Catholic Formation
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May 25, 2024Last Friday, May 24th, we marked the conclusion of our Catechetical Year 2023-2024 with a Mass. I am overwhelmed with joy and filled with hope knowing that hundreds of children have received the Eucharist for the first time and teens and adults have finally been confirmed in their faith. Not to mention, the many more young disciples and their parents who received their faith formation. But we cannot rest on our laurels. The journey continues and so does the mission.
I wish to outline the programs that our Church has for our young people. I invite you to have your children receive the Catholic formation they need in their journey.
Pre-School. We are committed to providing a high-quality program for children ages 3 to 5 years old by offering a safe environment while promoting their physical, social, emotional, spiritual and academic development. Since we are a Catholic Pre-school, we incorporate Bible Curriculum in their daily class.
Catechetical Ministry. Our program serves children who wish to receive their First Reconciliation and Communion and Teens or Adults who want to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Continuing Formation is also offered so that there is no gap between First Communion and Confirmation.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word. After the Opening Prayer at Mass, children are called, blessed and sent to the Chapel to hear the Word of God and understand it in an effective, ageappropriate and fun way. Materials are sourced from Pflaum and are based on the readings of the day. This program is currently offered at the 9am and 11am Sunday Masses (and soon at the 1pm Spanish Mass).
Junior High Ministry. Called Spark, this ministry aims to ignite in our middle schoolers a deep love for the faith and the Church. They meet twice a month on Fridays in the Youth Center. Spark Nights consist of games, worship and adoration, talk, faith-sharing and food. Since this is not at all “required,” they begin to take ownership of their faith.
Youth and Young Adult Ministries. In order to complement the teens’ catechetical journey, this ministry encourages them to take their Catholic faith to new heights, build an intimate relationship with Jesus, and bring the faith into their daily lives. In Youth Nights (for teens) and Accord Nights (for young adults), they eat together, listen to inspiring messages, worship and adore Jesus, go to Confession, and accompany each other into the faith. In weekly Bible Studies, they get to listen to and reflect on the Word of God and share how it can shape their lives.
Young Adult Retreat Ministry (Restore). This is a new ministry we are preparing to launch this August. It aims to provide appropriate retreats for the wide age-bracket of young adults. Since young adults are from ages of 18 to 39, we know how their needs may be different too. We shall start with a retreat that will allow them to reclaim their love for the faith and be restored in the Church.
Parishioners, you are part of all these. Your generous contributions allow us to continue the mission of forming young people to becoming the men and women God called them to be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
