Youth MinistriesTHE BASICS FOR 2024-2025
Embracing the joys of a larger parish family, our Faith Formation program offers enriching opportunities for all family and parish members.
Children in grades 1-8 will meet twice per month with our catechists in our faith formation classrooms at St. Bridget Church Faith Formation Building. Children in grade 2 will prepare to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion and must have completed a grade 1 program.
Confirmation Candidates will meet twice per month over the course of 4 semesters.
--SESSION A: The second half of the 8th grade year is the first semester of Confirmation preparation. Students entering Session A must be enrolled the 8th grade program beginning in September. (The only exception is if the student is enrolled in Catholic School or Catholic Homeschool.)
--SESSION B: Students must complete the 8th grade semester and Session A before beginning Session B (which is usually the 9th grade year).
--SESSION C: Students must complete all other prerequisite semesters before registering for Session C, the final semester leading up to Confirmation in November.
We will use the Chosen program from Ascension Press as our general curriculum, and Pathfinders for a personal study program.
Youth Ministries
Our middle school and high school Youth Groups are vibrant and thriving! Please see our Youth Group page on this site and encourage your student to participate!
Embracing the joys of a larger parish family, our Faith Formation program offers enriching opportunities for all family and parish members.
Children in grades 1-8 will meet twice per month with our catechists in our faith formation classrooms at St. Bridget Church Faith Formation Building. Children in grade 2 will prepare to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion and must have completed a grade 1 program.
Confirmation Candidates will meet twice per month over the course of 4 semesters.
--SESSION A: The second half of the 8th grade year is the first semester of Confirmation preparation. Students entering Session A must be enrolled the 8th grade program beginning in September. (The only exception is if the student is enrolled in Catholic School or Catholic Homeschool.)
--SESSION B: Students must complete the 8th grade semester and Session A before beginning Session B (which is usually the 9th grade year).
--SESSION C: Students must complete all other prerequisite semesters before registering for Session C, the final semester leading up to Confirmation in November.
We will use the Chosen program from Ascension Press as our general curriculum, and Pathfinders for a personal study program.
Youth Ministries
Our middle school and high school Youth Groups are vibrant and thriving! Please see our Youth Group page on this site and encourage your student to participate!
Admission and Registration
The St. John Paul II Parish welcomes all people into their faith formation programs. No one will be denied participation on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. All participant and family information is held in the strictest confidence at all times.
Parents are the primary catechists of their children and as such it is their primary responsibility to educate their children in the Catholic faith. The objective of our youth faith formation program is to supplement this task by imparting more knowledge and supporting the formation of Catholic attitudes so that the child may participate more fully in the life of the Catholic Church.
Youth faith formation is a commonly accepted practice and viewed as a necessity by most parishioners. Traditionally, youth faith formation has taken place in small group structured settings. However, due to many factors new ways to provide faith based education have become necessary. Parents, families and the larger parish family all share a responsibility to assist and guide our children as they grow in their faith.
As adults, our faith grows, evolves and is challenged based upon our life experiences. Education in our Catholic faith should not end with Confirmation. Rather, as a sacrament of initiation it is the beginning of our adult life in the Church and as such, we must nurture our faith. This can be accomplished in many ways including structured programs, prayer groups and Well events.
All participants registering for our youth faith formation program must present a Baptismal certificate and, if appropriate, a First Holy Communion certificate. Participants registering for a sacramental preparation class (grades 2 and 9) must have completed a grade 1 or 8 faith formation class the previous year. Families must be registered with either St. Patrick or St. Bridget in order to register for faith formation classes.
All families are expected to attend Mass regularly. Not only is this part of being a practicing Catholic, it only makes sense in the development of faith. This program is not designed as a standalone. Regular participation in the Sunday Liturgy and the faith formation program strengthens and defines each of us in his/her faith.
The St. John Paul II Parish welcomes all people into their faith formation programs. No one will be denied participation on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. All participant and family information is held in the strictest confidence at all times.
Parents are the primary catechists of their children and as such it is their primary responsibility to educate their children in the Catholic faith. The objective of our youth faith formation program is to supplement this task by imparting more knowledge and supporting the formation of Catholic attitudes so that the child may participate more fully in the life of the Catholic Church.
Youth faith formation is a commonly accepted practice and viewed as a necessity by most parishioners. Traditionally, youth faith formation has taken place in small group structured settings. However, due to many factors new ways to provide faith based education have become necessary. Parents, families and the larger parish family all share a responsibility to assist and guide our children as they grow in their faith.
As adults, our faith grows, evolves and is challenged based upon our life experiences. Education in our Catholic faith should not end with Confirmation. Rather, as a sacrament of initiation it is the beginning of our adult life in the Church and as such, we must nurture our faith. This can be accomplished in many ways including structured programs, prayer groups and Well events.
All participants registering for our youth faith formation program must present a Baptismal certificate and, if appropriate, a First Holy Communion certificate. Participants registering for a sacramental preparation class (grades 2 and 9) must have completed a grade 1 or 8 faith formation class the previous year. Families must be registered with either St. Patrick or St. Bridget in order to register for faith formation classes.
All families are expected to attend Mass regularly. Not only is this part of being a practicing Catholic, it only makes sense in the development of faith. This program is not designed as a standalone. Regular participation in the Sunday Liturgy and the faith formation program strengthens and defines each of us in his/her faith.