During these years the parish helps parents form their children in the basics of Catholic faith, sacramental practice, prayer and daily Catholic life. To register your child(ren) in the formation program, call the Religious Formation Office or print out the Family G.R.A.C.E. Registration Form. and send it in. As with the other age groups there are three components to their formation. All are considered essential:

1. Monthly G.R.A.C.E. sessions with the whole family and whole parish. When you register, you will choose a specific evening for your monthly session.
   
   
2. Sacramental Preparation. In accord with the policy of the archdiocese children need to be actively attending Mass and involved in at least two consecutive years of religious formation here or a previous parish, in order to be a candidate for one of the sacraments. During the course of these six years we have sessions with children and parents which will prepare them for:
   
   Baptism or Becoming Catholic (if they have not already been baptized or were baptized in another Christian Church)
   First Eucharist
   First Reconciliation
   Entering into the Confirmation program
   
   Click on any of the links above to learn more about sacramental preparation or call/email Linda Bauer.
   
   
3. Several Age-Specific Sessions during the catechetical year. We will gather the children in their individual grades three times in the fall and three times in the winter, to focus on essential prayers, bible stories, and Catholic beliefs and practices. For dates of these gatherings, please see our G.R.A.C.E. calendar.
   
   

   PREPARATION MATERIAL FOR CATECHETICAL LESSONS GRADES ONE - SIX
   

   The material below can be viewed or printed. The weekly sessions for grades one through six are given individually per week. Please note how the lesson material is arranged in three parts: (1) A key Bible story is focused on with questions for reflection. (2) A prayer or set of prayers we are encouraged to know by heart is given with suggestions on how to use them during the week. (3) A set of Catholic faith vocabulary words/concepts with very brief definitions. In addition, a more detailed dictionary of terms is available for viewing to give parents and others more information on the word/concept in question. This dictionary is cumulative and comprehensive. It will eventually contain all the words and concepts from each year and each week, arranged alphabetically.

4. 
   
   Bible Stories to Know Well
   Prayers to Learn By Heart
   Review and Preparation Sheets Grades 1-6
   Dictionary of Catholic Concepts (PDF format) (Word Format)

These two years provide an opportunity to deepen what has been learned in prior years, begin to develop a sense of youth ministry, and become a candidate for Confirmation, if they so choose. To register your junior high in the formation program, call the Religious Formation Office or print out the Family G.R.A.C.E. Registration Form. and send it in. As with the other ages, three components are considered essential:

1. Monthly G.R.A.C.E. sessions with the whole family and whole parish. We ask that families with a junior high age student attend on either Sunday or Friday evening.
   
   
2. Occasional junior high youth ministry gatherings (service projects, mini-retreats, lock-ins, etc.) throughout the year. See the G.R.A.C.E. calendar.
   
   
3. Sessions for Confirmation candidates, beginning in their eighth grade year.

For more information, call/email Karen Peters.

As with all formation ages, the three components are present:

1. Monthly G.R.A.C.E. sessions eight times a year with the rest of the community. Teens gather on Sunday for these eight sessions and spend much of the time in their teen setting.
   
   
2. Retreats, Rainbow weekend, vicariate teen events, World Youth Day activities, service projects, lock-ins and other occasional youth ministry events are planned by the youth with the help of the Youth Ministry coordinator and Youth Ministry Committee.  Please see the G.R.A.C.E. calendar. for specific dates.
   
   
3. Confirmation preparation or other sacramental preparation for those teens who have not been confirmed or need one of the sacraments.

We are always looking for parents and other adults to help with planning or chaperoning youth events.  The parish’s Youth Ministry Committee meets several times a year, 1-2 hours per meeting, to coordinate the planning.  If interested please contact Karen Peters.