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Religious Education

- Faith Formation
fAITH fORMATION Alerts

WELCOME TO OUR 2024-25 FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM
*FAITH FORMATION CLASS REGISTRATION FOR 2024-25 IS NOW OPEN*
All inquiries contact Clare Krakoviak at [email protected]

Dear St. Catherine of Siena Family,
We are excited for this coming year! Our electronic registration system makes it easy for returning families to reenroll their children and enables new families to sign up and make payments fully online. You can find links to the appropriate forms below.
We thank you for your trust in us to share in the faith formation of your family. We look forward to the opportunities ahead to reconnect, grow closer to Christ and strengthen our Catholic faith as we gather to grow and share through the celebration of our Holy Sacraments, service work and parish community life.
Together, let’s seek and find God at work in our everyday lives, share our stories, serve in kindness and build our church as faithful Disciples of Christ.
Sincerely,
Your St. Catherine’s Faith Formation Staff

SACRAMENT PREPARATION:
FIRST RECONCILIATION, FIRST HOLY COMMUNION, and CONFIRMATION
Children who will celebrate these Sacraments are expected to participate in religious education/faith formation in grades 1-8, either as students of Saint Catherine’s School or as students in the parish Faith Formation Program. In addition to grades 1-8, completion of the 9th grade Confirmation Track is required for current 9th Graders.
PLEASE NOTE:
Sacrament of First Holy Communion (following First Reconciliation) has a 2-year preparation period starting in 1st Grade and continuing through 2nd Grade. In addition to the Faith Formation yearly tuition, there is a sacramental book fee of $50 per candidate in Grade 2 that covers the cost of the additional sacramental preparation books for both First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
Sacrament of Confirmation also requires students to be actively participating in faith formation for two years. Current 9th Graders go through a hybrid program consisting of 10 computer modules and 5 in-class sessions starting in October 2024 and continuing through Spring 2025, when they will be confirmed. There is a Grade 9 program tuition of $120 per candidate that covers all materials and the Confirmation Retreat. Current 8th Grade students will prepare for a Fall 2025 Confirmation with regular faith formation classes or SCS religion classes for the Fall 2024 semester and a hybrid program of 10 computer modules and 5 monthly in-class sessions from January to May 2025 (plus an additional in-class session and Confirmation Retreat in Fall 2025, prior to receiving the sacrament.)
For additional information, please contact Clare Krakoviak at [email protected].

FAITH FORMATION CLASS TUITION & CLASS SCHEDULE
Please refer to the fee schedule below for your family tuition total.
Grades 1-8 TUITION: One child = $170.00 / Two children = $280.00 / Three or more children = $360.00
- Grades 1 - 7 Faith Formation classes that meet Sunday mornings 9am – 10:15am starting 9/15/24 thru 4/13/25 PER CALENDAR.
- Grades 5 - 7 Faith Formation classes that meet Wednesday afternoons 4pm – 5:15pm starting 9/25/24 thru 4/16/25 PER CALENDAR.
- Grade 8 Faith Formation classes that meet Wednesday afternoons 4pm – 5:15pm starting 9/25/24 thru 12/18/24 PER CALENDAR then switches to Confirmation Prep Track that meets Sunday mornings 10:30 am – 12 pm for 1/12/25 thru 5/4/25.
2024-25 Faith Formation
gradeS 1-8 calendar

Grade 9 TUITION: $120 per child
9th Grade Confirmation Track: MONTHLY SESSIONS OF CLASS + MASS

CONFIRMATION TRACK OVERVIEW & CALENDAR

TO REGISTER A NEW FAMILY for Grades 1-9: Please use our Faith Formation Electronic Registration System (by Parish Giving) with the link provided below. This form is only for New Families! Once you complete this form, the Faith Formation office will be notified and review your application. If approved, you will receive an automated email from Parish Giving with login credentials for an account that was created for you. Sign into your account to make a payment and select sessions for your child(ren).
nEW FAMILY REGISTRATION FOR FAITH FORMATION GRADES 1-9

TO REGISTER A RETURNING FAMILY for Grades 1-9: If you’re a returning family, please do not fill out a form. You will receive an email from Parish Giving on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. This email will contain login credentials for a Parish Giving account that was created for you. There is no need for you to create a Parish Giving account. If you did not receive the automated email, please contact Clare Krakoviak.

Catechetical Digital Policy: The Archdiocese of Newark requires a signed acknowledgment of this policy from every family in the parish faith formation program. Please read the Policy (link below), then print and complete the acknowledgement. Competed forms can be scanned and emailed to [email protected] or returned in person or by mail to Clare Krakoviak in the Parish Center.

Catechetical Digital Policy
Digital Policy Acknowledgement
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Families in the Faith Formation program need to be registered parishioners. You can register here.
All class and event communication will be sent VIA EMAIL (including SIGNUP GENIUS) & POSTED ON OUR CHURCH WEBSITE.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are responsible for completing all in-class and at-home chapter work. Regular Class Attendance and written completion of workbooks are required for credit for the year. For Grades 1-8, if a student misses more than 5 classes during the year, the student must pass a written assessment to receive credit for the year. For Grade 9, monthly Confirmation Track, if more than one session is missed, the candidate must meet with the Faith Formation Coordinator in order to continue to prepare for the sacrament. All missed work from all grades must be made up and shown to the catechist. If absent, email the Faith Formation Office and please plan to complete the missed chapter work and show your catechist when you return to class. Thank you for your cooperation so together we may build critical faith connections for our children.
Please submit a copy of your child’s BAPTISM CERTIFICATE for all new students and students who were not baptized here at SCS.
ATTENDING MASS AND SCHEDULED CLASSES ARE REQUIRED. WEEKEND Mass Schedule: Sat: 5pm; Sun: 8am, 10:30am, 12 noon.
NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL CLOSINGS OR CLASS CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE POSTED THAT MORNING ON THE HOMEPAGE OF OUR WEBSITE AND SENT TO THE PRIMARY PARENT’S EMAIL. CHAPTER WORK MISSED FOR THAT CLASS WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETED AT HOME.
Our Faith Formation takes place:
1. In the Family. “The family is so to speak, the domestic church.” (Lumen Gentium #11) This means that it is within the family that we first learn who God is and to prayerfully seek His will for us. Prioritizing time to pray together, to read and discuss scripture together, leads us closer to Christ and a better understanding of God’s teachings. It helps us to recognize God’s work in our daily lives, and to take care of our spiritual connection to God by receiving the Holy Sacraments often.

2. In Church. As faithful followers, nothing is more important than seeking Christ in the Holy Sacraments especially going to confession to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the celebration of the Eucharist at Sunday Mass and Holy Days. Celebrate our Holy Days and LITURGICAL events including All Saints Day, Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
Sacrament of First Holy Communion has a 2-year preparation period starting in 1st Grade and continuing through 2nd Grade.
Sacrament of First Reconciliation preparation is through the first half of the 2nd Grade year.
Sacrament of First Holy Communion preparation is through the second half of the 2nd Grade year.
Sacrament of Confirmation requires students to be actively participating in faith formation for two years leading up to reception of the sacrament.

3. In Class. Faith Formation classes for Grades 1-8 meet in-person 3 times a month per the 2024-2025 Faith Formation Calendar. Grades 1-7 and 9 meet Sunday mornings, Grades 5-8 meet Wednesday afternoons. Each registered student in Grades 1-8 is assigned to a class that meets at the SCS School, taught by a trained Catechist for a classroom learning experience, using RCL Benzinger and digital resources. Our 9th Grade Confirmation students meet in-person monthly for 5 sessions including Mass. Please refer to buttons above for our 2024-2025 Faith Formation Calendar for Grades 1-8 and our Confirmation Track Overview & Calendar.
Study-at-Home. Approximately once a month per our calendar, students complete a chapter at home so their families can share in their faith understanding. Choose a special location and time, make it a special time, pray together, share memories from your own faith journey, and help your child see God through your eyes and witness.

4. In-Community. You are an important part of our parish family. Enjoy a sense of belonging participating in St. Catherine’s community. Participate in our dynamic SOS SERVICE events (see bulletin and website for opportunities), gather for LITURGICAL, HOLIDAY, SOCIAL events and fundraisers throughout the year. Bible Study and Catholic Faith programs, workshops and discussion groups to come! Stay-tuned and connected through our website and bulletin and contact us to let us know what we can do for you and your family.

PLEASE REACH OUT IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
GOD BLESS YOU!