechists for each child. This new model of catechesis will support the parents in their roles as catechists.The Family-Model at St. Priscilla will work as follows:- Students will receive books by grade with an interactive online component that they will work on at home. They will be assigned chapters to work on every month. Parents will work on these chapters with their children.
- Once a month, typically on the 2nd Sunday of the month, students will come together in the classroom and learn from catechists more about the faith than just what is discussed in their text. Simultaneously, PARENTS will attend their own adult catechism class led by Alyssa C (DRE & Pastoral Associate) or any other guest speaker we have for a particular topic. This will help the parent support their child's learning at home while also teaching/reminding parents of the Church's teaching.
- Classes are on Sundays from 9:30-11am so that the family can attend the 11am Mass together to further grow in their faith and relationship with Christ. These classes are held in person. Class dates are 10/9, 11/13, 12/11, 1/8, 2/12, 3/12, & 4/16 (note that April meets on 3rd Sunday because of Easter).
- Sacramental years will have additional meetings for parents and/or video/quiz check-ins for students to ensure they are fully prepared for their upcoming sacraments.
- 7th & 8th grade have Mass attendance requirements. 8th grade have a service hours and Adoration hours requirement to fully prepare them for Confirmation.
- New for the 2022/23 year, 2nd grade (or any student receiving Holy Communion) will have a Mass attendance requirement that must occur between the months of Jan-April.
- Further details are still being worked out and Alyssa will be sending emails to enrolled families with updates on how this change progresses.
Registration is still open and can be found here.Sacramental dates are:- First Reconciliation (at St. Priscilla): Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022
- Confirmation Retreat (at St. Aidan): Saturday, March 25, 2023
- Confirmation Mass (at St. Aidan, will be at St. Priscilla for 2024): Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 11am
- First Holy Communion Mass (at St. Priscilla): Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 11am
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Confirmation Preparation
Typically Confirmation prep is for students in grades 7 & 8. However, students in high school are welcome to participate. As a two year program, students are expected to have an attendance record of 80% or higher across the two years. The Confirmation prep students are the Faith Formation Mass lectors and are examples for the youth in the faith formation program.
Confirmation year students are expected to have 13 service hours and 2 Adoration hours prior to Confirmation.
Classes meet on Sundays at 9:30am and lead directly into 11am Mass to continue to build their relationship with Christ in the vital middle school years.
Faith Formation Director, Alyssa Choraszewski, can be reached at dre@saintpriscilla.org
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1st Communion & 1st Reconciliation
First Communion and Reconciliation is typically given when a child is at age of reason (7 years old) or 2nd grade. The First Communion and Reconciliation program is a two year preparation program and, therefore, it is ideal to start students in grade 1. As with all sacramental prep years, an attendance requirement of 80% must be met across the two years.
The first year of sacramental prep, students learn basic prayers, spend quite a bit of time studying Genesis which helps when learning about reconciliation and communion. The second year of sacramental prep, students complete their First Reconciliation studies and sacrament in the Fall. The remaining portion of the year focuses on First Communion and ends with the sacrament.
Classes meet Mondays, 5:30-7pm
Faith Formation Director, Alyssa Choraszewski, can be reached at dre@saintpriscilla.org
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The Foundation Years, Grades 3-6
Although sacraments are not typically given in these years, the formation between grades 3-6 is vital to the life-long relationship with Christ. During these years, students do various Bible studies, learn how to pray the rosary, discuss social justice issues, learn different Catholic teachings, and how to live a Catholic life.
Grades 3-6 meet on Mondays, 5:30-7pm
Faith Formation Director, Alyssa Choraszewski, can be reached at dre@saintpriscilla.org
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Vacation Bible School 2022
Vacation Bible School will be June 27-June 30, 2022 from 9am-12pm. Students will be learning God’s Word through chemical, mechanical, electrical engineering and more. Just like the program in 2019 and 2021, this curriculum is unique to St. Priscilla and provides students the opportunity to learn the faith while discovering and applying science and engineering concepts. Email Alyssa to help out as a catechist.
We will be learning and discussing some of the miracles of Jesus, how they apply to us today, and trying to recreate them with science and engineering!
Day 1 Turning water into wine.
Day 2 Walking on water.
Day 3 Healing the blind man.
Day 4 Raising Lazarus.
Open to students ages 5-11. Kindergarten aged students must know how to use scissors. Registration is $35/student and opens soon!
Faith Formation Director, Alyssa Choraszewski, can be reached at dre@saintpriscilla.org
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