Children's Faith Formation
  

NEW!
 Calendar, 2011-2012
Registration materials for Children's Faith Formation, 2011-2012
Registration materials for Sacramental Preparation, 2011-2012
Scholarship Application, 2011-2012

Our commitment to the children and families of St. James Cathedral Parish is to support parents/guardians in your vital role as the first and foremost teachers of your children in the ways of faith.  As partners with you in this holy work, we make sure your children receive a strong faith foundation, secure in God's personal love for them and in the fullness of life that Jesus Christ offers.  St. James Cathedral Vision Statement states, 'As a parish, we will devote ourselves to prayer, teaching, and service to others.  We will continue to strive to meet our unique responsibilities as a Cathedral in the heart of a vibrant city.' The Children's Faith Formation programs are one important way for our parish to achieve this vision.  The programs are open to all children, whether they are Catholic or not, and whether they are attending Catholic or public school.  The Church teaches that the primary aim of faith formation is 'to put people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy, with Jesus Christ.'   Under the direction of our pastor, Fr. Ryan, our programs seek to provide an atmosphere of Catholic Christian values and care based on deepening our relationship with Jesus, God's Son.  As a result, we are able to provide experiences of community, worship and social concern that are integrated not only in the total experience of your children but also for your family.
 
PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Liturgies

  • The Mass is our most important prayer as Catholics.  It is  the greatest prayer that we can offer to God because it is Jesus Christ's own prayer in his sacrifice and sacred meal that he shares with us.  The Mass, which is also called the Eucharist, meaning  'Thanksgiving,' is our great Thank You prayer with and in Jesus, to the Father,  for all God's gifts of creation and for giving us his Son Jesus to lead us to heaven, our true home.  The Eucharist is the 'source and summit' of our Christian life because in it is found the entire treasure of the Church: Jesus Christ.  Our baptism, which made us members of God's family, calls us to participate in the Eucharist. We encourage you to come to Sunday Mass regularly as a family, so that together you will have the opportunity to participate more fully in the life of the parish and deepen your relationship with Jesus.   As a central part of our Children's Faith Formation program, the Sunday 12:00 Noon Mass provides particular opportunities for children to actively participate in the Mass.
  • Children's Liturgy of the Word  This special liturgy for our youth is an extension of the Faith Formation sessions. During the Introductory Rite at the Sunday noon Mass, the celebrant invites the children to go to the Chapel where God's word is read and explained to them in a way easier for them to understand. They listen to God's word, sing the responsorial psalm, pray the Creed and General Intercessions together, and then return to their families in the church for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  Through this experience, they learn 'full, active, and conscious participation' in the Liturgy to which Christ calls us as his worshiping family.
  • Youth First Sunday On the first Sunday of each month the 12:00 Noon Mass is celebrated as Youth First Sunday (YFS). Children participate in a special way at Mass as readers, altar servers, ushers, and choirs.  Youth who have been confirmed also serve as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.

Sunday School Classes

Classes take place on Sunday mornings 11:00-11:50 AM during the academic school year for children pre-school age through high school. Under the competent and caring direction of the Children's Faith Formation team, volunteer catechists and assistants who are trained and most of whom are being certified by the Archdiocese,  teach the children according to Archdiocesan Curriculum Guidelines developed by the US Catholic Bishops.  Each grade has a specific theme to focus on during the year.  We have adapted the Archdiocesan themes to fit into the structure of St. James' Children's Faith Formation program.  These themes are:

  • Pre-School God made you. God made me. God loves you and me.
  •  Kindergarten  Creation, Jesus and God's Family (Emphasis on the individual child as a member of God's family)
  • Sacramental Prep 1  Creation, Jesus and the Church (Emphasis on the church community to which we belong)
  • Sacramental Prep 2  Reconciliation, Eucharist, Mass
  • 3rd Grade The Catholic Church
  • 4th Grade  Morality / Catholic Doctrine
  • 5th Grade  Sacraments
  • 6th Grade  Scripture: Old Testament
  • 7th / 8th Grades  Scripture: New Testament
  • 9th -12th Grades  Seeing, Celebrating, Living as a 21st century Catholic

Curriculum Materials

Our curriculum materials follow the spiral approach. Topics in faith knowledge and understanding are addressed in age-appropriate level each year, increasing in depth with each grade level.  This way, each grade level builds upon the previous year and children learn ever newer ways of seeing, celebrating and living their Catholic faith as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.  The curriculum materials used in our program have been carefully selected based on Archdiocesan guidelines in order to achieve the goal of catechesis which is  'deeper communion with the person of Jesus Christ.' Click here for Curriculum Resources.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

  • BAPTISM:   Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Adapted for Older Children   (RCIA/C)

    St. James Cathedral welcomes children of catechetical age (seven or older), along with their families, on a journey of preparation for initiation into the Catholic community.  Those who have never been baptized will prepare for the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation.  Those already baptized in other Christian communities will make a profession of faith into the Catholic Church and will receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. 
     
    Participants in RCIA Adapted for Children enter a process; a way of growing in response to God�s call.  This process occurs within the entire faith community of St. James Cathedral.  Parents/guardians of children in the RCIA for children process often find that their child�s journey towards initiation prompts them to think about their own faith, and perhaps to re-examine it in a new light. 
     
    The RCIA initiation process calls for significant family involvement in terms of some parental class attendance, participation in special rites during Mass, family prayer, and living the experience of a Christian life each day.   RCIA sessions take place in a slightly different time frame as the regular Sunday school program, with classes from 10:30am - 11:50am, followed by participation in the noon Mass.  A schedule with specific class dates and topics will be provided.
     
    Older children and youth who have been baptized in another Christian faith tradition, or baptized Catholic but not catechized in the Catholic faith and who wish to be welcomed to the Table of the Lord follow the RCIA Adapted for Children  process as candidates for full Communion in the Catholic Church.  The candidates meet for classes along with those older children wishing to be baptized. 

  • First Reconciliation and First Communion

    Parents / Guardians have a significant part in this special preparation for their children�s celebration of these important sacraments.  During the Sunday Faith Formation sessions, the catechists work with the children to prepare them for these important steps in their faith journey.  But it is the lived faith at home, role modeled by the parents that best helps the children to integrate learnings into their young lives.
     
    Two-year preparation time:  In conjunction with Archdiocesan guidelines, preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is done in a two-year term.

    • Sacramental Preparation 1:   This is the first of the two-year preparation period.  The children in this group will be the:
      *baptized 1st graders who have been active in our Sunday School Program, or
      **new students who are in 1st grade, or
      ***children in 2nd and 3rd grade who have not been catechized or have not participated in some formal sacramental preparation in a parish.
    • Sacramental Preparation 2:   This is the second year of preparation.  Children in this class will be those who have done the first year preparation.  New second graders can join this class if they have been catechized, e.g., they go to a Catholic school, or if they have participated in some formal sacramental preparation in a parish.  The children will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and their First Communion during this year.
      Older children from  4th grade and up:  Children and youth who have been baptized Catholic but have not celebrated First Reconciliation and First Communion will participate in the RCIA adapted for Older Children sessions.   (See �Baptism� section above on �RCIA adapted for Older Children�.)
    • Parent / Guardian and Child Sessions for children in Sacramental Preparation 2 classes.   Prior to the celebration of each sacrament, four sessions with parents/guardians are held from 10:30 to 11:50 AM in Room 411.  They are an important component of each child�s preparation and are required for celebrating First Reconciliation and Holy Communion.  Please refer to your Sac Prep 2 calendar and give these dates priority in your schedule. 
    • Sacramental Preparation Family Conference:  These sacramental preparation conferences are conversations with the child and family about the sacraments for which the child is preparing.  They are an imperative part of the preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion and RCIA Adapted for Children.  They are meant to help deepen the child�s understanding of each Sacrament and assess the child�s readiness to celebrate it.  They help to reinforce the parent�s / guardian�s role as the �primary teacher of their child in the faith� as well as give them the opportunity to ask questions.   Parents sign up for appointments.
    • Retreats:  Within a week prior to the celebration of each Sacrament, the children and parents / guardians will participate in a retreat. These retreats serve as an important climactic preparation of the group as members of the Church community preparing for the Sacraments.  Please refer to the calendar for important dates.
  • Youth Confirmation Program
    High school students who are at least 16 years old are encouraged to receive this sacrament.  Classroom preparation includes 10 class sessions that cover a variety of topics and are centered on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Class sessions allow for both large and small group discussions.  A weekend retreat is also required.  Confirmation at the Cathedral parish is usually celebrated in the spring.  Preparation will begin in the winter with specific class dates to be given when the date for Confirmation is set.  Classes meet weekly on Thursdays from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

OTHER FAITH FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN

  • Youth Migrant Project
  • Jr. High Rally
  • Senior High Convention
  • CYO Camping

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN
  
St. James Cathedral provides many opportunities for children to serve in their faith community. Our catechists recognize that sometimes, children may need to leave the classroom early to serve at Mass. An adult escorts them as a group to the church.

  • YOUTH READERS serve by reading at the Sunday Masses. Marianne Cote - 206-382-4512
  • ALTAR SERVERS assist by serving at the Sunday Masses.  Marianne Cote - 206-382-4512
  • YOUTH USHERS assist our adult ushers to provide hospitality at the Sunday Masses.  Marianne Cote  206-382-4512
  • YOUTH EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION.  Some of our youth who have been confirmed serve in this capacity on Youth First Sundays.  Corinna Laughlin � 206-622-3559 ext 3996
  • MUSIC PROGRAM (Youth Choirs) invites children to participate in its children's choirs.  Dr. James Savage - 206-382-4874

FAITH FORMATION STAFF INFORMATION

RESOURCES & LINKS