"And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise.  And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  And you shall write them on your doorposts of your house and on your gates.

-- Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (RSV)

Family Faith Formation is the religious education program for families with children in first through sixth grades (with 7th graders starting their Confirmation preparation). Family Formation is designed to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be the “first and foremost educations of their children.” Our purpose is to aid families as they grow in their love and knowledge of the Catholic Faith.

Family formation is not just a program, but also a way of life. It provides parents with the tools needed not only to teach their faith, but to live it.

Our program:

• Follows the three-year liturgical cycle
• Is driven by Scripture
• Is doctrinally sound
• References the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Family Formation program asks parents and children to devote one hour a week to home lessons, in addition to both parents and children attending the Family Formation class once a month. Each family decides upon and sets the day and time for the home lessons.

We provide the training for parents and teachers, and all the materials—including home lessons, teacher lesson plans and seasonal booklets for parents to use as they wish.

At the monthly Family Formation class, the students go to grade-level classrooms for their lesson. The parents gather together for a teaching on the topic for the month. After the topic presentation, the presenter goes through the home lesson packets with the parents to help them for the work that is to be done at home in the remaining weeks of the month.

The monthly Family Formation classes will be held the FIRST SUNDAY of each month beginning in September and ending in May (exception in January when the first Sunday is part of the school Christmas/New Year vacation). Children will meet in their respective classroom while parents will gather in the St. Mary's Church basement for the parent session.

COST: Grades 1 through 7—$50.00 per child with maximum of $125 per family. For second graders add $40 book fee for First Communion/Reconciliation books.

CLASSES WILL BE HELD:

• Between 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM Masses
• Meet after early Mass, pray, and head to classrooms about 8:20
• 1-6 Grades—St. Mary's Grade School
• CLASS TIME: 8:25 to 9:45 AM, First Sundays of the Month (between Masses)

SAVE THE DATES!

Family Formation Sundays This School Year, 2016-17: 

September 11, 4 PM at St. Mary's Grotto, Ice Cream Social, Registration and Information
Pending: (Second Graders and Parents only; First Reconciliation)
Family Faith Formation Monthly Gatherings: Pending
October 
November 
December 
January 
February 
March 
April 
May 


Next Confirmation for St. Catherine’s and St. Mary’s: Sunday November 20, 2016 (Prep starts during 7th grade and they are confirmed in middle of 8th grade year). Incoming 

First Holy Communion Dates:
Oyens St. Catherine’s Saturday April 23, 2016
Remsen St. Mary’s Sunday April 24, 2016
First Confession date yet to be determined.
 
 WE NEED:

• Substitute Catechists (all catechists and subs must be Virtus trained for the safety of our children)
• Volunteers for classroom assistants (assist catechists in classrooms on FFF Sundays… with crafts, etc.)
• People to serve on our prayer support team
• Volunteers for child care on FFF Sundays
• A “principal” to help with catechists’ needs during class time on FFF Sundays
• Guest speakers to lead our adult catechesis on FFF Sundays
• Donations for any special needs of the FFF program (tables, chairs, beautification funds for church basement, additional printed and audio resources, etc.)
• Publicity volunteers to get the word out about our programs, post information on website, etc.