Religious Formation
for Children and Youth 
 

St Mark offers three Religious Formation options for children and youth: 
 

Option 1:

 SUNDAY SESSIONS for Preschool – Grade 9

Preschool & Kindergarten   8:30am & 10:30am Masses

Grades 1 – 8       Session I – 12:30 to 2:00pm & Session II – 3:00 to 4:30pm

Grade 9   6:00 to 7:30pm

Full Community Gatherings will be 4:30 to 7:00pm

      All preschool – grade 9 formation sessions will have the 3rd Sunday of each month off.  On these Sundays families who have chosen to participate in the Family Model of Religious Formation will gather at the church.  Parents are asked to attend the Adult Formation session that begins the year September 14th to include a session for parents with children in the Religious Formation program for the coming year.  The 2 Full Community Gatherings are an integral part of the Formation year and an opportunity for the entire family to grow in their faith.  We will have a reflection on Advent on November 30th and conclude the end of the year with a gathering on May 3rd.  At these sessions we join as a community to reflect on our faith journeys; note the different time (4:30 to 7:00pm).  These gatherings will include a meal.  We also ask you to participate in the annual Lenten Parish Retreat (normally begins the 2nd Sunday of Lent – March 8).

 

2008 – 2009 Sunday Sessions Calendar 

September 14, 08       – Adult Formation Session, including parents, opening the RF Year at 7pm.

September 28, 08         – Formation Session

October 5, 08               – Formation Session

October 12, 08             – Formation Session

October 19, 08            – NO Formation Session (Family Model)

October 26, 08             – Formation Session

November 2, 08           – Formation Session

November 9, 08           – Formation Session                       

November 16, 08         – Formation Session   

November 23, 08        – No Formation Session (Family Model)

November 30, 08        – Advent Full Community Gathering

December 7, 08            – Formation Session

December 14, 08          – Formation Session   

December 21, 08         – NO Formation Session (Family Model)

December 28, 08         – NO Formation Session (Christmas)

January 4, 09                – Formation Session

January 11, 09              – Formation Session                      

January 18, 09            – NO Formation Session (Family Model)    

January 25, 09              – Formation Session                      

February 1, 09              – Formation Session (except for 9th grade)               

February 8, 09              – Formation Session             

February 15, 09           – NO Formation Sessions (Family Model)

February 22, 09            – Formation Session

March 1, 09                  – Formation Session (1st Sunday of Lent)

March 8, 09                  – Formation Session

March 8-9, 09             – Parish Lenten Retreat (proposed)

March 15, 09               – NO Formation Session (Family Model)

March 22, 09                – Formation Session

March 29, 09                – Formation Session

April 5, 09                    – Formation Session

April 12, 09                  – NO Formation Session (Easter)

April 19, 09                  – NO Formation Session (Family Model)

April 26, 09                  – Formation Session (except those receiving First Eucharist)

May 3, 09                     – Full Community Gathering – Close the RF Year

 

Option 2:

 HOME STUDY  for Grades 1-8

     This Home-Study calendar is designed to keep your child on pace with a weekly schedule in association with the other Religious Formation options.  For grades (1 to 6) please use the Faith First “At Home Family Guide” Legacy edition, you will work on one theme each week.  The theme description has a list of chapters for each grade level.  The Faith First website - http://www.faithfirst.com/ is an excellent resource for use by both you and your child(ren) during the course of the year.  Parents are asked to attend the Adult Formation session that begins the year September 14th, and will include a session for parents with children in the Religious Formation program for the coming year.  We also ask your family to participate in the 2 Full Community Gatherings (a reflection on Advent on November 30th and the end of the year gathering on May 3rd) as we join as a community to reflect on our faith journeys; note the different time (4:30 to 7:00pm).  These gatherings will include a meal.   We also encourage your participation in the annual Lenten Parish Retreat (March 8 to 9).

 

     If you follow the “At Home Family Guide” and the calendar themes below your child(ren) will complete the entire book by the end of the Religious Formation calendar year.  For youth in 7th and 8th grade we use the Sadlier book which begins with Chapter 1 to the end of the book and does not follow the theme mentioned above.

 

Book checks: To ensure our all home-study children are progressing in their formation we ask parents to turn in their formation books to the table under the Religious Formation bulletin board in the Great Hall on the weekend of January 11, 2009.  Their books will be reviewed for progress made and returned to the table for pick-up the following weekend, January 18.  We ask that all books be turned in at the end of the Religious Formation year on May 3rd at the year end Full Community Gathering and returned after review on May 17th so your child is given credit for the formation year and move onto the next year.

 2008 - 2009 Home Study Calendar

September 14, 08          – Adult Formation session including parents to open the RF    Year at 7pm

September 28, 08             – Theme 14 – Living as Children of God (1)

October 5, 08                  – Theme 21 – Parables of Jesus

October 12, 08                – Theme 11 – The Church’s Year of Worship

October 19, 08                – Theme 3 – Jesus Christ, the Son of God

October 26, 08                – Theme 15 – Making Choices

November 2, 08              – Theme 14 – Living as Children of God (2)

November 9, 08              – Theme 13 – Loving Others

November 16, 08             – Theme 12 – Loving God

November 23, 08             – Theme 6 – Church, the People of God

November 30, 08           – Advent Full Community Gathering

December 7, 08               – Theme – Advent (1)

December 14, 08             – Theme – Advent (2)

December 21, 08             – Theme – Christmas (1)

January 4, 09                   – Theme – Christmas (2)

January 11, 09                 – Theme 7 – Baptism

January 18, 09                 – Theme 7 – Confirmation

January 25, 09                 – Theme 20 – Early Followers of Jesus

February 1, 09                 – Theme 22 – Teachings of Jesus

February 8, 09                 – Theme 23 – Miracles of Jesus

February 15, 09               – Theme 9 – Anointing of the Sick

February 22, 09               – Theme 9 – Reconciliation

March 1, 09                     – Theme – Lent

March 8, 09                     – Theme – Lent

March 8 – 9, 09             – Parish Lenten Retreat (each evening)

March 15, 09                   – Theme 16 – People of Prayer

March 22, 09                   – Theme 1 – God our Father and Creator

March 29, 09                   – Theme 17 – Ways of Praying

April 5, 09                       – Theme 4 – The Death and Resurrection of Jesus

April 12, 09                   – EASTER SUNDAY

April 19, 09                     – Theme – Easter

April 26, 09                     – Theme 8 – Eucharist and Mass

May 3                            – Full Community Gathering – Close the RF Year; Turn in                                                  completed formation book!

 

Option 3:

FAMILY MODEL

     Most formation sessions meet on the 3rd Sunday of each month, beginning with the first session in September and running through August, with June and July off for vacations.  Sessions meet for 3 hours at each gathering with the exception of the Full Community Gatherings.  Parents are asked to attend the Adult Formation session that begins the year September 14th.  This session will include a presentation/discussion for all parish adults and an opportunity to meet with parents with children in the Religious Formation program for the coming year at the end.  Integral to our formation program is family participation in the 2 Full Community Gatherings (a reflection on Advent on November 30th and the end of the year gathering on May 3rd) as we join as a community to reflect on our faith journeys; note the different time (4:30 to 7:00pm).  These gatherings will include a meal.  We also ask for adult participation in the annual Lenten Parish Retreat (normally begins the 2nd Sunday of Lent).

Note: Family Model families are invited to bring their lunches to mass with them, and eat prior to the beginning of the formation session (12:30pm).  The refrigerator in the kitchen is available for families to place their lunches.

Since we meet only once a month, we ask families to do their very best to attend each gathering.   

2008 – 2009 Family Model Calendar 

September 14, 08            –        12:30 to 3:30pm

                                                7:00 to 9:00pm Adult Formation Gathering –
                                                Opening RF year

October 19, 08                –        12:30 – 3:30pm

November 23, 08             –        12:30 to 3:30pm

November 30, 08           –        4:30 – 7:00pm (Advent Full Community Gathering)   

December 21, 08             –        12:30 – 3:30pm

January 18, 09                 –        12:30 to 3:30pm

February 15, 09               –        12:30 to 3:30pm

March 8 & 9, 09              –        Parish Lenten Retreat (each evening)

March 15, 09                   –        12:30 – 3:30pm

April 19, 09                     –        12:30 – 3:30pm

May 3, 09                      –        4:30 – 7:00pm (Spring Full Community Gathering)

May 17, 09                      –        12:30 – 3:30pm

August 16, 09                  –        12:30 – 3:30pm

 

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