Faith Formation

St. Mary Student Parish (SMSP) Faith Formation Information

2024-2025

SMSP Faith Formation programs are at-home faith formation paired with in-person Sunday sessions (the  number of in-person sessions depends on the program). Programs offered include: Family Faith Formation, 1 st Reconciliation/1 st Communion, and Teen Confirmation.

SMSP calls on the parents to be the primary educators and role models for their children. This entails attending weekly Mass, attending in-person sessions, and nurturing their children’s Catholic faith by working together with them at home on grade-appropriate workbooks/materials.

Family Faith Formation (FFF)

Grades offered are age 3 & 4 yr. old Pre-K through 7 th grade (Pre-K will be dependent on the number of children who sign up and catechist availability)

Parents engage with their children at home on grade-specific workbooks and materials and attend monthly Family Faith Formation in-person Sunday sessions (Oct.-April). Children attend grade- specific classes led by U of M student catechists, while parents attend adult formation sessions in Newman Hall.

Note: At least one parent is required to attend the in-person Family Faith Formation sessions with their child(ren).

(We plan to have a designated play area for those siblings under age 3. If available, Teen Confirmation student volunteers will watch/play with the children during the parent sessions.)  

FFF In-person Sessions:

There will be two session time options available for PreK (3 &4 yr. old) through 7th grade (session preferences will be available on a first come first served basis).

(Note: The Teen Confirmation program is separate from FFF and meets at different times and days – see the TC description below for more info.)

• Session 1 (8:15 am – 9:45 am) followed by 10:00 am Mass
•  Session 2 (11:15 am – 12:45 pm) beginning with 10:00 am Mass

All families will meet in Newman Hall at the start of their assigned session. Catechists will gather the children and go together as a group to their assigned classrooms while parents will remain in Newman Hall for a parent formation session.  At the conclusion of class, children will be brought back to their parent(s) in Newman Hall.  We have scheduled the two FFF sessions around the 10 am Mass for your convenience but encourage you to attend any Sat./Sun. weekly Mass time that works for you and your family.

First Reconciliation/First Communion Sacramental Prep

First Reconciliation/First Communion Sacramental Prep at SMSP is an at-home based program where parent(s) work together with their child(ren) to complete Sacramental Prep workbooks and activities as they learn about and cultivate their understanding, according to their capacity, of the mystery of the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Note: Attendance at the in-person Family Faith Formation monthly Sunday sessions is required for 1 st Reconciliation/1 st Communion Prep.

Children preparing for their 1st Reconciliation/1st Communion must be in at least 2nd grade and have completed the 1st grade SMSP faith formation program or an equivalent.

Enrollment in First Rec./First Comm. Sacramental Prep includes but is not limited to**:

• attending the above-mentioned FFF in-person Sunday sessions
• attending two additional parent/child Mini-Retreats
• attending the 1st Reconciliation Service
•  attending the 1st Communion rehearsal and Mass
• parents working with their child(ren) on their workbooks/materials at home and turning them in for review prior to receiving the sacraments.
  *These are subject to change. 

Teen Confirmation (TC)

Teen Confirmation (a separate program from the Family Faith program) is also an at-home based program where parents and teens work together on assignments and activities.  In addition, the teens will meet in-person at SMSP (usually without parents), approximately two times per month (September – April).  The TC Sunday sessions generally meet from 3:15pm – 4:45pm. There are some exceptions.

Note: Teens preparing for Confirmation must be in at least 8th grade and must have completed the 7th grade SMSP faith formation program or an equivalent. Enrollment in Teen Confirmation includes but is not limited to*:

• attending approximately two in-person sessions per month (September – April)
•  attending a day long Confirmation retreat
• selecting and spending time with a Confirmation Sponsor
•  attending the TC Reconciliation Service
•  attending the Confirmation Rehearsal and Mass
• completing the TC workbook (and turning in the completed book prior to the end of the program)
• completing additional assignments
• completing the DOL assessment
• completing 30 service/volunteer hours
• completing a final Confirmation interview

**These are subject to change.

For more information and/or the registration link, please contact Karen Foster at kfoster@smspnewman.org.

 

 

TO BECOME CATHOLIC THROUGH OCIA ADULT BAPTISM, AND CONFIRMATION 

A deeper faith, a fuller life – it’s what many people seek when they inquire about joining the Church, or completing Confirmation. They’re not always sure what to expect, but they often come to realize that God wants to provide so much more than they ever dreamed.

OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process for joining the church. Our weekly OCIA group meets from September through Easter (7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday nights).

Please consider OCIA if:

• You’re an adult who has never been baptized
• You were baptized in another faith and would like to become Catholic
• You were baptized Catholic, but never confirmed

Sessions include instruction, plus discussion and prayer. There’s always room to ask questions and explore, and never any pressure to commit.

Here are some thoughts from a student who joined the church last year:

“If you would have asked me two years ago what I thought about becoming Catholic, I would’ve told you I just didn’t think it mattered all that much. It had indeed been something that I had thought about, but almost always with the resolution that the Catholic Church was not who She claimed to be and that I didn’t need to convert. But what started as a point of skepticism and debate with many of my Catholic friends, eventually evolved into a longing for full communion with the Church.

Over the past nine months, I have had the incredible blessing of walking through the OCIA process with about 30 others. I write this on the evening of Holy Thursday, and my heart bursts for the opportunity to come before the Lord in the Eucharist and receive Him there with all of you. I cannot help but think about the way that He has run after me, and so many others, to bring us to this point.” 

 

And some other comments:

“I learned so much. Growing closer to God and joining the Church really changed my life.”

“I expected it to be intimidating and formal, but it was a great experience.”

“I’m so grateful I could go through my faith journey with such an amazing and welcoming community! You have really helped shape my experience, grow my faith, and determine who I want to be as a Catholic.”

 

Want more information? We are happy to meet with you personally to discuss what God might be calling you to explore.

Contact us:
Rita Zyber, OCIA Coordinator

Also note: If you are a Catholic who has been away for a while and you’d like to talk about returning more fully to an active faith life, please feel free to speak with one of our priests. Sometimes a good conversation can make a difference.