St. Matthew’s is excited to begin a new faith formation program for families starting this fall! Family Formation draws families together to grow in faith at home and within the Parish. It replaces Wednesday evening classes. Family Formation is designed for ALL Parish families with kids in Grades K-5! This includes those at St. Matt’s school, public schools, and home schools. Mission: Family Formation is designed to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be “the first and foremost educators of their children” and to help families grow in the transforming love of God by understanding and living the Catholic Faith. “The family is a domestic church.” - Lumen Gentium, 11 - Starting this fall, our Faith Formation program for elementary aged children will change to meet the needs of our Parish. Family Formation is a family-based catechetical program for all Parish families with children in Kindergarten through Grade 5 with an emphasis on adult formation. Why the Change? “Parents are the primary educators in the Faith. It is for this same reason that the Christian community must give very special attention to parents. By means of personal contact, meetings, courses, and also adult catechesis directed towards parents, the Christian community must help them assume their responsibility of educating their children in the faith.” – General Directory of Catechesis, articles 227 and 255. In Baptism, parents promise to raise their children in the Catholic faith. Our current Wednesday evening programs focus mostly on teaching children directly, and do not equip parents properly for their role as the primary catechists of their children. Changing to a family-based faith formation program empowers parents to make faith a part of their home. What will Family Formation Look Like? Family Formation combines a monthly church gathering with weekly at home lessons. The first Sunday of each month, children meet in grade-specific class settings while parents gather for adult catechesis and formation. We complete each monthly gathering with the celebration of parish Mass. Parents are given materials and an overview of weekly home lessons to teach their children the Faith. - The program coincides with the school year from September through May, starting in the Fall of 2018. - Monthly gatherings will be on the first Sunday of each month from 8:30AM – 11:30AM, with families attending 10:30AM Mass. - There will be 3 home lessons each month, with families given the flexibility to do these according to their schedule. - First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation is incorporated into this program for second graders. Registration begins April 15 for Family Formation! Visit our website and click on Grow In Faith for much more information and to sign up your family!
Come and See! You are invited to attend our Family Formation Preview Night on Wednesday, April, 25 from 6:15-7:30 PM in St. Matthew’s school gym. Families with children in Grades K-5 can come to experience our new program during a night of fellowship, prayer, and education. You will be given more information on Family Formation, as well as home lessons to try out. “Parents are the primary educators in the Faith… Indeed in the same way as the Church, the family is a place in which the Gospel is transmitted and from which it extends.” - General Directory for Catechesis, Article 255 -
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