K-8 Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation

Registration Forms
Click Here to download the 2010-2011 K-8 Faith Formation Registration Form.
Click Here to download the 2010-2011 First Penance and Eucharist Registration Form.

Our Program
Below is a brief description of the Children's Faith Formation programs offered by the Church of the Holy Apostles.

As members of the Church of the Holy Apostles, we commit ourselves to personal Discipleship nurtured through prayer, music, dialogue and study of the Word and the Christian faith. We believe catechesis is a collaborative effort between the family and the parish community. Therefore, our parish has developed a Faith Formation program to help parents in teaching their children the Catholic faith. Our program is not a "drop-off" program. Rather, parents are expected to share in the activities and formation of their children.

In the Sacramental Rites of Marriage and Baptism, the Church clearly affirms that parents bear the responsibility to teach and practice the faith with their children. Parents are the most influential factor in a child's faith formation. Parents teach by their words, actions, attitudes and example. Prayer and participation in Sunday worship is essential for children to grasp the essentials of our faith.

All families participating in our Faith Formation program are expected to regularly participate in the Sunday Liturgy (Mass) and, as their schedules allow, other parish activities. Families must be registered parishioners of the Church of the Holy Apostles in order to register in the Faith Formation program, unless an exception is granted by the Pastor due to the pastoral need of the family.

If you have any questions regarding the Children's Faith Formation ministry, please contact Michele Dougherty, Assistant to the Pastor for Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation at 410-519-2291 or mdougherty@holyapostlesmd.org.

I. K-8 FAITH FORMATION

Curriculum

In our curriculum we combine lessons drawn from RCL Benzinger's Faith First Legacy Edition texts with the Sunday readings. Over the three-year lectionary cycle, children are led through the teachings of the Catholic faith in increasing depth each year of their development. The text centers on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Creed, Prayer, Worship, and Christian Life. Blending these two approaches offers a connection between Sunday Liturgy and the traditions of the Church.

In accordance with Archdiocese policy, our Grades K-8 curriculum also includes lessons on Human Sexuality/Healthy Relationships. The Grade K-8 curriculum is supplemented with lessons from Harcourt Religion Publisher's Growing in Love human sexuality series, as updated for the Child Protection Education lessons created by the Archdiocese in connection with Catholic Charities.

Group Sessions

Church of the Holy Apostles offers Faith Formation sessions for grades K-8. The children meet for 26 sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 7:45 p.m. from September through May. Some evenings require a parent or guardian to attend the evening with their child as noted on the Faith Formation calendar. A child cannot attend on these evenings without a parent or guardian. Other opportunities for parent participation in special activities and celebrations during Wednesday night Faith Formation will be announced when scheduled.

09-22-10	Faith Formation begins with Opening Night (parent & child)
09-29-10	Regular classroom sessions begin
11-24-10	No class -- Thanksgiving holiday
12-29-10	No class - Christmas Break
01-05-11	No class - Catechist in-service training
02-16-11	Grades 7 & 8 burn palms for ashes
03-02-11	No class - Interparish Mission at St. Joseph's
03-09-11	Ash Wednesday Mass @ 7 PM (parent & child)
03-16-11	Lenten Penance Service for Grade 3
03-23-11	Lenten Penance Service for Grade 4
03-30-11	Lenten Penance Service for Grade 5
04-06-11	Lenten Penance Service for Grade 6
04-13-11	Lenten Penance Service for Grades 7 & 8
04-20-11	No class - Holy Week
05-11-11	Last Faith Formation session

Click Here to download the 2010-2011 lesson schedule by week for each grade.

Home Instruction

If Wednesday night attendance is not possible, families do have the option of teaching their children at home under our home study program. Materials designed for home study are provided. Families will need to regularly submit documentation to demonstrate their child's progress in the curriculum. Additional information will be sent to those families electing the home study option.

Enrollment

Click Here to download the 2010-2011 K-8 Faith Formation Registration Form. Please return your completed form and enrollment fee to the parish office.

We ask that parents and guardians assist in the program by participating as catechists, helping with the front door during the start and end of each session, or help with on-site childcare for catechists and those participating in the CHA Café. As a catechist, you must be a Confirmed, practicing Catholic in good standing. You do not need to know all the answers but be willing to commit yourself to living, learning and teaching the values of Christian life and the Catholic faith. All materials and training will be provided. You will be paired with a co-catechist to share the responsibilities of leading the session and to allow for a night off if needed. If you are interested in ministering in any way, please note so on your child's registration form or contact Michele Dougherty.

II. SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

Requirements

The Sacraments of Penance and First Eucharist are offered to baptized Catholic children age 7 and older, usually in Grade 2. Archdiocesan policy requires that children have attended two years of prior faith formation before receiving a sacrament, either in a Catholic school or a parish faith formation program, the second year of which may be concurrent with the sacramental preparation. The norm of the Church is that first sacramental confession should precede the reception of First Eucharist. Sacramental preparation takes place in the parish setting and is in addition to their age appropriate faith formation, whether enrolled in the parish faith formation program or a Catholic school. If your child does not attend Catholic school, you will also need to enroll your child in the parish Faith Formation program using the separate K-8 Faith Formation Registration Form.

Families with children over the age of seven needing to make their First Communion who have not attended any prior faith formation or religious education sessions might be best prepared through the Rite of Christian Initiation adapted for Children (RCIC). This is up to a two-year process to acquaint the children with Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Catholic Church. Placement is made after an interview. Families currently enrolled in faith formation are encouraged to extend this invitation to friends and neighbors. To arrange an interview, please contact Michele Dougherty.

Preparation Guidelines

The preparation curriculum we use at Church of the Holy Apostles was written specifically for the parish and has received an imprimatur from the Archdiocese. Preparation for First Penance and Eucharist is a shared catechesis between parents and parish, consisting of four Sunday sessions each for parents and their children.

The first three sessions, the children meet with catechists to be introduced to the study material. During this time, parent sessions are held to assist the parents in understanding the sacrament and enabling them to teach their children about the sacraments effectively at home. The forth gathering is a retreat for parents and their children.

The session dates for the 2010-2011 year are as noted below. At least one parent or guardian must attend each session with their child.

First Penance:

10-17-10	First Penance Session #1	12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
10-31-10	First Penance Session #2	12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
11-14-10	First Penance Session #3	12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
12-05-10	First Penance Session #4	1:00 - 3:00 p.m. (Retreat)

First Penance Services will be held after Sunday Mass December - January at 12:15 p.m. in the Chapel and will be scheduled at the Retreat on December 5th.

First Eucharist:

03-20-11	First Eucharist Session #1	12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
04-03-11	First Eucharist Session #2	12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
04-17-11	First Eucharist Session #3	12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
05-01-11	First Eucharist Session #4	1:00 - 4:00 p.m. (Retreat)
05-07-11	Rehearsal for May 8 Mass	10:00 a.m.
05-08-11	First Communion	10:45 Mass only
05-14-11	Rehearsal for May 15 Mass	10:00 and 10:45 a.m.
05-15-11	First Communion	Both Masses

As there are only four formal preparation sessions for each sacrament, please mark your calendars for these dates. Sports events, trips, and other activities should not interfere with you or your child attending any of these sacramental preparation sessions. Failure of you or your child to attend any of these sessions may negatively impact your child's readiness to receive the sacraments and result in postponing your child's receiving of the sacraments to the following year.

Enrollment
Click Here to download the 2010-2011 First Penance and Eucharist Registration Form. Please return your completed form and enrollment fee to the parish office.

III. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Each summer, our parish combines efforts with neighboring parishes to present the Young Saints VBS to children ages 4-10 at the School of the Incarnation. Children over the age of ten can participate as teen volunteers. Registration forms are usually available by April -- periodically check the parish website under News & Events for further information and dates.

Any questions concerning VBS or to inquire about helping with the 2010 VBS should be directed to Christie Thibeault at thethibeaults@yahoo.com.