Weekend Mass will return to St. Raphael Church beginning June 6th, with Mass on Saturdays at 4:30pm, and Sundays at 8am, 9:30am, and 11:30am. Click here for more information.
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K-8 Faith Formation Program

Begins Fall 2019

Empowering Parents to Pass on the Faith

Welcome! We believe that all life is filled with learning. Our faith is a very important part of this learning experience!

As part of our response to evangelization through the Diocese “Courageously Living the Gospel” we will be making some adjustments to our Faith Formation Program for children and young people not attending St. Raphael Catholic School. Beginning with the promises of Baptism (BAP #77) parents accept the responsibility of passing along the faith to their children with the aid of the parish.

In order to help parent’s keep this promise amidst the growing chaos of society, and being able to attend Mass together as a family, we have divided our Faith Formation into two categories and are offering two options for each. Through these revised options parents will be involved in and have hands on experience with the content and formation their children will experience. It will better equip both the parent and child for the Sacraments and for living out the Gospel values of our Christian Faith. To help develop the experience, the clergy and lay staff responsible for sharing our faith through instruction and example will be involved in this process.

Kindergarten through 5th grade

OPTION ONE- Sunday Classroom Sessions

OPTION TWO- Teach at Home Sessions

Sundays 10:45am to 12pm
27 Sundays from September through the end of April.
Schedules work around holidays and parish wide events.
Each family will be scheduled to assist the assigned Catechists.
Assignments will be made at least 2 months ahead and will be adjusted basted on the number of children each family has attending Sunday Classes.
The program selected will be approved through USCCB Catechetical guidelines with online support options.

Parents may choose the available Teach at Home Program.
Parents will be given access to a specific on-line program for weekly discussion with their children.
Students will be required to complete an on-line question series each week that will be reviewed through our Faith Formation Program.
The Parent offering the at home instructions will be required to attend 3 meetings each year (Sept-Advent-Lent) for review and discussion.
These sessions will coincide with the timing of the classroom settings sessions.

6th through 8th grade

OPTION ONE: Monthly Family Sessions

OPTION TWO: Teach at Home Sessions

Students and parent(s) will be requried to attend a session held on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 6:30pm to 8:00pm from September to April.
Parents and students will be separated into two groups and each will have a class presentation and discussion on a topic determined by the Faith Leadership Team of the Parish.
Presenters to both the parents and students will be faith leaders from our parish or Diocese.
Take home material and some homework will be provided for the next monthly session.

Parents may choose the available Teach at Home Program.
Parents will be given access to a specific on-line program for weekly discussion with their children.
Students will be required to complete an on-line question series each week that will be reviewed through our Faith Formation Program.
The Parent offering the at home instructions will be required to attend 3 meetings each year (Sept-Advent-Lent) for review and discussion.

** The Diocese of St. Petersburg requires those receiving Sacraments have at least one full year of Faith Formation immediately preceding the Sacramental Preparation.