SUNDAY MASS AND THE PRACTICE OF THE FAITH
We ask that all families participate in Sunday & Holy Day Masses, regular Confession throughout the year, daily prayer/devotions at home, and the practice of stewardship (time, talent, and treasure) which are the essential first components to faith-formation.

PHILOSOPHY BEHIND OUR PROGRAM
The goal of Holy Family's faith formation is to raise up disciples of Jesus Christ. This includes children and adults. We are also striving to build connections and community within our parish so that everyone finds a home here. 

It is important to note that the formation the parish offers is considered supplemental to the role of parents as the primary and nearly irreplaceable teachers of their children in the ways of faith. Holy Family seeks to build up the domestic Church in each home as a place where Christian virtue, prayer, and life are passed on from one generation to the next.  Because we believe in a whole family approach to our formation, we have chosen to use A Family of Faith by Sophia Institute Press. See the different elements of our program listed below. 

MONTHLY FAMILY FAITH FORMATION SESSIONS
The first two weeks of each month are devoted to our Family Sessions. The Family Sessions allow us to build community while also helping everyone grow in their knowledge of our faith and relationship with Jesus. It also offers support to families as they become more comfortable bringing the faith alive in their home. Families (at least one parent with children) meet twice per month at Holy Family on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. for Family Faith Formation sessions. These sessions will center around a theme for the month and will offer time for prayer, discussion, activity, and fellowship. This year’s curriculum will focus on the Sacraments.

To better accommodate the different needs of families, there will be three options available each week. We realize that your family’s needs may change throughout the course of the year or even from week to week, so you have the opportunity to choose which option you will attend each week. When you arrive at the parish center to check-in, you will choose which of the three options you’d like to participate in that week.

Option #1: Family-Led In this option, your family will work at an individual level. This might work well for a family who prefers to work with their own members, a family who wants to dive deeper into the lesson plan at a more advanced level, or even a family who has over-tired kids and just can’t imagine trying to keep it all together while trying to interact with other families.

Option #2: Facilitator-Led In this option, your family will interact with other families, and your group will be led by a facilitator who has experience with teaching. This might work well for a family who enjoys being with other families or who is looking to meet new families in the community and who might benefit from a facilitator to help them work through the lessons as a group. A facilitator may be helpful if the parents have never had much experience teaching, if they feel like they need to learn along with their child(ren), or if they would like a model for how to make family formation work. A family might start in this option and move to one of the other options as they feel more comfortable.

Option #3: Group-Led In this option, your family will interact with other families, and it will be led by various people within the group. It will not have a designated leader, but it is expected that natural leaders will step in to work through the lesson together. This might work well for families who already feel comfortable teaching and expressing their faith and who want to spend time growing in community with other families.

GRADE LEVEL CLASSES
The second two weeks of each month are grade level specific classes for students. These sessions are also from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Students will meet with catechists according to grade level and will be covering materials using the Spirit of Truth series, by Sophia Institute Press. These classes will be age appropriate and help students apply what they are learning with their families and deepen their understanding of Scripture, Salvation History, and the Catholic faith. While the children are with their teachers, Room 202 in the Parish Center will be open for parents to come together to grow and learn more about their faith with an Adult Study that will supplement what their children are learning as well. It is a good time to meet new people and build relationships.

ADDITIONAL AT HOME ENRICHMENT
It is critical that children experience the home as the principal place where faith is shared and practiced. Alongside the monthly Family Faith Formation session, our curriculum (A Family of Faith by Sophia Institute Press) supplies fun activities for the home each month. We encourage you to make use of these resources to bring what you are learning to life. This provides another layer of connection with their faith.