Faith Formation

Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now closed. Please contact Beth Mayer directly with questions or concerns.

Beginning for the 2024-2025 school year, Saint James and Saint Katharine Drexel Parishes are transitioning to Family Catechesis for both parishes.  This model of faith formation has been used at Saint Katharine Drexel Parish for several years.  Family Catechesis will be the only option for Faith Formation at Catholic Partner Parishes.  We no longer offer traditional weekly sessions or a homeschool option. 

Family Catechesis for Kindergarten through 8^th Grade 
Catholic Partner Parishes Whole Family Catechesis brings a shared experience for the entire family. Gathering ONCE a month, this combination of prayer, education, and community empowers the family to not only learn more about our faith but how to model our faith within our families. The eight required monthly sessions will equip families to complete the at home assignments as a family unit and take roughly 30 minutes for each week.   
    
As we attend Family Catechesis sessions together, we have the opportunity to grow as a community. We form relationships with the parents we meet at sporting events, PTA, scouting, etc, and this method provides our parish the ability to create a community in the place where you and your family need it most–among people who share your struggles and joys as you walk a life of faith.   
    
Family Catechesis is a bridge between the formation methods we are familiar with and one that empowers, equips, excites and embraces what we don’t know. By inviting our priests, parish staff, and knowledgeable parishioners to speak to the parents builds a strong sense of Catholic identity. We are on this faith journey together as we build up the “Body of Christ”. 

Sacrament Preparation at Catholic Partner Parishes   
Catholic Partner Parishes Faith Formation follows the Diocesan guidelines for sacrament preparation. Students entering second grade will be receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist for the first time while students entering 8th grade will be receiving Confirmation. These sacraments will be received in the Spring of the year at dates that will be determined.   
    
All Sacramental preparation will be done outside of Family Catechesis on scheduled days.   

Each year, parents are asked to complete one of the at-home lessons provided by Virtus (which are a diocesan mandate to our curriculum.) These lessons will give children the tools they need to help us keep them safe by educating them regarding boundaries, safe and unsafe behaviors, and healthy relationships.