Start or Begin Again
Why do I suggest that the child in your life attend Faith Formation?
From the perspective of a catechist, I offer these reasons.
- to have fun at church
- to experience love
- to learn how faith can bring self-comfort
- to learn prayers and how to pray
- to meet other children who share the faith
- to build relationships with peers ahead of the Confirmation years
- to connect with caring adults
Here are some experiences from guiding these children that I treasure.
Faith Formation students carry a cross to experience the weight.
One Lent, the classroom we used had a large, heavy wood cross that was mounted on a stand. As we learned about the Stations of the Cross, the students talked about Simon of Cyrene and how he carried the cross when Jesus was weak. To gain a sense of this, the students carefully and reverently lifted this cross. They experienced its weight as they walked and tried to steer it. It was beautiful to watch them move and work as a team, all the while focused on Jesus’ gift to us.
5th graders study the seven sacraments (among other things), and they love to play games. At year’s end, we challenge them with a game of Jeopardy, using categories based on what they learned. This past year, just two students were able to attend that night. They rose to the occasion! At first, they were quite competitive. Then they shifted to encouraging each other on the tough questions. It no longer mattered who won. They enjoyed the moment and the joyful experience of being together.
We all put in time and effort to become a better athlete, a better musician, a better student. We watch others to see how they do it. It takes time and practice to learn our Catholic faith and the many ways that we can carry out that faith in our daily lives. I suggest that the earlier children start, the deeper their roots can grow and be firmly planted in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s always the right time to start, or to begin again.
Vicki Erickson
Parishioner & Faith Formation Catechist
K-8 Faith Formation is offered on Wednesday evenings throughout the school year from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. To register a child, please visit our website: https://sj.org/register.
Interested in volunteering as a Catechist or to help in a classroom? Contact Laura Miller.