Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Faith | Family | Home You’re invited to the Cathedral family.
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Faith Formation

Helping families grow in faith is our priority. There’s something for everyone!

Faith Formation

A Vision for Faith Formation:

“GROW in relationship with Jesus, especially through the Sacraments and by networks of support for families of faith to develop.”
— Cathedral Mission and Vision Statement
“Family catechesis…precedes, accompanies and enriches all other forms of catechesis. Thus there cannot be too great an effort on the part of Christian parents to prepare for this ministry of being their own children’s catechists and to carry it out with tireless zeal.”
— Pope St. John Paul II, Catechesi Tradendae
“The future of the world and the Church passes through the family.”
— Pope St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio
“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through His Spirit.”
— St. Paul, Letter to the Ephesians 3:15ff

Wednesday Evenings
for All Ages
5:30pm to 7pm
&
Sunday Option
for OCIA (Adults)
and Kids Club (Grades K-5)
10:45am to 12noon

Locations: Parish Hall, Meeting Rooms, and Atrium

***Additional Adult Bible Studies, Small Groups, Mom’s Groups and Men’s Groups, etc. are also offered at various times/locations throughout the week with varied day/evening hours, please contact the parish office for more details or to sign up. Email our team.

TO INQUIRE ABOUT ENROLLING YOUR CHILD FOR FAITH FORMATION, CONTACT ERICA MALONEY — MALONEYE@SHC.PTDIOCESE.ORG OR 438-3131 EXT. 122

In today’s world and culture, our families have a great desire and need to be strengthened and supported. In addition, the family serves as a great gift to our faith and community. It’s with both aspects in mind, that we invite you to make a commitment as an individual or as a family to faith formation at the Cathedral. 

Please Note: We realize that “not one size fits all” so there are many ways to work with your family’s unique circumstances or schedule to create a faith formation or sacramental preparation schedule beyond what is listed here. Please feel free to reach out at any time if we can be of assistance or answer questions (Send an email to Erica Maloney).

OVERALL GOALS:

  • Focus on family evangelization AND catechesis

  • Equipping and encouraging parents as the primary catechists and spiritual leaders of their individual home/domestic church

  • Life-long faith formation as essential to a life of faith as a Christ-follower and full participation in the Sacramental life of the Church

KEY ELEMENTS:

  • Weekly in person evangelization and community formation for ALL age levels

  • At home curriculum & catechesis for individual grade levels and at home formation offerings for children, individual adults, and Sacramental preparation

  • Full Community Faith Nights, Meals, and Interactive Family Friendly Events

Ages – ALL are welcome! 

Cost – Free will donation. We encourage families to pray about and consider setting up or increasing regular online giving to the parish to help us offset costs associated with running Faith Formation and Sacramental preparation programs.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

Logistics/Registration – 

  • One dedicated adult/guardian per child/teen participating in Faith Formation. 

    • Examples: mom, dad, grandparent, aunt/uncle, godparent, even in extreme case a friend’s parent could work or older sibling (21 or older/congruent with the age limit for chaperones for ministry in the diocese). 

    • The key is one DEDICATED ADULT accompanying a child and committed to the At Home Component.  

  • Encourage full family and parish participation – babies, younger siblings, college age, older parishioners. Private, parish full-time school, or public-school families. There is a place for everyone. 

    • Examples: 

      • Special needs student (ability to be with peers of appropriate age level for social interaction/evangelization in person) but do an at home curriculum that suits their individual needs, for instance: 3rd grade level or specific sacramental prep if they have not received sacraments) 

      • Full-time Catholic school student who already receives religion curriculum at school chooses to opt out of at home curriculum piece for family formation nights but chooses to attend for the parish community building/social aspect with those who share their faith

      • Flipped model allows for flexibility in person – example: 3rd graders learning the books of the Bible song and memorizing it in person – or other methods not typical of something you would find in a religion curriculum. 

  • Accountability/Administration/Schedule Conflicts Best Practices: 

    • Attendance/check in will take place every week (service role for adults).

    • Grading: At Home Component/Curriculum checked and graded every week (for 1st through 6th grade). 

    • Attendance: 1st-9th Grade/Confirmation Prep Students who fail to bring in/complete work for their grade level at home component or have unexcused absences from class for more than 2 weeks will be followed up with by their teacher/small group leader/catechist. At 3 missed weeks, the parent/guardian will be contacted by the Director of Faith Formation.
      The goal here is NEVER shaming a parent/student but to offer as much support/assistance/course correct and find solutions as needed. We are here to support YOU and sometimes a different approach is needed. We get it! 

    • Sports/long term/multi-week absences: this is where the at-home curriculum and accountability are key. The allowance here would involve a commitment from the parent/dedicated adult and student to continue the at home curriculum and either email in results or commit to doing the work electronically, etc. based on the program/curriculum they are in for their grade level or Sacramental prep year.